Adding five kilograms of lean muscle to his frame over the pre-season has ensured young defender Sean Lemmens has turned his previous weakness into an asset.
The muscle gain brings his body weight to 80kgs and has the 21-year-old discernibly stronger and more explosive in attack.
“I have definitely put on some strength and size and I’m feeling like I can hold my own a little bit more out there,” Lemmens told The Gold Coast Bulletin.
“In the past I feel like I have had a kids body but now I feel a lot more confident in it.”
Lemmens’ individualised training program, formulated under the direction of Elite Performance Director Justin Cordy, sees him in the gym four times a week whilst also concentrating on his work-rate through high-intensity running drills.
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“I have also gained some fitness and it [the weight gain] hasn’t slowed me down at all,” he said.
“I feel more explosive and confident in my body.”
Although the Port Magpies product attained a career best 10 tackles against Fremantle in round 11 of 2015, he admitted he felt his previously slender frame hindered his ability to impact the game.
But Lemmens’ additional strength and agility has been obvious in match simulation training, where he has become much more difficult to push off the ball in contested situations.
The developments in his body shape and subsequently boosted confidence mean Lemmens is putting a convincing case forward for a round one berth.
“I’m just doing everything to get my body right while working on crafting my skills and if I’m lucky enough to get into that position then that would be great,” he said.
