blackdiamond
19 Nov 2003, 18:41
courtesy of www.portadelaidefc.com.au
Port's hopes for Francou, Primus (http://portadelaidefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=127192)
http://portadelaidefc.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/127179au.jpg
Port Adelaide expects Josh Francou and Matthew Primus to be ready to play in round one next season.
“Yes, I’d expect them to (play then),” Port coach Mark Williams confirmed at the Power’s first full training session – a 2.2-kilometre time trial – in the North Adelaide parklands on Wednesday.
Francou, Port’s outstanding onballer, had a knee reconstruction after round two this year, and captain/ruckman Primus was restricted to just nine matches because of persistent knee and hamstring problems.
Of Francou, Williams said: “He’s looking okay but as you know with anyone coming back from an ACL, you’re never quite sure how they’re going to go and how long they’re going to take to hit their best form.
“So we won’t expect too much from him early days but obviously at the business end of the season we hope to have him back and in his best form.”
Williams said of Primus: “Again, the same thing. We’re not pushing Matty too much at all. But he’s moving along okay.”
Kane Cornes, Michael Wilson and Stuart Cochrane led the way in the time trial, run in 30C-plus heat on the special track opposite the Adelaide University gymnasium.
Of his players’ early fitness, Williams said: “It’s a professional environment here. I was really interested to see how the boys turned out, and they looked pretty good. They know exactly the expectations of me and the club, so I’m pleased they’ve lived up to them.”
Port is without six players from last season – Nick Stevens (127 games), who is certain to join Carlton, and delisted Stephen Paxman (240), Che Cockatoo-Collins (160), Brent Guerra (65), who has gone to St Kilda, Paul Koulouriotis (three) and Adam Morgan (three).
“I think we’ve got 598 games out of the club and none coming in, so that means a lot of people who haven’t played too many games have to step up, and we’ll have to look at what we do at the draft this week,” Williams said.
Williams indicated super-fit Adam Kingsley was close to signing a new contract with Port.
“I think his run was terrific,” he said. “He looks magnificent so he’s every chance to stay on the list. Everything’s pushing in the right direction.”
Williams said ‘quite a few’ youngsters would get opportunities in the Wizard Home Loans Cup pre-season competition.
“I’m sure if (Port Magpies’ 2003 Magarey Medallist) Brett Ebert’s available, he will (play),” he said. “And Damon White will get an opportunity. Toby Thurstans played a bit (this year) and hopefully he’s ready, and Steven Salopek will get a game.”
Asked if Port had any different training plans this pre-season, Williams said: “Not particularly. We’re always about improvement but we probably pushed a couple of players a little bit too hard (last pre-season). As long as they get up near where they need to be, that will be satisfying.
“(Last season) we felt probably four or five, after injury, came back a bit fat because they couldn’t train. And we tried to get them ready for round one or they wanted to be ready for the Wizard Cup because they knew how competitive it was (for places in the team).
“Maybe that wasn’t the best thing for them and that logged them to an inconsistent year, so we’re looking to improve on and learn from that.”
Asked whether Port had any priority plans for Saturday’s National AFL Draft, Williams said: “There are probably six or seven good players I’d like to get but they’ll probably go in the first six or seven picks, so after that it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
“We’ve got some ideas on who we’d like to think might be available and we’ll be very satisfied if we get them.”
Port's hopes for Francou, Primus (http://portadelaidefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=127192)
http://portadelaidefc.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/127179au.jpg
Port Adelaide expects Josh Francou and Matthew Primus to be ready to play in round one next season.
“Yes, I’d expect them to (play then),” Port coach Mark Williams confirmed at the Power’s first full training session – a 2.2-kilometre time trial – in the North Adelaide parklands on Wednesday.
Francou, Port’s outstanding onballer, had a knee reconstruction after round two this year, and captain/ruckman Primus was restricted to just nine matches because of persistent knee and hamstring problems.
Of Francou, Williams said: “He’s looking okay but as you know with anyone coming back from an ACL, you’re never quite sure how they’re going to go and how long they’re going to take to hit their best form.
“So we won’t expect too much from him early days but obviously at the business end of the season we hope to have him back and in his best form.”
Williams said of Primus: “Again, the same thing. We’re not pushing Matty too much at all. But he’s moving along okay.”
Kane Cornes, Michael Wilson and Stuart Cochrane led the way in the time trial, run in 30C-plus heat on the special track opposite the Adelaide University gymnasium.
Of his players’ early fitness, Williams said: “It’s a professional environment here. I was really interested to see how the boys turned out, and they looked pretty good. They know exactly the expectations of me and the club, so I’m pleased they’ve lived up to them.”
Port is without six players from last season – Nick Stevens (127 games), who is certain to join Carlton, and delisted Stephen Paxman (240), Che Cockatoo-Collins (160), Brent Guerra (65), who has gone to St Kilda, Paul Koulouriotis (three) and Adam Morgan (three).
“I think we’ve got 598 games out of the club and none coming in, so that means a lot of people who haven’t played too many games have to step up, and we’ll have to look at what we do at the draft this week,” Williams said.
Williams indicated super-fit Adam Kingsley was close to signing a new contract with Port.
“I think his run was terrific,” he said. “He looks magnificent so he’s every chance to stay on the list. Everything’s pushing in the right direction.”
Williams said ‘quite a few’ youngsters would get opportunities in the Wizard Home Loans Cup pre-season competition.
“I’m sure if (Port Magpies’ 2003 Magarey Medallist) Brett Ebert’s available, he will (play),” he said. “And Damon White will get an opportunity. Toby Thurstans played a bit (this year) and hopefully he’s ready, and Steven Salopek will get a game.”
Asked if Port had any different training plans this pre-season, Williams said: “Not particularly. We’re always about improvement but we probably pushed a couple of players a little bit too hard (last pre-season). As long as they get up near where they need to be, that will be satisfying.
“(Last season) we felt probably four or five, after injury, came back a bit fat because they couldn’t train. And we tried to get them ready for round one or they wanted to be ready for the Wizard Cup because they knew how competitive it was (for places in the team).
“Maybe that wasn’t the best thing for them and that logged them to an inconsistent year, so we’re looking to improve on and learn from that.”
Asked whether Port had any priority plans for Saturday’s National AFL Draft, Williams said: “There are probably six or seven good players I’d like to get but they’ll probably go in the first six or seven picks, so after that it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
“We’ve got some ideas on who we’d like to think might be available and we’ll be very satisfied if we get them.”