McLeod fit to impress
16 February 2007 Herald-Sun
Andrew Capel
CROWS star Andrew McLeod is so fit he could take on Anthony Mundine for a world boxing title.
Fighting fit: Andrew McLeod has been training the house down in Adelaide. Picture: Ray Titus
That is the opinion of Indigenous All-Stars coach Michael McLean, who says he has never seen McLeod fitter or more focused.
McLean, who coached McLeod in Friday's All-Stars clash against Essendon in Darwin, says the Crows' matchwinner is in superb condition -- both physically and mentally -- and is poised to put his axing from Adelaide's leadership group behind him.
"He's ready for the title fight, he should be fighting Mundine," McLean gushed, adding he has backed McLeod to win the Brownlow.
"He is that fit, he looks magnificent. He's so lean, cut and ripped at the moment, it's not funny. He always looks good, but never has he looked as fit as he does this year."
A dual Norm Smith medallist and premiership player, four-times All-Australian and Michael Tuck and Jim Stynes medallist, McLeod added to his list of achievements by winning the Polly Farmer Medal as the All-Stars' best player in the 50-point loss to the Bombers. McLeod played primarily on the ball and was his team's leading goalkicker with two.
"He was our best player without a doubt," McLean said of the 260-game veteran, who was runner-up for the Brownlow in 2001 and third in 2000.
"He's a ball of muscle but he looks a bit slimmer up top and he's lost none of his pace. He was in and out of traffic like there was no one there and I'd hate to have to mark up on him. I can't see blokes stopping him this year."
At an age (30) when most players are slowing down, McLeod is like a good wine, according to McLean, "getting better with age".
McLean said if McLeod, who signed a two-year contract extension with Adelaide late last season, can avoid serious injury he could play for another four or five years.
"There's not going to be too much slowing up for him," McLean said.
"Looking at him now he'll get another two or three years easily and if he's played up forward I reckon he could go for another four or five years. He obviously looks after himself, he's been in the system for a long time and he just knows the game."
McLean said McLeod made some of his teammates look out of their depth in Darwin.
"Our boys, as a rule, are slick but a lot of our other guys were made to look sluggish and looked a little bit lethargic at times due to putting some bulk on over the pre-season.
"Andrew wasn't like that. He's looked after himself so well and was just so smooth across the ground."
Crows football operations manager John Reid yesterday spoke in glowing terms of McLeod, saying "he's in sensational nick". "It's the best I've ever seen Macca," he said.
Good news
16 February 2007 Herald-Sun
Andrew Capel
CROWS star Andrew McLeod is so fit he could take on Anthony Mundine for a world boxing title.
Fighting fit: Andrew McLeod has been training the house down in Adelaide. Picture: Ray Titus
That is the opinion of Indigenous All-Stars coach Michael McLean, who says he has never seen McLeod fitter or more focused.
McLean, who coached McLeod in Friday's All-Stars clash against Essendon in Darwin, says the Crows' matchwinner is in superb condition -- both physically and mentally -- and is poised to put his axing from Adelaide's leadership group behind him.
"He's ready for the title fight, he should be fighting Mundine," McLean gushed, adding he has backed McLeod to win the Brownlow.
"He is that fit, he looks magnificent. He's so lean, cut and ripped at the moment, it's not funny. He always looks good, but never has he looked as fit as he does this year."
A dual Norm Smith medallist and premiership player, four-times All-Australian and Michael Tuck and Jim Stynes medallist, McLeod added to his list of achievements by winning the Polly Farmer Medal as the All-Stars' best player in the 50-point loss to the Bombers. McLeod played primarily on the ball and was his team's leading goalkicker with two.
"He was our best player without a doubt," McLean said of the 260-game veteran, who was runner-up for the Brownlow in 2001 and third in 2000.
"He's a ball of muscle but he looks a bit slimmer up top and he's lost none of his pace. He was in and out of traffic like there was no one there and I'd hate to have to mark up on him. I can't see blokes stopping him this year."
At an age (30) when most players are slowing down, McLeod is like a good wine, according to McLean, "getting better with age".
McLean said if McLeod, who signed a two-year contract extension with Adelaide late last season, can avoid serious injury he could play for another four or five years.
"There's not going to be too much slowing up for him," McLean said.
"Looking at him now he'll get another two or three years easily and if he's played up forward I reckon he could go for another four or five years. He obviously looks after himself, he's been in the system for a long time and he just knows the game."
McLean said McLeod made some of his teammates look out of their depth in Darwin.
"Our boys, as a rule, are slick but a lot of our other guys were made to look sluggish and looked a little bit lethargic at times due to putting some bulk on over the pre-season.
"Andrew wasn't like that. He's looked after himself so well and was just so smooth across the ground."
Crows football operations manager John Reid yesterday spoke in glowing terms of McLeod, saying "he's in sensational nick". "It's the best I've ever seen Macca," he said.
Good news
