how hard are south training ?

[panthers 2008]

Its good to see the panthers are training hard,and hitting the weights too!! Playing at SANFL level you walk out on the field in an unfit state and i am sure the results will speak for themselves!!Jack Cahill knows what he is doing,after all he prepared a squad of SANFL players for the rigours of AFL. Central Districts have raised the bar when it comes to strength and fitness at sanfl level and until some of the other teams lift their level of strength and fitness,they will be lagging behind. GO PANTHERS!!

[topsywaldron]

Word has it the Jack Cahill could not believe South's poor fitness levels when he arrived at the club.

Surely this is a bad sign. It's akin to any Treasurer in any Government anywhere in the world getting into office and saying 'we've just learned that the economy's far worse than the previous mob said and we'll have to renege on our election promises.'

If the coach is setting up excuses for failure before the season starts then it's going to be a long seven months for the Panthers.

[westcoastpanther]

Must agree with you Milky, based on all that we're screwed......

[Ronnie]

Not by necessity a bad sign. I remember Macgowan saying similar things about Sturt last year and if you ask the players he was spot on in his assessment.
Could be just an honest assessment, and Cahil doesn't seem to be a person to make excuses.

You have to remember Cahil doesn't have to coach to 'save' his future (aguably what Hill has to do at Norwood) because he is not there for the long haul. As i understand it he is there to instil certain ethics and practices and set it up nicely for the next coach. Not to say he doesn't want success in his time, of course he does, but it is about turning around the ship.

[Rushby Hinds]

This is probably just a rumour but is it true that South hasnt had a professional fitness instructor for 3 seasons?

A very close relative of one of the previous South Coaches has been the fitness instructor for the last few years.

[darley16]

Well said Ronnie you are spot on. The size of Mike Hanby and the great Gerrard Bennett last year (and the at times pathetic performances) was a fair indication that South's fitness levels had fallen, i know of one player who said he has never been this fit or strong at this stage of pre-season and given the players we have lost this is a saving grace.

[topsywaldron]

Must agree with you Milky

Once in seven years is a good strike rate.

[lion heart]

Word has it the Jack Cahill could not believe South's poor fitness levels when he arrived at the club.

Surely this is a bad sign. It's akin to any Treasurer in any Government anywhere in the world getting into office and saying 'we've just learned that the economy's far worse than the previous mob said and we'll have to renege on our election promises.'

If the coach is setting up excuses for failure before the season starts then it's going to be a long seven months for the Panthers.

i think it means quite the opposite...... obviously this is a major area he could see that needed improvement and has worked to rectify it

[shootstavros]

hello all
was chatting to a young souths player the other night @ the local gym - Mark Obushak ex centrals - fresh start at souths.
he said that they are training so hard - just as hard as the dogs did last year (if not harder) - that must be a great sign for all you souths ppl, that they will at least be fit as when they hit the ground in the trial games.

[topsywaldron]

obviously this is a major area he could see that needed improvement and has worked to rectify it

I forgot Jack could turn water into wine.

[grant j]

..

[panthers 2008]

Yep Jack Cahill is a bloody good coach ,and to be honest could almost turn water into wine!! I think he coaches the basics of football exteremely well,and some people/coaches tend to over complicate football into a science.Get the basic skills and fitness levels up,the determination and the willingness to take instruction and play for each other.There is no point trying to play an open offensive style of football if you dont have players with the ability to execute it!!
Hopefully this year the south players will be able to look their supporters in the eye,knowing they have given it their best shot,regardless whether they won or lost!

[am Bays]

Yep Jack Cahill is a bloody good coach ,and to be honest could almost turn water into wine!! I think he coaches the basics of football exteremely well,and some people/coaches tend to over complicate football into a science.Get the basic skills and fitness levels up,the determination and the willingness to take instruction and play for each other.There is no point trying to play an open offensive style of football if you dont have players with the ability to execute it!!
Hopefully this year the south players will be able to look their supporters in the eye,knowing they have given it their best shot,regardless whether they won or lost!

Yep he did that at Westies in the 80s, begs the question were Port successfull because of the coach or the players.....

[NO-MERCY]

Yep Jack Cahill is a bloody good coach ,and to be honest could almost turn water into wine!! I think he coaches the basics of football exteremely well,and some people/coaches tend to over complicate football into a science.Get the basic skills and fitness levels up,the determination and the willingness to take instruction and play for each other.There is no point trying to play an open offensive style of football if you dont have players with the ability to execute it!!
Hopefully this year the south players will be able to look their supporters in the eye,knowing they have given it their best shot,regardless whether they won or lost!

It will be interesting to see when South lose a few early games how Jack handles it, remembering he's use to the winning culture at Port.(he had a great team)
Same thing applies with the players, they're confident now yet a few losses will bring back those haunting memory's of recent years.
Your right panthers 2008 with his basics (skills, fitness, instructions etc) Yet i don't think the South boys are smart enough to execute those basic requirments, well not on a consistent basis i should say!
I believe they will struggle as I don't think they have the cattle,

[panthers 2008]

yep,no mercy you may be correct,we may find the going tough early on this season,but I am pretty certain some of the young guys from last years reserves grand final side will be pushing hard for selection and taking their game up a notch.We have some quality younger players who played a few league games last season, who I reckon will be good players for us this season.This season will be about bringing back some competitive spirit and improved results,if Jack cannot bring that out in them,no one can!!
Jacks an experienced coach,and I make this point again,managed to make Port Powers innagural squad very competitive in its first season of AFL football.His squad was made up of at least 90% SANFL footballers with no AFL experience.I realise that is AFL NOT SANFL,and they picked the best from the SANFL competition,but he has some good youngsters to work with,and TASSIE MEDALIST Jacks record speaks for itself,the panthers could not have got a better credentialed coach!!
I realise this is all pre season banter and the proof will be in the pudding,I just dont think we will be near as bad as some people are predicting!

[am Bays]

and TASSIE MEDALIST Jacks record speaks for itself,the panthers could not have got a better credentialed coach!!

Didn't deny his record I have experienced it to my detriment...

My point is his success due to: the environment/culture at port the he inherited from the Williams family, the players or Jack's coaching itself....

How good was he at West?? With different players and different club ethos? That proves that it more than just the coach that leads to success.

I'll let you in on coaching lesson 101.....the better the players, the better the coach...

[topsywaldron]

.the better the players, the better the coach...

Macca was a great coach in 2002, leaving aside the finals that is, and a rotten one in 2004. He didn't change but the players he had at his disposal did.

[grant j]

..

[panthers 2008]

How do you measure the success of a coach? premeirships is one way,but also getting the best out of what you have at your disposal,and it helps to have club stability to achieve success.
Jack Cahill still managed to get West Adelaide into third one of the years he was there.
You can say Port Adelaide had fantastic teams under John Cahill,but I can recall some of the seasons where Port were clearly not the best team in the comp but still managed to do extremely well.eg 1994 GF against the Eagles.Maybe it was the coach instilling the belief into the players?
We could carry on and debate this till the cows come home,but I think I have seen enough evidence to support the belief that Jack is a great coach,and although no spring chicken is the best option for the South Adelaide football club.Season 2008 will show us where South are at,and it may take a while to for us to hit our straps.
One thing is for sure,he will be RESPECTED by the players.That just may be half of it!!