After 12 months at West Lakes in a part-time role, former Crow Matthew Bode has joined the club as a full-time fitness coach. 

Bode takes time-out of a busy pre-season to chat to afc.com.au content producer Katrina Gill.

KG: Your position as fitness coach became full-time over the break. How has your role changed? 

MB: Last year I worked part-time. My main role was in rehab and in particular working with the players who were close to training back with the main group. Scott Wilson our rehab physio sets the weekly programs and when players get to a stage where they can start running and kicking footballs I take them for specific football training. This year, I still have that role in my job description but I also coach in every strength session. I look after recovery and assist (physical performance manager) Stephen Schwerdt with the running sessions as well.

KG: How have you found being back in a football environment full-time? 

MB: I’ve loved it. When I finished as a player in 2007 I thought I would never be involved in a football club again because I was mentally exhausted, but after a period of time I really missed the sporting culture and the feeling of every employee in the business puling in the same direction to achieve something special.

KG: We know about your playing background (108 AFL games with Adelaide and Port Adelaide), but can you tell us about your fitness background?

MB: When I finished playing for the Crows I opened up a health studio in Somerton Park called ‘Lifestyles’, which proved to be a real success for my business partner and I. The last few years have been very busy as I’ve been constantly gaining accreditations for specific fitness courses as well as studying part-time at university.

KG: A number of the players did running sessions with you during the post-season break. Is that part of your role or you acting as more of a mentor to the players?

MB: I don’t think I’m a mentor, but when I was playing I found it a lot easier taking orders from coaches who I knew had experienced it for themselves.  We’re asking the players to seriously challenge themselves physically and mentally for 10 months of the year and I think it’s really important the players have coaches who can show some empathy.

KG: We’ve heard about the emphasis on strength training this pre-season, with the addition of more boxing, wrestling and grappling sessions. What have been the most noticeable changes from your point of view in first two weeks?

MB: Obviously, the strength aspect is huge, but our main objective for the pre-season is to - where we can - make the training ultra-competitive. This can be incorporated in strength training and also the wrestling and boxing sessions. If done correctly, I think this type of training can generate some real competitiveness and hardness within the playing group. 

KG: Players like David Mackay, Jason Porplyzia and Sam Shaw have been hit hard by injury in the past couple of years. How are they tracking at the moment?

MB: Dave and Jason both had surgery during the season and are going as well as we could have hoped. Dave has managed to put on about 5kg during the break, which I think will not only make him a more damaging player, but will help reduce his injuries. ‘Porps’ is starting to get into tackling now, but if we had played finals last season he would have been considered for selection. We are taking our time with Porps, but he’s as strong as he has been for years and continues to be one of the strongest in the gym. Sam’s had a very minor ankle injury over the past week, but before that little hiccup he looked to be uninhibited by his long-term back injury. If he can stay fit, he could be a valuable player for the club.

KG: Which players have impressed you with how they’ve returned to pre-season training? 

MB: Although they’ve had their fair share of injuries over the past 12 months, I admire the work ethic of Daniel Talia, ‘Porps’ and Dave Mackay. They are true professionals. Patty Dangerfield is running personal best times, which shows how much work he has done over the break. Another two guys I’ve been really impressed with are Matty Jaensch and Sammy Jacobs. Sammy looks strong and will play a huge role for us this year and, while being the class clown at times, Matty Jaensch is serious about being a long-term AFL player and is setting a good standard with his training.