Bye Week Check in | Jackson Kornberg

Post-bye, the group is building momentum with back-to-back wins. 

A tailored bye approach has the squad refreshed, while the return of our high-pressure and high-intensity Dolphins brand of football has us in good standing. 

Big weeks ahead with interstate clashes, a Kinetic Stadium watch party, and the upcoming Battle of the Bay. Off-field, we’re proud to launch the Luminary Ball supporting brain cancer research.

Our fans continue to drive us — over 12,000 through the gates already this season. 🙌

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Welcome back, Franks and fans. We're here on the back of our buy weekend, and uh we thought it would be a great opportunity to just take a little bit of stock and have a chat to head coach Jackson Kornberg on the back of probably the first little block or the first third of the season uh now behind us. Um obviously there's been uh been some ups and downs along the way, but uh the boys uh had two wins in a row and uh and heading into bye weekend. So we thought it'd be a great opportunity to take a bit of stock and and have a chat about what has gone and also what is coming up in the next little period of the BFL season. So welcome, Jackson.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Thanks, Mark. Thanks for having me, mate.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

Yeah, mate, any time. And uh I guess starting off, uh, what did you get up to on the on the bye weekend and what did the what did the boys get up to uh over the bye weekend?

SPEAKER_01 0:55

Yeah, that was um it was nice to have a a weekend off. I think it's sort of come at the right time for a few boys. I um no, just tried to detach from footy for a bit and got away for a few days, but back into it now, given that we uh yeah, we go up to the Suns this week, which will be which will be exciting. But um across the board for the boys, um some had a much needed rest, um, given they sort of like from practice games into season, played the first sort of that first bye that we had for that gather around buy. Some of them sort of played nine, ten, um, eleven weeks in a row. Um so it's nice to have a bit of a reset and a and a recharge, and and some others went and um and sort of went and played local and needed needed the game um to build continuity. Some guys come back from injury, um, some guys just need to build their minutes as well. So there was a real sort of um individualized approach to to this buy based on sort of what um individuals needed whether they need to play or need to have the week off. And um, yeah, we'll we'll go into um yeah, obviously Monday now going to into our training session on Tuesday tomorrow with um yeah, we with it with a good sort of vibe and um and good energy about the group, given as I said, that that individualised approach of some guys need the week off and some guys just getting the minutes in. So looking forward to going up and flying up to um Plumpsy Gold Coast this week to take on the Suns.

SPEAKER_00 2:09

Yeah, for sure. And we spoke to uh Jordan Love a couple of weeks ago um just about I guess the tailored programs and and how you have to sort of operate in the in the VFL and the level of detail that you do operate around individual players' programs. And you know, obviously we had uh, you know, a bit of a in indifferent preparation with various players, you know, like some some didn't really get a practice game in, some probably had to play more minutes through the through the practice games and then the early part of the season, and um, you know, we're starting to get our our health right back up there um to to where it needs to be. And uh, you know, how how much detail I suppose goes into it, how much planning uh goes into that, and I guess how agile do you have to be around you know when a buy like this comes up and and how you plan it plan it out?

SPEAKER_01 3:02

Certainly, um certainly is is planned and a fair way in advance, I suppose. Myself, um Geordie, as you mentioned, and Vassal, ahead of medical, was sort of caught up maybe two to three weeks ago and sort of figured out what does our best case scenario look like. These are the guys we feel need a week off, these are the guys we want to keep going, and then you sort of adjust um each week. I think um it'd be a great inequality to treat everyone equally at VFL because everyone's different. Um you've got to be able to sort of treat everyone as as they are. So um we sort of we we meet each each week as a um as an exit as a footy ops team and go through these sort of things. And as you said, yeah, you've got to be agile, we've got to buy, we'll see a buy on the weekend, then we got a six-week block, and then we got another buy. So it sort of um allows you to um to really plan in blocks, um, like at a five-week block of games um that we just had six weeks, six weeks, and then we come back for a final game after our last buy. So um you sort of are able to um adjust programs, um, individualise trainings um leading into the buy or leading into the games um around what certain players need, whether they need to be tapered off through the week, or um, or what what we sort of want out of them. Is it to sort of push them um to then have that week off, or is it sort of to get them through the whole year and play those buys too? So it certainly takes a fair bit of planning. It's not a um just an ad hoc decision on a Sunday night after our last game. We sort of um put a fair bit of thought and um and care into it with the obviously the player front of mind and what they require, but then also what the team demands as well. So um, yeah, it certainly takes a a bit of preparation and a bit of planning um to get it all right for the boys and and ensure sort of like full availability through the year.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

