North Melbourne chosen Colby McKercher with the No. 2 decide in final month’s AFL nationwide draft and inside 72 hours the speedy left-footer had accomplished a significant relocation from Launceston to Melbourne.
McKercher, 18, has moved in with the household of Kangaroos legend Brent Harvey as he navigates the leap to the elite degree.
The Tasmanian teen had lengthy regarded ahead to a transfer interstate to launch his profession, and now has his likelihood at Arden Street with a rigorous pre-season schedule forward.
Take a glance behind the scenes as McKercher retains a diary of his first fortnight as an AFL participant.
Friday November 24
Friday was my first day on the membership. Had a 6.15am get up to get into the membership by about 7.45am.
After getting drafted I went house to pack my issues after which moved in with the Harveys.
Their place is a little bit of a method out within the northeast suburbs, but it surely’s a very nice spot. “Boomer” and his household have been actually good to me, they’ve been taking care of me very well.
Boomer’s only a very nice man and shifting in hasn’t felt intimidating in any respect. He’s been nice, and cooks a extremely good meal as properly.
It’s a few 45-minute drive to and from coaching, and I’m going in with Cooper (Harvey) – I’m attending to know him very well.
I’ve bought my licence however I gained’t carry my automobile over till after Christmas – the visitors right here is loopy, it’s taking a good bit of getting used to when there’s mainly no visitors again in Launceston.
Aside from that I haven’t discovered it that a lot of an adjustment to be trustworthy. I’ve bought some household right here in Melbourne and I’ve been right here loads of occasions so I really feel fairly comfy.
It’s good having Cooper – he’s been exhibiting me the ropes. Obviously he’s been within the system for a 12 months which is de facto useful.
We’ve already performed a number of golf and desk tennis at house too. He’s a very nice man and certainly one of my good mates on the membership.
We bought into the membership however the first-year boys didn’t stand up to heaps, simply testing and stuff, and we bought taken by what sort of work we’ll be doing over pre-season.
You meet lots of people – it’s actually completely different being in a membership with so many various individuals working behind the scenes.
We eased into coaching and gave a learn of our base numbers within the health club – energy output and power – so there’s one thing to work off over the pre-season.
Sunday November 26
Day off at this time to look at the ladies play within the AFLW prelim towards Adelaide. It’s fairly cool to see them taking part in finals and the way excited everyone seems to be across the membership.
While we have been watching at Ikon Park we had individuals arising and asking for autographs and photographs.
I used to be really procuring this weekend and three youngsters got here up and requested me for a photograph.
It’s good, I prefer it – there are such a lot of passionate individuals round footy and I really feel prefer it’s good for gamers to work together with them.
I take into consideration the way it was after I was a child, and the way I’d need the gamers to deal with me … if I may give them the time of day, then it’s good.
It’s the identical with the media, there’s been a number of further consideration however I’m comfy with it, for certain, and it’s all been constructive.
What comes with taking part in footy is consideration, persons are going to need to discuss to you.
Everyone needs to play to the very best of their means and play good soccer, and when you begin getting recognised for that you simply shouldn’t actually be complaining.
It’s form of a blessing I assume, it’s simply what comes with performing properly.
Wednesday November 29
We’re nonetheless getting managed fairly fastidiously, the first-year boys, so we haven’t joined in all of the health stuff however we’re in many of the drills when the balls come out.
It’s been actually pleasant, however I’m nonetheless getting used to adjusting to having the total program for the day, and realizing the place you have to be at what time.
I’m most likely not probably the most organised particular person, but it surely’s all laid out for us in a timetable, so I’ve simply bought to look and see the place I have to be and when.
You’ve bought to be actually good at time administration, and I’m studying that as I’m going – it’s fairly a change from again house.
Everyone was again at coaching earlier than we bought to the membership, so I’ve met everybody now.
If I used to be nervous to satisfy anybody, it was most likely Luke Davies-Uniacke, as a result of he’s only a star participant of the membership who I’ve watched a number of over the previous couple of years.
Harry Sheezel as properly, simply the way in which he dominated in his first 12 months … these two are gamers I actually look as much as and it’s fairly cool to be changing into buddies with them and hanging out across the membership day-after-day.
It’s very completely different to per week in the past the place I felt a bit nervous making an attempt to begin a dialog or say g’day.
I’m actually liking coming in and spending the day on the membership – even at this time after I don’t actually have stuff on within the afternoon, I’ll most likely stick round a bit extra, hang around with a number of the boys and do some restoration.
I don’t actually have a social life in Melbourne in the intervening time, so I’m simply having fun with the membership and the brand new routine of waking up early and getting in to Arden Street day-after-day.
Talking up and serving to to guide through the drills is one thing I love to do. With these issues I really feel like I’ve fairly excessive confidence and self-belief, so normally it’s one thing I discover a bit simpler to do than others perhaps.
But in the intervening time it’s nearly taking a step again and studying first – I can’t actually educate or direct individuals after I don’t know the place I’m meant to be myself.
Once I’m comfy and perceive the sport plan, I’ll really feel extra prepared to indicate some management on the bottom.
