In an on-going series, Essendon's Alex Browne takes essendonfc.com.au inside his pre-season with monthly updates as he pushes to become a permanent member of the Bomber line-up in 2012. This is the third update.
December was a good month for Alex Browne.
The 19-year-old returned to Essendon training after a quad strain limited his November block of pre-season, he took part in the Bombers' camp at the Gold Coast, and he's been finding his niche in more match simulation drills which have crept back into Essendon's program.
Oh, and December also meant the start of a two-week break over Christmas and New Year. But lets start with the injury status first.
In his last pre-season update with essendonfc.com.au, Browne thought he was one week away from re-joining the full group after a strain to his right quad. And that's what happened, with the promising half-back/midfielder partaking in all drills for the last two-and-a-half weeks before the players broke up on December 22.
""It was pretty much straight back into it after we last spoke,"" Browne said. ""It's been going well and I'm fully training now, so I'm happy about that.""
Due to the unavailability of Windy Hill, Essendon's football department decided to take the players to the Gold Coast for a week-long training camp. The structure of training changed little, but was also combined with add-on sessions such as sand dune running and beach 'strongman' contests.
""It was more of a chance to bond. It was the same training program but in a more relaxed environment and it was good to get away from all your mates in Melbourne and just focus on footy,"" Browne said.
""We were taking advantage of what we had. We were staying only 50m away from the beach so it was easy to get involved down there.""
The last month has also seen Essendon's game-plan for 2012 take shape. After one year under new coach James Hird and his coaching panel – with new additions Matthew Egan and James Byrne ahead of this season – the players have learned of a few tweaks to the system.
This year there will be even more of a focus on defence. They're picking up new ways to stop teams from scoring and also finding that limiting an opposition's scoring power can be as satisfying as increasing their own.
It's a sign of a maturing side, one Browne – with his strong body, good skills and growing game awareness – wants to be a part of.
""Training drills are one thing, but you've got to be playing games before the NAB Cup starts and we're definitely including that into our sessions,"" he says.
""We're going to be a very defensive side, but in saying that we're also going to be an exciting side.
""When we have the footy in our hands we're looking to use it well with good ball movement and patterns of play, but when it comes the other way we'll have that appetite to defend.""
It sounds like words straight from his coach's mouth, unsurprising given Hird's close working relationship with his players. Browne makes an effort to seek out advice and Hird makes an effort to give his players time, opportunity and confidence.
""I've had a one-on-one meeting with him in his office this pre-season and it's been great,"" Browne said. ""It's really beneficial for my footy in keeping me heading in the direction I want to go.""
Hird would be pleased with how Browne is spending his two-week break, too. The young Bomber spent some time in the sun on the Mornington Peninsula, but not enough to distract him from his holiday training program.
""If I stay in Melbourne I'll keep a narrow focus,"" he says.
And then, on Thursday, the players will return to the club and it will start again. Not that it ever really stopped.
