Rory Sloane, Bryce Gibbs surprise guests as Adelaide Crows 1-4 year players hit track for first preseason training

MIDFIELD stars Rory Sloane and Bryce Gibbs have hit the track with Adelaide’s 1-4 year players who have vowed to return for pre-season training in better condition than this time last year.

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MIDFIELD stars Rory Sloane and Bryce Gibbs have hit the track with Adelaide’s 1-4 year players who have vowed to return for pre-season training in better condition than this time last year.

Two of the Crows’ senior leaders and best players were at the front of the running group in the rain at Mount Barker as the club officially started its 2019 campaign on Monday morning.

Recruits Tyson Stengle (Richmond) and Shane McAdam (Sturt) were among about 15 players who trained for an hour-and-a-half which included skill work and a punishing running session.

Bryce Gibbs and Rory Sloane return to pre-season early. Picture: Sarah Reed

Young defender Tom Doedee said it was a big boost to have senior players like Gibbs and Sloane with them on day one and he sees himself as part of the new wave of emerging leaders coming through.

“To have a bit of leadership out there, they’ve got the runs on the board, their skills are always up, their voice is always up and running top notch so it’s good especially for me trying to develop my leadership a bit, and for the young boys to see how we do it is good,” Doedee told reporters after training.

Tyson Stengle makes his first appearance at the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed

Shane McAdam begins his AFL journey at Cornerstone College. Picture: Sarah Reed

“It’s important to have them out there but we have a lot of third and fourth year blokes who are starting to take that next step leadership wise with their voice and training standards.

“I feel my first year I kind of settled into the AFL system, second year I took a step leadership wise in the SANFL and last year it was good to get some (AFL) games under my belt, now that’s probably the next step to be a leader in the AFL side.”

“We have a big emphasis on how we are returning this year and personally I know a lot of the boys by Snapchat’s & videos they’ve been putting in the group (chats) that they’re all working pretty hard, everyone is motivated.”

- Tom Doedee @TheTiserSport pic.twitter.com/4qTWujLiX0

— Reece Homfray (@reecehomfray) November 5, 2018

Hugh Greenwood, who looked noticeably bigger and stronger since last season, did most of his training alone on the boundary while McAdam also worked on his agility away from the main group.

Doedee, Reilly O’Brien, Elliott Himmelberg, Lachlan Murphy and Wayne Milera all impressed with their running while Stengle, Ben Davis and Paul Hunter struggled late in the session but hung in there.

Adelaide’s disappointing 2018 season began last summer when the club conceded some players did not return for pre-season training in the right condition. But according to Doedee they aren’t making the same mistake again.

Crows 1-4 year players go through their paces. Picture: Sarah Reed

“We have a pretty big emphasis on how we are returning this year and personally I know a lot of the boys just by Snapchats and videos, they’re all working pretty hard so everyone is motivated to return at a good standard and we saw it out there today,” he said.

“It was good seeing all the boys and having a run and a kick again, with a big trip to America I made sure I kept up all my running so when I came back I wasn’t gassed too quickly.”

There was also a new-look coaching group at Crows training with SANFL premiership coaches Martin Mattner and Michael Godden joining former Crow and Carlton forward Matthew Wright on the sidelines.

Darcy Fogarty at preseason training. Picture: Sarah Reed

Hugh Greenwood at Crows training. Picture: Sarah Reed

There was no captain Taylor Walker or coach Don Pyke but the session was watched by football manager Brett Burton.

“I know Tex is training back at West Lakes at the moment and I caught up with him in New York and he’s doing well, looks fit, him and his partner were walking 20km a day so he’s good to go and in two weeks will be fit and firing,” Doedee said.

Adelaide’s senior group of players returns for pre-season training in two weeks.

Originally published as Rory Sloane, Bryce Gibbs surprise guests as Adelaide Crows 1-4 year players hit track for first preseason training