Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee enters his second AFL pre-season camp on Sunshine Coast 5kg stronger, more energetic
Twelve months ago he was a draftee battling through his first pre-season camp. Now Connor Rozee is 5kg heavier, not having to nap after sessions and passing advice to this year’s young recruits.
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Connor Rozee was 5kg lighter, starstruck and would fall asleep after some training sessions in the opening few weeks of his inaugural AFL pre-season 12 months ago.
Rozee arrived at Port Adelaide’s 2018 training camp in Noosa weighing 72kg and
as the 18-year-old No. 5 draft pick who had just helped North Adelaide win its first SANFL flag since 1991.
The 185cm forward enters his second pre-season not only at 77kg and as one of Port’s brightest prospects, but among its best players.
He exceeded his own expectations this year by placing fourth in the Power’s best and fairest – the first Port teenager since Ollie Wines in 2014 to finish as high – as well as leading the club’s goalkicking with 29 majors and coming runner-up in the league’s Rising Star award.
Rozee is noticeably more defined this summer, particularly across his shoulders, as a result of eating more meat, weight training and maturity – and the extra muscle will assist when he spends extra time in the midfield next season.
Mentally, he has also been more prepared for the mixture of fitness, skills and team-bonding sessions in store for the players at this week’s camp in Maroochydore.
“I’ve found it a fair bit easier knowing what to expect and obviously being fitter as well, putting on a bit more size,” Rozee told The Advertiser.
“When you come into an AFL club you’re pretty starstruck – you watch them all on TV then all of a sudden you’re training with them.
“On camps like this you can get away and talk about things other than footy, learn about people’s stories and where they’ve come from.
“It definitely helped me last year to connect on a different level, especially to a fair few of the older boys.
“Even mentally, last year I was going home and pretty much going to sleep straight away I was that tired.
“This year I’ve found a bit more energy and am getting through pre-season a bit better.”
It was in Queensland that Rozee played his breakout game last campaign, kicking 5.2 and gathering 21 disposals in Port’s 17-point loss to Brisbane at the Gabba in round three in April.
“That game gave me a fair bit more confidence for the rest of the year, knowing that I belonged at that level,” said Rozee, who is returning to the Sunshine Coast for a family Christmas in Buderim in a fortnight.
“My goal was just to play one AFL game and seal a spot in the team so once we had a few boys go down injured and a few spots open up, I was able to take my opportunity and had a pretty successful year personally.
“Obviously we would liked to have made the finals, which was disappointing.”
Rozee spent the off-season on a European holiday in Spain, Greece and France with close mate, Gold Coast forward Jack Lukosius.
There were gyms at most of the hotels they stayed, so the duo was able to follow their off-season running programs.
With his extra knowledge and fitness under his belt ahead of this week’s camp, Rozee has been offering advice to the new crop of Power draftees.
“It’s hard to begin with and it’s going to take a little bit of time to adjust but once they adjust to AFL life, we’ve got the best job in the world,” he said.