My week with the Tigers
Lill Priest
richmondfc.com.au
10:07:29 AM Thu 29 May, 2003
It was a dream come true for devoted Richmond fan Lill Priest when she recently spent a whole week within the inner sanctum at Tigerland. Here's Lill's entertaining account of her time with the Tigers . . .
Have you ever sat at the football and watched an errant kick or handball result in a turnover, then either glared or cursed at the coaches box thinking, what have you blokes being doing? Come on, admit it – we all have!
That’s why when Lot 31 at the Club’s recent Carlton Draught Auction came up for bidding, I realised an extra special opportunity presented itself. I was fortunate enough to be the successful bidder and this is the story of “My week in the inner sanctum”.
My week started on Monday, May 12, 2003 -- two days after our great Round 7 win against the Bombers. I was asked to be at the Club by 10.30am and, upon arrival, I was greeted by Ros Heal, whose official title is Football Operations Co-ordinator but, as I would learn as my week progressed, that encompasses only part of her role.
After meeting Ros, I was introduced to a couple of “heavyweights” in Greg Miller and Greg Hutchison. Both welcomed me to the Club and thanked me for my support. After a brief chat about membership and the match against Essendon, it was straight outside to watch the team train. Monday’s session was fun, relatively light and seemed to focus on ensuring players “ran out” the general soreness from the previous game.
When training was over, Greg Miller introduced me to our senior coach, Danny Frawley, who said, “I’ll see you at match review”. Just before match review I was introduced to the Club's current Player Development Officer, Dale Weightman. Now I will confess in my younger years, (read teenage) I was a huge 'Flea' fan and proudly displayed his name on my old duffle coat. So to meet Flea was a true honor.
Dale took me up to the “Graeme Richmond” room for match review. It was in the “GR” room that 'Hutchy' officially introduced me to the players -- and then it was on with business. The coaches present to the players an extremely thorough review of the previous weekend’s match. Using a Power Point presentation and then a video, the players are shown “plays” from the game that highlight the team rules and structures that were successful, and also those that could have been done better. Credit must be given to the Football Department’s IT people who work long into Sunday evening to have the match review and other videos ready by Monday morning. At the completion of match review, club captain, Wayne Campbell, came over and introduced himself to me. This was not something I expected, but I am extremely grateful to 'Cambo' for taking time out to do it.
Tuesday is an early start for the players, but despite my good intentions (and a pesky truck on the West Gate Bridge!) it wasn’t for me. Tuesday morning begins with weights in the gym, followed by skills out on Punt Road Oval. While the players were going through their skills session, I chatted with Noel Duncan, the Club’s Fitness Program Co-ordinator. A key part of his job is to co-ordinate and supervise the training programs for individual players, especially those in rehab. Also, for those players who pull up a bit sore from the weekend’s game, Noel has the job to get them up and ready for the next game by modifying their program for the week.
After the skills session, assistant coach, Darren Crocker, invited me to sit in on a couple of individual player video reviews. Thanks to the wonderful world of computers, every player receives a video of their individual performance from the game. At the completion of the two individual player reviews I sat in on, (thanks again Darren, Tim and Marty), I watched the players go through a concentrated exercise session in the gym called range of movement.
Wednesday is what I termed “my big day”. One of the reasons for this is that Wednesday’s training session is usually the main one of the week at the Club. My Wednesday started with lunch with the coaches, the two Gregs (Hutchison and Miller) and Ros at the footy department’s local haunt in Swan Street. From lunch, it was back to Punt Road in preparation for training at the MCG.
It was interesting to watch the players go through their different routines. While nearly all do some form of stretching exercises in the gym to loosen up, some do extra, whether it be a light jog around Punt Road or some boxing.
From about 2.15pm onwards, the players made their way over the 'G'. Hutchy popped his head into Ros’ office and said, “Lill, let’s go”, and with that we were off to the MCG. Fortunately for me, it was leisurely stroll rather than the run over that some of the players did.
The training session, which went for over an hour, was intense and the part that stood out the most to me was the vocalising of the players, not just the designated team leaders, but all players. It was especially evident during the close body-on-body tackling drills. Training concluded at the MCG after some goalkicking practice.