Yeah, for sure. And I guess before we launch into that uh next block of games, we've we've sort of just come through a little bit of a block after um after the state game and and things like that. Uh, you know, for some indifferent results, I guess, you know, went out to Werraby, um, you know, probably, you know, had a chance there, but uh, but couldn't couldn't get the job done. And then, you know, really quality sort of performance against Coburg, who, you know, to be honest, like they're still going to be thereabouts, and you can see from the weekend that they're this they've really turned the corner themselves. Um, and then uh went into the Richmond game and probably had a lot of chances in in that game and uh probably a little bit of frustration in the in the way I guess we're we're sort of finishing off there um against Richmond, but still get the win, which is which is a great result. So probably just uh touching on that little little block of games, as I said, some um indifferent performances, but some some good signs as well.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

Yeah, we came out of the um the Tassie game with a really clear picture in our mind as to where we needed to get to. We felt our first three games weren't dolphins footy, and um it was really uh I suppose um like it was a fair way away from where we wanted to be. Um not not so much results, like win-loss will come off the back of how we play, but um I thought the way we or we thought the way we play wasn't um to the standard that that we hold ourselves to. So coming into the Woroby game, whilst that result didn't go away, I thought the game um looked a lot more like a Dolphins game of footy. Um and then it sort of culminated, as you said, in that in that Coburg game, had a really strong game. Um Cobra, good team. Um as a while, you look at the ladder now, and it's very consistent across the board. So um there's no easy games in the VFL. Um really good, really strong, consistent performance against Coburg, and then and then Richmond, I still like whilst it was frustrating, I was really proud of the boys. Um it was it was just an armrest for the whole game, and and sort of um in years gone by, we we could have sort of just dropped off and let them kick three, four, five goals unanswered. It's sort of they'd kick one and then there'd be a lull, and then we'd kick one back, and they'd kick one, and we kick one. It was no one really got out. Um, and then in the end, like we um like we dominated the front half game of the last quarter, um, and the and the damn wall eventually broke. But I think um the the game is starting to look a lot more like um us, um, starting to get in better shape. It's not exactly where we want it to be. Um, like, do we want to be three and three? No, we don't. Um every team wants to be six and zip. Um, but the reality is we're we are where we are. So um really proud of the boys and how they they they fought back the last three weeks after sort of one and three going to Coburg, you lose that one, you go one and four. It's a it's a pretty scary hole you sort of find yourself in. But um to be able to sort of um yeah, start playing our way um and get back towards where we want to get to, I think is um is really exciting. And the boys um leave games with great confidence that when we're playing our brand and when we're playing our way and um when it looks like a dolphins game and and it looks a lot more like how we want it to look, um, we we give ourselves really good opportunities um to to score and um and to look exciting for our fans and members and supporters, which is which is a really important thing for us as well. So um, yeah, as I said, like we're are we where we want to be? Um probably not. Um, as I said, like every single team would want to be six and zip, but um from where we were to where we are now, we we've given ourselves a good opportunity to to just um I suppose keep keep playing our way and and give ourselves every look. Um me and the coaches and the players are really confident in the direction that we're going and and how we're playing at the minute. So um couldn't couldn't be prouder of the boys the last three weeks. Um, but more so, like as I said, we're um we're we're heading in the right direction.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Yeah, for sure. And I I guess credit to Richmond too in that game, just the way that they they actually played, but they're they've actually it's been been made note across the competition, you know, like they've obviously had a quite a few injuries at AFL level, but um their VFL team just were cracking in um and things like that. And there is a lot of credit to to their ability to um you know stay in that game and fight and scrap. And I think probably just from an outsider looking in, from a um from a Franksford perspective, you know, just the I guess the changes, you know, from those that Tassie game, you know, the the energy, the the the boys are really, you know, cracking in and up to the fight, and um, you know, we're able to match Richmond. And as you say, eventually um, you know, the dam wall started to break, and probably things came off the back of you know that level of pressure and um you know, really, really cracking in um you know, numbers uh around the footy and uh you know, you're not sort of relying on it being pretty all the time. It was uh it was just you know, we we keep going, keep going, keep going, stay in the fight, and then then get the result at the end of the day. And um, you know, I think that's probably just from an outsider's perspective, what uh, you know, we're seeing, I guess, across the Coburg and the um and bits of the Wereabi game as well. Um and the Coberg game and obviously Richmond and uh yeah, it seems like there's been a really, really positive change in that space.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

