There was no easing into the new year as the Fremantle Dockers started their 2017 with a 3km time trial in hot conditions at UWA Sports Park.
The time trial was the players’ first official obligation for the year and their second time trial of the pre-season.
Just like the previous time trial, run on 23 November, it was new recruit Bradley Hill who prevailed - however he faced some stiffer competition despite improving his time.
After finishing third in the November time trial, Cam Sutcliffe moved up to second, swapping places with Tommy Sheridan.
Tying for fifth last time around, Josh Deluca and Nat Fyfe were again neck and neck, with Deluca pipping Fyfe as the pair sprinted for the line to round out the top five.
Josh Deluca leads Nat Fyfe around the final bend
Speaking after the time trial, an exhausted Sutcliffe said he was pleased that his teammates put in a solid effort in trying conditions.
“I think all the boys did pretty well coming off the Christmas break,” Sutcliffe said.
“Everyone has trained pretty hard over the break to make sure they got a personal best, and that’s what they aimed to do and I think a lot of them got there.”
The face says it all as Cam Sutcliffe crosses the finish line in second
After leading from post-to-post in the first time-trial, Hill saved himself for a late push, trailing Sheridan after the first lap with Sutcliffe on his tails.
“I think he had a different approach,” said Sutcliffe about Hill.
“I guess it can change from each race, and he still ran really well as he’s clearly in the top echelon of runners at the club - so it’s good to be able to run with him.
“I thought if I could stay with Brad and Tommy until the end and have a sprint off, I’d see how I’d go, and yeah I was pleased with that.”
Starting just before 8.30am, the players may have hoped to escape the heat. However, the mercury ticked over 30C by the start of the race, with many players opting to cool themselves beforehand with wet towels.
“It was solid,” said Sutcliffe about how he handled the heat.
“I think it’s going to reach 40 today so to get through that well is really nice.”
The Hill brothers catch their breath
Garrick Ibbotson cools down as Michael Apeness feels the hurt in the background
Sam Collins lends some support to a fast finishing, but exhausted, Connor Blakely
