Brisbane Lions are hoping that Launceston can unlock the secrets of the pre-season camp for the fledgling club’s rise back up the AFL ladder.
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This year’s competition wooden spooners returned on Friday night to the home state of coach Chris Fagan for the second year in a row.
As the club’s Gabba home ground is ostensibly off limits during the cricket season, the AFL side has turned to the exquisite playing surface of UTAS Stadium for relief.
It’s also a venue that Lions development coach Zane Littlejohn only knows too well in his five-year stint in charge of North Launceston.
As rivals continue to look to gain an edge in preseason hot spots from Arizona to Alice Springs, the Lions are turning things on their head.
“We’re in the heat all the time,” Littlejohn said.
“You can look at today’s session to see that our boys have trained at a great intensity purely because although it’s warm for down here, it doesn’t have the humidity we have in Queensland.
“So they’ve been able to train for much longer and maintain that higher intensity through the session – their running has been fantastic.
“I actually think Fages has mentioned a number of times the benefits of coming down to a cooler climate.”
Brisbane held the first of their three high-paced, main sessions on Sunday morning for nearly three hours that will continue on Tuesday and Thursday in Launceston.
A familiar sight at UTAS Stadium was that of Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge – but strange to see the 300-gamer in Lions colours and inside their inner circle.
But Littlejohn said Hodge has been the perfect fit for the young group, having previously worked with Fagan, the one-time Hawks head of coaching and later general manager of football.
“Hodgey has been great in the fact that he’s not just there to help players, but he’s helped me as a young coach as well,” Littlejohn said.
“The leadership, how he sees the game, the requirements to play successfully at the top level for so long, he’s just rubbing off on our guys.
“We know he’s not going to be an instant impact, but he’s already seen some really good growth in our group and their willingness to listen. But I am sure Hodgey is feeling rejuvenated with such a young group and that he is fresh and can go again.”
All the while the 31-year-old feels more certain of his role in a second preseason.
“I sort of now know where I fit among our whole coaching group,” Littlejohn said.
“They’re great to work with – Fages in particular let’s you learn from your mistakes and gives you an opportunity.
“So I feel a lot more comfortable this time of the year than I did this time last year.”
The triple TSL premiership coach invited new North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford down on Sunday.
Whitford played under Littlejohn, who believes his old club picked the ideal candidate to succeed Tom Couch.
“I wanted to get him down to do some observing, so I’m just rapt for him – I couldn’t be any happier,” he said.
“I think he’s the right person, he knows the football club really well inside and out, he’s a teacher who knows people really well and he wants to learn.”
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
