It’s January and typical of Perth at this time of the year: it’s hot.
At McGillivray Oval, with a stiff easterly blowing across the precinct, the West Coast players are engaged in the second phase of their pre-season program.
Post-Christmas, the intensity generally rises. Players can see the starting line and conditioning and other preparation begins to morph into match play. Another four weeks of this and they will be doing what they love best: competing in matches.
New senior coach Adam Simpson can see the mood shift in his charges. He noticed on Saturday, when the squad resumed from their festive break, a rise in intensity.
He would have liked that, cranking it up before the business of winning games becomes the absolute focus.
PHOTO GALLERY: Pre-season heats up
“The players themselves look a bit different, on Saturday the training went up a notch,” Simpson assessed.
“I know the NAB Cup is a fair way away, but early Feb we start playing games, so it’s getting serious.
“We are implementing new language, new style of play, ball movement, new coaches, so we’re still progressing through that.
“We have 35 players training today which I think is pretty high compared to what we have had in the past, because I think we have had a few injuries (in previous years).
“With 35 on the track today, I think that’s our highest number.”
There were a handful of players, including ruckmen Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, utility player Simon Tunbridge and new recruits Tom Barrass and Malcolm Karpany, training on the oval adjacent to the main group, but all of them looked in good shape.
Beau Waters, who is recovering from an infection post shoulder surgery, did little, but the main squad was again slick in their ball use and engaged enthusiastically in a 90-minute session.
“Nic is progressing well,” Simpson said in response to a question about the athletic big man’s progress.
“On Saturday I glanced over and he is running the best I’ve seen, so we will gradually get him into full training by the end of January. We will get him into full training first and then manage his loads from there.
“There is still a bit of time before NAB Cup. It’s a week to week thing, but at the moment it’s all good.
“The leadership and captaincy will be decided at the end of the month, too.”