All the drills are fairly much like what I’ve achieved earlier than in junior and rep footy however simply the intent, the depth and the ability degree, that has all doubled, I reckon.
You’ve bought to be actually switched on and in your toes … there’s no time to be wanting on the buildings round you and taking all the things in, I’m studying it’s important to be on on a regular basis whenever you’re on the market.
Friday December 1
It’s summer time however half the time I’ve spent right here it’s been raining, chilly and cloudy. We’re headed to the Gold Coast for our camp on Sunday so it’ll be good to get out within the warmth and spend a while on the seashore with the boys.
The bodily facet of the camp isn’t one thing I’m apprehensive about – we’re nonetheless getting eased into it a bit of bit extra and we’re not getting smashed with an enormous coaching load right away.
You’ve simply bought to have belief within the folks that run the applications, our power and conditioning and high-performance group that they’re doing the best factor by managing us and slowly build up the coaching hundreds.
Monday December 4
We’re up on the Gold Coast, most of us youthful boys flew in at about noon yesterday.
We all watched the AFLW grand last collectively, it was wanting actually good early however sadly the ladies misplaced.
This morning we went out to the Southport Sharks facility for a session, and it was a reasonably scorching one. I used to be knackered after.
When we have been pushing by the working it was actually Cam Zurhaar who bought the boys going.
His power was actually good to get us up and about between the units, and Jy Simpkin is clearly a terrific chief of our group as properly and saved everybody up and about.
Lucky for us first-years the boys completed off with a “six-minute blowout”, like a maximal effort run for that point, however we solely needed to watch it, which was most likely a blessing in disguise as a result of it regarded fairly painful.
It appears like we’ll nonetheless be managed like that till after Christmas, however the days are nonetheless actually laborious and difficult.
The early wake-ups, after they stack up day-after-day and also you’re not used to it, change into a bit of tougher to regulate to.
After lunch we did a little bit of health club after which completed our afternoon program. I used to be actually drained and in mattress by 9pm.
Wednesday December 6
This morning we had a fast breakfast and went again to Southport for a expertise session, a number of kicking and handball drills and not likely contact.
We most likely ran about 6km over the session … it’s a bit extra pleasant whenever you get to have the footy out.
After that completed most of us went right down to the seashore for a swim. It’s been nice having that to loosen up and luxuriate in some solar.
“Clarko” organised a group session on the seashore yesterday and it was extra nearly having a little bit of amusing collectively. Everyone joined in with some paddleboarding – it was humorous seeing blokes flailing round and falling off.
Clarko has been actually good with us first-year boys, simply making us really feel comfy and actually getting round us at coaching, chatting to us after we stroll by the halls.
Everyone has felt actually welcome on the membership, he’s been nice.
After lunch at this time we went straight again into our afternoon program – on the camp that has been health club, physio remedy and movie work over about three hours.
We evaluate footage from coaching principally with the coaches and it’s nearly getting our heads across the sport plan and the way it appears.
I’ve achieved a number of work with (new assistant coach) Jed Adcock. I’ve checked out a couple of sport plan-type issues with him to attempt to get throughout that form of stuff.
He has actually good perception and appears on the sport properly … he’s a ripper bloke, he cares for the entire taking part in group and is de facto passionate.
He’s gone into a number of element explaining the completely different roles to me and what they require, and it’s been nice to work with him carefully on that whereas I’m a bit not sure.
Individually, I like to take a look at a few of my footage as properly, clearly being in a brand new atmosphere there’s so much to take out of it.
Getting in with the coaches and what I may very well be doing higher and what I can study from a session has been actually helpful within the first couple of weeks – I’ve achieved a number of that stuff with (improvement coach) Jarrod Lienert.
Thursday December 7
We had a break day at this time, it was very nice to get an excellent sleep-in after an enormous week of coaching.
I headed right down to the seashore once more, had some breakfast with the boys and simply chilled out round Surfers Paradise. I spent the afternoon doing a little further restoration.
We’ve been splitting up into bus teams for journeys to the seashore and Southport to coach – I’ve been put with a number of defenders: Harry Sheezel, Riley Hardeman, Wil Dawson and Jackson Archer.
Griffin Logue is our bus driver. I don’t need to sew anybody up however there’s some humorous issues occurring in there, and we’ve had some good singalongs.
Logue was in control of tunes in the beginning of the journey however he’s simply began flicking it off to whoever is within the passenger seat.
I’m feeling the stress … the boys gained’t be glad when you whack on one thing bizarre.
I’ll play something actually. I’m all about versatility in the case of music.
Saturday December 9
Just leaving the camp now – yesterday ended up being a number of match sim and doubtless not as brutal with the working as what I used to be making ready for.
I’m taking part in a bit in all places within the match sim however principally specializing in the defensive stuff in the intervening time down within the backline.
It’s at all times good to get the balls out, I’ve actually loved the match play.
The physique is feeling actually good, not that sore to be trustworthy after an enormous week, so I’ll be able to go for subsequent week.
One week to go after which we’ve got two and a half weeks off for Christmas which is fairly good – I’ll return to Tassie for a bit.
Join Colby, and enroll as a North Melbourne member for 2024 at membership.nmfc.com.au
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
