News Welcome to Carlton Rob Inness - Head of High Performance

[StanleyBeren]

He played a key role in Curnow’s disillusionment with the club - largely due to his refusal to allow Charlie to manage his own rehab/training program outside the club’s structured approach.

Thanks for the info.
I'm glad the club didn't fold. Rob Innes should be allowed to execute the job he's been paid for and ultimately he will be judged by his results, which will also need more than 1 pre season to determine.
We can't let the lunatics run the asylum as has happened a bit too much around the club especially in the last quarter of a century.

 

[Coona Blues]

Thanks for the info.
I'm glad the club didn't fold. Rob Innes should be allowed to execute the job he's been paid for and ultimately he will be judged by his results, which will also need more than 1 pre season to determine.
We can't let the lunatics run the asylum as has happened a bit too much around the club especially in the last quarter of a century.

While there is scope for a little leeway surrounding players’ personal preferences and “needs”, the entire list, particularly senior players have to buy in to the program.

 

[Stamos]

While there is scope for a little leeway surrounding players’ personal preferences and “needs”, the entire list, particularly senior players have to buy in to the program.

Also, certain super professional players would earn more leeway.

But a player who can't be trusted to take 30 seconds to line up for a shot on goal?
Maybe not so much.

 

[Christou2Kouta]

It is an interesting conflict. If you're the Head of High Performance, then you're the one accountable for the physical capacities of every player on the list. With that responsibility, I can understand why you'd prefer someone to follow your program rather than a rogue outsider.

Equally, if you're a player and you've found someone outside of the club that helps you feel and perform better than anyone else, it seems absurd that that resource would be taken away from you in order to comply with another person's program.

As a former personal trainer who had the chance to work with a few AFL players, it was extremely evident to me that those players had major gaps in their physical competency that my methods would've addressed very quickly and enhanced the work they did at the club. In High Performance, I think they can be seduced into using increasing numbers as a proxy for being better prepared, i.e. their 5RM back squat went up 40kgs from last off season, therefore I did my job in preparing them, which can be gamed. As opposed to a more qualitative lens, i.e. they move with greater ease, rhythm and timing or they can hold their form under fatigue, etc.

It's a dilemma for High Performance managers but it would seem short sighted to cut themselves off from the potential benefits of complementary practitioners.

 

[Coona Blues]

It is an interesting conflict. If you're the Head of High Performance, then you're the one accountable for the physical capacities of every player on the list. With that responsibility, I can understand why you'd prefer someone to follow your program rather than a rogue outsider.

Equally, if you're a player and you've found someone outside of the club that helps you feel and perform better than anyone else, it seems absurd that that resource would be taken away from you in order to comply with another person's program.

As a former personal trainer who had the chance to work with a few AFL players, it was extremely evident to me that those players had major gaps in their physical competency that my methods would've addressed very quickly and enhanced the work they did at the club. In High Performance, I think they can be seduced into using increasing numbers as a proxy for being better prepared, i.e. their 5RM back squat went up 40kgs from last off season, therefore I did my job in preparing them, which can be gamed. As opposed to a more qualitative lens, i.e. they move with greater ease, rhythm and timing or they can hold their form under fatigue, etc.

It's a dilemma for High Performance managers but it would seem short sighted to cut themselves off from the potential benefits of complementary practitioners.

The classic example is Jack Martin. I have no info as to if it was our program or his (lack of) effort to conditioning.

The bloke looked compromised, ie stiff, almost stilted during his time with us. His body was not “loose”. Moving to Geelong it was always going to be a fascinating watch. He presented for them like an athlete. Supple with good movement and condition. A different player.

It is a very stark example.

To be a little harsh towards Jack Russell, I would also suggest that McGovern looked considerably more athletic last season. He moved more like an athlete and less like an undersized big man. Gov’s performance questions relate to body and attitude, I concluded his body issues were considerably reduced last season. While I would not have been sorry to see him go, I am hopeful he is capable of producing a “career year” if elements align while he is clearly on notice, and playing for his future.

 

[Christou2Kouta]

The classic example is Jack Martin. I have no info as to if it was our program or his (lack of) effort to conditioning.

The bloke looked compromised, ie stiff, almost stilted during his time with us. His body was not “loose”. Moving to Geelong it was always going to be a fascinating watch. He presented for them like an athlete. Supple with good movement and condition. A different player.

