James Tsitas lifts lid on Damien Hardwick’s impact on Gold Coast
The player dubbed Damien Hardwick’s ‘teacher’s pet’ has revealed the impact the premiership coach has had since arriving on the Gold Coast.
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It’s not uncommon to cast an eye over Gold Coast’s training ground at Carrara and see a lone figure putting in the extras.
Whether it’s ball work or chewing the coach’s ear off, James Tsitas refuses to leave a stone unturned in his quest to become an AFL regular.
Last week following a light early morning session, the Suns’ VFL captain could be seen picking the brain of forwards coach Brad Miller long after some of his teammates had left for home.
Damien Hardwick’s arrival has heralded a new beginning for Tsitas, who in his two previous seasons at the Suns had been stuck in the queue behind a deep midfield group and managed just five AFL appearances.
But the Geelong product, who runs his own online personal training business and is unquestionably one of the hardest workers at the club, has been earmarked for a vital role in the Hardwick system: the pressure forward.
“I love Dimma,” Tsitas told this masthead.
“The way he coaches makes it really clear what your role entails. When he first came to the club he split us all up into groups of how he saw us playing based on the game plan. Mine is that small forward pressure role – bring the pressure, get back and support the defence then help link with the forwards.”
The 28-year-old immediately endeared himself to Hardwick with his work ethic and want to soak up knowledge. He will happily be referred to as a “teacher’s pet” if it means regular AFL minutes.
“I obviously want to do things right, so if there’s something I’m not unsure of I’m going to go to the coach to get clarification on that,” Tsitas said.
“Dimma’s system is complex but it works, so I want to learn it and make sure I’m doing the right things so we can win games of footy.”
Tsitas would have been in the mix to play Opening Round if not for a carry-over suspension from last year’s VFL preliminary final.
In a bid to allow him to play in the grand final the club challenged his suspension but was unsuccessful, extending the ban by an extra week.
It means he will not be available for selection until Round 1.
But having made his AFL debut as a 26-year-old, the mature-age recruit knows the value of hard work and patience.
“Absolutely it’s frustrating but that’s the way the VFL tribunal went with their adjudication … this will be tough, but life goes on,” he said.
Tsitas’ transition from inside midfielder to pressure forward is one of many positional switches on the cards at Carrara this season, as Hardwick sets about installing a similar game plan to the one that helped him win three premierships at Richmond.
The first true test of the Suns’ progress will come on Thursday when they play Brisbane in an extended practice match at Springfield.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN SUNS V LIONS
Stars on the sidelines: Brownlow Medalist Lachie Neale will not feature on Thursday night after the Lions chose to keep their skipper on ice with an eye to unleashing him against the Swans next week. Fellow midfielders Thomas Berry (shoulder) and Deven Robertson (wrist) will also miss the Suns clash but are expected to return to training next week. Importantly, Hugh McCluggage has overcome a corked quad and will line up on Thursday night.
Gold Coast will be without Lachie Weller (knee) and Jed Walter (collarbone) who are still more than a month away from returning, while the club will take it slow with draftee Jake Rogers who has only just returned to training after lower back troubles.
Brandon Ellis copped a knock on his shin in the Suns’ intraclub clash last week and is still not ready to play, though the club is confident it will not hamper his chances for Opening Round, while Wil Powell will not travel for the match with his partner expected to give birth.
Hardwick’s new-look Suns: For rusted-on Gold Coast fans this will be their first chance to see the new coach’s game plan in action – and there could be no better test than last year’s grand finalists. Hardwick believes his side is ahead of schedule when it comes to implementing his brand of footy, but expect some teething issues as the players grow into a new style.
‘Dimma’ has thrown the magnets around during pre-season with a number of familiar faces lining up in different positions. Expect to see plenty of Alex Sexton across halfback and James Tsitas deep inside 50, for instance. Mac Andrew has spent time playing forward this month, while first round draft pick Ethan Read has deputised in defence as the coaching staff find a way to best utilise the 202cm unicorn’s incredible skill set.
Darcy Macpherson appears poised to return to the forward line under Hardwick, while Brayden Fiorini and Oskar Faulkhead are fighting for a start on the wing.
Brisbane backline: Chris Fagan wasn’t too happy with his backline in the Lions’ first intraclub hitout a few weeks ago after draftee Logan Morris booted five goals against his starters. He was much happier with the system in their second hitout last week, but the backline will remain a focus of Fagan and his coaching staff on Thursday.
Fighting for spots: With a handful of first team regulars missing, Thursday looms as a perfect opportunity for players on the cusp of selection to stake their claims for Opening Round. Medium forward Kai Lohmann spurned interest from Victoria to re-sign with the club late last season and will be one to keep an eye on. The 20-year-old is a walking highlight reel but Fagan wants to see more consistency from the young forward.
Winger Harry Sharp impressed in last week’s intraclub and will again get an opportunity to shine with no Berry or Robertson on Thursday.
With rebounding defender Conor McKenna still sidelined by a hamstring strain, the likes of Jaxon Prior and James Madden are vying for an early season start in the backline.
Brisbane has trialled key defender Darcy Gardiner as a forward during pre-season as cover in case of an injury to Joe Daniher or Eric Hipwood, however ‘Dizzy’ is not the only tall timber option.
The Lions stacked the deck late last year by bringing in Brandon Ryan from Hawthorn and adding both Logan Morris and Luke Lloyd through the draft.
All three are considered development prospects at this stage, though Morris and Ryan in particular have impressed at various stages during match simulation.
Cam Rayner split his time between midfield and forward during both intraclubs and it will be interesting to see how Fagan uses him against the Suns. It’s likely he is getting more minutes due to Neale, Berry, Robertson and co. not playing, though it could also be a nod to more time through the middle for the former No. 1 pick.
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