This could be a one line post, simply asking the question - will we be spending part of our pre-season in the Northern Territory this year?

But I'll make it longer.

Perhaps a very roundabout way to get to the initial question, but it started through thinking about the possibility that we might be re-drafting Jolly.

Jolly was obviously a great ruckman, but to me he seemed spent at the end of this season.

It got me thinking about the data on these players and that Roos would be all over this stuff.

And so would the Pies.

I then thought about the respective training regimes and the different approaches to pre season set ups.

I seem to recall that the Pies would spend some of their pre season in Arizona each year, and they would also send some injured players there during the actual season for rehab.

The Dees, however, chose to spend some of our pre season in the NT last year. I've no doubt some of this decision was based on financial constraints.

The new regime though is committed to spending $$$ on the football department.

It made me think - will Roos/new coaching staff recommit to the Northern Territory training camp this year, or will they be heading O/S.

And, if Roos would like to go O/S, would such a decision interfere with our sponsorship arrangements with the NT?

Thoughts?

RB I think part of the reason was the sponsorship deal by the NT.

I reckon it will be still on but 90% because of that arrangement.

I am probably biased but I think all these exotic trips are 90% bonding.

Funny how the good sides like Hawthorn don't go to Arizona or Darwin but look like taking the Cup.

Clark and Dawes are off to arizona together i remember reading it awhile ago

  On 18/09/2013 at 22:35, old dee said:

Funny how the good sides like Hawthorn don't go to Arizona or Darwin but look like taking the Cup.

I seem to recall Collingwood winning a Premiership not too long ago. Explain that, Mister Science!

A training trip in Darwin is a waste of time. As for bonding well Sandringham beach would be just as good.

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:24, dl4e said:

A training trip in Darwin is a waste of time. As for bonding well Sandringham beach would be just as good.

the pub's better !!

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:30, Belzebubsy said:

the pub's better !!

or even the daily planet for real bonding

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:24, dl4e said:

A training trip in Darwin is a waste of time. As for bonding well Sandringham beach would be just as good.

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:30, Belzebubsy said:

the pub's better !!

  On 18/09/2013 at 22:35, old dee said:

RB I think part of the reason was the sponsorship deal by the NT.

I reckon it will be still on but 90% because of that arrangement.

I am probably biased but I think all these exotic trips are 90% bonding.

Funny how the good sides like Hawthorn don't go to Arizona or Darwin but look like taking the Cup.

Sandringham?pub?darwin?

sounds very up market for me

but if you combine the three places and cut to the chase you get

APOLLO BAY

2 pubs

lots of beaches

unbearable hot training weather

great ocean walk ,to test run the new roos team

great camping grounds to set up tent city for players comfort

so many summer incidents in town,the coppers turn a blind eye to everything

can catch the trans Otway bus home to save money for the club

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:24, dl4e said:

A training trip in Darwin is a waste of time. As for bonding well Sandringham beach would be just as good.

ONE training trip in Darwin may be a waste of time, but MULTIPLE training trips are likely to produce results.

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:24, dl4e said:

A training trip in Darwin is a waste of time. As for bonding well Sandringham beach would be just as good.

But then the players wouldn't be able to have a deep and meaningful bonding session with their coach as Neeld did in NT.

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:43, Young Dee said:

But then the players wouldn't be able to have a deep and meaningful bonding session with their coach as Neeld did in NT.

It's funny how everything you do becomes pointless as soon as your performances suck.

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:39, Chook said:

ONE training trip in Darwin may be a waste of time, but MULTIPLE training trips are likely to produce results.

Misson said as much. Reckons there's science to prove it but I reckon he's half full of sht and it was more about Sponsorship and player bonding.

Scrap it IMO. I want the players smashing weights in the gym and putting on 5 to 8 kilos of muscle over pre season, not losing the same amountof weight over 10 days in Darwin FCS.

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:55, McQueen said:

Misson said as much. Reckons there's science to prove it but I reckon he's half full of sht and it was more about Sponsorship and player bonding.

Scrap it IMO. I want the players smashing weights in the gym and putting on 5 to 8 kilos of muscle over pre season, not losing the same amountof weight over 10 days in Darwin FCS.

If you can put on 5 to 8 kilos of muscle in 9 days or however long they were in Darwin, then WOW!!!

And that lost body weight is just water, and they'll put it straight back on no problems.

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:59, Chook said:

If you can put on 5 to 8 kilos of muscle in 9 days or however long they were in Darwin, then WOW!!!

And that lost body weight is just water, and they'll put it straight back on no problems.

I was going to add 5 to 8 kilos of muscle "over a full preseason" in my last post but I thought it would be obvious to most.

  On 19/09/2013 at 01:08, McQueen said:

I was going to add 5 to 8 kilos of muscle "over a full preseason" in my last post but I thought it would be obvious to most.

And my point was that a week long trip interstate wouldn't interfere with that in the slightest. I thought that would be obvious to most.

  On 18/09/2013 at 23:51, Chook said:

I seem to recall Collingwood winning a Premiership not too long ago. Explain that, Mister Science!

Easy they had the best side that year.

Why no wins since if Arizona is so special?

Can you explain to me how Geelong and hawthorn win flags without Darwin or Arizona?

