Cyclic Modified Training Loads?

[Cousin of Daicos]

I was wondering if any of you think that maybe Collingwood are doing some experimentation this year with having specific players on varied training loads in planning out the season?

Just going by all the comments coming from Mick about resting players, and having the calendar and organising player rests and so forth by a strict calendar, and about playing certain levels of football at certain times.

Combine that with the form of some players, Reid, Wellingham, Tarrant, Jolly and the like.

Is it possible we're experimenting with say having some players on heavier training loads early, so they come good in the middle part of the year, during which players who are in form now will then go through the heavier load in the middle part so that they come good at the end of the year, and then at the end, they may all level out and ease them in at training so they are cherry ripe to hit the finals full boar?

Or is that idea just stupid and made no sense?

 

[Zahki]

You're correct Ed. Mick came out and said they're managing players to peak at different times. I believe it's because of our late preseason start, the length of this season and the fact that we don't have Lockyer, O'Bree, Presti, Fraser to take the blows early in the season and be replaced by younger, fresher players later on.

 

[MarkT2]

A plausable theory but I have my doubts we'd flirt with form like that. I took MM's comments to mean they aren't at peak yet but the plan is to peak later in the year and in time for finals. Whatever they are doing Luke Ball has some distance back in his kicking so keep it up.

 

[Ricky90]

It's all true. The idea behind the sports science is mainly due to players ages. A more mature player (but not geriatric) will be able to peak and hold it there for longer. So that's your 24-28 year olds. The guys younger and older will want to peak now and later in the season (Blair, Tarrant, Johnno etc.)

Just have faith in Butters. We'll be fine.

 

[Markfs]

Ten years ago, players would refuse to go to the interchange bench because they didnt want to miss any part of the game. Now they realise that they can do without it.

I think that this strategy has been extended to actually resting players for whole games. Jolly is going to get sore knees a number of times during the year in order to give Cam Wood a game - when Wood is doing enough in the VFL.

Other players will get a rest when players in VFL show enough. At the moment, no one from the VFL deserves a game....but if someone strings a few games together, then you'll probably see someone in the seniors get a minor injury...

 

[shawthing09]

I may be off the mark but I was under the impression that most clubs did this most years.

 

[The Get Up Kid]

Would be interested to know if there are some on vastly different loads then say what they did at the same stage last year. I think the form of a couple of guys is just due to the form of others. How can we have 22 guys getting 25 touches? Not possible.

If we lose any games it won't be because of fitness, lack of or heavy workloads. We have finished the 4 games better than the opposition so whatever they're doing I have total faith in.