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- Sep 12, 2003
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- Melbourne
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- West Coast Eagles
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Veteran turns to round ball to help him tune up
By Emma Quayle
October 21, 2003
Glen Jakovich will launch the final stage of his career with West Coast next year on the back of one of his hardest-ever off-season schedules.
The veteran defender, who will play goalkeeper during the international rules series that starts against Ireland on Friday night, has prepared for the games by organising extra training sessions with the Eagles' fitness coach and working with the Perth Glory soccer squad.
Jakovich, who confirmed that he would continue his impressive 270-match AFL career in 2004, has also trained with national soccer goalkeeper Jason Petkovic, a childhood friend.
"It's been a pretty full-on end to the season, but it's good. It's definitely a bit of a head-start as far as my fitness is concerned for next year," he said.
"I had a couple of weeks off after the season which was a fair break and after this series I'll have another couple of weeks, but coming into pre-season I will have a fair bit of work done.
"I've still got a contract to play on next year so I was always probably going to play," the defender said.
"Unless the club decides they don't want me I'll definitely be there."
Jakovich grew up playing soccer with friends and relatives in Perth, mostly as a goalkeeper. He said that was "because I was the big kid" and based on that experience in goal he approached national coach Garry Lyon halfway through last year to express an interest in representing Australia in the international rules games.
The 30-year-old has never played in a mixed rules game against Ireland, with his All-Australian selections in 1994 and 1995 coming before the two-Test series was relaunched in 1998.
Australia has in recent years employed Richmond defender Andrew Kellaway and Adelaide midfielder Simon Goodwin in goal, a traditional problem area for the side.
After a weekend's training camp in Bunbury, Jakovich said it was easier to protect the goals in international rules football than in soccer, but that the job was otherwise less straightforward.
"Guys don't really go for the goals unless they're in range; they'll kick it over your head because it's the better percentage shot," he said. "That's the big difference between this and soccer but when guys are in range or there's a bit of a scrap they'll charge right in and go for the six-pointer.
"I've done a fair bit of preparation for it. I've put in a fair bit of work with Jason and the goalkeeping coach for the Glory is an Irishman; he used to play a bit of Gaelic footy.
"I've been working with him for the last two weeks and he's given me some really good pointers, so hopefully it will go well," he said.
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Nice feelgood story the bits I found interesting are:
*"the hardest fitness regime ever" good lord I hope he is doing cardio not weights.
* not thinking about retiring, so the club would have to sack him, not likely to happen.
* seems genuinly psyched about playing for his country. Great to see.
Regardless how his career finiishes up he will always be all class.
Cheers
Veteran turns to round ball to help him tune up
By Emma Quayle
October 21, 2003
Glen Jakovich will launch the final stage of his career with West Coast next year on the back of one of his hardest-ever off-season schedules.
The veteran defender, who will play goalkeeper during the international rules series that starts against Ireland on Friday night, has prepared for the games by organising extra training sessions with the Eagles' fitness coach and working with the Perth Glory soccer squad.
Jakovich, who confirmed that he would continue his impressive 270-match AFL career in 2004, has also trained with national soccer goalkeeper Jason Petkovic, a childhood friend.
"It's been a pretty full-on end to the season, but it's good. It's definitely a bit of a head-start as far as my fitness is concerned for next year," he said.
"I had a couple of weeks off after the season which was a fair break and after this series I'll have another couple of weeks, but coming into pre-season I will have a fair bit of work done.
"I've still got a contract to play on next year so I was always probably going to play," the defender said.
"Unless the club decides they don't want me I'll definitely be there."
Jakovich grew up playing soccer with friends and relatives in Perth, mostly as a goalkeeper. He said that was "because I was the big kid" and based on that experience in goal he approached national coach Garry Lyon halfway through last year to express an interest in representing Australia in the international rules games.
The 30-year-old has never played in a mixed rules game against Ireland, with his All-Australian selections in 1994 and 1995 coming before the two-Test series was relaunched in 1998.
Australia has in recent years employed Richmond defender Andrew Kellaway and Adelaide midfielder Simon Goodwin in goal, a traditional problem area for the side.
After a weekend's training camp in Bunbury, Jakovich said it was easier to protect the goals in international rules football than in soccer, but that the job was otherwise less straightforward.
"Guys don't really go for the goals unless they're in range; they'll kick it over your head because it's the better percentage shot," he said. "That's the big difference between this and soccer but when guys are in range or there's a bit of a scrap they'll charge right in and go for the six-pointer.
"I've done a fair bit of preparation for it. I've put in a fair bit of work with Jason and the goalkeeping coach for the Glory is an Irishman; he used to play a bit of Gaelic footy.
"I've been working with him for the last two weeks and he's given me some really good pointers, so hopefully it will go well," he said.
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Nice feelgood story the bits I found interesting are:
*"the hardest fitness regime ever" good lord I hope he is doing cardio not weights.
* not thinking about retiring, so the club would have to sack him, not likely to happen.
* seems genuinly psyched about playing for his country. Great to see.
Regardless how his career finiishes up he will always be all class.
Cheers
Glen Jakovich doing weights in training is rather like a fish swimming 50m laps.
