Football Department Watch

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We are back doing the 3km time trials rather than the trendy 2km ones.

On Borlace I hope we continue to put some top quality guys into the academy. It is a critical element of any future success for the Lions. There has been a turnaround the last couple of years but for the previous 5 or so years the Qld under 18 teams were noticeably well behind in terms of development. It shows how critical it is to have good people in those roles.
 
Does anyone have further detail on the parameters of Borlace's role? I worry a bit about shifting a development coach that appears to have had success in the academy. On the other hand, we're at a critical juncture for developing young players on the senior list, and another high quality development coach would be valuable for that purpose. I'd be interested to know if he's splitting time between academy and senior list, or moving full time to the seniors.
 
Kevvo said:
Does anyone have further detail on the parameters of Borlace's role? I worry a bit about shifting a development coach that appears to have had success in the academy. On the other hand, we're at a critical juncture for developing young players on the senior list, and another high quality development coach would be valuable for that purpose. I'd be interested to know if he's splitting time between academy and senior list, or moving full time to the seniors.
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http://www.aflca.com.au/index.php?id=17&coachID=8283705
don't know anything on his specific job description, but looks a pretty well rounded individual. would assume he will be performing much the same role but with listed players, maybe 1st year to 2nd or 3rd year players.
 

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Q&A with Damien Austin
The Club's High Performance Manager Damien Austin recently sat down to answer questions from the Lions and Lions fans about how professional AFL players train, workout and handle their nutrition.

Lions Q: You’ve come to the Lions after gaining experience at a variety of different codes, what makes the high performance training at an AFL Club unique?

Damien: What makes AFL unique - both the game and the training - is the duration of the game, the size of the fields (which impact the running volumes of the players) and the combination of skill required by all players to perform under pressure by hand and foot. The duration and volume of running of the game means they have to be aerobically fit, whilst also being able to deal with repeated sprint efforts, contact and perform skills effectively under fatigue. Each sport has its own nuances, which require specificity of training programs and methodologies to meet the match demands.

Lions Q: AFL players, no matter their position, need to have strength, speed, endurance and skill. How do you balance this through training?

Damien: The various components mentioned are accentuated at various stages within the overall program. Strength training in the weights room has its own scheduled time slot throughout the week, whilst speed and endurance are emphasised in the pre-season. They are continually maintained and developed throughout the season during skills training or in addition to it, based on individual needs.

Lions Q: What role does nutrition play in the boy’s training regime? Are there any new rules around nutrition that you have implemented?

Damien: We now have a full-time sports dietician in Louise Cato, who has implemented her own touches to the program. The basics of nutrition still stand, with the right choices of foods and amounts to give the players enough energy to train and play, but also recover correctly. The monitoring and education around correct hydration, has been crucial training throughout the pre-season in the Queensland temperatures. The implementation of cooking classes and continual education for the players is crucial to getting the most out of them week in week out, when they eat away from the Club.

Lions Q: What role do supplements play in your training regime? Which USN products do you like to recommend to the boys?

Damien: Supplements are only considered an addition to a healthy diet. Our Sports Dietitian looks at their overall diet first of all and how that can be improved and maintained. Protein supplements, such as whey and multi-whey proteins are the most used to aid recovery, plus BCAA’s.

Lions Q: When you came in during the pre-season you customised each player’s workload and did injury testing. Why did you do that and what did it involve?

Damien: Each individual player has a different physiological and biomechanical make-up, plus varying degree of training experience. So in order to customise a program around there individual needs, there needs to be some testing protocols to ensure they not only avoid injury, but have the ability to perform or run mechanically better. If an athlete has higher movement efficiency, they are less likely to get injuries.

Lions Q: Stef Martin is USN’s ambassador. He’s carved out an incredible physique and on-field efficiency. What do you attribute to that?

Damien: Stef puts a lot of effort into getting himself physically and mentally right, which I attribute to Stef himself and commitment to succeed, which makes him a good role model.

