Senior coach Ross Lyon says there is a lot more than just hard work for the Fremantle playing group at this week's training camp on the Gold Coast.
Lyon said the camp, which concludes on Saturday, is testing the players just as hard as any week of training back in Perth.
But the work is continuing off the field with numerous sessions to learn the game plan for the upcoming season.
Lyon added that he’s utilising the senior players to help guide Fremantle’s young list through the process.
“The best way to learn is to teach, so they’re actually doing walk-throughs and coning out our team defence, stoppages and ball use in front of the group," Lyon said.
"They're interacting with the group, with the coaches in the background as support.
“It’s a very young group and we’ve got plenty of work to do but it’s a great foundation going into the break.
“It’s a supportive environment headed by our senior players, we’re very young with 32 new players in the last three years.
“The quicker we can all get on the same page so we can stand up under the pressure of AFL football, the better off we’ll all be.”
The camp is Fremantle’s final week of training for 2018 prior to a mandatory three-week break over Christmas.
Lyon said the camp would help prepare the playing group for this crucial period away from the club.
“Every club has the same challenge to build a level of fitness and there’s an industry standard three-week break now,” Lyon said.
“Three weeks is a long time. It’s really important that they apply themselves to their off-season program over the break as premierships are won over the pre-season by building that foundation.
“We need players to come back, with good weight, skin folds and an ability to run so they can pick up a footy straight away.
“The pros will do that no problem but we have such a young group. It’s hard to put an old head on young shoulders and there will be plenty of challenges for them.
“We’ll need to help them stay focused so we can pick up where we’ve left off from this camp.”