Back at Punt Road, the players went through their “warm-downs” and then it was upstairs to the GR room for “Opposition Analysis”. Dave Wheadon is the Club's full-time opposition analyst. I have read many reports and heard many commentators over the years that say Dave is the best in the business in this type of role. Having been privileged to sit in on one of his sessions, I can vouch for that. Dave's presentation and knowledge of the Tigers' upcoming opposition covers everything. His attention to detail is phenomenal -- from statistics to examples on video, Dave leaves no stone unturned in his job of making sure the players know exactly what to expect from the opposition each week.
Thursday is the players' day off and it was mine as well.
Friday, and the final training session before our match against the Demons. This session was relatively short and sharp. A few laps of the oval for most, followed by handball drills, kicking, tackling and some of what I call simulated match practice -- running the ball from one end of the oval to the other.
At the completion of this session the players selected to play for the weekend’s game are required to attend the team meeting. It is at this meeting you get an even greater insight into the preparation the coaches put into each game. The coaches go over the team’s structure and rules, reinforce Dave Wheadon’s key points of opposition analysis and then reinforce the tactics that we need to adhere to firstly, to enable us to shut down the opposition and, finally, help the team to win.
Saturday . . . and I have access to the rooms before the game. Unlike a lot of people who come into the rooms before the game, I am actually up close to the players, and I am sitting with some of the injured boys.
The players return to the change-rooms after the warm-up outside. The level of intensity is something I have never witnessed before. Every player is pumped. They are all encouraging each other, yelling the team rules that were spoken of at Friday’s team meeting. Danny calls them into one final meeting before they take the field. The players come out of that meeting even more fired up!
'Gas' leads the team out onto the MCG and through the cheer squad's banner. I follow the team down the race. Although I don’t actually set foot onto the MCG, just to be able to see the crowd from that area is amazing. I take my seat and watch the game from a totally different perspective. The way Melbourne plays is just the way Dave Wheadon said it would be. I watch the Tigers very closely, think of that team meeting and look out for the plays that work and those that don’t.
In the end my week is made complete as we stage a stirring last-quarter fightback to register our sixth win of the season. When the final siren sounds, I look at the coaches’ box and think to myself, “Well done guys -- all that preparation got us home tonight”.
Thanks to Greg Miller, Greg Hutchison, Danny, Darren, Wayne, Paul, Cambo and all the players, Flea and, especially Ros, for making me feel so much a part of our great Club.
Lill Priest
richmondfc.com.au
10:07:29 AM Thu 29 May, 2003
It was a dream come true for devoted Richmond fan Lill Priest when she recently spent a whole week within the inner sanctum at Tigerland. Here's Lill's entertaining account of her time with the Tigers . . .
Have you ever sat at the football and watched an errant kick or handball result in a turnover, then either glared or cursed at the coaches box thinking, what have you blokes being doing? Come on, admit it – we all have!
That’s why when Lot 31 at the Club’s recent Carlton Draught Auction came up for bidding, I realised an extra special opportunity presented itself. I was fortunate enough to be the successful bidder and this is the story of “My week in the inner sanctum”.
My week started on Monday, May 12, 2003 -- two days after our great Round 7 win against the Bombers. I was asked to be at the Club by 10.30am and, upon arrival, I was greeted by Ros Heal, whose official title is Football Operations Co-ordinator but, as I would learn as my week progressed, that encompasses only part of her role.
After meeting Ros, I was introduced to a couple of “heavyweights” in Greg Miller and Greg Hutchison. Both welcomed me to the Club and thanked me for my support. After a brief chat about membership and the match against Essendon, it was straight outside to watch the team train. Monday’s session was fun, relatively light and seemed to focus on ensuring players “ran out” the general soreness from the previous game.
When training was over, Greg Miller introduced me to our senior coach, Danny Frawley, who said, “I’ll see you at match review”. Just before match review I was introduced to the Club's current Player Development Officer, Dale Weightman. Now I will confess in my younger years, (read teenage) I was a huge 'Flea' fan and proudly displayed his name on my old duffle coat. So to meet Flea was a true honor.
Dale took me up to the “Graeme Richmond” room for match review. It was in the “GR” room that 'Hutchy' officially introduced me to the players -- and then it was on with business. The coaches present to the players an extremely thorough review of the previous weekend’s match. Using a Power Point presentation and then a video, the players are shown “plays” from the game that highlight the team rules and structures that were successful, and also those that could have been done better. Credit must be given to the Football Department’s IT people who work long into Sunday evening to have the match review and other videos ready by Monday morning. At the completion of match review, club captain, Wayne Campbell, came over and introduced himself to me. This was not something I expected, but I am extremely grateful to 'Cambo' for taking time out to do it.
