Lean teen Ratugolea ticks off pre-season goal
EMERGING Geelong tall Esava Ratugolea is fitter and healthier than ever as he ticks off his first goal of the pre-season — playing in the JLT Community Series.
The high-leaping 19-yearold was plagued with calf injuries last pre-season and managed just 10 games in the VFL before a hand injury prematurely ended his season.
But the 197cm forward-ruck has had a faultless preparation this summer, feeling more trim and ripped heading into his second year.
“I’m very excited,” Ratugolea told the Geelong Advertiser.
“This JLT game is a really good starting point for me. It was my goal coming into preseason to get my body fit enough to play the first preseason game so I’m very happy to be playing this weekend.
“I’ve especially lost a few skin folds since I’ve been here. I’ve just been trying to cut down on particular foods and try and lean out a bit more. I’m eating a lot more protein than I ever had.”
Ratugolea said the coaching staff had not put him under too much pressure over the offseason, rather, he put himself under the pump to be the best prepared he could be.
“I’ve trained a lot more than they expected me to, so I’ve been really happy with how I’ve been going at the moment, especially compared to last year,” he said.
“Last year was just a really big year for me to learn about footy.
“I wasn’t really expecting much last year, just to learn, improve my skills and learn in other areas.
“It was a bit annoying with little injuries here and there — it was frustrating.
“This year I’m a lot more confident in my training and I’m starting to learn about myself a bit more. “I’m feeling really fit.” Despite being fitter, Ratugolea doesn’t expect his role — mostly forward and pinch-hitting in the ruck — to change all that much.
“I’ve been training really well, I reckon, so I’m just happy to get this opportunity,” he said.
“I’m not sure what to expect yet but hopefully the weather is good by the time we play.”