THE North Coast’s best junior Australian Rules talent have been putting in the hard yards over summer as they take part in a program to develop their burgeoning talent.

The Northern Heat have produced one of their best training performances in recent years under the summer heat.

Starting with a 1km time trial and Yo-Yo test, the Heat players showed they had done the hard graft over the Christmas/New Year break with the strength and conditioning program that was set for them by recording significantly improved results.

The Northern Heat features the best Under 16, Under 17, and Under 18 players from both the North Coast and North West regions.

The Heat players develop their skills through video analysis, GPS tracking, and strength and conditioning training conducted by an ex-Sydney Swans coach.

The Heat squad features a number of AFL North Coast players, including the Sawtell/Toormina Saints’ Angus Anderson, Hamish Anderson, Poppy Johnston, Harrison Lee, Isaac Malt, Luke Neal, Ronan Singleton, Jaymus Troutman, and Mal Troutman.

The Heat also features Coffs Harbour Breakers player Hayden Proctor and the Northern Beaches Blues’ Jackson Berryman.

Squad member Hamish Anderson spoke about the Heat brand of footy that was practiced during the session.

“We’re all about clean hands, focusing on handballs, moving the ball as a whole unit, and working to back each other up,” he said.

Fellow Heat player Riley Sandral acknowledged how well the group did in a physically demanding session.

“We did a lot of ball movement drills and really emphasised keeping the skills at a high level after a lot of fitness work,” he said.

“We had to make smart choices to move the ball around, take the first option and keep up lots of talk.”

AFL North Coast Community Manager Paul Taylor told News Of The Area the young players had definitely trained the house down over summer.

“Our squad yesterday put in one of the best training sessions since the program was re-formed three years ago,” he said.

“They proved that they’d had the commitment to complete their home strength and conditioning program, put into practice the style of play that was introduced at the December session, and supported each other to get through a physically demanding session.

“All looks good as we head towards a showdown with the Southport Colts to round out the program.”

The Heat squad has one final training session in Coffs Harbour on Saturday, 20 February before finishing the program with a match against the Southport Colts on the Gold Coast in March.

 

By Aiden BURGESS