The Western Bulldogs fitness staff are beginning to ramp up the training schedule, incorporating running and an intense boxing session this week. 

Heading into his second year at the Club, key defender Michael Talia is already feeling the aftereffects of the training schedule - but is more than happy to be back into the pre-season routine.

Watch BulldogsTV highlights of training in the second video instalment of the Bulldogs pre-season series. 

“Probably the first 15 minutes you feel good, then after that you are stuffed, I’ve woken up with a sore back and neck and everything from the hour boxing session yesterday,” Talia said. 

“It is good to get in with the boys and do a bit of boxing and weights and just get around it.

“…All the boys were jetlagged coming in - a bit of heavy legs - but been doing some long continuous running just to run the legs in for the pre-season ahead.”

Strength and Rehabilitation Coordinator Matt Hibbert said the aim of the week was to get them moving again after returning from London while also incorporating some skills sessions.

“Outside of skills footy we’ve been doing some running, ran twice this week already on Monday and Wednesday and they were mainly some long efforts just to get them back into moving again after coming back from London and such a long flight,” Hibbert said. 

“Also done some boxing yesterday as well here and that was a solid hour and gave them a nice little blow out. 

“I think they came back in really good nick - they trained really hard during the break and followed their program pretty well.”