Yeah, I think that's like that's reflective of where the group's at, but also I think that's that's where the game is, like across the board, like if you put if you're able to put pressure on the opposition, um you're able to give yourself opportunities in the first three weeks. We probably weren't doing that as much as what we needed to. Um and yeah, I think the last three weeks we we certainly got back to um our identity and and what we want to try and get after. And um, yeah, I think the the results are starting to show, and not only results, but individual performances to to players as well, which is um which is always good.

SPEAKER_00 10:16

Yeah, absolutely. Just one one individual, which I think um, you know, the the energy is always there when he uh when he gets the footy and he's playing. But Blake O'Leary back off a long extended break. I mean, you couldn't be happy with the way that he's sort of come back into the side.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

Yeah, it's been a long, long journey for Blake. Obviously, um hurt his knee when we played North Melbourne back into last year. Unfortunately, missed our finals campaign, but uh missed a big chunk of preseason, started coming back and then and then hurt his hammy on his return and um to be able to sort of come in and have the impact that he did. I think um when he came in, he's kicked five goals in his his return game, and um like he's got the capacity to go through the midfield. We know he's he's obviously played wing the last two years. He's sort of um playing as that uh currently that high forward who goes up around the ball as well, but will evolve into that that midfielder and um up around the ball. I think he gives another dynamic um through that. But um, in the same token, like when he's forward, he he has a really strong impact. He's he's um got a really high footy IQ. Um, he's infectious with the way he plays. Um, he's a ultimate professional. Um he's a player that people gravitate towards um because of the way he is and and the connection that he fosters in the group. So um we're yeah, we're wrapped. Um, not only obviously that he's at our footy club, um, but that he's back playing and smiling and enjoying himself because rehab can be a lonely place at times, particularly with a couple of recurrent injuries. But um no, I couldn't couldn't be happier for Blake, but couldn't be prouder of him of his journey over the last couple of months to sort of get himself back in a position to play. But as you said, like the energy that he brings on field is is really high, and um, I don't know the boys really enjoy playing with him.

SPEAKER_00 11:56

Yeah, for sure, mate. And we we moved forward um first away trip up north uh for the year. We got a got a couple this year, and um actually a couple in pretty quick succession. We we've got uh the Gold Coast, and then in a couple of weeks we've got Brisbane after the after the Standingham game. Uh I guess how's the how's the preparation? What does the week look like? Uh you know, obviously to go up there, they've they've had their sort of battles this year, Gold Coast in the in the BFL, but as we said, there's there's certainly no game that you can ever take for granted, and they're always tough up there.

