Day 8 – Thursday, December 13
4.30 am
The big day – and highlight – of the camp had arrived: the 35 km hike through Kakadu National Park.
For the record, Kakadu is roughly 170 km south-east of Darwin. It extends nearly 200 km from north to south and more than 100 km from east to west. For comparison, it’s about the size of Slovenia, about one third of the size of Tasmania and nearly half the size of Switzerland.
For the players, coaches and staff to accomplish this trip, it requires an early start. For yours truly that occurred when I leapt out of bed immediately, courtesy of the iPhone alarm. Thank you Apple!
After a 5 am breakfast, we were on the coach a little more than 30 minutes later and heading for our adventure.
6 am
We started the hike in spectacular fashion, looking out into the magnificent Kakadu region with a 6.05 am sunrise view. You couldn’t have asked for much more. The timing was perfect, and naturally a group photo was required.
Traditional owner Jeff Lee, who has an Order of Australia, then welcomes the team to his country.
“Nice meeting you mob,” he says.
Lee talks about his land, and warns us to take care on the hike, given the rugged landscape. He emphasises this to the group, as he would know the land like the back of his hand. He also touches on the battle with protecting his land from mining, which has put him in the public spotlight.
The group then splits into its divisional groups, with the backs, mids and forwards hiking in their respective groups. I join the backs, led respectively by coaches Jade Rawlings and Andrew Nichol.
We are undertaking the Barrk Sandstone Bushwalk. Barrk is a Bininj name for a male black wallaroo.
The track takes us past the picturesque Anbangbang wetlands area, before we visit some ancient and beautiful Nanguluwurr rock art. It’s quite surreal. From there, we have a steep rocky climb. It’s a little up and down over the terrain early in the walk, before it flattens out.
As I’m with the defenders, it consists of the likes of Mitch Clisby, Troy Davis, Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Colin Garland, Tom Gillies, Neville Jetta, Joel Macdonald, Tom McDonald, James Sellar, James Strauss, Dean Terlich, Josh Tynan and Jack Watts.
Other members of our group include fitness guys Dave Misson, Rob Jackson, Alex Sakadjian, football analyst Robbie Chancellor, Tom Parker from the club’s admin, media crew Ryan Larkin, Jack McCowan (who carried a camera over his shoulder for much of the trek, when not in use) afl.com.au reporter Peter Ryan, and Demons supporter Torsten Kasper.
Not long into the walk, midfielder Jack Viney crashes through the bush, in an Incredible Hulk-like way, looking to rejoin his crew. He took a wrong turn momentarily, but gets back on track, soon rejoining his group.
The hike is filled with entertaining conversation.
Some humorous remarks are made. One player says, “I’d rather see a crocodile or a snake than the mids or forwards.”
Continual words of encouragement are provided. “Good work Dunny. Keep it up Chippa. Onya Nev.”
And general chat, about football, but often more about hobbies and life, become the norm. Hypotheticals are also bandied around the group.
At one point, Dunn, Nicholson and Gillies discuss the necessary ingredients of the perfect steak sandwich/burger. Dunn is a big advocate for avocado, about which the other two aren’t quite sure. (For the record, I agree with Dunn. Anything with avocado is good!)
During this part, senior coach Mark Neeld joins our crew. He spends time with each of the playing divisions to get an experience across the groups. It’s also a good effort from Neeld, considering he strained a leg muscle at training. Again, he leads by example.
We cover roughly 15 km before our first proper break, where we grab something to eat and had a drink. Muesli bars, lollies, apples and electrolytes are part of the refuelling mix.
A support staff contingent, including football operations manager Craig Notman, property manager Anthony Brown, team manager Spike Harris and trainer Bobby Lee Blay do a fine job in providing supplies at rest points.
The next part of the hike was a nine km stretch along a straight red dirt road. It’s particularly challenging in many respects, as the end is not near.
With about five kms before reaching the end of this road, Neeld decides to mix things up a bit. He calls his players to jog the rest of the way, in intervals. They jog 500 m and then walk the next 500 m, until reaching the track towards Gubara Pool.
This breaks up the group, which means the staff are holding the fort at the back.
By this stage, we have completed roughly 24 km. When we arrive at the Gubara Pool entrance walk, it’s another six km round trip, but it’s absolutely worth it. A dip in the monsoon forest pool is just the tonic.
