Training 2025 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[I wanna pash Nash]

I mean that effective weight training is far simpler than most people assume it is, and it is the same almost irrespective of the sport.

Rack pulls already being an extremely shortened movement, the bands are just making the bottom half of an already half rep easier. Box squats have similar issues, in that they mask issues by not putting the knee or ankle through a full range of motion.

They're both poor movements - particularly if you're trying to limit stress (or fatigue) as they both prioritise weight over movement and produce more axial fatigue than is necessary.

The runners are also a major gripe of mine because they create instability and instability impedes force production.

Could go into much more detail but would probably not be interesting to most posters here.

Agreed, could get way off topic as I love a good S&C chat. So I'll keep the reply brief.

Having worked with a few in the industry, the short answer would be that there's no huge need to train through deep ranges the players rarely have to use in game. Hence the choice of reduced range. They would say that adding in the extra range increase fatigue and injury risk. My opinion is not necessarily the same.

But agree, most S&C in team sports is way over complicated and I doubt they'd notice a huge different by just doing normal squats and deadlifts.

I have worked with Burge and he knows his stuff so I trust the program. Snippets are always going to be a poor way of showing S&C.

 

[KermitJagger]

Agreed, could get way off topic as I love a good S&C chat. So I'll keep the reply brief.

Having worked with a few in the industry, the short answer would be that there's no huge need to train through deep ranges the players rarely have to use in game. Hence the choice of reduced range. They would say that adding in the extra range increase fatigue and injury risk. My opinion is not necessarily the same.

But agree, most S&C in team sports is way over complicated and I doubt they'd notice a huge different by just doing normal squats and deadlifts.

I have worked with Burge and he knows his stuff so I trust the program. Snippets are always going to be a poor way of showing S&C.

Honestly the best way to guarantee against injury is to train the entire range. AFL players don't typically use the entire range but what happens when they do and there's a relative weakness? Unconditioned, or underconditioned, tendons and ligaments tend to go pop. If the concern is fatigue, it's offset by lower weights lifted - if still an issue just reduce volume or frequency.

The other thing I'd say is that how often do they put loaded barbells on their shoulders or lift loaded barbells off the ground in game? Never. Best thing to do is separate it entirely. You train the sport by training the sport, and you get strong by doing what works in the gym - and if you want to see the most explosive athletes in the gym you'd look at either Olympic lifters or anyone whose weight sessions would resemble an Olympic lifters e.g., shot putters, throwers, sprinters.

It's no jab against Burge, more against the industry as it relates to pro sports as a whole. They all tend to waste a bit of time in my experience.

 

[I wanna pash Nash]

Honestly the best way to guarantee against injury is to train the entire range. AFL players don't typically use the entire range but what happens when they do and there's a relative weakness? Unconditioned, or underconditioned, tendons and ligaments tend to go pop. If the concern is fatigue, it's offset by lower weights lifted - if still an issue just reduce volume or frequency.

The other thing I'd say is that how often do they put loaded barbells on their shoulders or lift loaded barbells off the ground in game? Never. Best thing to do is separate it entirely. You train the sport by training the sport, and you get strong by doing what works in the gym - and if you want to see the most explosive athletes in the gym you'd look at either Olympic lifters or anyone whose weight sessions would resemble an Olympic lifters e.g., shot putters, throwers, sprinters.

It's no jab against Burge, more against the industry as it relates to pro sports as a whole. They all tend to waste a bit of time in my experience.

Very much preaching to the converted as I agree with everything you've said. Thanks for elaborating your points

What tends to happen in sports is you don't deviate from the norm too much, it's not how you keep your job. Medical staff are far easier to get rid of than the players and injuries are a lot more complicated than just what you did in pre season. But, if you get unlucky and pre season looked a whole lot different than last year well...

Not the most conducive environment for progression or changing norms. It's why the private sector is booming and you see so many more players now out sourcing during time away from the club. Which clubs are happy for them to do.

On topic again - really loving the social media stuff this pre season. So great to get a look inside. The channel seven series should be excellent.

 

[The Chad and I]

Honestly the best way to guarantee against injury is to train the entire range. AFL players don't typically use the entire range but what happens when they do and there's a relative weakness? Unconditioned, or underconditioned, tendons and ligaments tend to go pop. If the concern is fatigue, it's offset by lower weights lifted - if still an issue just reduce volume or frequency.

The other thing I'd say is that how often do they put loaded barbells on their shoulders or lift loaded barbells off the ground in game? Never. Best thing to do is separate it entirely. You train the sport by training the sport, and you get strong by doing what works in the gym - and if you want to see the most explosive athletes in the gym you'd look at either Olympic lifters or anyone whose weight sessions would resemble an Olympic lifters e.g., shot putters, throwers, sprinters.

