Season Preview: The Player (Dene White)

1. How has the preseason been?

Preseason has been pretty tough.  Earl has been cracking the whip to make sure that we are fit because we were lacking a bit of fitness last year.  His main focus has been to get the kilometres in our legs early.  It has been the toughest preseason I have done that’s for sure.

2. How has the preseason differed from previous years?

I think the boys will agree with me if I say it’s just the volume, the running and the volume of training and the amount of hours we have put in on the track.  Hopefully we will start seeing the benefits of it in the backend of the season as well as the frontend of the season and get off to a good start.

3. Has there been a specific emphasis on a particular aspect of the game over preseason? Like skills, ball movement, fitness etc...

We as a football club probably need to improve on all three.  I think the main thing is that if we are fit, we run out games and we are half a chance.  There’s also been a lot of emphasis on ball movement and we keep working on our skills.  It’s all been pretty balanced really.

4. How has the playing group adapted to the new coaching group and the new fitness regime?

When  Earl got here he didn’t really know anybody so it was hard for him to sort of come in and crack the whip too hard but everyone gets into it now and understands the way that Earl wants to take this football club forward.  I think you will see a lot of changes from the playing group’s perspective on the field this season.

5. Which players have stood out over preseason?

Aidan Tropiano is one that has stood out for me.  Chance Bateman is looking really fit and Cody Leggett has been pretty good on the track this preseason as well.

6. If you could pinpoint something, what would you say would be the main difference between Perth team of 2014 and the Perth team that will take to the field against Swan Districts on Saturday?

Looking into a crystal ball I would like to think that we would run out games better, we would move the footy better and we use the ball better.  If that happens then that’s a real reflection on what we have been doing on the training track.