Player Column – Josh Pullman Round 19

ANOTHER week closer to the business end of the season! We haven’t achieved the results that we wanted in either grade over the past three weeks and are hungry to get back into our groove.

You typically talk about individual players who are in and out of form. You hear about players training hard, and working their way back into a rhythm.

Travis Cloke has probably been the most well-documented case of that this year. The same principle applies at the team level.

Amongst the playing group, our leaders have taken a fresh look at our training after the mid-year grind, and implemented a few things that have helped us stack a good block of training together over the past few weeks. Our preparation and training has been really strong all year, but it’s always a good idea to take stock and hunt for areas to improve.

The coaches have the main say in the quantity and variety of training but when it boils down to it, it’s really the players that drive the quality.

The good thing about doubling-down at training to get yourself back in form is that when it comes, you know you’ve earnt it.

We’ve got the derby against East Freo this Saturday and it provides us with an opportunity to translate some good work on the track, to game-day.

As a back-line unit, you’ve got to be on your toes against the Sharks. The competition knows that their fast ball movement is designed to create one on one opportunities in dangerous spots for their forward-line, so pressure on the ball will be an important factor.

We’re expecting a tough game and will be looking to get back on the winners list and it’s about time a home team won a derby!