Jordan Gallucci back on track after losing 7kg in six weeks

JORDAN Gallucci has got his hunger back - for food and footy - after losing 7kg in six weeks when he couldn’t eat properly late last year.

Jordan Gallucci is back after a broken jaw. Pic: Calum Robertson

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JORDAN Gallucci has got his hunger back - for food and footy - after losing 7kg in six weeks when he couldn’t eat properly late last year.

Adelaide’s No.15 draft pick from 2016 has returned to his normal body weight of 78kg after finishing last season on the Crows’ long-term injury list with a broken jaw.

“During that time when I wasn’t able to eat 100 per cent I was having a lot of protein shakes and smoothies, because I couldn’t chew any food, it all had to be blended,” Gallucci said.

“But I’m sitting where the dietitian and strength coach want me at now.

“And it was from pretty much just eating back to normal, you’d be surprised how quickly it comes back on so I didn’t have to work super-hard at it.”

Bryce Gibbs, centre, was unveiled to the public at the Adelaide Crows season launch at West Lakes on Monday night. Picture: Tom Huntley

The other thing the 19-year-old has a taste for again is AFL footy after playing one game in his debut season last year.

“I just wanted to do what I could for the team and to be honest I was very lucky to get that game,” he said.

“To get the experience I was very pleased because we were such a successful team.

“I’ve got a taste for it so the hunger is definitely there.

“I pretty much followed the program in the off-season and I ticked those boxes and did the extra swim here and there but that was about it.

“I think my running has improved, I got my 2km time down so I was happy with that.

“I came back from Christmas pretty fit and feeling good.”

The Crows men’s and women’s teams held their 2018 season launch yesterday with an open training session and address from coaches Don Pyke and Bec Goddard.

New Crows women’s team co-captain Erin Phillips at the season launch at West Lakes. Picture: Tom Huntley

Men’s captain Taylor Walker at the Adelaide Crows season launch. Picture: Tom Huntley

Both teams have moved on from their 2017 grand final experiences - which were very different - and are thinking only about this year.

Gallucci - who last week re-signed with the Crows until 2020 - was able to train with his teammates leading up to the grand final and lined up in the grand final day sprint.

“It was good to be involved in some way and throughout that week I was able to do most of the main training leading up to the grand final,” he said.

“So that was a positive and that was a bit of a goal we set with Matt Hass the strength and conditioning coach, but obviously it was a disappointing result at the end of the day.

“The dust has definitely settled on that now. We reviewed it when we came back and we know what we need to do and work on, so we’re just looking forward to this year.

“It was a different feeling going down into the rooms after the game, when you watch during the year and we’re so successful but couldn’t quite get it done on the day, but I guess we’ve taken the learnings out of it and we’re focused on this year.”

Gallucci said he was excited about the new ‘AFLX’ competition that will see the Crows play at Hindmarsh Stadium on February 15.

“It’s something new and exciting, smaller ground, a bit more sprint based efforts so it should be good,” he said.

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