Melbourne scraps its commando-style pre-season camp due to player safety concerns

MELBOURNE has cancelled its pre-season camp due to player safety concerns. Two players were injured at the camp last year which put players through a series of punishing physical and mental exercises.

Melbourne players training during the pre-season. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE has cancelled its commando-style pre-season camp due to player safety concerns.

The Demons were planning to run the gruelling camp for a second year but have scrapped the idea after discussions with players about the risk of injury.

Dom Tyson hurt his knee and Christian Salem accidentally dropped a brick on his head, resulting in concussion, on the three-day exercise last year.

Melbourne had bolstered safety measures in the wake of last year’s camp however there were ongoing concerns surrounding potential injury and loss of conditioning.

Last year’s camp also included some sleep deprivation where players were made to stand guard through the night under extreme fatigue through the second night.

Melbourne players training during the pre-season. Picture: Getty Images

They also completed a 20km beach trek before a series of punishing physical and mental exercises.

Other sporting teams, including Melbourne Storm, have run the similar style training camps.

Melbourne will continue to train normally leading up to the Christmas break.

Melbourne players including champion ex-Hawk Jordan Lewis said last year’s camp was the toughest training of their footy careers.

Assistant coach Brendan McCartney told the Herald Sun last year it was a watershed experience for the emerging Dees.

“There were three or four of us who shared the need for an experience where we could look into their souls under real pressure,” McCartney said.

“We were really proud of how they attacked it and not one man wasn’t stressed by it. Every single player said at some stage of the camp that they had had enough and ‘I can’t keep doing this’.

“As observers, we actually remarked a couple of times that we felt really bad, really poorly actually for putting the players through this.

“But in the final 24 hours they were able to tap into each other’s emotions and energies and just rely on each other to keep each other going.

“It was exactly what they needed, and I’m certain the benefits will materialise at some stage, whether it is in a pivotal moment in a game, or a final or a season.”