“The conditioning and strength program itself was incredibly challenging, but the boys certainly stuck it out and showed a level of toughness that wasn’t there last year,” he said.
From climbing through the Grand Canyon, to mountain biking around Sedona and scaling the icy slopes of Mount Humphrey’s, the high performance staff organised a range of team challenges throughout the fourteen day altitude camp.
The Club’s six emerging leaders excelled as respective team captains, with Tom Lynch and his Team Respect taking the crown as best performing player group.
Jeremy Taylor continued his impressive start to the pre-season, Harley Bennell surprised with his professional attitude on the athletics track and Timmy Sumner showed he’s hell bent on adding to his 11 inaugural AFL appearances.
Vice-Captain Nathan Bock appears closer than ever to regaining the superb form that saw him awarded All Australian selection in 2008, creating a viral buzz on the Club’s social media pages as the 10-year veteran ran pain free for the first time since removing the titanium rod from his leg.
Looking back, Kennedy said it had been the Club’s toughest altitude camp yet.
“It was really emotionally, because day in and day out the boys had to dig down and find something and grind their way through.
“Mark (Ladbrook) and I were constantly in front of the playing group more than anyone and I think they’ve just developed enormously.
“I never thought the growth would be that significant in that twelve month period.”
Trialled for the first time, Kennedy says the Guy McKenna’s decision to elect six emerging leaders as ‘team captains” worked a treat, as highly-respected players like Dion Prestia and Tom Lynch showed promising signs as future club leaders.
“I knew it was going to (be a success) at the camp but I was amazed at how much it shone through,” he said.
“It was an enormous effort from those guys, and they certainly led the charge for their teams.”