It is a very stark example.

To be a little harsh towards Jack Russell, I would also suggest that McGovern looked considerably more athletic last season. He moved more like an athlete and less like an undersized big man. Gov’s performance questions relate to body and attitude, I concluded his body issues were considerably reduced last season. While I would not have been sorry to see him go, I am hopeful he is capable of producing a “career year” if elements align while he is clearly on notice, and playing for his future.

From my observations, Jack Russell’s philosophy places a strong emphasis on recovery — particularly through diet, sleep, and stress management — as his top priority. His second focus appears to be ensuring that players achieve the right volume and intensity of work to be fully prepared for match day and the season. The third pillar seems to be mental training, developing the mindset needed to handle the physical demands of training.

I haven’t heard him speak much, if at all, about movement quality or range of motion. I’m not sure whether that’s because he doesn’t see them as important, or simply because they’re not the kinds of topics that generate public interest. However, it does strike me that players were often labelled as “injury-prone” rather than exploring whether those issues could be addressed through improvements in movement or mobility.

 

[Sector 7G]

It is an interesting conflict. If you're the Head of High Performance, then you're the one accountable for the physical capacities of every player on the list. With that responsibility, I can understand why you'd prefer someone to follow your program rather than a rogue outsider.

Equally, if you're a player and you've found someone outside of the club that helps you feel and perform better than anyone else, it seems absurd that that resource would be taken away from you in order to comply with another person's program.

As a former personal trainer who had the chance to work with a few AFL players, it was extremely evident to me that those players had major gaps in their physical competency that my methods would've addressed very quickly and enhanced the work they did at the club. In High Performance, I think they can be seduced into using increasing numbers as a proxy for being better prepared, i.e. their 5RM back squat went up 40kgs from last off season, therefore I did my job in preparing them, which can be gamed. As opposed to a more qualitative lens, i.e. they move with greater ease, rhythm and timing or they can hold their form under fatigue, etc.

It's a dilemma for High Performance managers but it would seem short sighted to cut themselves off from the potential benefits of complementary practitioners.

Clubs pay massive amounts to get the most qualified Fitness professionals to train the players. Generally the second or third highest paid person in the football department. They should be involved in and have final say on any decision for work outside the club.

Classic example is Weiters where in the off seasons early on he worked with an external PT building up massive leg strength. He lost agility and plateaued for a couple of seasons.

 

[JustaBattler]

Our game style is also very taxing. We’d have to be the fittest team in the league to play that at full tilt for an entire game, and we definitely aren’t that.

Every coach in the competition focuses FIRST on winning the footy and then getting back if you don't have it - you cant do anything if you don't have possession - except try and get it back.

This is the #1 fundamental of any football code any team sport is about possession getting it keeping it and getting it back - there is no team ever that has ever played where a coach has said don't worry about winning the football and dont worry about getting it back - EVER.

Where I think people get things wrong is conflating the contested game described above which is the basic law of winning football with ....

#2 fundamental law of any code of football and that is


how and what do you do with possession once you have it?

Carlton's problem has been execution in possession - this has been a list issue.


which brings up #3

IF you are constantly winning ball and then squandering ball your capacity to win ball diminishes for any given level of fitness

which brings up #4

how well the opposition measure up against #1,2 and 3 is the relative game - you play against oppositions who are relatively better or not in one or two or all three of the areas...

SO you cant replace contested ability with so called outside run - because if you dont have contested ability you cant use outside run - except to defend and then if you win the ball back and you cant execute to advantage it is rinse and repeat over and over and over again...

this isnt coaching it is player ability to execute.

being fit enough to execute any game plan is about being fit enough to play #1, 2 and 3 in order over and over again - which is exactly what your opposition is trying to do.

there is a lot of ( imo) misinformation about Voss's so called game style- posted on here. His game style like any coach's game style is primarily dictated by his player's ability to execute all three phases. the fact that you see Carlton having to play contested football more than seeing them execute in possession - just proves the point that Carlton has been relatively poor at what to do and how to do it IN POSSESSION.

you CAN criticise Voss' use of structure though - wher he uses HFF as extra mids - focusing on defending first and thus losing structure and options into the forward fifty - but that too begs the question why is he doing that?

and the answer ( to me) seems pretty obvious- he knows how bad the execution whilst in possession capability is.

Just my view.

