6 December, 2011

So far this is turning out to be the hardest pre-season I’ve done since I got here two years ago.

We’ve done some really hard sessions, with lots of repeat running. It can make you feel pretty sick, and today I had to disappear for a moment or two to get rid of my breakfast!

But there’s one thing that always helps me get through it, and that’s the way the boys all urge each other on and talk a lot out there.

Today there were quite a few guys standing at the finish line when a few of us were finishing our run, and just hearing their voices and support gets me there.

Shawy (Rhyce Shaw) is always the loudest but a lot of boys help each other through the tough times during the pre-season.

I wasn’t very happy with myself when I first got back last month. My 3km time trial was a bit of a shock as I thought I’d done enough while I was back home in WA. I followed the program set by the club, but it’s hard to get the intensity right when you do it on your own.

I’ve got my brothers and mates back at home but they were all at work during the day so I was doing it by myself.

Anyway, today I felt really good and I’m improving a lot. We’re also doing quite a lot of skills work, and today I hit every target bar one.

Some of the boys have been really good on the track. Eugene Kruger is one and Trent Dennis-Lane has come back really good, and Craig Bird. Tommy Walsh looks good too. He is a big dude.

I’ve learnt a lot the last two years since I joined the Swans in the 2009 draft. Your work rate in the off season makes such a big difference to how you play during the season. And no matter how hard it is now, I love it.

We picked up another indigenous player in trade week, with Tony Armstrong coming over from Adelaide. He’s a very cool character.

I’ve got involved in helping to raise money for Indigenous literacy, through the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation’s Wall of Hands.  A lot of indigenous kids in remote areas can’t read and the Wall of Hands wants to help fix that.

I know how important school is. I left for two years and then went back and finished school and it made a big difference to my life.  So far more than $2000 has been raised just on the Swans’ wall, so please help if you can by donating at https://wallofhands.com.au/Wall/View/674