A key focus of the Hyundai Brisbane Lions Academy is trying to provide a holistic program from both on-field and off-field perspectives. Given we have limited contact time with our Academy players over the course of the year, it’s an ongoing process to cover off all areas of our curriculum.
Despite having a comprehensive curriculum, some key things exist across all age groups that will greatly impact on the development and improvement of the players. They include:
1. Skills
Some things never change in any sport, including AFL, and skill level is one of those. Skilled players (those who can consistently execute technical skills efficiently under pressure in games) have a clear head-start over other junior players when progressing through the junior talent pathway.
2. Fitness:
The physical demands of the current elite AFL game are continuing to grow. With player rotations averaging around 130 a game over the past two seasons, the introduction of the substitute rule and a possible cap on interchange rotations in the near future, a player’s ability to run at high speed repeatedly across 120 minutes of a game is probably the most demanding of any field sport.
3. Game Sense:
The ability to read the play, react to situations in games and position yourself to maximise involvement across an entire game again, often separates average players from the best at any age or level of football played. A lot of this is gained from experience in games but can also be learnt from training if small sided games and scenario work is included regularly.
4. Self-Motivation:
None of the above three points are going to be able to be improved considerably unless players are self-motivated and willing to focus on, and put time and energy into, improving these things at every opportunity. Too often player can go through a number of training sessions and games without having clear goals to focus on, measure and review. This makes it hard for players to gauge their development and improvement over time. Coaches can only do so much in limited time but players can work on little things every day of the week.
Some words that will clearly stick in my memory from departing Lions Senior Coach Michael Voss, who was great in sharing his thoughts, knowledge and ideas with our Academy staff are as follows and I think sums up pretty well what it takes to be an elite AFL player:
"If players aren’t making sacrifices, and preparing themselves at every possible opportunity to perform like they are about to go out and compete in a grand final knowing that they are ready with their skill, physical and mental capabilities, then this should be your single mindset to build and focus on if you want to be able to compete at the highest level in our game.”