 

[Soapy V]

I don't buy the thought that we aren't fit enough.

When a group isn't fully committed, trust game plan and/or not playing for each other then they always fall away in games. Never fails

IMO it's all about attitude and culture to fight games out that was our issue last season

 

[The Bighouse]

It is an interesting conflict. If you're the Head of High Performance, then you're the one accountable for the physical capacities of every player on the list. With that responsibility, I can understand why you'd prefer someone to follow your program rather than a rogue outsider.

Equally, if you're a player and you've found someone outside of the club that helps you feel and perform better than anyone else, it seems absurd that that resource would be taken away from you in order to comply with another person's program.

As a former personal trainer who had the chance to work with a few AFL players, it was extremely evident to me that those players had major gaps in their physical competency that my methods would've addressed very quickly and enhanced the work they did at the club. In High Performance, I think they can be seduced into using increasing numbers as a proxy for being better prepared, i.e. their 5RM back squat went up 40kgs from last off season, therefore I did my job in preparing them, which can be gamed. As opposed to a more qualitative lens, i.e. they move with greater ease, rhythm and timing or they can hold their form under fatigue, etc.

It's a dilemma for High Performance managers but it would seem short sighted to cut themselves off from the potential benefits of complementary practitioners.

There’s a lot of players now doing their own PT in the “off” season including groups of players honing in for circuit training and the like (pic had TDK, R.Marshall together amongst others)
Didn’t help Binnsy unfort..

 

[Bfevola]

May just be me. However i am not happy with our guys hanging out with TDK given he ditched his team mates and the club. I realise a lot are friends, but if someone ditched me i wouldnt be so happy with them. Where is the competitive nature in our boys?

 

[Coona Blues]

May just be me. However i am not happy with our guys hanging out with TDK given he ditched his team mates and the club. I realise a lot are friends, but if someone ditched me i wouldnt be so happy with them. Where is the competitive nature in our boys?

I can get behind your sentiments for the likes of Curnow and Silvagni, but TDK and Durds had very different circumstances.

There should be nothing precluding them gathering for fitness sessions with players from other clubs before club sessions commence. There is a time to get competitive and tribal as the season proper approaches. Many of these blokes have real friendships dating back to junior days, there are enough hidden boundaries in life. Being civil, even friendly is fine, as long as they find white line fever when it is appropriate. (No Baz or EH references please)

 

[SurreyBlue]

Every coach in the competition focuses FIRST on winning the footy and then getting back if you don't have it - you cant do anything if you don't have possession - except try and get it back.

This is the #1 fundamental of any football code any team sport is about possession getting it keeping it and getting it back - there is no team ever that has ever played where a coach has said don't worry about winning the football and dont worry about getting it back - EVER.

Where I think people get things wrong is conflating the contested game described above which is the basic law of winning football with ....

#2 fundamental law of any code of football and that is


how and what do you do with possession once you have it?

Carlton's problem has been execution in possession - this has been a list issue.


which brings up #3

IF you are constantly winning ball and then squandering ball your capacity to win ball diminishes for any given level of fitness

which brings up #4

how well the opposition measure up against #1,2 and 3 is the relative game - you play against oppositions who are relatively better or not in one or two or all three of the areas...

SO you cant replace contested ability with so called outside run - because if you dont have contested ability you cant use outside run - except to defend and then if you win the ball back and you cant execute to advantage it is rinse and repeat over and over and over again...

this isnt coaching it is player ability to execute.

being fit enough to execute any game plan is about being fit enough to play #1, 2 and 3 in order over and over again - which is exactly what your opposition is trying to do.

there is a lot of ( imo) misinformation about Voss's so called game style- posted on here. His game style like any coach's game style is primarily dictated by his player's ability to execute all three phases. the fact that you see Carlton having to play contested football more than seeing them execute in possession - just proves the point that Carlton has been relatively poor at what to do and how to do it IN POSSESSION.

you CAN criticise Voss' use of structure though - wher he uses HFF as extra mids - focusing on defending first and thus losing structure and options into the forward fifty - but that too begs the question why is he doing that?

and the answer ( to me) seems pretty obvious- he knows how bad the execution whilst in possession capability is.

Just my view.

Incorrect.

