Management of workloads is a major focus for all players; particularly those in their first, second or third seasons in the AFL. But given the injury toll inside Metricon Stadium, it’s a luxury that hasn’t been afforded this year and is an area of concern for Rodney Eade heading into the final two months of the season.
 
Rookie revelation Adam Saad has captivated the football landscape with his breathtaking runs in his maiden season, but he will miss a second successive game due to a groin issue that has shown early signs of the dreaded osteitis pubis.
 
Touk Miller is another first-year player who has well and truly exceeded expectations in his debut year, and along with second-year rebounding defender, Kade Kolodjashnij, the pair have played every game this year and are starting to show signs of fatigue. Not in their performance, but in getting up from week to week.
 
With eight games remaining, and an injury list that has hovered around crisis status for the majority of the year, Eade is wary of the pair’s loads and will look to manage them in the near future. That is, if the opportunity to do so presents itself.
 
“That’s an interesting one because Adam Saad now is getting sore groins, which is (due to) the load. Normally a first-year player you give them a break before now,” Eade told the media at Metricon Stadium on Friday.
 
“So, Touk and Kade are just, our measuring is that they're starting to wilt a little bit and that’s the problem you have with so many injured players that the loads go on to some younger guys.
 
“I said it about three weeks ago, hopefully we can get some players back that we can start to actually monitor them, whether we give them a rest or play them as a sub.
 
“Obviously Kade’s in really good form at the moment, but he had a sore groin going into last week, he didn’t train much last week going into the game. He’s a little bit better this week, but this is going to be a management issue going forward.”
 
The distance Kolodjashnij has put between himself and the mythical second-year blues this year is enormous, particularly in the last two months where he has established himself as one of the premier young defenders in the game.
 
Along with his brilliant on-field performance, Eade is even more satisfied with the growth the Tasmanian has made with his leadership and ability to organise the back six during the heat of battle.
 
“He’s done exceptionally well. His pre-season form wasn’t great, but his last eight weeks have been terrific,” Eade explained.
 
“I think as much his form as his leadership, for a quiet young lad, he’s really jumped up in that area. So we think he’s been exceptional the way he’s played.”