2016 Pre-Season (All news, press conferences, training reports, Photos)

[Quigley]

Mathieson ran an 11.06 at the Combine fwiw.

 

[rusty08]

Hey guys i don't know where to post this but got some inside goss on this rueben williams fellow.

Stories from a guy I work with who goes way back with murray davis.

So apparently young rueben had an issue with his eyesight to the point he was only seeing about 70% all the way through his testing and training. This problem has only been corrected in the past month or so. It was only noticed when doing computer work when murray was working with him he asked if he could see. So rueben hasnt told anyone till recently out of fear he may not make it. Good news for us is contacts have sorted it out and is now seeing 100%. Make of it what you will. But sounds good to me.

If I'm not mistaken, a similar problem was found with Freeman.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

The results are a bit unflattering for our squad as a whole if it was a true 3km but bear in mind some of our better runners didn't run - Robbo, Paps, Bewick, Zorks, D Beams and Hanley and Christensen didn't finish.

 

[WA Lion]

Yeah, you're right. It was essentially a cross country course (minus the hills) and while it was not raining at the time it was damp under foot. Also joggers aren't great on grass for running as far as speed goes. So that would definitely impacted times a bit, but not drastically.

That's why I stressed overall times were likely not to relate to other clubs very well. It's more relevant where the players sit amongst each other.

Without making excuses for seemingly slow times, running in joggers on wet soft ground definitely isn't conducive to quick times. I think your earlier point about 3 laps of an oval being 3km being a bit convenient is definitely relevant!

Having said that, given our recent run with stress fracture related injuries I will happily take slower times on soft ground than quick times on hard ground that places additional strain on feet, shins etc

 

[Ironmonger]

Mathieson ran an 11.06 at the Combine fwiw.

That just about clinches it, surely; it must have been longer than 3km. Either that or Mathieson is carrying an injury, and for some reason they still let him run the time trial.

Also I note that Close was running 2km at a pace of almost 3 minutes flat per km two years ago. It seems unlikely that would have blown out to 10min 35 sec or, or 3 and a half minutes per km, over 3km.

 

[Keays2myBeamas]

From what I remember the back oval and main oval are both pretty much 460m. Three laps of each would be about 2.8km.

 

[Milux]

Hi Milux
I too suffer from kerotcoonus. Hang in there. I got through forty years of work supported by corneaial graft and contact lens. As a bonus I saw three Lions grand finals. Amazing what medical science can do! Hopefully young Rubeun hasn't got the same problem as it is generally corrected with hard lens. I had to stop playing footy when diagnosed.

As unfortunate as that is it is really sobering knowing how much medical science can help these days. I got my specialist appointment in a little over a month away. Hopefully I got it early enough as i have 2 young boys i really wanna see play footy (along with the other stuff the missus says is important.)

 

[xplo]

Nothing for it but have @Ldizz don the Asics, run a sharp 10 flat and then drop the microphone.

I guess Matheson was running in more heat than the combine. Still. Hoping Austin made the course long just to scare em. It's so easy to pull the distance off your watch/phone though that they'd know pretty quickly if the course was long.

 

[Happy_Neale]

That just about clinches it, surely; it must have been longer than 3km. Either that or Mathieson is carrying an injury, and for some reason they still let him run the time trial.

Also I note that Close was running 2km at a pace of almost 3 minutes flat per km two years ago. It seems unlikely that would have blown out to 10min 35 sec or, or 3 and a half minutes per km, over 3km.

Coming back from a knee reco, might not have run properly for a while. I still agree it seems something is off though.

 

[POBT]

Players won't have trained to the minute for this, like they would for a draft combine. They all had individual programs over the Christmas break and some may have been coming off a bigger training load than others. One player might have done a big running session in the last day or two which has fatigued him more than another guy who has been focusing on something different. I'm not sure the raw numbers provide all that much insight (although very much appreciate those who went to training to report).

One thing I find interesting is how closely grouped the 3 young KPPs were. Andrews, Hipwood and Schache are all within 7 seconds and faster than several midfield/flanker types. Tall guys with good endurance are pretty valuable.

 

[a mayes ing]

I would hope that if the boys didn't run well then Austin would tell them that it is unacceptable and that they need to up their game. I dont know him but l hope he uses his voice and isn't afraid to use it. I know that is what happened when Polec went to Port Adelaide and Burgess said he needed to lift.

 

[M Malice]

Mathieson ran an 11.06 at the Combine fwiw.

l dizz had matheison as a 12.05 yesterday, as l dizz posted he was a bit suspicious of the accuracy of the distance. no way he would run a full minute slower you would think??? you also wouldn't expect anybody with an injury, that would affect their running would be allowed to run.

 

[Greggy85]

So here's he results from the time trial. As I mentioned yesterday I wouldn't be 100% confident that it was EXACTLY 3km, but obviously it would have been pretty close. With that in mind, the results probably give a better indication of players fitness relative to each other, rather than to players from other clubs.

Overall less than half the list took part and as a couple of people have mentioned Christensen didn't finish (but he was going quite well for the first couple of km's - near Clayton and C Beams), so it probably leaves a few unanswered questions in terms of our fitness, but generally speaking outside the top few the times were a bit slower than I would have expected. Alas....

