For a number of players, the AFL’s annual pre-season competition will be an opportunity to push for round-one selection.
Voices were loud and football skills were sharp, with GC SUNS senior coach Guy McKenna and his coaching panel taking the squad through a variety of training blocks that focused on kicking and tackling drills.
Dividing into “Blue” versus “Yellow”, the playing group engaged in a physically-demanding match simulation that featured a competitive contest.
GC SUNS assistant coaches Dean Solomon and Shaun Hart strapped on the boots to get involved, with the courageous pair displaying with the same level of intensity that saw them taste premiership success during their playing careers.
It didn’t take long for the duo to make an impact, with Solomon kicking the first goal of the match within the first 10 seconds, after 45m centre clearance from fearless midfielder Karmichael Hunt found the goal square.
The heated match-simulation also saw two generations of football collide, with promising youngster Alex Sexton and GC SUNS development coach Ben Matthews going head-to-head, with Matthews doing his best to replicate his 2005 premiership form.
It was talented-utility Jared Brennan who delivered the highlight of the match, elevating over hard-hitting Charlie Dixon to take a strong overhead mark.
GC SUNS midfield coach Matthew Primus spoke before yesterday's training session, saying he’s been impressed by the hunger shown by the playing group.
“They’ve been very professional in the way they’ve gone about training this pre-season,” said Primus.
“They want to succeed and they want to get better… seeing what the players have been able to achieve over the summer has been exciting.”
“We’re really looking forward to the starting the NAB Cup and having a red hot crack against Brisbane (Lions) and Hawthorn (Hawks).”
