Interval training, sprint work, core improvement – it’s all second nature for modern day footballers. Liam Twomey spoke with an AFL legend, a recently retired AFL star and an AFL aspirant to get the lowdown on pre-season training and how important preparation is for the season proper.
THERE are two questions Justin Sherman poses to himself before putting his body through another rigorous pre-season training session.
“When you are taken out of your comfort zone, when you are fatigued and stuffed, you have to ask, can you push yourself that extra little bit further? Can you go further than what you thought you could?”
Having begun his AFL career in 2005, the versatile midfielder saw the game change at the top level and become more physically demanding as the seasons wore on.
While the surrounds are a little different in 2013, as he kicks off the next chapter in his football life with Williamstown in the VFL, Sherman has lost none of the competitive drive to make himself the fittest and strongest player he can be.
“That is where footy is at now. It is all about that repeat effort, time after time after time,” Sherman said.
“I think it has been proven over the last few years of watching AFL and being a part of it, you just can’t sit back anymore, you need to go and attack the game and take it on and really learn from the good sides.
“Pre-seasons are always a tough time of year but it is so important for getting your body and your mind healthy to endure a 23 or 24 game season.”
With the 2013 VFL home and away season scheduled for 19 rounds, Sherman isn’t hiding the fact he and his Seagulls’ teammates are laying the foundations now for what they hope will be a run deep into finals.
“We are really excited about getting into the season and getting things underway and hopefully being there on the big day at the end of the year,” he said.
“We want to be playing for premierships and striving to be the best side we can be.”
While players make a huge physical commitment over the pre-season, for coaches, the planning starts long before that first session in Spring.
In fact, Werribee coach Scott West had his eyes on the 2013 regime almost as soon as his side was defeated in last year’s preliminary final against Geelong.
From his time spent at the game’s top level, West knows the importance of players getting a strong pre-season under their belts and the constant struggle to catch up for those who haven’t.
“I think it is paramount,” West said.
“You really need to be able to get that continuity of training, especially in our environment where we are only training three days a week.
“If you miss two weeks of that pre-season then you are going to be behind the eight ball. It doesn’t matter whether it is this level or AFL level, getting a really solid pre-season is just something that is imperative for your footy leading into the year.”
At AFL level, West was involved in a range of pre-season training camps and drills. From the physically tough to the mentally challenging, he has seen it all.
However, in the semi-professional environment of a VFL club, he said the key is to keep players focused.
“Something we need to take into consideration is that these players are working too,” he said.
“They are plumbers, builders, landscape gardeners and whatever else. We need to plan for that.
“We try to make it a really enjoyable environment. We like to get in, do the job and get out.”
While Sherman and West have made the move from the AFL to the VFL, many young footballers are striving to go in the opposite direction.
For Western Jets rising star Daniel O’Leary, the 2013 pre-season is the most important of his young career as he prepares for his final year in the TAC Cup competition.
If early indications are anything to go by, the back pocket and midfielder is in for a big year.
His work ethic and drive to be the best impressed his coaches and teammates, who saw fit to vote him into the club’s leadership group.
O’Leary said the past two pre-seasons with the Jets’ senior side had easily been the toughest of his career. But with an end goal to reach the AFL, the sacrifices had been worth it.
“We have a new fitness coach who has changed a lot of the running drill this season,” he said.
“Last year we did a lot of long distance running whereas this year we are doing a lot of sprint training.
“Reaching the AFL has been my dream since I was a little kid. That is exactly where I want to be and I’m going to work hard to try and get there.”
While West, Sherman and O’Leary are all at different stages of their football careers, the AFL legend, recently retired AFL star and AFL aspirant all agree on one thing – pre-season is hard.
However, they also agree that if a team and playing group want to achieve the ultimate success, the harder they strive in the summer months, the greater their chances become.
