Training alongside the patchy facial hair and developing torsos was the captain of the club, Nick Maxwell.
Collingwoodfc.com.au caught up with the skipper after his first session of the preseason and discussed his decision to return to training a month before the rest of his teammates return.
Jonathon Bernard: Why did you elect to start your preseason a month before the majority of the senior players?
The number one reason was to help the younger guys out. (To) Give them a hand out on the track.
I had a frustrating year last season with injuries so I want to be as fit as I can be in the preseason and going into 2012.
I’ll do 70 per cent of the work this month before the rest of the group returns on the 21st (of November).
JB: Who is back training now?
There are a dozen first to four-year players who didn’t participate in the finals training that have come back.
Guys like Paul Seedsman, Kirk Ugle and Jarrod Witts.
JB: How is the thumb?
The thumb is pretty good. The knuckle is almost there. Still another couple of weeks of protection when we are using balls but apart from that I feel physically good.
JB: What have you been working on since the season ended?
I didn’t do anything for the first week but after the Copeland I headed up to Byron Bay with my family and started getting back into it with a few sessions.
I mainly worked on my core and ran along the beach.
It was good to keep the body ticking over and now I feel really good.
JB: What’s the mentality heading into 2012?
We have to take it to a new level. That is the message this preseason.
The younger guys can take it up another 20 to 30 per cent. For the older guys they need to keep finding that one or two per cent.
The fitter we are the easier it will be.
JB: Who oversaw today’s session?
Bucks (Nathan Buckley) and Tarks (Tarkyn Lockyer) ran it.
We were out at Gosch’s Paddock before we headed inside to hit the gym.
JB: What did you make of new recruits Jamie Elliott and Peter Yagmoor?
I only saw them out on the track today but they impressed me with their sharpness and speed.
I took over the session at the end for a top up in running. Those two were quick.
JB: What are you looking for from this group over the next month?
The challenge is there for them. We all spoke about it this morning. In such a small group with only 12-14 players you can see who will step up without the senior players.
We think quite a few of them will play senior footy this year.
It’s easy to sink back as a follower and Bucks addressed that this is the time to step up as a leader.
It’s great to get that kick-start before the senior players get back.
It’s also good for them to bond with each other.
JB: What about the Grand Final? Have you watched it?
I have no intention of (watching) it at all.
I have tried to put it all behind me as quickly as possible.
It was good to have the family up in Byron Bay and have very little footy talk around the table.
But my mind will keep going back to it.
It will be a driver for us.
We had that joy of 2010 and the down in 2011 and we know what we want in 2012.
