Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin defends the club’s gruelling pre-season camp

DESPITE his club cancelling its planned pre-season boot camp, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has defended the camp at the Demons’ AGM.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has defended the Demons’ gruelling pre-season camp. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin has defended the Demons’ gruelling AFL pre-season camp despite scrapping it in light of his players’ safety concerns.

Star players Dom Tyson (knee) and Christian Salem (concussion) suffered injuries during last year’s military-style boot camp — a characterisation Goodwin rejects.

Despite the injury toll, Melbourne had planned to repeat the exercise in the week before Christmas.

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However, after receiving feedback from the players, the camp was cancelled on Thursday.

“The special operations camp was run by senior police officers — it wasn’t a boot camp,” Goodwin told the club’s annual meeting as reported by the Demons’ website.

“It was run by experienced people.

“Yes, it’s had its challenges but we listen to our players and we listen to their feedback and we feel that when something’s not right, we don’t go ahead.

Melbourne players did not want to take part in the club’s pre-season camp. Picture: Getty Images

“We look for other avenues. We’re adventurous and we will get there and we will work towards building hard-working, competitive, resilient and humble individuals and that’s our mission moving forward.”

Tyson suffered a knee injury and Salem was concussed when a brick fell from his pack during a hike at last year’s camp, which also included sleep-deprivation exercises and punishing beach runs.

With next week’s camp scrapped, the Demons will continue their pre-season training regime at Gosch’s Paddock in Melbourne before breaking for Christmas.

Originally published as Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin defends the club’s gruelling pre-season camp