Essendon’s AFLW side travelled to The Summit in Trafalgar for pre-season camp, designed to strengthen connection and build resilience ahead of Season 11.
The two-day camp provided an opportunity for the group to take part in a range of team-building activities, with a focus on developing strong morale, trust and motivation as pre-season ramps up.
Split into two teams, the camp involved a high-intensity obstacle course which challenged players to use communication, quick thinking and problem-solving skills as they navigated a series of physically demanding obstacles.
Climbing vertical walls, crawling through underground tunnels and pushing through muddy water pits were just some of the tasks the groups tackled together, reinforcing teamwork under pressure.
Key forward Bonnie Toogood and midfielder Grace Belloni shared their highlights from the camp and the significance it had for the group.
“What I love about this group is the ability to acknowledge a moment, whether it's good or bad, and then just say ‘Alright, let's keep moving,’” Toogood said.
“We just had each other's back and pushed through, which was pretty awesome.
“Those moments you actually cherish for a long time because you go through something hard and you know you've got the trust, and you can rely on the people around you.”
“I think the communication and the patience (showed that) we were all in it together, it was definitely something that's so great about camp, especially for the young girls coming through,” Belloni said.
“You're understanding how we're working as a group and understanding the importance of it as well.
“It translates to us on the field and off the field and how are we going to work together to get through those hard moments and to be able to work through the challenges together.
“It's a huge learning for us on and off the field, and it was a great challenge.”
AFLW General Manager Aysha Ward also highlighted the importance of the camp in building cohesion and setting standards for the season ahead.
“Pre-season camp was a wonderful opportunity for the team to work together to build connection, resilience and trust,” Ward said.
“These experiences are so important in shaping how the group communicates and supports each other, particularly in challenging moments.
“What we build in these environments carries directly into our performance program, both on and off the field, and it sets a strong foundation for the season ahead.”
The Dons kick off their fifth AFLW season at Windy Hill on Sunday August 16 against Brisbane Lions.