1. Bell 10:00
2. Bastinac 10:14
3. Keays 10:26
4. Close 10:35
5. Robinson 10:45
6. Clayton 10:46
7. C Beams 10:52
8. Lester 10:58
9. Andrews 11:00
10. Hipwood 11:05
11. Schache 11:07
12. Mayes 11:13
13. Taylor 11:16
14. Cutler 11:18
15. McStay 11:19
16. Rockliff 11:26
17. Green 11:27
18. Harwood 11:47
19. Clarke 12:04
20. Mathieson 12:05
21. Smith 12:12

I can certainly see why Mathieson didn't get drafted as a high as expected with those results, but you only have to look a few spots up the list to see Rockliff isn't exactly the greatest runner either and it doesn't stop him. I think if you're a smart player and natural footballer, you can overcome these limitations by knowing when and where to run to and when not to, go rather than running around like a headless chook tiring yourself out. And as someone said, in all the game play type drills he doesn't seem to struggle keeping up. And finally, he will obviously improve that result with another couple of years in the system, so while it may effect him a bit this year, I doubt it would be a long term issue.

These times are with handicap removed? I'm assuming they left at intervals?

 

[WA Lion]

Of course there is one option we haven't discussed. That the trainers knew the course was over 3 km but deliberately didn't tell the players. Much like a Personal trainer will consistently say 'just 5 more' when in fact you end up doing 15-20 more, it could be that the trainers have deliberately got the boys running a course longer then they knew just to get more out of them!

If you know you are running 3km, and from previous time trials you know exactly what your limitations are over 3km, then that is the pace you will naturally run at. If you knew you were running further, you would naturally pace yourself and run slightly slower. If you want gains from the group, you get them running at 3km race intensity but unknowingly over 3.5kms to push them physically.

Or....

I could be way overanalysing it!!

 

[Lace Out]

Have heard it was over 5k and Rocky,Archie,Matho and Greeny have qualified for Rio

 

[Eons]

Bring back Burton, this is unacceptable!

 

[L Dizz]

These times are with handicap removed? I'm assuming they left at intervals?

Yep, I adjusted the times depending on which group they started in

 

[Gadzorks]

You guys talk like just anybody could train and break 10:30 for 3k. If you dont have the innate ability it isnt going to happen no matter how hard you train. It is like saying anybody could run a 11 sec 100m if they trained. Yeah no.

Anything under 10:30 is pretty good running, especially since some of these guys are carrying a fair bit of bulk. 10:35 for Close at his size is exceptional.

Distance is different to sprint. With the right attitude, training program (including specific power and neural-speed periods) and a couple of years average runners can turn themselves into exceptional runners. Has to happen before they finish growing though, and I can't see any teenage AFL player putting a football down long enough to make a difference.

 

[Greggy85]

Yep, I adjusted the times depending on which group they started in

I knew you would have, was just hoping...

 

[Gadzorks]

From what I remember the back oval and main oval are both pretty much 460m (dead along the boundary lines). Three laps of each plus the short distance in between the two ovals would be 2.8km.

yikes!

 

[Bobby Beecroft]

I could be way overanalysing it!!

Clearly amongst friends here then.

 

[grundog49]

Keays on the other hand looks like he might be ready to go pretty early on in the season. Good endurance, good skills and not too skinny.

I'd back him to come top 3 in the rising star.

 

[grundog49]

So here's he results from the time trial. As I mentioned yesterday I wouldn't be 100% confident that it was EXACTLY 3km, but obviously it would have been pretty close. With that in mind, the results probably give a better indication of players fitness relative to each other, rather than to players from other clubs.

Overall less than half the list took part and as a couple of people have mentioned Christensen didn't finish (but he was going quite well for the first couple of km's - near Clayton and C Beams), so it probably leaves a few unanswered questions in terms of our fitness, but generally speaking outside the top few the times were a bit slower than I would have expected. Alas....

1. Bell 10:00
2. Bastinac 10:14
3. Keays 10:26
4. Close 10:35
5. Robinson 10:45
6. Clayton 10:46
7. C Beams 10:52
8. Lester 10:58
9. Andrews 11:00
10. Hipwood 11:05
11. Schache 11:07
12. Mayes 11:13
13. Taylor 11:16
14. Cutler 11:18
15. McStay 11:19
16. Rockliff 11:26
17. Green 11:27
18. Harwood 11:47
19. Clarke 12:04
20. Mathieson 12:05
21. Smith 12:12

I can certainly see why Mathieson didn't get drafted as a high as expected with those results, but you only have to look a few spots up the list to see Rockliff isn't exactly the greatest runner either and it doesn't stop him. I think if you're a smart player and natural footballer, you can overcome these limitations by knowing when and where to run to and when not to, go rather than running around like a headless chook tiring yourself out. And as someone said, in all the game play type drills he doesn't seem to struggle keeping up. And finally, he will obviously improve that result with another couple of years in the system, so while it may effect him a bit this year, I doubt it would be a long term issue.

Schache's result is impressive. Same with Hipwoods.

Mathesion has never been good at time trails. He's a gut runner like Matt Crouch who also doesn't have a great tank. Although Mathesion can play forward which will help him play games.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready to overanalyse it without knowing all the facts.

 

[Cousin Jed]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready to overanalyse it without knowing all the facts.

Ready? You've missed 24 hours worth