SPEAKER_01 12:29

Absolutely. Um, they're like, as you said, regardless of your ladder position. I mean, you look at our ladder position, we're sort of one and a half games off second bottom and one win off top. So, like, it's the the like the the spread of the ladder is incredible. So you can't take anyone lightly. They've got some elite players in in their side and um both VFL and AFL guys got guys like Alex Xson and Dave Swallow who recently retired playing in the VFL um club legends at the Suns. They've got some good young emerging talent, um, good academy players as well that are that are brought through um that amazing academy system up there as well. So, like we're expecting a really fierce battle. Um be cool to obviously be able to play on people's first stadium and like a at an AFL venue and and get up there. We um so we'll train tomorrow, we'll train Thursday, and um, and then we'll fly Friday afternoon and um get up there and um get the boys settled and um we'll see play. I think it's um I think it's 11 o'clock um that we'll start um up there on the coast. So really looking forward to getting up there. As you said, yeah, we've got a couple of travels in a couple of weeks, which is um which I mean is always galvanizing for the boys to head away. Um we've sort of been in a unique situation the first block of the year. We played a lot of Friday games, which means that we sort of really only train once a week and then have a captain's run. So to be able to get some consistency with our training as well with full squad, um, I think will be important um as we build into a like like a pretty important block in the scheme of things, not so much just for us, but I think everyone in the competition, sort of that round seven to round 12, that's sort of a pretty important sort of block to set yourself up for the back half of the year. So um we're excited and um I know the players are, and as I said, it's sort of the buyers come at a good time to sort of re-energize everyone um to sort of attack this period now rather than going through sort of 12 games in a row. Um, where you're sort of searching for maybe a week off or a bit of a breath, but we get that before heading into this period now where as you mentioned, we we play Suns, then come back and play Sandringham at home on the Saturday night, and then um and then fly up to Brisbane the following week um to play their markets um up at their facility. So um, yeah, exciting, exciting next three weeks, and then obviously the um the couple of games after that um in Melbourne. But um, yeah, certainly uh looking forward to getting away with the boys and um traveling together and um and hopefully having a couple of really good experiences up there.

SPEAKER_00 14:41

Yeah, and and for the fans as well, um, you know, we're we're back at Kinetic Stadium in terms of uh having a watch party uh this weekend. So uh yeah, get down there. The the girls are also playing uh after or or sort of just during. There's a little bit of a crossover there um with the Gold Coast game. So get down to Kinetic Stadium and uh we'll watch it on the big screen and uh and get behind the boys. There's been a lot of success and a lot of fun at those uh watch parties over the over the last couple of years. So we're gonna continue that so to get down information will will come out during the week, but uh that'll be that'll be brilliant. And then you know, sandra game will be a good one as well because we're you know they're standalone for the first time in in a long time. Um, you know, they've they've had some some moments across the season like every uh every team has, and you know, it'll be exciting to have the battle of the bay between two standalone clubs again.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

Absolutely. It's I think it's it's sensational for the for the competition and for and they've done a great job, Dan Well, their coach, Mark Wheeler, CEO, um done a great job of sort of setting that club up. Um uh from a standalone perspective. Obviously, you had first hand experience playing them in a practice game, and um I've been down to a couple of their games, only living around the corner from their oval just to and see the buzz and um excitement the standalone club um has um in in the area that I've sort of grown up and around. So um, as you said, we've had a really tight battle the last couple of years with the Battle of the Bay, um, given the alignment with St Kilda, but excited to welcome the Zebras down as a as a standalone club next Saturday or in two Saturday nights, um play our first Saturday night game of the year um under lights at home. Um yeah, against a against a team who um yeah, as you said, have played some really good footy this year. Like really um like yesterday pushed St Kilda right through to the end. Um they've had some really strong wins, a really good away win um against Brizzy thing was so like there's they've had some terrific results. Um as I said, they're well coached, they've got some really good young players coming through. Um where um yeah, so we'll um yeah, look obviously looking forward to um to that game in a couple of weeks um when um yeah when that comes.

SPEAKER_00 16:45

Yeah, for sure. And just uh just looking forward a little bit uh further, we've uh we've got the annual ball again this year, and uh we've we've sort of changed up the charity partner. It's always been a very, very successful uh night. This where you know we've raised you know upwards of ten, eleven thousand dollars for for a charity. Um probably the the absolute must attend event on the calendar. Um this year where we've renamed it the the luminary ball, and we're going to support uh brain cancer at the Peninsula University Hospital, um, the brain cancer division. Um so are you able to just sort of shed some light on that? We're we're obviously looking to get sort of 300 people in the room again, down at Crown Towers. Um, but yeah, great cause and uh what's all that look like?

SPEAKER_01 17:33

Yeah, it's it's a it's a sensational night. Obviously, I've been at the club. This is my third year now, so they have two two mid-season balls. It's sort of the premier night of their year from an off-field perspective, supporting um obviously the the socially important causes outside the footy club, but also um using it as a vehicle to connect an entire club, both our men's, our women's program supporters, board, members, staff, um, parents, partners, and everyone. So yeah, we're um we'll be um I think it's the 20th of 20th of June at Crown Towers uh following our game against Collingwood on the Friday night, which is just really exciting. And as you mentioned, um previously sort of um supported um supported another charity, but decided this year to to I suppose look local and um look around what what sort of um is important in the Frankston area and and um and also support a cause that um that has touched a couple of people at the footy club, which um which we're really keen to do and um and sort of we've we've landed on um supporting as you as you mentioned the Peninsula University Hospital um just around a corner from the club, but but specifically um in the oncology ward and and the brain cancer division there. Um yeah, I think it's uh obviously it's a a really um prevalent um cancer um around Australia and around the world. Um but I suppose from from our perspective, um, as they're wanting to support um a local hospital and and an area of um, I suppose, of the community that that has touched um one or two of our our players that um that we feel is really important to um to both support them but also support um support the the broader cause. So um as you mentioned, it's a great night. We usually have like certainly upwards of 250, 300 people at the event, um, live auction, silent auction. Um it's a it's a it's a great night as I said to connect um not only um all facets of the footy club but to do so in a really um socially mindful way to uh to support a cause that um that as I said hold holds really close to the heart of um of some of our players.

SPEAKER_00 19:30

Yeah, and we got um got some obviously special jumpers we'll wear on the night as well, which I've uh I've seen the design of and and they look uh they look very, very cool. So they're they're definitely going to be a uh a must uh must bid on uh item that night. Um did you have any any design work on that, mate? I know you're dabble in a bit of graphic design and stuff like that. Definitely definitely not.

SPEAKER_01 19:53

No, just sort of um through the great work of uh Joe Lloyd, who who works at our uh at our parrot partner, um, New Balance, also our um our vice captain, and um, and through the sort of the support of a couple of our players as well who who assist in the in the design. Um it's a it's a really cool jumper that um we think highlights um exactly what we're sort of supporting. But as you mentioned, to be able to sort of auction them off um at the night and and raise some raise some funds for um for the hospital and um and be able to support the cause. We it's a really um it's a really cool and and special thing that uh that we do at the footy club.

SPEAKER_00 20:25

Yeah, fantastic, mate. Well, look, we we might leave it there. It's uh it's been a pleasure chatting and obviously getting a little bit of insight into, I guess, that first part of the season. And you know, there's no doubt this is uh a super, super exciting block of uh of games coming up. You know, attendances have been through the roof. We've we've had, I think, over 12,000 people through Kinetic Stadium um this season alone with our first four home games. Um so you know, obviously we we want that to continue. We we love the support down there. It's uh it's fantastic, and it's yeah, it's one of the one of the most unique experiences, I suppose, not just in the BFL, but in football in general. And uh we can't thank our fans and members enough. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 21:07

They're um they're the heartbeat of the footy club. Um our fans are supporters, and um, we we love the crowd, we don't take it for granted. Um, and yeah, we um as I said, it's um footy clubs aren't anything with without supporters. So um we always encourage our fans to get down and and support no matter what day, time, um sort of opposition it is to come down and support the boys because um the we certainly don't take it for granted.

SPEAKER_00 21:31

For sure, mate. Well, uh take it easy. Uh enjoy the enjoy the sun up in the Gold Coast. Hopefully it is sunny. Uh winter's definitely hit here in Melbourne. Um, so it's a good time to to get away, refresh, and uh and obviously uh yeah, galvanise the group and and hopefully have a good win.

SPEAKER_01 21:47

No, I appreciate it, mate. Thanks for having me on.