Big man Tom Bellchambers continues to impress on the training track after overcoming an ankle injury that cruelled his 2014 season.
Bellchambers and former Greater Western Sydney ruckman Jonathan Giles have been working closely during the pre-season with ruck coach Steve Alessio.
The premiership ruckman said he had been impressed with the way Bellchambers had overcome his injury concerns.
“It was a really unfortunate year for him last year with his injury and he really set himself over the pre-season to come back and work hard to be in the position where he is back to full fitness,” Alessio said.
“Looking at his times in training he is in front of where he was at the same time two years ago.
“He is flying fit and really determined which you can see in the way he is going about his football and his training so we are really excited about seeing him in the practice matches and round 1.”
Alessio is upbeat about the club’s ruck stocks led by Bellchambers and Giles following the departure of Patrick Ryder during the trade period.
“They are two big boys who are both very competitive in the ruck and around the stoppages but also what I like about the two big boys is that they can go forward and kick goals,” Alessio said.
“We drafted Shaun McKernan and he provides that flexibility as he is a more mobile ruck key position player.
“We have some good flexibility once you throw in Joey Daniher so at the moment it is looking really good.”
Alessio has enjoyed the positive attitude from the new ruck combination who are continuing to do specialised sessions following main training.
“We work closely with the guys on their ruck craft, their game knowledge, running patterns and also their competitiveness around our stoppages,” Alessio said.
“As a ruck coach you work both on and off the field as with a lot of the guys so you are doing a lot of physical work but also watching a lot of video doing analysis on opposition ruckman.
“It is good work, the boys are taking to it, really enjoying it and so it has been great.”
