After a typically comprehensive pre-season program, Loy Yang B Gippsland Power finds itself in a very sound position as it faces up to its twenty-first TAC Cup season.
The club’s fitness director, Les Ponton, worked closely with Coach Nick Stevens to set up a program that challenged the boys physically and mentally. The boys have worked hard to meet these demands.
The effectiveness of the program was shown when once again Power tested as the fittest team in the competition at the recent TAC Cup fitness testing day.
This year the Power has chosen thirty eight players from all over Gippsland to represent the club. The list is a good blend of experienced TAC Cup players and newcomers to the big time. Sixteen boys have been in the Power system for four years, with twenty-two making their TAC Cup debuts in 2013.
Twenty of the boys in the 2013 squad come from three Gippsland League clubs (Traralgon-8, Sale-7 and Bairnsdale-5).
Four of the sixteen “veterans” turn 19 in 2013 and will play significant roles in the development of the youngsters throughout the season. The “old-timers” Josh Cashman (Sale), Bern Kearns (Churchill), Tom Muir (Warragul) and Josh Scott (Lakes Entrance) have met the strict competition criteria which enables talented players to have an extra TAC Cup season.
They will provide invaluable leadership for the rest of the team as well as their obvious talent as footballers. Ten of the newcomers are bottom-age and represent an amazing array of potential for Nick Stevens to develop.
After missing out on selection in the squad in 2012, Stevens coaching has seen several top-age boys develop their football skills and fitness levels enough to earn selection in 2013.
Players such as Adam Diamond, Mitch Mustoe, Frazar Brouns, Wes Russell, Ben Thomas, Troy Toussaint, Brenton Rees, Nick Dinsdale, Declan Keilty, Brett Waddell, Brandon Bailey and Ben Northover have worked extremely hard to meet his specific demands.
Stevens is delighted with the improvement in their physical and mental abilities to cope with the demands of the competition.
During the Power’s practice game program Stevens has steadily built up the boy’s awareness of the team’s game plan. The boys have gradually improved their performances with each match.
After a slow start against the Sandringham Dragons, they stepped it up against the Eastern Ranges and then hit top speed against arch-rivals Dandenong Stingrays. In the Stingrays match they dominated the key statistical areas of contested possession and tackling as well as forward fifty entries.
Off the field, under the direction of Peter Francis, the club has been busy providing a strong coaching team to support Stevens. Past Power players Troy Makepeace, Dylan McLaren and Jack Weston are back with the club and bring extensive experience with AFL clubs.
The Power coaching staff now have over 600 AFL games experience between them and will provide outstanding support to the players.
Power has also appointed Matt Waddell as a runner and Tamara Kennedy has joined the group responsible for the boys rehab and wellbeing. The club now has forty staff with roles to play on match days.
Peter Francis has been his highly efficient self in the off season, securing further extensive sponsorship. The club has continued support from long-term Power sponsors International Power Loy Yang B, Bendigo Bank and Chris Watson Holden.
This financial support will enable Power to begin work on stage two of the club’s centre of excellence training facility, a facility that is already regarded as the best training facility outside the AFL.
The second phase of the facility will see the construction of a 12m x 27m rehabilitation unit to adjoin the existing structure on the western side of the building.
The new area will contain a larger trainer’s room, massage area, weights area, a boxing space and two 4m x 2.4m rehab pools. The rehab pools will have both hot and cold sections, as well as adjustable currents to swim against. This means that the existing indoor training area will extend to its complete space of two basketball courts and further enhances the effectiveness of the facility.
The Power go into round one of the 2013 season against the Stingrays confident that they are ready to meet the challenges that Dandenong will throw at them.
Last Modified on 19/08/2013 11:02