Setanta set for training grind

SETANTA Ó hAilpín and his new Carlton playing colleagues were handed a single sheet of paper yesterday. On it was a list of items required for a weekend training session.

Ó hAilpín and his companions were required to bring a: sleeping bag, pillow, small mattress, training gear, boots and runners, bathers (togs) and goggles, wetsuit (not compulsory) and golf clubs if possible.

The GAA world he left behind must never have seemed further away.

Pre-season has begun in earnest in the AFL.

The 40-strong Carlton squad travelled to nearby Lorne for a weekend bonding session arriving at the main beach around 11.30am when the side went for a swim before heading back to the leisure centre for some lunch.

Following lunch there was some free time before the skills session on the Lorne Football Ground. Indoor cricket in the Leisure Centre, with basketball were the most popular past-times, while golf chipping trying to land the ball in the bin was favoured by a few senior players.

Around 2pm it was an hour of skills followed by some hill running around Lorne. The skills session was sharp with coach Denis Pagan observing intently. This was followed by some beach games back on the main Lorne beach more fun than exhausting.

Dinner was followed by a group session with some insightful interviews by some of the senior players with others from the group.

This overnight trip to Lorne is certainly not a 'survivor' camp; it is as much a bonding session and a chance to escape from the day to day routine of the past four and a half weeks. As the Fitness Coach, Peter Mulkearns, said, "after four tough weeks this is a quieter week for training and the visit to Lorne provides variety while ensuring the fitness levels continue to improve leading into the Christmas period".