IT’S ONLY the first day of pre-seasontraining and already the signs look good for Port Adelaide.
The club’s first- to third-year playerskicked off the pre-season on Wednesday and received a pleasant surprise whenthey were joined by 10 of the Power’s more senior members.
The group, which included vice-captainsChad Cornes, Brendon Lade and Shaun Burgoyne and also Kane Cornes, TroyChaplin, Toby Thurstans and Nathan Lonie, impressed the Power’s fitness staffwith their enthusiasm.
“I’m over the moon about it and it’s greatto see the older guys here,” fitness coach Darren Burgess said.
“Over the last three or four weeks they[the senior players] have come in a few times a week, so it’s no surprise tosee them here. The leadership group have really showed the way over the lastcouple of years and this year they’re going to take it to another level, I’msure.”
The Power’s four- to seven-year playersaren’t expected back at Alberton until next week, while Lade and Chad Cornesreturned a full 10 days ahead of schedule.
The club’s leadership group made aconscious effort to keep everyone in shape over the break in preparation for alate start to the pre-season.
This involved organising runs and also layingdown some heavy, and so far undisclosed, penalties for anyone who returnedbelow an acceptable fitness level.
Burgess said the dedication of the group,who frequently bugged him to conduct extra sessions over the break, was thebest of any club he’d been involved with.
“The senior guys are showing the way.They’re sending the message that just because they have actually earned anextra two weeks off; they’re not necessarily going to take them,” he said.
“I’d sort of planned for a lot of catch-up workwhile I was on my break straight after the Grand Final, but I don’t think we’llneed a real lot.”
“Some individuals may for differentreasons, but as a team we won’t need it because of what the players have done.”
Burgess attributed the newfound professionalismat Alberton to the Power’s trip to Londonlast year.
The team played an exhibition match againsteventual premiers Geelong,but also used the time to visit European soccer powerhouse AC Milan, where theypicked up a few tips.
“The boys went over to London and saw that professional players inother sports only get two or three weeks off,” he said.
“A lot of the soccer players I’ve broughtthe boys in contact with have talked about how they only have two weeks off inthe entire year, so I think with some of the boys having seen that last yearit’s brought that professional attitude into this year.”
“I think they saw some of the benefits ofstarting last year and it’s carried over to this year.”
