Stuart Graham - Head of High Performance

[El_Scorcho]

Thought Chad has done his time/apprenticeship…

I'd take Chad over our current fitness setup. Our last quarters are an absolute disgrace and half the side is out with hammies.

If we're going to be shit at least do it with some beach muscles.

 

[raptalia]

We still have not won a last quarter in 2025 and it is not getting any better, in the last two games it has been our last half where we have fallen down. After half time the scores have been-

GEEL 12.10
PA 2.5

FRE 9.4
PA 2.3

I am not sure what this high performance manager's role is or even who he is but on the face of those efforts he should join Ken Hinkley on the exit bus tomorrow. Of course this won't happen because Koch does want to admit that we have a problem.

 

[Chachi]

First things first, we can stop calling him Head of High Performance, then get someone who is.
Need to poach one like every other fit club has done.

 

[RangaInTeal]

Sean Baker, get him!

 

[bomberclifford]

I think we misunderstood the job title and got this guy

 

[LeoMessi]

I am starting to think that while other AFL clubs are investing into high performance supplements which are either very close to if not on the other side of the legal spectrum, we are still stuck in an era of canned beans as the best source of protein. I don’t think this club is pushing the envelope in high performance innovation

 

[Port 2004]

I am starting to think that while other AFL clubs are investing into high performance supplements which are either very close to if not on the other side of the legal spectrum, we are still stuck in an era of canned beans as the best source of protein. I don’t think this club is pushing the envelope in high performance innovation

They don’t push the envelope on anything. They are too piss weak.

 

[Rigs]

Sean Baker, get him!

Love him and how he goes about it. Had him for a pre season a few years ago

 

[Duck Farmer]

Push the envelope is a core component of our pre-season strength conditioning program alongside lift the paperweight.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

If he's head of high performance, I think he's only got Willie Rioli

15

Willie Rioli

Age

30

Ht

175cm

Wt

78kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.0

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

11.0

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.6

3star

up and running this year.

 

[all seeing eye]

Bet you he would argue that he has metrics proving that the players are better then last year. The game stats and eye test say no.

 

[Willsy10]

Mmm he is definitely in the firing line due to these second half fade-outs of epic proportions but let’s not forget he has been in charge since October 2021. 2022, 2023 and 2024 we never had this issue of being completely overrun in second halves.

We may have changed something in the pre season that has completely ****ed our fitness levels but their appears to be a fair bit of mental issues going on right now and a malaise with the coaching regime that may be making this look worse for Stuart Graham.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

We've always been undersized.

 

[Spadge]

Remember the good old day when we had Cam Falloon?

Who would have thought we'd be worse now than then

 

[Peninsula Boy]

I'm going to call it although I'm a bit reticent to do so.

It's not the fitness coach. The players have just lost the will to play unless it is easy. They've always had this but with Hinkley not giving a toss, they also don't give a toss so they don't run out games.

I think we should still get rid of him if we can though.

 

[davesnothere]

I'm going to call it although I'm a bit reticent to do so.

It's not the fitness coach. The players have just lost the will to play unless it is easy. They've always had this but with Hinkley not giving a toss, they also don't give a toss so they don't run out games.

I think we should still get rid of him if we can though.

Fatigue will turn you into a coward

 

[Rigs]

I'm going to call it although I'm a bit reticent to do so.

It's not the fitness coach. The players have just lost the will to play unless it is easy. They've always had this but with Hinkley not giving a toss, they also don't give a toss so they don't run out games.

I think we should still get rid of him if we can though.

I do agree to point and it would be a mental battle for them in this current circus of a situation.

I do think there’s an element that we are not conditioned appropriately still. Just look at the soft tissue injuries we currently have.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

Fatigue will turn you into a coward

The will of the team has been demolished and when the will is gone, you are already defeated.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

I do agree to point and it would be a mental battle for them in this current circus of a situation.

I do think there’s an element that we are not conditioned appropriately still. Just look at the soft tissue injuries we currently have.

Yeah, I still want him gone but everything is falling apart because of 'the decision'.

What this means is that David Koch and the Board are solely responsible for everything that is happening on field this year.

 

[Rigs]

Let’s hope Carr has already planned and locked in the people he wants on board next season. Including high performance

 

[Chewy316]

I'm going to call it although I'm a bit reticent to do so.

It's not the fitness coach. The players have just lost the will to play unless it is easy. They've always had this but with Hinkley not giving a toss, they also don't give a toss so they don't run out games.

I think we should still get rid of him if we can though.

It's this x100.

