Key Essendon personnel are currently overseas on a two-week educational tour of major international sporting organisations.

Coach Matthew Knights, general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton, assistant coach Alan Richardson and development coach Adrian Hickmott are visiting American and English sporting clubs.

“The purpose of this trip is to examine the training facilities and programs of some of the great sporting clubs on the planet,” Hamilton said.

“We want to learn from these powerful and successful international clubs and see how that information can be applied to an AFL club.”

The trip started with a visit to the Phoenix Suns (basketball) last week where they held talks with key players and coaches.

“We spoke with them about issues such as travel, recovery, coaching techniques and facilities,” Hamilton said.

“We were able to be with them in the hours leading up to their final practice game against Sacramento. They really looked after us and we have made some valuable contacts.”

The group have also explored the benefits of altitude training and walked Mt Humphrey, Flagstaff (highest peak in Arizona) which they described as 'very difficult'. This is the same peak Collingwood climb every year so they left an Essendon business card and sock at the top to greet the Magpies on their next visit.
 
Hamilton said they have also visited the Arizona Cardinals (Gridiron) where they looked at their recruiting systems, training sessions, IT systems and also held talks with coaches and players.
 
“We gained some great ideas from the way they organised and performed their training,” Hamilton said.
 
“So far this visit has been extremely valuable given the access we have received.”
 
The group have now arrived in Britain where they will visit three English Premier League Football (soccer) clubs before returning next week to continue prepartions for pre-season which starts on the 9th November.