Crows, Power will cop heat on chin

Port Adelaide train at Alberton Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Limited

ADELAIDE'S two AFL clubs are unlikely to move training times or modify sessions despite the city's extreme heatwave this week.

But both Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows say player safety will be top priority and precautions such as extra hydration will be taken.

Crows football operations manager Phil Harper said Adelaide would do its main sessions as scheduled in the mornings this week, with the exception of tomorrow when their key session is scheduled for the afternoon.

MORE: VAN BERLO OUT FOR THREE MONTHS

"We'll keep an eye on it and keep an eye on the players,'' he said.

"We'll have plenty of hydration and plenty of sunscreen as well, and if we have to cut trainings short we will, but at this stage we expect to be able to cope."

The Crows are coming off a heavy running week and have another heavy week scheduled before programming a lighter week later in the month.

Harper believed training in the heat could be beneficial this week, although he stressed all players would be closely monitored.

"There's team flying all over the world to train in heat, so as along as we are sensible about it, it can be a good thing,'' he said.

Jared Petrenko dishes off a pass under the sun. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Limited

"It is dangerous so you just have to be really diligent on watching how the players are coping."

Harper said the club was generally tracking well this pre-season with most of the squad healthy.

Taylor Walker, Andy Otten, Tom Lynch and Jared Petrenko on modified programs as they resume from injury or surgery. Nathan van Berlo ruptured his achilles tendon yesterday.

Port Adelaide high performance manager Darren Burgess said the Power would not move its main sessions, all of which are scheduled to run from mid-morning until about Midday this week.

"We will avoid the worst part of the day because it does get a bit ridiculous but we generally enjoy training in the heat,'' Burgess said.

"We will take some precautions like extra drinks and have some ice towels and cooling methods, but generally training will stay the same … We certainly wouldn't take in liberties with player health."

Burgess said player data showed Port was on track with this time last season, when the club became one of the fittest in the AFL.

January would be the club's hardest training month of the pre-season.

"We're in a as good a position as we can be given our circumstances,'' he said.

"January, the volume of total training will increase, both the football component and the running component."

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