Brandon Ellis interview ...
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http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2014-11-15/ellis-press-conference-15th-november--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brandon Ellis insists Richmond fuelled by consecutive finals defeatsGlenn McFarlane
Herald-Sun
November 15, 2014 5:17PMBRANDON Ellis insists the pain of losing a second consecutive elimination final will fuel the Richmond group as it faces its toughest pre-season campaign to date.
With the Tigers’ physical performance manager, Peter Burge, predicting the players will work harder than they have before, most of the club’s playing list took part in a sizzling 3km time-trial around Princes Park early Saturday morning.
Ellis was narrowly nudged out by Nathan Gordon in the time-trial, which included more than a few experienced players who are not officially due back until November 24.
“I am burning from what happened in the elimination final,” Ellis said of the 57-point humiliation to Port Adelaide. “That’s two years in a row now, which is not good enough.
“We will have a big pre-season and then a big season that can hopefully rectify that come the finals next year.
“You play footy to win finals and to have that ultimate dream of winning a Grand Final.
“I have played in two finals (series) in a row now.
“The intensity and tempo (of finals) goes up to another level and you have to be switched on from the first bounce.
“We can’t wait for next season, but we know we have a big pre-season ahead of us first.”
Ellis said the desire of clubs to seek an edge on rivals and also the late start of the 2015 home-and-away season because of the cricket World Cup will mean for long, gruelling pre-season.
“Every pre-season is harder (than the last),” he said. “You have to try to get a jump on the other teams because everyone is trying to do the same.
“It might just be that little bit extra that you do that might get you ahead of the other clubs.”
Among the experienced Tigers on show on Saturday were captain Trent Cotchin and full-forward Jack Riewoldt, while coach Damien Hardwick also took part.
Riewoldt was particularly animated in trying to drive the players, urging them to stand their ground when exhausted at the end of the time-trial.
“Jack never shuts up,” Ellis said with a smile. “But he never lets anyone get ahead of themselves and pulls people back into line. He’s always up and about.”
Ellis enjoyed his most complete season to date this year, finishing second to Jack Dyer medallist Cotchin, but he still worked hard during his time away from the club to make sure he came back in good shape.
“I was pretty pleased (with the time-trial). I did a bit of work in the off-season,” he said. “I didn’t want to come back under shape.
“If you come back not having done the work, you are liable to do a hamstring or a soft-tissue injury. And you don’t want to do that and miss chunks of the pre-season because I think that is one of the most important parts of the year.”
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