No excuses as Tigers grow up, says Richmond captain Chris Newman by: Michael Warner
From: Herald Sun
November 29, 2011 11:16AM
RICHMOND captain Chris Newman says 2012 is the year for the Tigers to shake the "young team" tag.
The Tigers this morning jetted out for a 10-day training camp in Phoenix and Tuscon, Arizona to launch their pre-season campaign.
"We are a young side and a developing side, and yeah, we have used that over the last few years," Newman said.
"But there's no doubt we are extremely confident in where we are at and where we sit and looking to improve on last year."
Asked if finals was a pass mark next season, Newman said: "I think I've been around the block long enough to stay away from that question."
A travelling party of 80, including the entire playing list, coaching staff and corporates, will take part in the US training camp.
But unlike Collingwood and North Melbourne's high-altitude trips, the Tigers will be at sea level using a program run by the Athletes' Performance academy and the club's own elite performance manager, Matthew Hornsby.
"We're not sure what to expect, a lot of the boys are actually pretty nervous because the club haven't given us a lot of information yet," Newman said.
"We've all been put in our teams and we'll have to wait and see what Arizona has in store for us."
The academy will see the players interact with high performance managers, strength and conditioning specialists, dieticians, sports medicine and sports science staff.
"Ours is a little bit different because we're not doing the high-altitude training as a lot of clubs are. We're with Athletes' Performance, so a lot of our training will be based in that facility which is world-class.
"There's no doubt we will get tested physically and mentally, that's what a lot of these camps are about. We'll be out of our comfort zones and tested in all directions ... but the footies will be out and we've been told to pack the boots."
Newman said the trip was an ideal way to introduce last week's draft picks Brandon Ellis, Todd Elton and Matt Arnot to the group.
"There's no hiding, they're straight into it. But I think that's a good thing - it forces them to be in that environment, and the whole group, where you probably get to know them a little bit quicker," he said.
Jack Riewoldt has already anointed Arnot as the team's "Crumpet", complete with a T-shirt for the Oakleigh Charger to wear on the trip.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/no-excuses-as-tigers-grow-up-says-richmond-captain-chris-newman/story-e6frf9jf-1226208967607
