The Essendon players were asked to follow a series of directions and reach certain checkpoints throughout the day. Lloyd along with Adam McPhee misjudged the directions, cycling 40 minutes in the wrong direction before realising they were on the wrong track. Not surprisingly it was Lloyd and McPhee who looked as tired as any come days’ end.
But they weren’t alone. Essendon captain James Hird described the day as the toughest thing he has ever been asked to do in a pre-season in his time with the club. Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy concurred. And as for the club’s draftees, well let’s just say it has only taken a few short days for them to realise AFL football is a tough business.
The Essendon players arrived at their destination late on Sunday night, teams of five setting up tents that will become home until Thursday night. Pouring rain on night one put the tents to the test and unfortunately a couple didn’t stand the test.
And if the players were looking for some solace come meal times, they didn’t exactly get what they were looking for. Breakfast was porridge, lunch was salami, cheese (handed out in one four kilogram block for the players to fight over) and crackers with cans of Baked Beans and Spaghetti the “gourmet” dinner.
And then of course there were the flies – squillions of them. Doesn’t exactly sound like a nice week away from Melbourne does it? But undoubtedly the physical preparation will hold the players in good stead come Round 1. And there will be many lessons learned about “team” and the fact that players young and old shouldn’t for one minute take for granted the opportunities that lie ahead as season 2004 approaches.
The Cann River training camp is a testament to how hard the players are working in preparation for the 2004 season. Show your support to the team and renew or purchase your Essendon Football Club membership. Click here to renew or purchase your 2004 Essendon membership.