It's all mental - the players have stopped playing for the coach. And once that kicks in, every 50/50 ball becomes a 40/60 shot because they're not mentally willing to put themselves on the line for someone who has already mentally checked out themselves.

I'd take Chad over our current fitness setup. Our last quarters are an absolute disgrace and half the side is out with hammies.

If we're going to be shit at least do it with some beach muscles.

Only 3 players on the list currently have hamstring injuries.

Jones has had soft tissue problems his entire career. JHF's hamstring is most likely related to his back (and prior piss poor management of it by the Club's medical team, it's not a high performance issue). Not sure what the go is with Ratugolea but he is expected to be back after the bye.

I know it's an inconvenient truth, but the majority of the injuries have been collision based.

 

[PJ Power]

It's this x100.

It's all mental - the players have stopped playing for the coach. And once that kicks in, every 50/50 ball becomes a 40/60 shot because they're not mentally willing to put themselves on the line for someone who has already mentally checked out themselves.



Only 3 players on the list currently have hamstring injuries.

Jones has had soft tissue problems his entire career. JHF's hamstring is most likely related to his back (and prior piss poor management of it by the Club's medical team, it's not a high performance issue). Not sure what the go is with Ratugolea but he is expected to be back after the bye.

I know it's an inconvenient truth, but the majority of the injuries have been collision based.

I don’t disagree with any of this but I do think we need a new fitness coach. Your thoughts on whether he’ll be replaced?

 

[Peninsula Boy]

It's this x100.

It's all mental - the players have stopped playing for the coach. And once that kicks in, every 50/50 ball becomes a 40/60 shot because they're not mentally willing to put themselves on the line for someone who has already mentally checked out themselves.

Once the players stop playing for the coach, it's game over.

Once Hinkley had checked out, it took the boys a few games to catch up.

As you've said, 50/50 becomes 40/60, you pull out, you don't go back with the flight of the ball, a tackle is half a$$ed, the midfield doesn't run back, everyone takes a ping on goal, no one goes beyond their role, a small injury becomes a big injury and you get run over in the last half and quarters of a game.

 

[El_Scorcho]

It's this x100.

It's all mental - the players have stopped playing for the coach. And once that kicks in, every 50/50 ball becomes a 40/60 shot because they're not mentally willing to put themselves on the line for someone who has already mentally checked out themselves.



Only 3 players on the list currently have hamstring injuries.

Jones has had soft tissue problems his entire career. JHF's hamstring is most likely related to his back (and prior piss poor management of it by the Club's medical team, it's not a high performance issue). Not sure what the go is with Ratugolea but he is expected to be back after the bye.

I know it's an inconvenient truth, but the majority of the injuries have been collision based.

Do you think our fitness is good enough? Are we top half in the league for fitness and conditioning? Not a high bar, are we average or better? I don't think we are.

I fully agree that our issues are predominantly mental, but fitness and conditioning certainly isn't a strength, and really hasn't been for a decade. Even when we had Burgess he didn't seem to have his method really dialled in at that point.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

The players are giving up if they are are behind at 3/4 time by a decent amount.

Big loss games, last quarter performance

Coll 3/4 time margin -64pts lost last qtr 1.4 v 5.1 ..... away game
WB 3/4 time margin - 58pts lost last qtr 0.3 v 5.5 .... away game
Gee 3/4 time margin -36pts lost last qtr 1.0 v 7.4
Fre 3/4 time margin - 32pts lost last qtr 2.3 v 5.2 ..... away game - in that weather that was like a 13 goal loss

Total last qtrs us 4.10 v 22.12

Close losses

Ess 3/4 time margin +6pts lost last qtr 1.4 v 4.4 ..... away game, both sides had a 5 day break, our worst 4th qtr IMO.
StK 3/4 time margin -16pts lost last qtr 2.2 v 2.3
Adel 3/4 time margin -2pts lost last qtr 2.6 v 3.3 - classic Hinkleyball dominate a quarter and waste opportunities

Total last qtrs us 5.12 v 9.10

Wins

Rich 3/4 time margin +81pts lost last qtr 2.1 v 3.4 - classic Port under Hinkley can't go in for the kill
Haw 3/4 time margin +47pts lost last qtr 4.3 v 7.2 - our KPDs stupidly played 30m off their opponents in the last qtr.
Syd 3/4 time margin +28pts lost last qtr 3.0 v 5.8 ........ away game - we definitely were out gas in this game
NM 3/4 time margin +13pts lost last qtr 2.5 v 3.3 .

Total last qtrs us 11.9 v 18.17