HEATH Ohlin has never been a fan of starting pre-season training early. Until 2020 came along that is. The Henty coach spoke to The Border Mail this week about training, recruits and basketball.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BRETT KOHLHAGEN: When the Hume league hopefully starts next year, Henty is going to have a vastly different side to round 18, 2019, isn't it?
HEATH OHLIN: For sure. We might have only seven or eight of the same players which isn't necessarily a bad thing some times. We have brought in some new players (Sam Scott, Dylan Simpson, Seamus Quinn, Brayden Skeers, Liam Sweeney, Tex Gillard, Patty Smith and Dan Terlich) and our younger guys will have opportunities as well.
BK: How is Henty tackling pre-season training?
HO: We started on October 28. I've always believed in doing nothing before Christmas as I thought it was a waste of time but then with everything that has happened we thought we would try and get into a routine again. We've been doing one night a week and it's 100 per cent footy stuff with the ball in hand. I thought we'd get half a dozen turn up but we had 24 the first night and then 28 last week.
BK: A few big names as well?
HO: Nick Murray and Harry Macreadie are around doing farm work in the area and have dropped in for a run which is good for the locals to see how VFL and AFL players go about it.
BK: Who gets the job on former Swampie Damian Cupido when you play Brock-Burrum next season?
HO: Very good question (laughs). I might have to send four or five guys to him to try and slow him down. I'll give big 'Moose' (Seamus Quinn) first crack and once 'Cupes' kicks five in the first quarter we might put Jimmy Ellis on him.
BK: You obviously think Henty can return to finals?
HO: Absolutely. You read stories when that question gets asked and I sort of think if you say the flag people think you are getting ahead of yourself but if you say finals then people might think you are selling yourself short. It's a hard question to answer. For us, we want to get the most out of the group and maximise our potential.
BK: You trained with the Bandits, why did you choose football over basketball?
HO: I think it was the club environment. In basketball you have 12 or 15 guys in the team but that's sort of it. In country football clubs, there is the entire town. You just feel part of something bigger. I still play basketball in the summer which I enjoy. For three or four years I ummed and ahhed but when I got to 23 or 24 I decided to go with footy.
BK: Would you rather watch a game of AFL or NBA?
HO: NBA for sure. It's my number one sport to watch. I'm a massive LeBron James fan. It's not that I don't love footy, but basketball is still my number one.
BK: Interesting
HO: Mum and Dad put a ring up in the backyard when I was eight years old. From there it was basketball all the time. Footy has been more of a bi-product.
