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Aust football's strongest lifters

it does somewhat bazza because it is important to push away from your opponent away in rugby league..

Nice sarcasm :D :thumbup:

I get alot of new guys coming into the gym and are footy players of some code.

Their squats were half assed 60kg and benched 100kg.

I asked why didn't they strengthen the legs.
Most say they get enough of it on the field and don't need to in the gym.

Hence the bench press.

Nek minnit after 3 months of squats.
They notice improved speed off the mark and agility on the field.

:banghead:
 
Nice sarcasm :D :thumbup:

I get alot of new guys coming into the gym and are footy players of some code.

Their squats were half assed 60kg and benched 100kg.

I asked why didn't they strengthen the legs.
Most say they get enough of it on the field and don't need to in the gym.

Hence the bench press.

Nek minnit after 3 months of squats.
They notice improved speed off the mark and agility on the field.

:banghead:

LOL!!!

Nek minnit....
 
Richo was one of the fastest men at richmond and had good endurance. If he could kick straighter, would have been one of all-time greats.

My opinion, at least.

For his position, and i suspect most others in aussie rules, i also dont hink there is much correlation with bench.

I had a similar argument about bench and sprints with the late Charlie francis. When a few started agreeing with me, all he could say was what do you know, have you coached anyone under 9.8. Well i would be surprised if Usain Bolt had a big bench. Sure helps you look good though.
 
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I agree with Bazza and Spartacus

Sure, being stronger helps, but I don't see how benching 4 plates is going to help you run 15km
 
20+ years of playing footy and I will guarantee you max bench and top footy players have very little correlation. Today or tomorrow.

Football players that have worked up to a 150kg bench press have spent too much time in gym and not enough time practicing

And

A 250kg squat will not make one a better footballer.

I'll finish this later, bench press is a useless exercise
 
yes, even in NFL, whihc is far more based on power, many of top NFL perfomers in bench and even standing jumps and 40 yard dash prove no good.

That being said, some of the top NFL players have outstanding power and strength levels.

Same in NRL, many of top forwards not the strongest, but they sure know how to use what they have on field.
 
Sure having a great bench won't make you a better player, but so many young rookies coming through the AFL are 70kg lightweights who need to develop a strong core so they don't get knocked around by the more mature bodied players.
 
Yeah Harry this is a subject that fascinates me which would like to discuss more but not on this bloody phone sitting in a dentist reception.
 
Yeah Harry this is a subject that fascinates me which would like to discuss more but not on this bloody phone sitting in a dentist reception.
whats the Dental Nurse look like Goosey. Is she hot? Is she like one of those porn movie Dental Nurses?
 
Sure having a great bench won't make you a better player, but so many young rookies coming through the AFL are 70kg lightweights who need to develop a strong core so they don't get knocked around by the more mature bodied players.
how does Bench Press develop a strong core?
 
how does Bench Press develop a strong core?

of course it will help if squats & deads are in the same program.

Interesting that in Mike Shehans Top 50 the top ranked player is Gary Ablett who is a strong little fucker. He is so hard to knock off the ball and keeps his feet. So to Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson, John Kennedy, Chris Judd... these guys are not only elite athletes and wonderfully skilled but they are strong as fuck.

Maybe some of them are naturally stronger and they were blessed with strong genes, but they are all significantly more muscular than their rookie years.
 
of course it will help if squats & deads are in the same program.

Interesting that in Mike Shehans Top 50 the top ranked player is Gary Ablett who is a strong little fucker. He is so hard to knock off the ball and keeps his feet. So to Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson, John Kennedy, Chris Judd... these guys are not only elite athletes and wonderfully skilled but they are strong as fuck.

Maybe some of them are naturally stronger and they were blessed with strong genes, but they are all significantly more muscular than their rookie years.

The three best ever players I've seen are, Leigh Mathews, Wayne Carey and gary Ablett.

What these three had in common, other than skill was their biuld.

You will notice that their centre of gravity was much lower than most, in that their proportions made them stronger and able to change direction very quickly.

Long torso, short legs, almost impossible to budge.

What separated Ablett from the rest was his unusual wide hip and narrow shoulder, which made him extremely strong.

What James Hird had was unique as he also had an amazing ability to run all day and use his strength.

These blokes where not a result of being able to bench or squat high numbers.
 
Obviously having a stong build is an advantage, but it is just one of many important attributes to football, thus any obsession with lifting big weights would be a waste of time.

Having said that, key forwards may have an advantage from upper body prowess. i heard brereton once rund down the bench presses of gun centre half forwards, but for most positions i cant really see much relevance from bench press in aussie rules.
 
THE HELL YOU SAY!!! :eek:

The press is a better exercise, behind the neck is even better as it increases the stroke.

There seems to be confusion about the bench press being great for biulding strength to push or fend off opponents, it's totally wrong.

When you fend off an opponent you will use your lower body, your upper body is angled toward the opponent, this places you in the strongest posisition.

We are built like VW's the engines in the back :)
 
Not saying footy players should bench...

But bench press equals more upper body mass....

Also requires a lot of back and shoulder work...

I would not want to run into a guy who benches 200 and be tackled .... Sounds painful...

Think I'd rather be hit by the 100kg bencher...
 
Not saying footy players should bench...

But bench press equals more upper body mass....

Also requires a lot of back and shoulder work...

I would not want to run into a guy who benches 200 and be tackled .... Sounds painful...

Think I'd rather be hit by the 100kg bencher...

My take on this is that when your deadlift and squat or leg press increase, your bench benefits, it's not the other way around.

I'd rather not get hit at all, but if I was hit I'd want to be in the best shape possible.

The other two forgotten exercises are; grip work, forearm and neck.

I reckon a stronger neck would decrease the occurrence of head injury.
 
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