FORMER Greater Western Sydney assistant coach Nick Walsh has been appointed St Kilda's new fitness boss.
The Saints announced changes to their strength and conditioning program at the end of the year by parting ways with high-performance manager Matt Hornsby, with Walsh taking on the role of head of performance and conditioning at the club.
Walsh has had a long association with the game since arriving in Australia from Ireland in 2001 to join Melbourne.
Walsh spent three years on the Demons' rookie list but didn't break through for a senior appearance before returning back to Ireland.
However, he maintained a close connection to the game and returned to Australia to be a strength and conditioning coach at the Giants when they were a fledgling franchise in 2011.
Nick Walsh during a GWS Giants training session in 2016. Picture: Screenshot
Walsh continued his development to rise internally at the Giants to be a defensive coach and was with the club until 2018 having been in the coaching, welfare and strength and conditioning positions.
More recently Walsh has been involved with the AFL Coaches' Association leading the 'Tackle Your Feelings' program, working with coaches at all levels on understanding and recognising mental health issues.
He will steer the Saints' pre-season program after the club missed the finals in 2021 following their semi-final finish last year.
The Saints confirmed in August that Hornsby, who joined the club in 2015 after more than a decade with Richmond, would be leaving as part of a number of off-field changes, including assistants Aaron Hamill and Adam Skrobalak.
The club also farewelled senior physio Andrew Wallis after 14 years and 300 games with the Saints.
New Fitness Boss Appointed.
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Wayne42
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Hopefully the players will be fit and primed for the start of the season in 2022.
I would say no one tipped this appointment, i wonder who else is coming in from left field.
I would say no one tipped this appointment, i wonder who else is coming in from left field.
The Saints are under review, will it make any difference to the underachievers ?
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The_Dud
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Makes sense, as I don’t think GWS have had issues with injuries…
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Impatient Sainter
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amusingname
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
He left GWS in 2018Impatient Sainter wrote: ↑Fri 03 Sep 2021 9:50pmThey have a shocking run with injuries for a couple of years.
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kosifantutti
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
I didn’t know Tommy had a brother.
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magnifisaint
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
So what has been up to in the last 3 years?
In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats. They’re eating – they are eating the pets of the people that live there.
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realdeal
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Is this a bit random? Sounds like he's jumped around from position to position... What are his actual qualifications?
I guess like everything we have to trust those making the decisions... He and Gubby Allen worked together at GWS ?
I guess like everything we have to trust those making the decisions... He and Gubby Allen worked together at GWS ?
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SaintPav
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Gold, Kosi. Gold!
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Bowey Boy
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Well I posted on Twitter to no avail, are they related? Also are they related to Mike Walsh?
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lewdogs
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
He worked at GWS for seven years doing fitness stuff as well as coaching their backline in a successful period.
Seems like a fantastic get.
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realdeal
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
I get that as it says it in the article, and whilst it may well be a good get im still wondering about his qualifications and how long he was in a strength and conditioning position at gws?
Is he a defensive coach, a welfare professional or a fitness guru? Maybe he's all three and we got ourselves a stud..
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Impatient Sainter
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saynta
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Thanks for posting that mate.Impatient Sainter wrote: ↑Sat 04 Sep 2021 10:59am He speaks really well & sounds like he knows his stuff.
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lewdogs
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
According to his LinkedIn he worked in Strength and Conditioning the whole time he was at the Giants.realdeal wrote: ↑Sat 04 Sep 2021 10:43amI get that as it says it in the article, and whilst it may well be a good get im still wondering about his qualifications and how long he was in a strength and conditioning position at gws?
Is he a defensive coach, a welfare professional or a fitness guru? Maybe he's all three and we got ourselves a stud..
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Dave McNamara
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Good move by our club. Brett Huggy Bear Ratten needs some of that workload taken off his shoulders.
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kosifantutti
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Watching the video it seems he’s from Cavan. Tommy was a Kerryman.
Mike Walsh went to Xavier, so they’re probably all related.
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Yorkeys
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Zed
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
Fitness guy who has doubled up as a defensive coach.
Given the coaching soft cap cuts it makes sense I can see why he may have appealed.
But 2 question remain:
1. can he prepare a team better than most of his strength & conditioning peers in the AFL ?
2. Does he know his stuff when it comes to defensive structures and importantly can he optimize the plan to the strengths of our defensive playing group ?
Given the coaching soft cap cuts it makes sense I can see why he may have appealed.
But 2 question remain:
1. can he prepare a team better than most of his strength & conditioning peers in the AFL ?
2. Does he know his stuff when it comes to defensive structures and importantly can he optimize the plan to the strengths of our defensive playing group ?
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Viscount Jeremiah
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Re: New Fitness Boss Appointed.
I think point 2 is irrelevant since we hired him only to do point 1.Zed wrote: ↑Sun 05 Sep 2021 1:04pm Fitness guy who has doubled up as a defensive coach.
Given the coaching soft cap cuts it makes sense I can see why he may have appealed.
But 2 question remain:
1. can he prepare a team better than most of his strength & conditioning peers in the AFL ?
2. Does he know his stuff when it comes to defensive structures and importantly can he optimize the plan to the strengths of our defensive playing group ?
I didn't see anywhere that we are going to use him as a defensive coach but I could be wrong.