Bears ready to face big boys
“It’s one of the smallest teams we’ve ever had,” said Kirwan head of sport Dave Ackers, who coached Kirwan to their inaugural national title win in 2015.
“We’ve been smaller than most teams since the start of the season, and we were smaller than Ignatius Park College and St Brendan’s College (Yeppoon) when we were playing them in the Aaron Payne Cup.
“On Wednesday it’s going to be the same story; the smallest forward on the Westfields team is bigger than our largest forward.
“But our guys are strong and they move very well.
“They’ve up at the crack of dawn for three days a week since last October and doing their gym sessions, and I don’t think there’s many 15 or 16year-old students in the country who are starting their school days at 5.45am.”
The Bears have had their gym program overseen by teacher and strength and conditioning coach Aaron Halliday, who is part of a wellcredentialed Bears coaching staff led by head mentor Todd Wilson.
Wilson said it was the work done in the Kirwan gym that had laid the catalyst for their size-defying run to the national grand final.
“To consistently turn up and train the way they do, it’s no fluke that they’ve got the opportunity to play for a national title,” he said.
“They’re getting up out of bed at the crack of dawn and boys from as far out as Alligator Creek are getting to school at 5.30am.
“Aaron’s got a lot of knowledge with speed and agility and he incorporates that into his weights training.
“The boys are getting the physical benefits from it, and they’re also setting themselves up for life with a good work ethic.”
Ackers said no matter what happens on the field tomorrow, size should not be an issue.
“Westfields are a lot bigger than us, but we’re strong and skilful,” he said.
“With a good attitude and good game-plan, we’re confident we can do a job on them.”