Skilled athletes are extra finely-tuned than ever as of late, with nearly each facet of their well being and health monitored by consultants.
Gamers are additionally competing longer than ever, with many persevering with their careers effectively into their 30s, which was the reduce off age in an enormous variety of sports activities.
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However there are exceptions to each rule and youthful gamers may get away with that little bit greater than veterans making an attempt to actual that final ounce of athletic prowess from their our bodies.
That is the place Logan Morris steps in.
Morris, who solely turns 19 on 10 Might, joined the Brisbane Lions with decide 31 in final yr’s AFL Draft and turned out for his or her VFL aspect in opposition to the Gold Coast simply after noon on Sunday.
{The teenager} kicked a objective and is credited with masking 13km within the match at Brighton Houses Enviornment exterior Brisbane, earlier than he was named among the many emergencies that night time for the Lions’ AFL conflict with the Suns at Suncorp Stadium.
Morris thought he was just about no likelihood of creating his senior debut and didn’t even have his boots with him, but it surely’s his selection of post-match meal on his method to Suncorp Stadium that has surprised observers.
He made a pit cease at McDonald’s round 4pm.
“I went for — it’s an enormous order right here — a barbecue Angus meal, six nuggets on the aspect and a frappe,” Morris informed reporters on the finish of his unimaginable day.
The official McDonald’s Fb account realized in regards to the story, writing: “What a meal, what a debut! He does all of it of us.”
That truly didn’t show sufficient meals for the previous Western Jets star, who additionally had some soup when he arrived on the floor, nonetheless not anticipating to play.
Then got here the information Brandon Starcevich had harm his calf within the warm-up and Morris was named the substitute to make his AFL debut, which means he now wanted to trace down some boots.
“I used to be in all types and didn’t know what to do,” Morris stated.
“Will (Ashcroft) had a pair sitting there, so I needed to chuck a measurement 12 on and I’m a measurement 13, so I used to be working one measurement too small for the sport.”
On an evening of carnage for the Lions, Lincoln McCarthy harm his knee within the first quarter and that meant Morris, full stomach and all, was thrown into the motion.
He would find yourself taking all of it in his stride, kicking 1.3 for the sport and working one other 9km within the recreation, taking him to 22km for the day, or simply over half the size of a marathon.
It was additionally the primary time he’d ever performed two video games of footy in sooner or later.
“My prep wasn’t the very best for the sport, however I bought by means of it,” Morris stated.
“And it was wonderful to debut, one thing I’ve dreamed of my entire life.
“I don’t suppose I’ve ever performed two video games in sooner or later, in order that’s a primary.
“The physique is certainly feeling it now.”
Morris’ dad and mom had come up for the VFL match, in order that they have been within the stands to see him make his AFL debut.
Coach Chris Fagan sang Morris’ praises after the Lions overcame a sequence of accidents to prevail by 34 factors.
“Logan Morris is without doubt one of the nice tales of the day,” Fagan stated post-match.
“Happily his dad and mom have been right here, which is nice, they got here as much as see the reserves recreation, in order that they bought to see him make his debut, the debut they didn’t know he was going to have.
“I feel on the way in which right here he ate some Macca’s and had some soup earlier than the sport.”
With Morris an honest likelihood of retaining his place within the aspect for Sunday’s conflict with the Crows in Adelaide, it stays to be seen whether or not he repeats his in the end profitable pre-match routine.