It's no jab against Burge, more against the industry as it relates to pro sports as a whole. They all tend to waste a bit of time in my experience.

Love it.
Box squats - never understood why people do them tbh.

I prefer a full ROM squat, but I don't do things like splits or bulgarian squats very often.

I'm sure I've seen the players do a lot of that or similar exercises, which is probably better for stabilisers, groin conditioning, and knees (i do knees over toes stuff, like slant board squats)

So the players get power/explosive development from box squats at the top end of movement, +ROM and stabilisers through splits. I guess that could work just fine.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Honestly the best way to guarantee against injury is to train the entire range. AFL players don't typically use the entire range but what happens when they do and there's a relative weakness? Unconditioned, or underconditioned, tendons and ligaments tend to go pop. If the concern is fatigue, it's offset by lower weights lifted - if still an issue just reduce volume or frequency.

The other thing I'd say is that how often do they put loaded barbells on their shoulders or lift loaded barbells off the ground in game? Never. Best thing to do is separate it entirely. You train the sport by training the sport, and you get strong by doing what works in the gym - and if you want to see the most explosive athletes in the gym you'd look at either Olympic lifters or anyone whose weight sessions would resemble an Olympic lifters e.g., shot putters, throwers, sprinters.

It's no jab against Burge, more against the industry as it relates to pro sports as a whole. They all tend to waste a bit of time in my experience.

I have a little bit of knowledge in this area, but no where near your level.

Would there be an argument that the type of weight training they're doing is still quite beneficial since certain injuries have pretty much been abolished from the league (OP) and the old 'hammy goes ping' and a player missing 4 games feels like a much less regular occurrence in modern footy?

Or is the main discussion point here that there is MORE they could be doing, but the industry hasn't caught up yet?

 

[TheFourPillars]

He has to be an inside mid if he’s going to make it.

Has all the skills but will simply get outran at AFL level outside of the contest.

Hopefully he has a big year at VFL level (getting 30+ most weeks, rather than the low 20’s he was often getting) and constantly putting his hand up for selection. Then he takes the opportunity at AFL if it presents itself.

He needs to start dominating VFL though as when the other mids vying for a spot drop down they simply get more involved.

Yeah of course as i said he displaces worps or nashy but he needs to develop other strings to his bow

 

[Jane Doe]

Did you get a photo for evidence?

I did actually

 

[Jane Doe]

Outstanding

Day was 6 Pittonetts and Weddle had him at 8.

 

[brad sue well]

Yeah of course as i said he displaces worps or nashy but he needs to develop other strings to his bow

Not a big BH watcher but would be good to see him rest as I high half forward(make him run for his rest). John Barker style or Gunston deep…? His height needs to be used as he showed in his AFL time.

For whatever reasons, thought he would have got a few games last year.

 

[KermitJagger]

I have a little bit of knowledge in this area, but no where near your level.

Would there be an argument that the type of weight training they're doing is still quite beneficial since certain injuries have pretty much been abolished from the league (OP) and the old 'hammy goes ping' and a player missing 4 games feels like a much less regular occurrence in modern footy?

Or is the main discussion point here that there is MORE they could be doing, but the industry hasn't caught up yet?

I would say that the reduction in injuries is more from management than it is a change in weight training philosophy. Their time in the gym is a fraction of what they do, their training volume outside of the gym and how they are managed on field is much more important, and many of the injuries that we don't see anymore were overuse or fatigue related. The reduction in those injuries is probably inversely correlated to the amount of times a game you hear BT complain about someone being benched right after kicking a goal.

I'm not really saying that they should be doing more things, just different things. The problem isn't necessarily that the industry hasn't caught up either, it's that they think they're ahead - you get 90% of the way doing the basics, an extra 2% with gimmicks and the instinct is to say "Imagine how much further ahead I'd be if I did the gimmicky things from the start!"

A product of working with the best athletes in the world is that they will look a million bucks regardless. You get the credit for simply not ruining them.

 

[Yardie]

Are the players on break yet? And if not, when and when are they back?

 

[KermitJagger]

Not the most conducive environment for progression or changing norms. It's why the private sector is booming and you see so many more players now out sourcing during time away from the club. Which clubs are happy for them to do.

I agree, this is the point. If players have something they really want to focus on, typically they seek it out themselves and they do it over the off-season.

 

[smish]

Hows C Mackenzie looking? He's the forgotten man here, could be anything.

 

[matey]

Hows C Mackenzie looking? He's the forgotten man here, could be anything.

