Tuesday at Old Saleyards has been a significant point of difference for Parramatta Eels pre-season training this year. Featuring a morning on site, and an afternoon off site, there’s a combination of learning and damn hard work for the players.

It’s been also been the first significant and consistent use of the running track that I’ve witnessed. The establishment of an Athletics Performance Department for the team has obviously seen a shift in the conditioning methods used this year.

With the squad split into two groups over two hours, individual players have increased opportunities to receive individual attention.

As per previous weeks, the first half of each group’s time was under the direction of Lachlan Wilmot. Skills instruction with Joey Grima rounded out each hour.

Oh Snap

The mechanics work has included the use of rubber bands for use by individuals and pairs.

When the larger bands are used by pairs, it prevents the lead runner from striding out too much and helps them to focus on their action.

Kane Evans left his “mark” today.

Today, as Tony Williams and Kane Evans worked as a pair, T-Rex received a loud snap to his legs as Evans lost his grip on the band. It was quite audible and even though there were some laughs, you could almost sense everyone was thinking “that’s gotta sting!”

The use of equipment such as hurdles, weighted balls, and pads again featured in assisting the players to achieve correct form in their running. The smaller numbers meant that Lachlan and his staff can provide personalised advice, and players are encouraged to seek clarification.

Lachlan Wilmot

It’s early days yet, and he has a long way to go in his rehab, but our group of spectators were commenting on the noticeable change in Gutho’s running style. If there’s one thing that we’ve learned about Clint Gutherson, it’s his hunger to learn and develop as a player. We probably shouldn’t be surprised that he’s embracing Lachlan Wilmot’s methods.

Footballers Play Footy

Previous training reports have documented the drills conducted by Joey Grima to impart ball skills to the players.

Joey is renowned for his expertise and improvisation and has been utilised by the NRL at coaching seminars and was also involved in an off-screen role on the NRL Rookie program.

(As a spectator, I always learn something new about the skills of the game from watching such drills. Of course, to describe every trick of the trade used by our coaches would be divulging some unique methodology. Therefore, I try to be as generic as possible in my descriptions.)

Today involved movement across several stations.

Joey Grima – innovative skills instruction.

The first station worked on the ball grip. It involved a football and a tennis ball, and is imparted to the players in game-like method. It seems that the fun component helps the skill to become second nature. The ease with which Corey Norman completes these drills is something to behold.

Other grip drill stations followed using weights, moving the footy around the body and catching the ball away from the body. Suaia Matagi was like a machine in his execution.

Of particular interest to me were the offloading drills.

Working against single and multiple defenders, the players were coached as to how to use their body position and their arms to achieve an offload. Footballers play footy. This is what I want to see.

This is all part and parcel of creating skilled footballers, something that is at the core of what Brad Arthur is looking to produce as part of the Parramatta identity.

With the morning session completed, those hills at George’s Hall awaited.

Eels forever!

Sixties

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