A Visit To The G & Dr Phil

Another venue of difference with the surrounds of the MCG being the choice of location this evening with the gathering assembling at Punt Road and enjoying a kick of the footy at the northern end without having to battle through the Ben Cousins entourage.

A lap of the G to start, improve our sense of Lions history by learning that Bill Ponsford grew up in Newry Street spending his junior years at Brunswick Street. Due to his father working for the GPO and being transferred to Elsternwick, Ponsford ended up playing for St Kilda (117 games) and Melbourne (56 games) scoring 8561 runs at 54.

Group then separated with Ash taking the ball handling activities and the others enjoying the incline of the Anderson Street Hill with a series of sprints.

While stretching on the river bridge, James was able to educate us all that the Governor was home as the lights were on and the flag was up. Arriving at the Tan, plenty of local talent heightened the Lions senses creating an impossibility of engaging in eye contact when issuing instructions. Therefore keep it simple - run hard, straight up the hill and avoid the dogs.

During the activity we learnt from a lone female that 26 seconds from the base to the first distance marker, about 130 metres overall was her effort over 6 sets. Thankfully on our last crack nearly all were able to achieve this time, although Kyle discivered that he still has a few seconds to gain.

Groups changed over, the second group using the footbbridge across Brunton Avenue as the incline challenge. Splendid views of the city through to Fed Square provided distraction to the hurt coming from effort. Sando was able to confirm the Governor was in without hesitation proving that not all the academic genius comes from Xavier and that Gavin is having an impact on the quality of learning. Although young Michael did lose a few points by stating that John Buchanan was still in charge of Cricket Australia before we charged up the concourse to finish beneath the monument to DK.

The volume of people who spend too much time watching daytime television was increasing in the path to the Dr Phil show, many being unfamiliar with the location having to ask the Lions for directions to Rod Laver arena. A good thing that Maxwell and Bremner are men of the world and can always assist with their vast experience. Next time we will schedule in sync with a Pink show to check the difference.

Wounded Lions, rather than view the activities, all stripped into training kit and completed circuit work at the Tan - good effort by them as we all accept that even if partially damaged it is better to do something than nothing (embrace the pain).

Time trial number two is only a few sleeps away!