In simple one sentence, we clog the midfield with Hewett and Cripps (2 slow players) inside bulls and very rarely balance it with outside runners like Cerra, Walsh, Williams, Motlop, Holland x 2, etc. When we win it, all they do is kick it long quickly or handball to TdK to run it out!! The latter is the funniest yet but how many times have we seen him execute a clearance after the ruck contest?

I have everything crossed that our new midfield coach will have a bigger say on structure and setup with ONLY one genuine inside bull, who gets drawn into the contests!!!

 

[RPCB]

He played a key role in Curnow’s disillusionment with the club - largely due to his refusal to allow Charlie to manage his own rehab/training program outside the club’s structured approach.

If the club allowed that dullard to manage his own rehab, he might never have returned from injury. Yeah, **** that lol.

 

[Lukeblueboy]

Incorrect.

In simple one sentence, we clog the midfield with Hewett and Cripps (2 slow players) inside bulls and very rarely balance it with outside runners like Cerra, Walsh, Williams, Motlop, Holland x 2, etc. When we win it, all they do is kick it long quickly or handball to TdK to run it out!! The latter is the funniest yet but how many times have we seen him execute a clearance after the ruck contest?

I have everything crossed that our new midfield coach will have a bigger say on structure and setup with ONLY one genuine inside bull, who gets drawn into the contests!!!

Spot on mate.
I’ll have a firm focus on the midfield set ups this preseason that’s for sure.
Be looking for a mix up/better balance in there

 

[JustaBattler]

Incorrect.

In simple one sentence, we clog the midfield with Hewett and Cripps (2 slow players) inside bulls and very rarely balance it with outside runners like Cerra, Walsh, Williams, Motlop, Holland x 2, etc. When we win it, all they do is kick it long quickly or handball to TdK to run it out!! The latter is the funniest yet but how many times have we seen him execute a clearance after the ruck contest?

I have everything crossed that our new midfield coach will have a bigger say on structure and setup with ONLY one genuine inside bull, who gets drawn into the contests!!!

Whatever you wanna say m7 - 2 players are stopping every other skillful users of the ball being skilful -

that is an interesting theory.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

May just be me. However i am not happy with our guys hanging out with TDK given he ditched his team mates and the club. I realise a lot are friends, but if someone ditched me i wouldnt be so happy with them. Where is the competitive nature in our boys?

I think it’s time we all accepted that this is just the reality of modern football.

It’s a business now, and the days of players holding grudges over teammates moving to rival clubs are long gone. These guys still train together in the off-season, share managers, host podcasts, and catch up socially ... it’s just how the game works today.

It’s the same story with the tired narrative of players 'rising to the occasion' against rival teams. Most of them don’t buy into it, they’re too young to remember the glory days that built those rivalries in the first place. These days, that kind of hype is mostly media-driven to sell tickets and build interest. The reality is, it’s the fans in the stands who care about it, not the players.

 

[Opium]

May just be me. However i am not happy with our guys hanging out with TDK given he ditched his team mates and the club. I realise a lot are friends, but if someone ditched me i wouldnt be so happy with them. Where is the competitive nature in our boys?

They are allowed to have friends outside of their clubs. Nothing abnormal about this whatsoever. In all honestly 99% of people would've done the same as TDK if in the same position.

 

[Bfevola]

Im old school loyalty stick with my mates kind of gal i guess. But i get footy is a business nowadays, it has lost its soul. And rivalries mean nothing anymore. I am an old 80's Carlton supporter so that is my era and there was and will be no better than those footy times. This sanitised, everyone backs eachother and wants the best for eachother is not for me. But i still love my Blues of Course. But want some shit in our players.

 

[Opium]

Im old school loyalty stick with my mates kind of gal i guess. But i get footy is a business nowadays, it has lost its soul. And rivalries mean nothing anymore. I am an old 80's Carlton supporter so that is my era and there was and will be no better than those footy times. This sanitised, everyone backs eachother and wants the best for eachother is not for me. But i still love my Blues of Course. But want some shit in our players.

It's a different world now.

 

[Gointocarlton]

It's a different world now.

Geelong, for a host of reasons, are old school and dont live in the different world the rest do. There is room for it if you want success bad enough. Free Agency has made it very hard.

 

[David Sylvian]

Inness was a real presence at the training I saw, was all over it. Seemed to be in control and liked it that way. Timings, hydration, nutrition, sprinting, jogging, walking all under strict supervision.
Made his team accountable for feedback a few times, fortunately they were on point.