Awaiting REB's Latest Spray Directed At Geelong

[Punk Rooster]

The silence is deafening... They blew a 9 goal lead... WTF is going on down there???

[blink]

I think he may have already done it PR! (see Barry Hall thread.)

[Rik E Boy]

There you go punkybrooster

regards,

REB

[sydney-dog]

lengthy but an interesting read

Cats' conditioning claims disputed by axed coach
Stephen Rielly
June 7, 2006




LORIS Bertolacci, the former Geelong fitness and conditioning coach who was sacked three rounds into the season, broke his silence yesterday to challenge the claim that the Cats are not fit.

After Geelong gave up a 54-point lead to West Coast last Saturday, coach Mark Thompson said his team lacked the fitness to play out matches. He also blamed the questionable decision to slow the game down in the third term, so as to protect the lead, on a lack of condition.

The none-too-subtle inference was that the team's pre-season had been inadequate and that the side tires prematurely as a consequence. Geelong has won only three of 10 last terms this season. The Cats haven't won a second half since their 69-point win over the Kangaroos in the second round, although most of the side's key players shared in the club's NAB Cup triumph and have played most matches since.

Bertolacci, in a statement prepared by one of the lawyers representing him against Geelong for the payment of the last 18 months of his contract, said any inadequacies were a consequence of decisions taken against his judgement, and midway through the season it was disingenuous to blame fitness.

"The fact is that, at the end of last season, decisions were made at senior levels in the club about the length, frequency and content of pre-season training," he said.

"One initiative was to limit training to one session per day. There was also a decision to send some players on a 'boot camp'-style training program in November, which directly resulted in a disruption to the fitness program. As a result, and due to a number of players recovering from surgery in respect of serious injuries from the previous season, there was a lack of fit players able to participate in the skills training in the December/January period.

"When it came to the NAB Cup, we had a squad of about 27 fit players. It was only with a concentrated effort from the players and the fitness and medical team that the club was able to successfully compete and win that competition. While I did not endorse the decisions taken in relation to the pre-season training, I do not believe that this was a factor which directly affected my dismissal."

Bertolacci's sacking is believed to revolve around a meeting held after the Hawthorn loss, in which Steven King and Kent Kingsley broke down. It is believed Bertolacci opposed Kingsley's selection for fear of injury. "The immediate reason given by GFC for terminating my employment related to discussions between myself and club officials about the selection of a player who was recovering from injury. As the content of these discussions may well be a key issue in court proceedings, I do not wish to be drawn into further comment about these matters."

He concluded: "As we are now going into round 11, I would expect all players, other than those who have been injured, to have reached peak fitness. I believe that the club has a very strong team and they will perform much more strongly in the second half of the season."


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[mal]

SD

Great post, explains their fade outs in 2006 so far.

They play Essendon this week who have lost thier
past 9 last halfs so should be ok this week.

[Punk Rooster]

SD

Great post, explains their fade outs in 2006 so far.

They play Essendon this week who have lost thier
past 9 last halfs so should be ok this week.

Nice Mal,
but SD lifted this from http://www.afl.com.au

[Rik E Boy]

I agree with what Loris has said, except I don't believe there will be a significant improvement will come in the second half of the season. I also agree with the decision to not play Kingsley in the Hawthorn game, I'm sure there was more to the Loris sacking than that. Perhaps he was a bit too honest for his own good and sadly that doesn't get you anywhere at Geelong it would appear. Continue to live in the bubble, continue to finish mid table.

regards,

REB

[sydney-dog]

I think the article highlighted some of the points that REB has been making all this time, the Cats seem to lack fitness and leadership

[Mr66]

I think the article highlighted some of the points that REB has been making all this time, the Cats seem to lack fitness and leadership

And some other things that only the Wizard of Oz can provide them with.