North Melbourne’s time trial a rude awakening for Herald Sun’s Sam Edmund

VIDEO: HERALD Sun footy journalist Sam Edmund had dreams of picking off one of North Melbourne’s stars. He was badly mistaken.

KANGAS AND SAM EDMUND Sam Edmund Picture:Wayne Ludbey

I AM lucky to be writing this.

I should probably be flat on my back having oxygen administered to me by a pair of very concerned paramedics.

That seemed a distinct possibility half-way through Thursday’s punishing time trial with North Melbourne and its group of running machines.

It was about this time when I managed to audibly splutter: “Why am I doing this?”

Various AFL media were invited to take on North Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The day had started with dreams of so much more. I was part of a group of football media invited to a special 2km time trial where we would mix it with the players (this would quickly become impossible) around Lakeside Stadium.

I’d had a rough night’s sleep and, knowing my body would need all the fuel it could get, I agonised over breakfast. I settled on muesli when the tweet hit me right between the eyes.

@lukemcdonald21 how do you think I feel? #whydidisayyes?

— Sam Edmund (@SammyHeraldSun) December 10, 2014

It was from blossoming Kangaroos defender Luke McDonald. “Time trial day #flat”. If Luke was feeling anxious, what did that mean for a washed-up country footballer who had not run more than 10m to catch a train in the last two years?

On the train ride in there was another issue. No seat. My legs! They should be resting! Nevertheless, I worked my way through some Rage Against the Machine and visualised picking off some the Roos’ big men.

Surely Drew Petrie is easing into it. What about big Todd Goldstein? American rookie Eric Wallace is no Stawell Gift runner is he?

We shuffled nervously onto the athletics track in our new Canterbury gear, where it was made clear we wouldn’t be running against every player. Instead, we were confronted by a smaller, elite group that contained wonder-runner Sam Gibson and several of his more athletic teammates. Goodie.

Goldstein was among them, though, and my delusions of grandeur allowed me to think I was a chance to pick the big fella off.

I was kidding myself. Within 20 metres of the start “Goldy” and his long legs were galloping clear. So were those of his midfield mates.

Sam Edmund wasn’t feeling well after his run. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Some 2 1/2 laps in, I was distracted from my thumping heart and screaming legs by a presence from behind. It was Gibson, charging forward like a train and about to lap us.

“Got a tow-rope, Gibbo?” I asked.

You’re on a nickname basis when you’re struggling to breathe. But Gibbo didn’t say anything. He didn’t even look up. He was in another place.

I moved in behind him, hoping he could somehow drag me along in his slipstream. That plan lasted barely five metres. I’d eventually be put out my misery, stopping the clock in a pedestrian 7min39sec.

A select group of Kangaroos take on media types in a 2km time trial. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott, who had been watching beside director of football Geoff Walsh, was kind enough to take a glass half-full approach in the debrief.

“The rookie draft is just done, but we could hit up the AFL to have re-rookie draft,” Scott said.

Jack Ziebell is confident his well-publicised endurance levels were as good as they’ve been, but he admitted the players were anxious before facing the media.

We’re pretty sure he was just being polite.

“There was a few nervous boys getting around, thinking they might get beaten. We weren’t sure what the journos had up their sleeves,” Ziebell said.

We had the equivalent of two-pair, but it was fun.

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Originally published as North Melbourne’s time trial a rude awakening for Herald Sun’s Sam Edmund