  On 19/09/2013 at 01:22, old dee said:

Easy they had the best side that year.

Why no wins since if Arizona is so special?

Can you explain to me how Geelong and hawthorn win flags without Darwin or Arizona?

good question.

it seems geelong and hawthorn have gone outside the parameters and having won flags without going to Arizona has caused major problems within the AFL

recently the Melbourne FC considered digging up percy ceruity,but athletics Australia ruled this out

there also could be a commission hearing as to why GFC and HFC didn't go to Arizona

but the bottom line is NOBODY knows whats right and what works when it comes to training and getting to gell a group of men from different religious and cultural backgrounds.

as I said before why not APOLLO BAY

  On 19/09/2013 at 01:22, old dee said:

Easy they had the best side that year.

Why no wins since if Arizona is so special?

Can you explain to me how Geelong and hawthorn win flags without Darwin or Arizona?

Because it's not a magic pill. It's one of about a trillion different things you can try to get an edge. Just because it isn't a gamebreaking advantage, doesn't mean it's useless either.

I would rather spend our money on getting the best people into the club (staff/coaches) then on some expensive and ambiguous training camp.

Having said that I fully support the team building side of it and also think its great that Clark and Dawes are going to Arizona.

The Darwin training has its roots in military philosophy. You take the group to an extreme environment, take them to the edge of physical, social, mental and emotional exhaustion and test the calibre of their decision making, mental toughness, team work etc...

Darwin is the perfect place for this and I hope they do it again. I don't reckon Roos will do it unless the sponsorship deal is a lock-in.

I don't think Apollo Bay and Sandringham are "extreme". Unless, in the case of Sandringham, you are talking an extreme amount of Beamers, Mercs and Audis, and an extreme amount of 30+ blonded mums driving black Volvo xc90's, having massages and drinking lattes. I should know I work in the area.

  On 19/09/2013 at 01:22, old dee said:

Easy they had the best side that year.

Why no wins since if Arizona is so special?

Can you explain to me how Geelong and hawthorn win flags without Darwin or Arizona?

I hear Hawthorn has a secret training base - some little Island of Australia called Tasmania? (I hear some pretty weird stuff goes on over there!)

But seriously If Hawthorn and Geelong don't need Arizona then we don't.

We can spend our money on something proven.

  On 19/09/2013 at 00:37, daisycutter said:

or even the daily planet for real bonding

and cementing of relationships. (sorry)

Geelong don't go anywhere and I reckon they are the smartest! But they also probably get their players to the beaches in some capacity. Sydney under Roos used to do quite a few sand dune sessions and Hawthorn often go the gold coast and do boot camp style work on the beach.

I think their is merit in using intense hot weather and also using beaches with the access to the water for quick cooling off and taking weight off the joints by using soft sand.

My problem with Darwin was not the location but what they did. They did a couple of training sessions in the humid moist conditions that probably took away skill benefits and were probably not really worth travelling to Darwin for and then they did their big hike. Which they ran some of but also walked a lot of. To me all that does is burn off some hard earned weight and waste time.

I know absolutely nothing about sports science and fitness but I'd take them to the beach and do work outs that use power and fast movements and repeat them to get the fitness benefit instead of a walk.

  On 19/09/2013 at 02:03, the master said:

Geelong don't go anywhere and I reckon they are the smartest! But they also probably get their players to the beaches in some capacity. Sydney under Roos used to do quite a few sand dune sessions and Hawthorn often go the gold coast and do boot camp style work on the beach.

I think their is merit in using intense hot weather and also using beaches with the access to the water for quick cooling off and taking weight off the joints by using soft sand.

My problem with Darwin was not the location but what they did. They did a couple of training sessions in the humid moist conditions that probably took away skill benefits and were probably not really worth travelling to Darwin for and then they did their big hike. Which they ran some of but also walked a lot of. To me all that does is burn off some hard earned weight and waste time.

I know absolutely nothing about sports science and fitness but I'd take them to the beach and do work outs that use power and fast movements and repeat them to get the fitness benefit instead of a walk.

I agree with what you say I think the Gold Coast has potential not so much for the conditions but the players would probably rather go to the Gold Coast then to a military training camp in Darwin (tin sheds).

We don't want them to enjoy it to much (otherwise they might want to joining GC) but I think the Darwin trip under Neeld was probably to much like a school camp.

We don't want to separate the playing group from the coaching group - there is no reason they can't train hard in a nice location and enjoy themselves.

The Gold coast football team is sure doing well! (but then again they go to Arizona)

http://vimeo.com/74336322

I have to admit it does look pretty cool - a class above Darwin.

  On 19/09/2013 at 01:54, Maldonboy38 said:

The Darwin training has its roots in military philosophy. You take the group to an extreme environment, take them to the edge of physical, social, mental and emotional exhaustion and test the calibre of their decision making, mental toughness, team work etc...

Darwin is the perfect place for this and I hope they do it again. I don't reckon Roos will do it unless the sponsorship deal is a lock-in.

I don't think Apollo Bay and Sandringham are "extreme". Unless, in the case of Sandringham, you are talking an extreme amount of Beamers, Mercs and Audis, and an extreme amount of 30+ blonded mums driving black Volvo xc90's, having massages and drinking lattes. I should know I work in the area.

Lol