Tuesday is an early start for the players, but despite my good intentions (and a pesky truck on the West Gate Bridge!) it wasn’t for me. Tuesday morning begins with weights in the gym, followed by skills out on Punt Road Oval. While the players were going through their skills session, I chatted with Noel Duncan, the Club’s Fitness Program Co-ordinator. A key part of his job is to co-ordinate and supervise the training programs for individual players, especially those in rehab. Also, for those players who pull up a bit sore from the weekend’s game, Noel has the job to get them up and ready for the next game by modifying their program for the week.
After the skills session, assistant coach, Darren Crocker, invited me to sit in on a couple of individual player video reviews. Thanks to the wonderful world of computers, every player receives a video of their individual performance from the game. At the completion of the two individual player reviews I sat in on, (thanks again Darren, Tim and Marty), I watched the players go through a concentrated exercise session in the gym called range of movement.
Wednesday is what I termed “my big day”. One of the reasons for this is that Wednesday’s training session is usually the main one of the week at the Club. My Wednesday started with lunch with the coaches, the two Gregs (Hutchison and Miller) and Ros at the footy department’s local haunt in Swan Street. From lunch, it was back to Punt Road in preparation for training at the MCG.
It was interesting to watch the players go through their different routines. While nearly all do some form of stretching exercises in the gym to loosen up, some do extra, whether it be a light jog around Punt Road or some boxing.
From about 2.15pm onwards, the players made their way over the 'G'. Hutchy popped his head into Ros’ office and said, “Lill, let’s go”, and with that we were off to the MCG. Fortunately for me, it was leisurely stroll rather than the run over that some of the players did.
The training session, which went for over an hour, was intense and the part that stood out the most to me was the vocalising of the players, not just the designated team leaders, but all players. It was especially evident during the close body-on-body tackling drills. Training concluded at the MCG after some goalkicking practice.
Back at Punt Road, the players went through their “warm-downs” and then it was upstairs to the GR room for “Opposition Analysis”. Dave Wheadon is the Club's full-time opposition analyst. I have read many reports and heard many commentators over the years that say Dave is the best in the business in this type of role. Having been privileged to sit in on one of his sessions, I can vouch for that. Dave's presentation and knowledge of the Tigers' upcoming opposition covers everything. His attention to detail is phenomenal -- from statistics to examples on video, Dave leaves no stone unturned in his job of making sure the players know exactly what to expect from the opposition each week.
Thursday is the players' day off and it was mine as well.
Friday, and the final training session before our match against the Demons. This session was relatively short and sharp. A few laps of the oval for most, followed by handball drills, kicking, tackling and some of what I call simulated match practice -- running the ball from one end of the oval to the other.
At the completion of this session the players selected to play for the weekend’s game are required to attend the team meeting. It is at this meeting you get an even greater insight into the preparation the coaches put into each game. The coaches go over the team’s structure and rules, reinforce Dave Wheadon’s key points of opposition analysis and then reinforce the tactics that we need to adhere to firstly, to enable us to shut down the opposition and, finally, help the team to win.
Saturday . . . and I have access to the rooms before the game. Unlike a lot of people who come into the rooms before the game, I am actually up close to the players, and I am sitting with some of the injured boys.
The players return to the change-rooms after the warm-up outside. The level of intensity is something I have never witnessed before. Every player is pumped. They are all encouraging each other, yelling the team rules that were spoken of at Friday’s team meeting. Danny calls them into one final meeting before they take the field. The players come out of that meeting even more fired up!
'Gas' leads the team out onto the MCG and through the cheer squad's banner. I follow the team down the race. Although I don’t actually set foot onto the MCG, just to be able to see the crowd from that area is amazing. I take my seat and watch the game from a totally different perspective. The way Melbourne plays is just the way Dave Wheadon said it would be. I watch the Tigers very closely, think of that team meeting and look out for the plays that work and those that don’t.
In the end my week is made complete as we stage a stirring last-quarter fightback to register our sixth win of the season. When the final siren sounds, I look at the coaches’ box and think to myself, “Well done guys -- all that preparation got us home tonight”.
Thanks to Greg Miller, Greg Hutchison, Danny, Darren, Wayne, Paul, Cambo and all the players, Flea and, especially Ros, for making me feel so much a part of our great Club.
