Ryder Is God
4 Dec 2007, 23:22
Lloyd says emphasis on skills building a new-look Bomber squad
Len Johnson | December 5, 2007
ESSENDON'S skill levels last year were more than once the subject of a Kevin Sheedy lament. Fans shared the pain.
The performance of most AFL players have increased in recent years with concentrated training and coaching; so, too, the ability to execute those skills under pressure. The cream on the cake is the ability to perform under pressure and when fatigued.
Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd said yesterday that in pre-season training under new coach Matthew Knights there had been an emphasis both on executing skills when fatigued and defence.
Lloyd said the side was training at the Carlton ground once a week to replicate the sort of extra running that was needed on bigger grounds such as the MCG.
"We're more (about) getting our running base during the skill work, when you're under fatigue — which is an area where we've been pretty poor over the last two or three years," Lloyd said.
When asked about the main difference so far between Sheedy and Knights, Lloyd replied: "The intensity of the training; he demands nothing but 100% on the training track.
"We had too many goals kicked against us, so there's a massive emphasis on the defensive part of our game."
The Dons will experience more coping with fatigue during a training camp in Tasmania next week. Included on the schedule is an assault on sand dunes described by high-performance manager John Quinn as "the biggest I've ever seen in my life".
The Henty Dunes are on a stretch of coast near Strahan, on Tasmania's west coast. Asked to compare them to the Portsea dunes made famous by legendary athletics coach Percy Cerutty and his famous pupil Herb Elliott, Quinn said: "It blows them away."
The players have had most of the schedule handed out to them with a few details being held back. "That might be the surprise for us," Lloyd said.
Lloyd spent more time playing up the ground last year, even playing in the midfield at times. Knights has already indicated he thinks Lloyd is best in attack and the captain yesterday agreed.
"I feel I play better footy (closer to goal)," Lloyd said, "but I understand that you can't be one-dimensional as a side. It will probably be 80-20 over the course of the year.
"I'll play closer to goal most of the time but with Scott Lucas in the form he's been in over the past few years, he'll play a similar role, and hopefully we'll have Scott Gumbleton playing that lead-up role next year."
The raft of changes at Windy Hill has extended to guernsey numbers, with midfielder Brent Stanton taking over James Hird's No. 5. Jay Neagle will wear the No. 1 once worn by his father, Merv, while Jay Nash will take over 17.
Lloyd said Hird had told Knights during a recent meeting that he wanted to see his old number handed on rather than retired, and expressed a preference for Stanton.
"We reckon he'll be one of our key leaders in the coming years," Lloyd said.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/bombers-focus-on-skills-building/2007/12/04/1196530679149.html
Len Johnson | December 5, 2007
ESSENDON'S skill levels last year were more than once the subject of a Kevin Sheedy lament. Fans shared the pain.
The performance of most AFL players have increased in recent years with concentrated training and coaching; so, too, the ability to execute those skills under pressure. The cream on the cake is the ability to perform under pressure and when fatigued.
Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd said yesterday that in pre-season training under new coach Matthew Knights there had been an emphasis both on executing skills when fatigued and defence.
Lloyd said the side was training at the Carlton ground once a week to replicate the sort of extra running that was needed on bigger grounds such as the MCG.
"We're more (about) getting our running base during the skill work, when you're under fatigue — which is an area where we've been pretty poor over the last two or three years," Lloyd said.
When asked about the main difference so far between Sheedy and Knights, Lloyd replied: "The intensity of the training; he demands nothing but 100% on the training track.
"We had too many goals kicked against us, so there's a massive emphasis on the defensive part of our game."
The Dons will experience more coping with fatigue during a training camp in Tasmania next week. Included on the schedule is an assault on sand dunes described by high-performance manager John Quinn as "the biggest I've ever seen in my life".
The Henty Dunes are on a stretch of coast near Strahan, on Tasmania's west coast. Asked to compare them to the Portsea dunes made famous by legendary athletics coach Percy Cerutty and his famous pupil Herb Elliott, Quinn said: "It blows them away."
The players have had most of the schedule handed out to them with a few details being held back. "That might be the surprise for us," Lloyd said.
Lloyd spent more time playing up the ground last year, even playing in the midfield at times. Knights has already indicated he thinks Lloyd is best in attack and the captain yesterday agreed.
"I feel I play better footy (closer to goal)," Lloyd said, "but I understand that you can't be one-dimensional as a side. It will probably be 80-20 over the course of the year.
"I'll play closer to goal most of the time but with Scott Lucas in the form he's been in over the past few years, he'll play a similar role, and hopefully we'll have Scott Gumbleton playing that lead-up role next year."
The raft of changes at Windy Hill has extended to guernsey numbers, with midfielder Brent Stanton taking over James Hird's No. 5. Jay Neagle will wear the No. 1 once worn by his father, Merv, while Jay Nash will take over 17.
Lloyd said Hird had told Knights during a recent meeting that he wanted to see his old number handed on rather than retired, and expressed a preference for Stanton.
"We reckon he'll be one of our key leaders in the coming years," Lloyd said.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/bombers-focus-on-skills-building/2007/12/04/1196530679149.html