A change in attitude, rather than a revamped training program is the key reason behind the Gold Coast SUNS’ impressive gains this pre-season, according to wingman Matt Shaw.
“The boys are the fittest they’ve been and you can really tell the boys have changed their off-field lifestyle,” Shaw told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“It’s a bit like where I was at two years ago with surfing too much, being out a bit too much and wasting a bit of energy on off-field stuff.
“The boys have quietened down a bit and they’ve been thinking about training away from the club as well.”
“When they come to training, they are ready to go and you can really see the competitiveness in the group.”
At the end of the club’s defining 2013 campaign, Shaw says the club pledged to return from it’s off-season break ready to build on their eight win, high on their chances of a maiden finals berth in 2014.
The entire senior squad set goals to achieve, with no player wanting to be left behind.
“Everyone had goals to meet and mine was to put on some weight and a few of the other boys had to lose a few skin-folds,” he said.
“Everyone came back and met their goals where years before boys might have come back a few skinfo9lds over and taken three weeks to get them down. When everyone comes back in tip-top condition, it just helps so much.”
Completing every session so far this pre-season, Shaw is on track for another promising season in the AFL.
He played 18 of the GC SUNS 22 senior matches last year, and had more than 20+ possessions on half of those occasions.
The lively midfielder is as consistent as they come, and rarely puts a foot wrong under pressure.
Although spots are heating up, Shaw says the increased competition to play senior football will only spur the playing list to improve.
“The boys are starting o push a bit harder because they can feel other blokes breathing down their necks.
“We know success is just around the corner and we were only one or two per cent5 off last season.
“We only have to give an extra one or two per cent in the pre-season and who knows we might start reaping the rewards.”