Fan Q: Are protein shakes beneficial for assisting with building muscle and support with recovery of muscles? Or can the required amount of protein be reached via normal healthy, varied diet? Do Lions player use protein supplements?

Damien: Adequate protein intake can be accommodated in a daily diet and our dietitian aims to ensure all players have a healthy varied diet to achieve this. We do have players taking supplements, including protein supplements, which may aid dietary intake around certain training sessions, whether it be weights, training sessions or playing. Each player may or may not have these supplements supplied based on our dietitian's recommendations.

Fan Q: How many Kms per week do the players average running for training and what do they try and maintain as weekly Kms through the season?

Damien: During the season, the training volume changes according to match turn-around, whether we have a 6, 7 or 8 day break between games. The longer weeks allow for slightly more training than short weeks, were recovery can be a focus. They would average anywhere between 20 to 30km a week, including the game.

Fan Q: What are some of the best exercises to build up forearm size?

Damien: Any exercise that involves a high amount of grip strength, generally helps build forearms e.g. Farmers walks, plate pinches. To isolate the extensors and flexors of the wrist, DB or BB wrist curls on a bench with both palm-up & palm-down positions.

Fan Q: What are the best exercises to help strengthen the muscles around the Sacroiliac Joint which can be incorporated into a gym program?

Damien: The sacroiliac joint has a diversity of muscles which have a relationship to the effectiveness of the joint. Depending on the purpose of the exercises, depends on whether there is hypermobility or hypomobility or normal paramaters and whether stretching exercises are implemented or/and strengthing exercises can be implemented. In general terms; exercises commonly used are Glute bridge variations, prone bridging variations, lower trunk rotations, resisted hip extension to name a few.
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Simon Black is set to depart Brisbane’s coaching panel at the end of the 2016 season

HIGHLY decorated former champion Simon Black is set to depart Brisbane, as the Lions undergo a shake-up of their coaching panel.

Black, who was the Lions’ midfield coach this year, is understood to have decided he will leave the Lions to concentrate on his burgeoning football academy.

Another Brownlow medallist and assistant coach Shane Woewodin is also expected to depart the Lions, while the future of former Essendon captain and long-time assistant coach Gary O’Donnell is undecided about his next move.

While the Lions have three assistant coaches under contract — Danny Daly, Murray Davis and Mitch Hahn — the future of the assistants may be shaped by whether senior coach Justin Leppitsch is removed with a year to run on his contract.

Leppitsch’s position is to be reviewed at the end of what has been a terrible season for the Lions, who have won just two games and have performed well below even the modest expectations that surrounded them in pre-season.

Black is establishing the Simon Black Academy in different locations around the country, with bases in Melbourne and Queensland and Tasmania. Black spent three years on the coaching panel working under his former team mate Leppitsch, acting as midfield coach in 2015 and 2016.

O’Donnell, who has been overseeing development at the Lions, has been employed on staff, rather than on a contract, for several years and is weighing up his options.
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Davis seems very impressive.
 
Panthera said:
They just seem so dopey when trying to explain their analysis. Maybe AFL is a rung too high for them. Obviously I don't know but I can only go by our results / tactics / style of play :cool:
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Don't confuse homely with dopey.:D
 

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Simon Black to quit Brisbane Lions coaching job to focus on academies

BRISBANE’s most decorated player Simon Black has made the heart-wrenching decision to end his coaching career at the Lions.

The 2002 Brownlow medallist will focus his energies on his growing business, the Simon Black Australian Rules Academies.

The triple-premiership winner has wrestled with his conscience all season.

As Brisbane’s games record-holder with 322 appearances, his roots at the Gabba run deeper than anyone’s.

However, he and his business partners intend to increase the number of academies across the country to eight next year.

And Black has always felt strongly that if it is his name on the door, the students deserve direct contact.

For the past 12 months he has spent his one day off from the Lions spreading his time among the three existing academies.

“When you give your name to something like this, I believe you should commit to it,’’ he said.

“It has become something I am really passionate about.

