Barlow embracing hard summer slog
MICHAEL Barlow prepared for the worst and celebrated the best.
The Gold Coast Suns midfielder described his successful return from a broken leg – the second of his career – as seamless as he continues to carry the mantle of the club’s fittest man.
“I’m absolutely stoked,” Barlow said six months after suffering the horrific injury while playing Carlton in Round 13.
“When I did it, you go in with all the optimism that you will get back no worries and have no set backs.
“From the first time I did it I did have a lot of set backs.
“(This time) I wrapped my head around the more pessimistic view despite probably externally telling everyone I’ll be all right. It has really gone seamlessly.
“I have had a few sore spots here and there but that is probably to be expected and I haven’t missed a session the whole pre-season so touch wood that keeps going.
“I’m just thrilled to be back out there training and doing what I love.”
Gold Coast’s best runner labelled the team’s final preChristmas training session on Thursday as the hardest of his nine-year career with new coach Stuart Dew introducing game-related drills, something traditionally rarely seen until the new year.
“That session ... was right at the top of the podium of what I have done in my nineyear career,” Barlow said.
“There was some really good intensity and some game-like stuff – some real competitive stuff and we are seeing it right across the board. For me they don’t get any harder. In December across my career we haven’t done a lot of that.
“What we will find once you get to the JLT we are more used to that burst and that contact so it doesn’t catch us off guard as much.”
Gold Coast will enter the new year with a relatively healthy list with recruit Harrison Wigg (fractured ankle) the only injured player.
Pearce Hanley – who recently had hand surgery – will begin greater contact work when the players return on January 9 while Sam Day won’t be far behind as he continues to progress from his hip injury.
(THIS TIME) I WRAPPED MY HEAD AROUND THE MORE PESSIMISTIC VIEW DESPITE PROBABLY EXTERNALLY TELLING EVERYONE I’LL BE ALL RIGHT . ... MICHAEL BARLOW