- Banned
- #1
ADELAIDE'S uncanny good luck with injuries appears set to extend into the new year with all but three players resuming full training this morning.
Only ruckman Ben Hudson (knee), utility Scott Stevens (shoulder) and defender Nathan Bassett (shoulder) will be restricted to light duties when the Crows reconvene at Max Basheer Reserve.
"It is an excellent situation to be in," Adelaide fitness coach Stephen Schwerdt admitted.
"Generally speaking there's been nothing major (go wrong) and that's an element of good luck but also good management by our medical team." Like last summer, the focus has been on combining fitness with a strong football element, rather than traditional time-trials which are only held weekly.
A mandate of coach Neil Craig, the trend is again proving successful according to Schwerdt, who believed it was behind the club's ability to keep the majority of the squad fit in 2005.
We did some testing just before the (Christmas) break and that indicated the players are improving in the aerobic area as well as in the sprint tests," Schwerdt said.
And that is with little running which tells us that using the footballs is also providing us with the conditioning."
Yet to join the main group this pre-season, Chad Gibson (groin) and Luke Jericho (groin) will both step up their 2006 pre-season campaign from 9.30am.
Reliable backman Bassett, who underwent shoulder surgery after Adelaide's preliminary final loss to West Coast, is expected to be at full tilt within a fortnight.
While Hudson isn't expected to play before the mid-season break, Stevens – who is facing a career-defining season at West Lakes – should be pushing for selection in the NAB Cup in February. Meanwhile, Port Adelaide's 13-day Christmas sojourn will end tomorrow when it resumes training with a running session at McKinnon Parade from 8am.
Only ruckman Ben Hudson (knee), utility Scott Stevens (shoulder) and defender Nathan Bassett (shoulder) will be restricted to light duties when the Crows reconvene at Max Basheer Reserve.
"It is an excellent situation to be in," Adelaide fitness coach Stephen Schwerdt admitted.
"Generally speaking there's been nothing major (go wrong) and that's an element of good luck but also good management by our medical team." Like last summer, the focus has been on combining fitness with a strong football element, rather than traditional time-trials which are only held weekly.
A mandate of coach Neil Craig, the trend is again proving successful according to Schwerdt, who believed it was behind the club's ability to keep the majority of the squad fit in 2005.
We did some testing just before the (Christmas) break and that indicated the players are improving in the aerobic area as well as in the sprint tests," Schwerdt said.
And that is with little running which tells us that using the footballs is also providing us with the conditioning."
Yet to join the main group this pre-season, Chad Gibson (groin) and Luke Jericho (groin) will both step up their 2006 pre-season campaign from 9.30am.
Reliable backman Bassett, who underwent shoulder surgery after Adelaide's preliminary final loss to West Coast, is expected to be at full tilt within a fortnight.
While Hudson isn't expected to play before the mid-season break, Stevens – who is facing a career-defining season at West Lakes – should be pushing for selection in the NAB Cup in February. Meanwhile, Port Adelaide's 13-day Christmas sojourn will end tomorrow when it resumes training with a running session at McKinnon Parade from 8am.
