O’Donnell could hardly contain his excitement when discussing the commitment being shown by the players with 1-4 years of AFL experience.
“They’re flying,” O’Donnell told LIONS TV.
“They’re really embracing Leppa’s game plan, are really hungry for information, and really excited by the new coach. So it’s been a really good week and a half.”
The younger players will soon be re-joined by their more experienced teammates, who have been afforded a longer break.
“Hopefully they're doing their programs – they were each given individual programs,” O’Donnell said of the players with five or more years of AFL experience.
“They’ll still be in a training mode so that when they come back, they’re ready to go and won’t drag our 1-4 year players back.
“But the five year players are going to have to muscle back into their territory.”
O’Donnell listed Michael Close, Dayne Zorko and Justin Clarke among his early summer standouts.
“Michael Close is taking all before him. He’s come back really fit and looks really keen to grab a spot in the side early in the year,” he said.
“Zorko’s going to have a great third year – he’s as fit as he’s been and is really intent on improving himself even more as an AFL player.
“Young Clarkey (Justin Clarke) had a shoulder operation but is doing really well – the whole squad is going pretty well.”