I’m with a group of staff, including Misson, who is the first in the water to cool off. It’s absolute heaven. We stay in the water for about 20 minutes before heading back for the final three kms.
Once we’re back at the Gubara Pool entrance, we’re done. The hike is complete.
1.45 pm
So after almost eight hours, we’ve completed a 30 km hike in degrees reaching mid to high 30s. It’s a top effort from all concerned.
The local rangers start ferrying groups back to the coach, which means travelling back down the nine km red dirt road, and it seems an eternity to drive down. Incredibly, as we’re driving back down, Jordie McKenzie and physiotherapist Gary Nicholls are walking back down the track. They’ll get a lift back soon enough, but they’ve started walking. Then a fraction later, football manager Josh Mahoney and backline development coach Andrew Nichol are walking together, which adds further distance to their hike. They too get picked up.
I’m pondering ‘how the hell did we walk down that road?’ And they’re still going! In fact, I wonder ‘hell the how did I complete the entire hike?’ I’ve got to say I love hiking. I’ve trekked home and abroad – in both Nepal and Tasmania for example – but realistically, with a group of elite sportsmen, I thought five km might be my stretch in these conditions. I’m so glad I did it, though.
The fact that many of the boys also jogged part of it, only adds to my admiration for their work, given the fact they’d already been tested on this camp. The red and blue faithful can rest assured that these players are seriously being challenged and working hard.
Neeld speaks about completing the hike and the “huge effort” by the team immediately after the event.
“We’ve just done 30 kms. The boys have completed the hike in 38 degrees, so it was a big team effort by everyone to support the players through providing them with appropriate hydration and appropriate food at various stations along the way,” he says.
“The boys walked it in their groups – the forwards, the backs and the mids did an outstanding job, helping each other through.
“The staff that managed to complete it will also be fairly tired tonight too. But it was a really good activity and the boys got through well.”
2 pm
We arrive back at Jabiru's Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn and are greeted by free icy poles or ice creams, complements of the hotel, when we enter the building. Lunch is then had, plus showers and dips in the pool.
It’s a short stay back at the hotel, before we depart Jabiru at around 3 pm, as we’ve got roughly three hours on the coach back to Darwin.
3 pm
The coach ride starts and there are plenty of tired boys.
Some sore spots emerge, but they’re mainly aches and blisters. No injuries occur, which is a blessing.
Only one story seems to emerge from the hike. Several “sources” confirm that Mahoney slipped in the water during a creek crossing to the Gabara Pool. But, knowing the football manager, he would’ve been cool, calm and collected and got on with the job!
In our bus, with the coaches and officials, a few drift off, while the Bose headphones also get a work out. Both coaches also get a movie each. And they’re a couple of light-hearted movies to follow a hike. ‘Casino’ with Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone is played on the coaches and officials bus; ‘Harry Brown’ with Michael Caine gets a run for a players. Maybe they’re part of the toughening up process?
6 pm
We arrive back at Robertson Barracks, tired and weary.
But dinner at 6.30 pm peps the crew up.
After dinner, I ask three of the boys from the backs, mids and forwards what they thought of the trek.
Defender Josh Tynan says the backs made sure everyone was looked after in their group.
“The backline group have attacked this camp with the main goal of care, so it was a good challenge for us – and a good test to challenge the care we have within the group – and I think we came away pretty well,” he says.
“It was challenging probably more mentally than physically.
“But it was good chance to bond with the boys and the other staff we had in our group.”
Midfielder McKenzie says it was “really good, but a challenging hike”.
“All of the boys took it on and enjoyed the challenges and enjoyed each other’s company during the day, so it was a successful day,” he says.
“It was almost like a game, you had four quarters.
“We had a bit of time to rest up and then we charged off again, did a stint and then refuelled and went again.”
Forward Jack Fitzpatrick says it was a great Australian experience to share with his teammates.
“It was pretty solid; it was really tough,” he says.
“Having said that, I think Kakadu is such an awesome place that it helped.
“There were a few places that were a bit monotonous and it seemed like the same thing, but overall, people pay thousands of dollars to come up here and trek it and we get to train while having a look at it, so you can’t complain.”
It’s pretty laid back for the rest of the night, after an outstanding and memorable day for all involved. And why wouldn’t it be? We’ve just visited a world heritage listed area in our magnificent country. It’s a must see place, if you get the opportunity.
And without sounding too much like a familiar Northern Territory commercial: “you’ll never never know, if you never never go”.