Flying looking fit and should have a bigger tank now

 

[cryptor]

I'd suggest that a lot of the gym work is about gathering data points on the development of players bodies right down to the muscle group. Very easy to see how they're progressing over time when all the weights are being tracked and recorded. It would also make identifying asymmetric imbalances far easier.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

What days will training be on this week?

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Hows C Mackenzie looking? He's the forgotten man here, could be anything.

Sounds like he impressed last week at training, based on an article someone posted in here.

 

[TylerDurden]

Sounds like he impressed last week at training, based on an article someone posted in here.

PBs in the gym too.
Will have a massive 2025.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

PBs in the gym too.
Will have a massive 2025.

Expecting (hoping) for a big season with him fully integrating into our midfield. His kicking skills are just too good.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

PBs in the gym too.
Will have a massive 2025.

He looked very good today.

Same with Ward and Hust.

 

[HoldingThe Ball]

He has to be an inside mid if he’s going to make it.

Has all the skills but will simply get outran at AFL level outside of the contest.

Hopefully he has a big year at VFL level (getting 30+ most weeks, rather than the low 20’s he was often getting) and constantly putting his hand up for selection. Then he takes the opportunity at AFL if it presents itself.

He needs to start dominating VFL though as when the other mids vying for a spot drop down they simply get more involved.

Lets not forget HH's debut game.

15 disposals, 5 tackles and 2 goals Vs Melbourne shows the lad can play at the highest level.

His height is a factor that is to his advantage, as is his super quick hands.

Henry has a very bright AFL future - whether it is with us is another question.

Like Finn, Harry and Jai, they are too good to spend another year in the VFL - other clubs will be asking the question you'd think, regardless of contract status.

Young players will wait for an opportunity, but not for ever.

All 4 would be a lock in the bottom 3 sides.

 

[SSSSSS]

Watching Sam running alongside Finn, Ward and CJ makes me appreciate how good of a player he was to carve out the career he did. An all timer in skill and endeavour.

That short fat slow bloke doesn't even look like he's in the same species when he runs.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Hot day, session didn’t go a minute after 11am, but a few stayed out to do some extras.

Lots of full contact drills up one end, with plenty of voice, celebrations, yahooing and general good vibes. 3 groups, with 1 alternating between each pocket at all times and no real rest period for anyone. Ball ups, contests, snaps at goal, switch sides and go again.
A few little wrestling matches between players who didn’t like the contact so much, but nothing that was much more than a 5 second push and shove.

Pretty much everyone accounted for out on the park or watching on from upstairs apart from Frosty and Punk.

They did the silent disco drill again today. Hick blew a whistle, and then the three separate groups(pink, green, yellow) all working a ball each around in circle work style went completely mute and the play continued without a hitch.

Skills were very good again today, despite the windy conditions and heat which started to take hold by the second half of the session.

Players that took my eye today were Day, Frenchy, Ward, Jars, Hustwaite, Moorey and Wiz.

Day streaming through the middle, sidestepping(wrong footing his oppo) and delivering to the leading forward, was something we missed in the last month of footy. He’s looking good.

Moorey does everything at 110%. Just the ultimate professional.

Frenchy and Wardy both looking like complete players. Very assured in the contest, great footskills and like Moorey both train like they play.

Hustwaite delivering bullet passes inside 50 to the chest of a forward after collecting the ball in the contest on the flank and shimmying around a couple was good to see, not once but twice.

Wiz only did half the session before taking a breather, but what he did do was typical wiz. Hit the ball at pace, whether it was coming above his head or at his feet. Electric player.

One last thing… I’m not sure I saw Battle or Barrass lose a one-on-one all session, and they just continued to be nuisances in the drills where the goal was to pinpoint a forward deep. Even when there was some drills up on the wing, where the object was to pinpoint a midfielder who had made space Barass was getting in the way and picking off the intercept.
That’s going to be fun to watch in 2025.

The skills and the general vibe of the group is up at the moment, that’s for sure.

 

[KermitJagger]

One last thing… I’m not sure I saw Battle or Barrass lose a one-on-one all session, and they just continued to be nuisances in the drills where the goal was to pinpoint a forward deep. Even when there was some drills up on the wing, where the object was to pinpoint a midfielder who had made space Barass was getting in the way and picking off the intercept.
That’s going to be fun to watch in 2025.

One underrated part of how good our backline is going to be, it's going to be so much better for our forwards going into games knowing that their hardest opponents are in the week during training.

 

[Mr Lizard]

If your house backs onto Bunjil Bagora, expect footballs in your garden.

If you trespass in people's back gardens, expect to get yelled at.

I regret nothing!