Port Adelaide’s Hamish Hartlett hoping to lay the foundation for a massive 2020 AFL season over summer
Port Adelaide veteran Hamish Hartlett is hoping for a strong summer that can set up his 2020 AFL season.
Port Adelaide
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Port Adelaide veteran Hamish Hartlett is hoping a solid grounding over the summer can have him in position for a massive 2020 AFL season.
In his 12th AFL pre-season, Hartlett said despite having a restricted start to training at the end of 2019, he had ramped up his schedule over the past couple of weeks.
“My body is feeling pretty good, it’s something I haven’t been able to say too much in my career,’’ Hartlett said on SEN SA Breakfast.
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“I’m fit, my soft tissue stuff is holding up at this stage.
“I had a limited pre-season prior to Christmas, having had a knee injury at the end of last season.
“I’ve worked into full training over the last week or two and if I can get through January and February unscathed that will set me up for a pretty good year,’’ he said.
Hartlett said Scott Lycett was leading the way as far as the Port Adelaide ruck department goes in the off season and was hoping Peter Ladhams could overcome niggles that have held him back in recent years.
“Scotty Lycett is probably leading the way in that department, he’s come back in really great condition, he’s been pretty dominant in there,’’ Hartlett added.
“Peter Ladhams has been pretty good, he’s got some minor issues with his knees that he’s been battling with for a year or two now … with a bit of knee tendinitis, he’ll get on top of that.
“There is certainly some guys nipping at his (Lycett’s) heels that’s for sure,’’ he said.
A former gun junior cricketer, Hartlett had the opportunity to face Adelaide Strikers superstar Rashid Khan in the nets in the lead-up to the T20 Charity match at Adelaide Oval on February 2.
“He’s impossible to pick out of the hand, he bowls two quick to be get down the wicket and he bowls a really annoying length,’’ Hartlett said.
“(I’m) hoping his name doesn’t get called in the draft, I think we’re recruit a few Strikers and Redbacks boys, I’d be happy not to face him again, but we’ll wait and see how that unfolds,’’ he said.