“I oversee the footy program, help take the training drills when I’m out there.

“I also like to act as a sounding board to the kids, you get to know them reasonably well.

“They don’t all go on to play AFL footy, it is about personal growth too.’’

Black is the only player in VFL-AFL history to have reached 300 games, won a Brownlow Medal, played in a premiership and claimed a Norm Smith Medal.

He will be a huge loss to the Lions. Fellow assistant coaches Shane Woewodin and Gary O’Donnell will also leave at the end of the season.

It has been said several assistant coaches at the Lions have become frustrated at the minimal input they are able to contribute under coach Justin Leppitsch, who refers largely to his right-hand man Danny Daly.

But Black said he had not fallen out of love with the club or his coach and former teammate, insisting it was purely a business decision to leave.

“It was a really a tough decision,’’ he said.

“Although the win-loss ratio has been tough, I really love the coaching and I felt I had started to grow in the role.

“To walk away while we are down the bottom is also tough, you want to stay and fight it out.’’

Black hopes to stay involved in some small capacity next year, saying he felt “incredible loyalty” to the club.
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AFL investigates GWS Giants star Lachie Whitfield over drugs allegations

Former number one draft pick Lachie Whitfield has been investigated for deliberately hiding from drug testers with the help of two former Greater Western Sydney football officials.

The AFL has completed an investigation into the matter and is considering what if any action to take against Whitfield and former football manager Graeme Allan and welfare manager Craig Lambert.

It is understood there are incriminating text messages between Whitfield and his then girlfriend which are at the centre of the investigation.

Whitfield stayed at Lambert's home in May last year rather than at his own home, allegedly out of fear he may fail an illicit drug test. Whitfield has said he was suffering from a migraine and it was common for players to stay at Lambert's house rather than stay alone.

All of Whitfield, Allan and Lambert face the prospect of between two and four year mandatory bans if found guilty of deliberately evading or being complicit in seeking to evade a drug test.
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Securing Neil Balme as football manager is Brisbane’s top priority

NEIL Balme is Brisbane’s No. 1 priority.

Lions CEO Greg Swann on Monday made the bold declaration that the most important decision Brisbane faces in coming weeks was getting an experienced football manager, ahead of finding a coach.

It sounds dramatic but he is right.

Swann made a pitch to Collingwood footy manager Balme over lunch last week and has also contacted Kangaroos football manager Geoff Walsh and Adelaide’s GM of football David Noble.

Although Swann’s preference for the next senior coach to be someone who has done the job before — which puts Hawks assistant and former Blues coach Brett Ratten at the top of the list — his is just one of several voices involved in the selection process.

Collectively, they believe an experienced senior assistant can do the job.

John Barker, who is a long time assistant but coached the Blues as a stand-in after Mick Malthouse’s departure, has strong supporters.

The AFL want their Level 4 coaching course to be seen as a prerequisite for senior coaches and the candidate is likely to come from the two intakes if the club goes for an untried coach.

Should the Lions go that way, an old head to steer them through what are sure to be rocky waters for the next year or two is essential.

So is a firm voice who can restore order among a section of the playing list that have become a law unto themselves.
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Leigh Matthews won't be on panel to pick new Brisbane Lions coach

Brisbane Lions football director Leigh Matthews will not be on the selection panel to appoint the club's next coach.

The panel to appoint a replacement for Justin Leppitsch, to be chaired by club chief executive Greg Swann, will be announced during the week. The panel will then present its selection to the board, of which Matthews is a member, to ratify.

Neither Matthews nor Leppitsch, who was sacked by the Lions the day after the club's final-round loss to St Kilda last Monday, was at the Club Champion dinner on Saturday.

The AFL has been infuriated by recent comments by Matthews about the state of football in Queensland. Matthews told News Corp Australia last week that if he was beginning his career he would rather play at Glenferrie Oval – Hawthorn's old home ground – than the Gabba.
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Probably celebrated with a few of these -
hahnpremiumlight.jpg
 
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