WITH the 2020 AFL season currently on shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, much of the conversation has been centred on how the competition’s players will be able to maintain their high levels of fitness in a reduced contact capacity with their clubs and coaching staff.
Port Adelaide’s head of high performance Ian McKeown says that while it will be a challenge, athletes of the calibre on the Power’s list are more than capable of staying ready to play.
“Our guys are raring to go as they are right now, particularly after that round one performance,” McKeown told Adelaide radio on Wednesday.
“We are anticipating it will take a few weeks for us to get things back smoothly.
“Obviously we want to get back as soon as we can and we’ll do everything we can to make sure we get that right.
“We are really confident that the boys are doing the right thing.”
McKeown and his fitness staff have been restricted in the contact they can have with Port’s playing group, but he was adamant the heavy workload put into the club’s pre-season will hold the players in good stead during the shutdown period.
“That is what you’re banking on this time of year,” he said.
“You have them at such a high level these days. We’ve had them for 12-14 weeks already full-time training so you don’t lose your fitness too quickly.
“Certainly in the horrible situation that everyone is in we are very fortunate that we are able to keep these guys fresh for longer now.”
The Northern Ireland native explained with an effective training regimen the players should be able to maintain an appropriate level of fitness to build from when games do return.
“Your maximum strength you actually keep for quite a while, it is a protective mechanism that you will keep that for a fair amount of time,” he said.
“Same for your general fitness, you will only start to see that go after a little while.
“The studies around bed rest and how much fitness you will lose, it takes about three weeks to significantly lose your fitness, and that is obviously a very extreme case where you are laying in a bed all day.
“The guys we are working with are freaks – in the best possible way – these guys are incredible athletes so they will innately keep their fitness a lot longer than us average Joes.”
McKeown was also confident that Port’s strength and conditioning team would be able to guide the club’s playing group through playing more games in a reduced period of time if required when the season gets up and running again.
“It is going to be a great challenge for everybody. It is certainly something the AFL hasn’t had to deal with before,” he said.
“These quick turnarounds between games are the only (fitness) stimulus that you’re going to get.
“The real challenge for us is going to be managing a squad list.
“For the guys that have played it will be relatively easy – obviously they’ll have played a game.
“But for the guys that are on the fringes in-and-out of the team, how do we keep them up to the standards so they can come in and perform at that exact level that they need to.
“It is going to be an interesting time for the AFL, but it is certainly something that these guys are capable of.”
