‘We will have really strong words if you’re not meeting the weight because it’s letting the team down’

Eddie McGuire’s son Joe McGuire who was part of the Ohio State Buckeyes team that claimed the national championship title has given an insight into the intense training required to compete at the top level.

College punter Joe McGuire has given an insight into the intense training required to compete at the top level, revealing players’ weights are published each day.

McGuire was part of the Ohio State Buckeyes team that claimed the national championship title in January in Atlanta.

He has returned to the US after visiting family and friends in Melbourne, and showing off his sparkling winners’ rings and medallion from a meeting with US president Donald Trump at the White House.

“The gym work is very different because it requires a different level of strength as is the nature of the sport,’’ McGuire said.

Joe McGuire with his winners’ rings and medallion from a meeting with US president Donald Trump at the White House.

“But the aerobic running in AFL is just far and beyond what we do. It’s such a short, explosive game for us, guys need to be able to run 40, 50 yards, 10-15 times on repeat.

“Whereas AFL you run all day. It’s very different and ours is short, sharp and intense.

“We do daily body weight, we weigh in every day, you’ve got it on the gym wall for everyone to see. It’s either highlighted green for good enough or it’s highlighted red (that) you need to get heavier or lighter.

“Our weight is absolutely published and it’s on the gym door. We will have really strong words if you’re not meeting the weight because it’s letting the team down.”

Conversely the AFL has banned player weights from being made public, no longer publishing them in official materials like the season guide, and has also banned skinfold testing.

McGuire, son of TV host Eddie McGuire, said there were tiers of fitness, from non-competitor, competitor and gold for competitive excellence.

“Every week they have a leaderboard for competitions we do,’’ he said.

“I’ve been training quite a lot (in Melbourne) and went back to Pro Kick for a few sessions.

“Some of the requirements are pretty insane. Each week there’s a dude of the week, the expectation is you’re strong and fit, you can’t be one or the other.”

Playing in minus 12 degrees was an eye opener but otherwise McGuire, 24, has adjusted well to studying business media and keeps some of Australia in his daily life.

“I try to stick to my Aussie roots a fair bit,’’ he said.

“I eat some more mac and cheese than I used to. I’ve got vegemite in my apartment. A lot of the boys had a try but didn’t love it. Tim Tams, Mint Slices, red frogs. Venetians, I love them. I keep all those handy.

“Most importantly my pa makes tomato relish from scratch which is somewhat famous amongst our friends because it’s just unbelievable, so I always keep a few jars in the pantry.”

Originally published as ‘We will have really strong words if you’re not meeting the weight because it’s letting the team down’