Robbie Gray takes positive steps in recovery from toe injury as he fights to be fit for Showdown 48
Less than two weeks since breaking his toe, Port Adelaide’s Showdown specialist Robbie Gray was back running at training on Friday as he pushes for a Round 2 return against cross-town rival Adelaide.
Crows
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crows. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Robbie Gray suffers bizarre gym injury
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray is back running in a big boost to the Power as they build towards a Showdown to resume the AFL season.
The five-time Showdown Medallist broke his right big toe when he dropped a weight on his foot when returning gym gear to Alberton after the COVID-19 imposed hiatus ended.
Port initially said there was nothing to worry about, but on Sunday assistant coach Brett Montgomery said he was “touch and go” for a match he has dominated on so many occasions in the past.
Gray was not out at Port’s first full group contact training session on Wednesday, but on Friday he was running with second-year player Xavier Duursma.
Despite the broken toe, Gray looked to be moving freely on his runs.
Port’s COVID-19 compliance officer, Matthew Lokan, who usually coaches the club’s SANFL team, said it was looking promising for Gray.
“Robbie will be doing some running and we are a couple of weeks out from Round 2, so we are hopeful that he will be right to play and ready to go,” he said.
Premiership ruckman Scott Lycett also missed out on Wednesday’s session and while he was out at Alberton on Friday, he was not involved in any contact drills and just ran laps.
Lokan said the big man was just feeling sore.
“I think he is probably in that case of getting back into training, I think he has had some body awareness … he is just a little bit sore,” he said.
“But we have two weeks to get him right.
“I think you’ll find that we have to manage a lot of our players over the next couple of weeks.
“We aren’t concerned about Scotty … I’m sure he will be right in a couple of weeks time.”
The Power and every other AFL club on Monday engaged in contact training for the first time in months, ahead of the June 11 restart.
They will initially have two contact training sessions a week, and Montgomery said it would be hard to prepare them for games due to limited bodywork permitted.
“That will be our biggest challenge,” he said.
“When we do introduce some light contact, or pressure upon any drill we are able to role out, I think some of the guys will be a bit jumpy and bracing for things that may not be there.
“Two weeks (of contact training) is going to be a real stretch.”
Montgomery added the pending changes to football departments, with the amount clubs are able to spend set to be slashed dramatically because of the COVID-19, also posed a significant challenge.
“What I would say is that the industry has probably gotten a little bit, fat for less of a better term,” he said.
“But not at extreme limits at all clubs.
“I think where the footy department or the support for players has grown is in the analytics or recruiting and the welfare space.
“The real danger here is that these roles became necessary because the welfare of the player came first … I don’t think any of these roles were created just for the sake of being there.
“So, there is going to be a gap somewhere and hopefully it isn’t the players’ mental or physical wellbeing that takes the hit.”
MORE POWER NEWS
Port Adelaide’s 150 Greatest Players in 150 years: Who has made the top five?
Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray suffers broken toe
COVID coaching set-up ‘pretty normal’ for Godden
The unprecedented last couple of months in footy has re-established some normality for Adelaide assistant coach Michael Godden.
The financial impacts of the COVID-19 crisis has meant the Crows have had to let go of defensive line coach Martin Mattner and development coach Paul Thomas.
Ben Hart’s AFL-imposed sanction for the Barossa Valley training breach has further reduced the coaching numbers as training resumed at West Lakes this week.
Godden, a premiership coach with Woodville-West Torrens, said the reduction of coaching numbers was similar to being back in the SANFL.
“For me, it is pretty normal at the moment,” he said.
“For people who have been around AFL their entire lives it might be a bit of a stretch, but for me I’m just happy to have anyone helping.”
Godden is still in control of the midfield group upon the return of players in limited groups to West Lakes.
Brent Reilly has stepped up to become defensive coach following Mattner’s departure.
Ruck and AFLW coach Matthew Clarke is taking care of the forwards while Hart is away from the club and is being helped by forwards development coach Matthew Wright with no SANFL side in 2020.
But Godden said the players were taking the lead.
“This week has been a real player driven week, so the guys have taken control with the sessions and I’ve just been observing,” he said.
MORE CROWS NEWS
Adelaide Crows include the chance to win a car in their new membership package
It has been speculated that cuts to football department spend could result in more player/coaches being used by clubs.
Godden said it could help players.
“I think the ability for a player to take more control over their career is a good thing, they certainly need direction and guidance, but they can take control from here and that’s what I experienced in my time in coaching because I had to – I didn’t have the resources,” he said.
Godden also said one of the “most significant challenges” the Crows faced was making sure those players who aren’t in their 22 can maintain the required fitness with no SANFL games.