Border Mail |
IT is often said that the harder you work, the luckier you get.
That gem of wisdom would seem best to sum up the season so far of Rand-Walbundrie midfielder Justin Gordon.
Gordon joined the Tigers this season from North Albury and has stamped himself as one of the recruits of the season.
The tireless onballer is one of the leading contenders in the Border Mail-WAW Footballer of the Year award and would also be favourite to take out the Tigers’ best and fairest.
The personal trainer at Allfit Albury attributes his outstanding form to his new-found fitness levels since starting at the fitness centre over the summer.
“I started working at Allfit and doing the extra cardio sessions over the summer and it has given me a good fitness base,” Gordon said.
“I was probably a bit heavy last year at North Albury. I am easily the fittest I have been.”
While Gordon is one of the fittest players in the Hume league, he is also conscious that recovery is just as important as training hard.
“I usually run about four classes a week but only participate in two of those so I don’t overdo it,” he said.
“I also train twice a week with Rand-Walbundrie and then rest up after Thursday night to prepare for the game.”
Gordon is thriving with the lesser demands of the Hume league compared with the O and M as he juggles work at the gym.
He is also in the second year of studying to be a physiotherapist at CSU Albury.
“It’s been fantastic at Rand-Walbundrie,” he said.
“It is a bit more laid-back than Ovens and Murray which helps while I’m at university.
“The boys also enjoy the social side of the game.
“I’ve still got two years to go at university and can see myself at the club until at least then.”
Rand-Walbundrie has emerged as one of the surprise packets of the season. Many pundits had expected the Tigers to struggle because they have the youngest list in the competition.
But rookie coach Daniel Athanitis has so far defied the critics and the Tigers are just four points and percentage outside the top six with a 5-6 record.
“Daniel has done a terrific job and has grown into the coaching role as the season has progressed,” Gordon said.
“It is only his first year coaching and everyone is improving together and everything is just starting to click.
“Training has picked up a fair bit in the last couple of weeks.
“Dan Lieschke and Patrick Star have come up after playing in the thirds grand final last year and have been terrific for kids that young.
“We are playing a lot better as a team and even if we get close to making finals, we will still be pretty happy as a group.
“We will just have to wait and see what happens from here.”
The Tigers face a season-defining clash against CDHBU this week with both teams locked on 24 points and their finals hopes still flickering.
Gordon admitted that whoever lost would bow out of the finals race.
“It’s pretty much an elimination final and a massive game,” he said.
“Hopefully, we can do everything right and come away with the points.
“We are going to have to play well because the opposition will be just as desperate as us.”
