Doesn't Buddy get close to that, or did get close to that when he was at his devastating best?I don't think there is another AFL player like that at the moment and there hasn't been many over the years.
Thanks for the insights - it's very interesting. I had no idea they monitored their GPS data in the offseason?! That seems crazy. It's pretty cool you have these memories of him as such a young kid.Yeah he does those extras and plenty of extra running, weights, pilates, ball work etc, rarely an off-season goes by that he doesn't draw on some expertise to develop an area. As an example, at the end of his first season he felt his ground ball collection wasn't sharp enough so we spent hours over the Christmas break at the oval in Castlemaine with me kicking mongrel ground balls and him collecting them at speed. Day after day, hour after hour until I couldn't walk and he got a stern call from the Richmond conditioning boys telling him to back off after seeing the GPS data from his watch.
But it is also that he runs at a pretty full output all the time. Rarely does he miss a session or have a light one, he just ticks over on a full training schedule for most of the year.
He's trained like a fourth year from the first day he was drafted and still does, whereas most guys need to build and then start to taper as they get on in training years.
Yeah he does those extras and plenty of extra running, weights, pilates, ball work etc, rarely an off-season goes by that he doesn't draw on some expertise to develop an area. As an example, at the end of his first season he felt his ground ball collection wasn't sharp enough so we spent hours over the Christmas break at the oval in Castlemaine with me kicking mongrel ground balls and him collecting them at speed. Day after day, hour after hour until I couldn't walk and he got a stern call from the Richmond conditioning boys telling him to back off after seeing the GPS data from his watch.
But it is also that he runs at a pretty full output all the time. Rarely does he miss a session or have a light one, he just ticks over on a full training schedule for most of the year.
He's trained like a fourth year from the first day he was drafted and still does, whereas most guys need to build and then start to taper as they get on in training years.
I was always the same and my family & friends ( partners too ) would say why I’m training while I was in ‘holidays’?Yeah they all use GPS watches now so clubs can monitor their training in the off-season. It's technically voluntary but everyone does it.
I heard Lachie Neale after the Brownlow say he once jumped on a motorbike to get his data up after a night out while he was at Freo.
Not sure about Japan but he trains everywhere he goes. He's a work hard, play hard operator. The media show him in Vegas with Swanny but they don't show him doing the hill runs in 40 degree heat two days later.
Yeah that's a good call, although I don't think he has the aura of Dustin. He comes across more as a big Labrador puppy I reckon, bit more approachable and easy going.
Fair to say Ralph is milking every drop of the limelight with a few embellishments of the stories over the past couple of days.
I can say that first hand because my dirty football secret is I was there the day Dustin toured GWS. It's my second best sporting story.
The full story needs to be saved until I retire but suffice to say it was a very weird day and there was no doubt at the end of it that Dustin and GWS weren't a good fit, which made me very relived. If Shaun Grigg was torn on Saturday, I was confetti like.
Yep, no image with Gilchrist, what you see is what you get. Nicest, most humble, polite bloke in the history of humans, let alone sportspeople. You'd be stoked if your daughter married a man like him.
I should have bumped it down to number three, chancing into the rooms after 2017 definitely went past it.
Number one is definitely a night at the SCG when a couple of Aussie cricketers had a dispute about the team song but that can't be told for a good few years yet.
Does it make me ‘bad’ if I’m not really into ‘golf’????Ok ill take a ticket for the '17 rooms story.
Its a flaw in my character that i dont give a stuff about cricket
Wow, loving reading these stories TBR, thanks for sharing. Your comments about Gilly are good to hear, as that is exactly as he appears. The time you have spent with Dusty is just amazing, including getting into the rooms after the 2017 GF! I am in my early 50s and I now have Dusty at the top of my all-time player rankings. I think Dusty edges Carey due to his Grand Final performances. The amount of joy Dusty has given us over his career cannot be measured, he just makes me smile remembering any of his magnificent highlights. You are right about Dusty's aura. Warnie, Michael Jordan, Viv Richards, Roger Federer - their talent level is one thing, but they also have many opponents mentally defeated before they set foot on the ground/court.I think I've mentioned the 17 one on here before. I was working at the under 18 all star game earlier in the day so I had a ground pass. Took the chance and headed onto the ground after the game, saw Dustin and ended up heading into the rooms and enjoying a few beers.
Met Hardwick and said I'll be honest I would have sacked you and he said so would I and then we took a photo with Dustin and the cup.
Wasn't a bad day.
Update: I have a headache and I love Dustin Martin. I want neck tattoos tooooooooooooooooo.
Fair to say Ralph is milking every drop of the limelight with a few embellishments of the stories over the past couple of days.
I can say that first hand because my dirty football secret is I was there the day Dustin toured GWS. It's my second best sporting story.
The full story needs to be saved until I retire but suffice to say it was a very weird day and there was no doubt at the end of it that Dustin and GWS weren't a good fit, which made me very relived. If Shaun Grigg was torn on Saturday, I was confetti like.
I presume you’re talking about Michael Clarke and Simon Katich?Yep, no image with Gilchrist, what you see is what you get. Nicest, most humble, polite bloke in the history of humans, let alone sportspeople. You'd be stoked if your daughter married a man like him.
I should have bumped it down to number three, chancing into the rooms after 2017 definitely went past it.
Number one is definitely a night at the SCG when a couple of Aussie cricketers had a dispute about the team song but that can't be told for a good few years yet.
It's what Adelaide did for Riccuito.I think what would be befitting of the great man was that he has a “second career” as a forward, like Gary Ablett senior. Play til he’s 36 kicking kicking (maybe not the 100 a year as they used to) but 60 a year.
I think I've mentioned the 17 one on here before. I was working at the under 18 all star game earlier in the day so I had a ground pass. Took the chance and headed onto the ground after the game, saw Dustin and ended up heading into the rooms and enjoying a few beers.
Met Hardwick and said I'll be honest I would have sacked you and he said so would I and then we took a photo with Dustin and the cup.
Wasn't a bad day.