'When it got tough, they dug in and fought’: Kingsley
There wasn’t a football in sight as the GIANTS headed north for a three-day pre-season camp.
With a new head coach, a brand-new coaching group and eight new players, the camp – on the isolated Milson Island on the banks of the Hawkesbury River – was the perfect opportunity for the players to test their limits and for the entire group to spend some quality time together.
On Monday morning the players and staff gathered at the wharf under the Mooney Mooney bridge where the playing group and coaches were split into six teams – red, green, black, grey, yellow and aqua – dropping their bags on the ferry before finding out they’d be kayaking the 2.8 kilometres to the island, which is only accessible via boat.
Monday afternoon consisted of four hours trekking around the island for an Amazing Race-style challenge where teams competed against each other in physical and mental challenges as well as completing individual challenges for bonus points.
Across the two days the teams also had to solve a Rubik's Cube, separate a 2kg bag of rice into white and brown grains and carry a water balloon and egg unbroken around the island.
Day two saw the teams kayak to Twin Beaches on the banks of the Hawkesbury - 3.8km there and 3.8km back with an hour-and-a-half of challenges on the beach when they arrived.
There was a tug-o-war, wheelbarrow races through the sand and a series of challenges including push up competitions, squat holds and holding large logs above their heads for four minutes at a time.
Once arriving back to the island, the players were hit with a surprise 30-minute circuit session run by the new man in charge before another four hours of the Amazing Race in the afternoon.
New head coach Adam Kingsley said he was thrilled with the players’ attitude and intent while away.
“We got away to Milson Island for some activities that really just allow us to compete and build a bit of chemistry - that's what pre-season camps are about,” Kingsley said.
“Just getting away for a few days, doing different things the players haven't necessarily done and building that connection amongst the whole club – the players and staff.
“They had numerous activities they had to participate in in groups – a lot of kayaking, a lot of stuff on the water which is something a bit new for a lot of these guys so they had a lot of fun doing that.
“A lot of different mental challenges – solving different problems, then some physical stuff whether it’s on bikes, in the pool, on the water, some fun games.
“They enjoyed themselves, they worked hard and had a bit of fun as well.”
Kingsley said while the footballs were away, there was plenty for his side to get out of the time together.
“The challenge for them is to perform as a group and to be able to work together to ultimately achieve the goals,” he said.
“It is no different to a football game, you've all got to work together.
“They are eager to compete and certainly, when the going gets tough, our blokes are going to fight and dig in as much as they can. That was evident on all these activities.”
The surprise physical challenge devised by Kingsley on day two was modelled on challenges he endured in his 170 games as a Premiership player at Port Adelaide.
“It was just a circuit, that in the middle of a hard day, off the back of nearly 8km of kayaking and a strongman session on the beach, they had to just push through and get each other through a 30-minute circuit,” Kingsley said.
“I thought – to a man – they were really good, really attacked the session with great attitude and that’s all we ask. When it got tough, they dug in and fought.”
The camp concluded with a Survivor-style eating challenge before players and staff relaxed on the final night ahead of a four-day break for the football program.
The black team - featuring the likes of co-captain Toby Greene, veteran Phil Davis and number one draft pick Aaron Cadman - claimed victory after two exhausting days.
With the first block of pre-season completed, the players will return to the club on Monday for the final six weeks of training before round one on March 19 against the Adelaide Crows at GIANTS Stadium.
“The way that we’ve been training has been really exciting and I know we’re going to play an exciting brand of footy and the guys are pumped and raring to go, they can’t wait to get stuck in,” Kingsley said.
The pre-season will wrap up with an intra-club match and Fan Day in Canberra on February 25 and a practice match and Fan Day against the Suns at Blacktown on March 4 with Kingsley urging all GIANTS fans to get behind his side in 2023.
“I’d urge all our fans to get down to support us because you’re going to be really excited by what we deliver. It’s going to be fun to watch and we can’t wait to get stuck in.”
