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Port Adelaide hits running track shortly after arriving in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for pre-season training camp

Port Adelaide has begun its second consecutive pre-season camp on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for a week of intense training, team-bonding and skills sessions.

Charlie Dixon raring to go for 2020

Port Adelaide has hit the training track in Queensland for day one of its second consecutive pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast.

Twelve months after going to Noosa, the Power are in Maroochydore until Wednesday, where they will combine fitness and skills sessions with team-bonding activities.

Port arrived at the nearby Lake Kawana Sports Precinct about 2pm and an hour or so later the squad was split into groups for a series of running drills in 75 per cent humidity.

Karl Amon and Ollie Wines led the way in their respective groups, while rookie Trent Burgoyne grimaced in the sticky heat as he tried to keep up with experienced new teammates.

Power head of high performance Ian McKeown said the week-long camp would feature “a large training load, lots of footy, lots of fun and lots of time with each other”.

“It is about being away with each other for that long and in each other’s pockets,” McKeown said.

“The training load is the highest that we’ll have pre-Christmas so that’s a great part of it and that’s a bonding experience at the best of times.

Dan Houston leads a group running on day one of Port Adelaide’s pre-season camp in Maroochydore. Picture: Sarah Reed
Dan Houston leads a group running on day one of Port Adelaide’s pre-season camp in Maroochydore. Picture: Sarah Reed

“We’ll be having breakfast together, lunch and dinner and some activities in the evening as well so we’ll be spending a lot of time organically.”

McKeown said this week was crucial for players as they built their fitness bases ahead of next season.

“We have to be ready and they have to hit January very, very hard and this is the key cornerstone of that, making sure they get to Christmas in good shape,” McKeown said

“Really we only have four or five weeks then we’re into the intra-club (match) and (pre-season) games.”

Cameron Sutcliffe, Darcy Byrne-Jones and Martin Frederick are among Power players running laps. Picture: Sarah Reed
Cameron Sutcliffe, Darcy Byrne-Jones and Martin Frederick are among Power players running laps. Picture: Sarah Reed

Hamish Hartlett (knee) and Jack Watts (knee) are limited in the training they can take part in but Travis Boak is “flying” after post-season shoulder surgery and undertaking the full load with modified contact.

The camp is also the first time Port’s six new draftees – Miles Bergman, Mitch Georgiades, Dylan Williams, Jackson Mead, Burgoyne and Jake Pasini – will complete full sessions since joining the club.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-hits-running-track-shortly-after-arriving-in-queenslands-sunshine-coast-for-preseason-training-camp/news-story/f0a592264598d57a6695a897777113d6