Looks like he started the year in the U20's, so if I recall correctly that would mean he is actually under 18 so I wouldn't expect to see much of him if he is signed to a senior contract.

Roar routinely have the Academy players training with the first team squad so I wouldn’t read anything in to his presence in this photo. 

particularly as it was from last week when not all the boys were on the ground yet. plus the academy boys should be fit (as it is the middle of their season) so good to get them in at the start to give the returning boys a bit of a kick up the ass to get fit.

Yo Yo test:

first out - Reardon

last out - ROD preceded by the 4 other imports. 

Aussie players not as fit as seasoned European pros?

Is that similar to the beep test?

I guess that's the dose of reality that our Aussie players need to start the season with. Hopefully it pays some dividends.

Mmmmmm

I’d be disappointed if I were first out being one of the youngest in the squad, all the visa players are used to 50+ games and a 10 month season so should be fitter than local boys plus, apart from ROD, they’re all in their footballing prime of mid to late 20’s. 

Under Ange/Mulvey we were a fit team, can’t say the same under Aloisi and I can’t get over his comment that they don’t get batch fit till round eight - that’s just BS 

What is a yo yo test?

It’s an advanced version of the beep test and measures aerobic endurance fitness. 

Do we still have the same strength and conditioning people as far as you know Waz? 

I wouldn't be too worried about the first test, if he was still last after the second test (I am assuming they will do this a few times) I would be worried. Also depends on the gap as well between him and the front runners, as well as any conditions on the day (he might have had a niggle). I guess what I am saying is don't read too much into 1 test it is an indication of starting point nothing more.

On the plus side it looks like they have recruited well, how many times have we been told it is going to take an import weeks to get up to scratch, looks like all of ours are ready and able to hit the ground running.

If I put my coaches hat on for a moment I’d be livid with any youngster that dropped out of the test early unless there was a good reason eg recovering from injury. But as you say, it’s a first up but still, it’s very hard to catch up when everyone else is doing the same training as you from now on. 

The challenge with the Brits will be keeping them fit - they’d normally be starting their 50 game season this time next month whereas they’ll have to wait over 2 further months for ours to start. 

As far as I know yes - Scott Smith on fitness and Craig Duncan on high performance 

although if you follow Tony Grant on twitter he looks to be heavily involved in the preseason planning 

Thanks Waz. Some google also helped.

So if i have read this properly, our oldest player is our fittest player? And our youngest player is our least fittest? That has to be worrying. I agree that it might only be one test but how no young aussies were keen enough and determined enough (with the incentive of starting the season under one of the greats of the game)  cannot beat old Roy O Donovan is beyond me.  To be fair, the real test is after a month or so of training and the imports may have been sensational rather than the others poor but the signs are worrying, Robbie Fowler has a lot to do. 

Althogh i have never watched them training I think that there has to be a lack of attitude towards putting it in from several players.  I think that turning this around is the key to a succesful season, more so than selecting the right formation or anything else.  I have confidence in Fowler to do this, but it looks to be a big job. 

ROD had the reputation of being the fittest Jets player too so it’s maybe not surprising, he’s looking a lot like Beriaha and gives his all, all the time. 

Ive seen them training many times - before Aloisi Rado was the main guy and I always felt sessions were more intense physically then. Under JA less so, he even moved training to 0800 to get them out of the hot sun which maybe says a lot. 

I remember once at Ballymore after an open session, Ross took the back 4 and a junior striker back out on the pitch and they did this weird pass across the back four from left to Right and on the 7th pass the ball was to be hoofed long and the striker was to count the passes ...4...5....6...... and time his run for the long ball. They spent a good 20 minutes doing this, it was as boring as bat sh*t and sure enough, it happened in games too - I always just thought they just ran out of ideas but no, it was a trained move. 

Do how we train is key imo

Good grief... that explains a lot.

My thoughts exactly ... imagine if the forward forgot to count ... !!!
 I would not be too worried about the youngsters not going well in beep tests just yet . In my experience young guys are often unfit these days but can also get fit quite quickly .Older guys like ROD are smart enough to keep their fitness up and for some reason are better at pacing themselves in endurance tests . My question is has Reardon been playing regularly in the youth team ? If so why is he unfit at all ?

I get the move, it’s really basic stuff though and yeah - the forward has to count (equally the defenders in the opposing team can count, once they know the routine). And that sums up they rumoured “playbook” approach - plan A with a plan B of try harder to make plan A work. 

which back four ? we had dozens of them ....lol

Any 4 but on the day Poppa and DeVere were the two in the middle. (This was the season before last - I think it was the Christmas Eve open session that year) 

No wonder Poppa left ...and Devere probably feigned injury so he would not have to look a complete dill...

ROD as the fittest after a couple of weeks is the sadest thing i have heard about Australian Football for a long time.
He last played when other HAL players played.
If there are zero Australian players turning up for training with great fittness when the squad first assembles it really says a lot about ambition.
If you want to be the best you can be and be better than the rest ,you have to have self motivation .Whether its sport or anything.You have to try harder.
If this is indicative of the Australian Football player now ,how do they expect to succeed at a high level?Obviously they dont.
 

Two things there; first off is to recognise that some players - like ROD - go to great efforts with their fitness and need to be applauded for it. 

The second thing is yeah, there probably is an issue in young Australian players fitness. They seem to spend more time at PFA seminars on how to retire at 35 with no mortgage and 2 investment properties than they do in the Gym. 

FFS its the second week of preseason and we already complaining about fitness?

No, commenting is not the same as complaining ... unless you’re talking to the ATO who can’t tell the f’kin difference imo !! 

It's a sad reflection of the drive and ambition of these youngsters.  There is nothing stopping them from putting in extra work before getting to training.

maybe he has been putting in extra sessions before training, and that is why he was wreaked by the time the beep test came up :)

Positive way to look at things :laugh: