GWV Rebels footballer Marcus Herbert impresses boxing coach with leadership traits

That's what GWV Rebels footballer Marcus Herbert is doing in organising weekly boxing sessions at Rodney 'Rudy' Ryan's Warrnambool gym.

Ryan said the South Warrnambool teenager had highlighted his leadership traits throughout the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the Hampden league to cancel its 2020 senior season and the NAB League to push back its start date.

Herbert encouraged fellow south-west-based Rebels to get to work. They meet Wednesday afternoons as a group and also turn up individually throughout the week.

"Marcus is one of the leaders at the Rebels and he's taken a bit of a leadership role and he's organised it," Ryan said.

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"He comes and trains with me anyway but he's been the one who has pushed this pretty strongly and started a group of the Rebels boys in this area but also a few of the younger ones as well which has been great.

"He went out of his way to set this up to make sure everyone got what they needed."

Ryan said it was important the players, who can line up for the Hampden league junior clubs when the season starts next week, remained focused during an uncertain time.

He said the sessions were boxing-orientated with "a little bit of mental stuff as well with numbers on the board and they have to choose numbers".

"Without footy they're twiddling their thumbs a little bit and all champing at the bit to stay competitive, so this is one way they can still get those competitive juices flowing and keep fit at the same time," he said.

"We're trying not to smash them too much...but they work at a really, really high level. And the other pleasing this is, there's a few people with disabilities (who train) and the boys have been able to mix in with them and help them as well.

"That is a credit to their clubs, families and the Rebels themselves."

The AFL is committed to a draft in 2020 but many footballers, including those in the NAB League and VFL systems, might not get much game time exposure.

Ryan said the Hampden cohort knew doing extras away from the field would be looked upon favourably.

"It is going to be a really interesting draft so for the clubs to see those boys still working, some of them that are top-age kids, I think that's a positive," he said.

The players' thirst for the contest has been evident in the ring with Ryan confirming "they're all pretty competitive in their own ways".

"None of them like being left behind, that's for sure," he said. "Marcus is a bit of a beast and (his older brother) Liam as well. I wouldn't be surprised to see Liam Herbert get picked up (by an AFL club) next year, he's a good type.

"The Stevens boys (Archie and George) are red-hot at it (in the ring), they go hard, and Tommy Baulch (from Koroit) is a kid who is emerging I think."