Day 2: Tuesday, January 13
6am
It’s an early start, given a big training session is planned for the morning.
The walk from the apartments to breakfast includes a stroll over a small bridge.
But something creates a commotion in the water, catching the eye of big men Tom McDonald and Sam Frost.
Surely, it can’t be a croc in the lagoon?
Soon coach Paul Roos, Brett Allison and football technology manager Pete Roberts walk over the bridge to take a peek in the water.
In the end, the exact type of fish isn’t identified, but nevertheless, it seems to be a very big one – or bigger than your average goldfish at home!
MORE: Tough session: Jones | Day 2: Pre-season camp
8am
The Demons arrive at the Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex for their skills and running session.
I quickly learn that forward line coach Dan McPherson also had a brush with the local fauna.
As one of the designated mini bus drivers, McPherson has the role of taking several players out to the ground.
But he is fortunate that it doesn’t end in a mishap, as a hopping kangaroo bounces from nowhere, narrowly missing the mini bus.
Fortunately, no player, coach – or animal – is hurt in the process.
Carry on …
8:15am
The players prepare for training and have a quick meeting before starting their session. Again, it’s humid conditions. And it’s taxing for the players.
Skipper Nathan Jones later says it “tests the group”. But he’s adamant that part of the camp’s focus is to see how far the players can back up their training from one day to the next.
Much of the focus for this training session is on the game plan.
It starts and finishes with handball games. Other drills are also introduced, giving variety to the game plan.
Drills such as working the ball out of defence, kicking for goal and one-on-one contests are held. Full ground activities are also part of the session.
Specific parts of the game plan are being worked on, involving offence, defence and ball movement.
Despite the intensity of the session, there is a ‘fun’ element towards the end of training.
The boys are put into six teams – and this will continue at times throughout the camp – for various competitions.
Roos comes up with a challenge for the players – a goalkicking relay.
The coach asks the players to kick drop punts with their right foot, then once that’s completed – and won by a certain group – the next challenge is for the players to kick with their left.
But where it gets interesting is when Roos gets the players to produce drop kicks. Again, the boys start with their right foot, before completing the drill. Then it’s with the left foot for another crack at the drop kicks.
Torpedo kicks then follow, which draws a voice from the pack yelling ‘Dunny’, in reference to Lynden Dunn’s thumping ‘torp’ ability.
Overall, McDonald appears to capitalise best for his team, booting several goals and raising the arms in victory. New Demon Ben Newton also lays claim to a couple of wins, when he slots through goals.
It’s particularly interesting to watch the players produce drop kicks.
Some are naturals at it and you ponder for a second what it would be like if they were to ever come back into the game. But when a few kicks skew off the boot, I can’t imagine many coaches would be too keen to see it introduced into their game plan!
But, if for any reason, the Demons are producing drop kicks in 2015, you can be sure that it was practiced!
Just as the session appears to end, the players have one more competition – a goal shootout on the adjacent netball court.
Then after roughly four hours, the players jump in ice baths, or to be more precise, the green wheelie bins, which are clean of course (there’s no bin juice, for those curious).
12:30pm
With the session over, the squad has a quick packed lunch, before it splits into three groups: backs, midfield and forwards.
The players head to Suncoast Fitness, which is a high intensity/high performance training centre. It’s similar to a cross-fit set-up.
Melbourne has full access to the centre and the emphasis of the session is on leg strength and various plyometrics.
It’s a short, sharp session, which lasts about 40 minutes per group. That’s due to the amount of running that the players are doing up on the camp.
After weights, the boys recover in the hotel pool, completing some laps to ‘flush’ the body.
Late in the afternoon, player development manager Andrew Nichol arrives from Melbourne, along with the club’s recent draftees: Billy Stretch, Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Alex Neal-Bullen, Oscar McDonald, Aaron Vandenberg and Mitch White.
The group had been at the AFLPA induction camp at Etihad Stadium.
In the meantime, players head to Coles to stock up on supplies for Wednesday, where they will prepare their own meals for the day. No doubt some will have been inspired by Masterchef et al.
6pm
The team departs Twin Waters to Nambour Civic Centre – about a 20-minute drive from the apartment for a welcome dinner hosted by the Sunshine Coast Council.
Deputy Mayor Chris Thompson and Sunshine Coast Council Director Community Services – and mad Melbourne supporter – Coralie Nichols welcome the team to the Civic Centre. Paul Roos speaks on behalf of the club and hands them a signed Melbourne football, which Coralie gladly claims.
After an enjoyable evening, the team heads back to base.
It concludes another busy, yet productive day for the team. Plenty has been achieved on the first two days. In many respects, it feels as though we’ve been here much longer. It’s amazing to reflect on how much the boys pack into a day.
