While clubs travel the world looking for an edge that will set them apart from the competition, the Bulldogs have spent the past 10 days in the heat and humidity of the Sunshine Coast under the watchful eye of the coaching staff and Physical Performance Manager Mathew Inness.

Inness, in his first full year in the role after previous appointments at the club as Conditioning Coach and VFL High Performance Manager, said that the players have adjusted well to Queensland’s tropical climate.

“Obviously there’s a bit of heat and humidity around here, so that took a while for the players to get used to but once they became accustomed to that, they trained really well," he said.

“There’s three ovals we used which we obviously don’t get in Melbourne, [but] the heat adds an environmental stimulus which is something that definitely tested the boys, which was great.” 

Speaking with westernbulldogs.com.au, Inness said that benefits in making the trip north extends beyond the footy field, the 10 days away giving the players, new and old, a chance to bond as a unit.

“It was basically to move our normal training up to here, so it was a chance to get away, spend some time together and get some really good training in the lead up to the NAB Challenge in a couple of weeks.

“It’s been good to get away and spend 10 days together and get some good training under our belts, so it’s achieved its purpose.”

Inness said that one of the more pleasing aspects of the camp has been seeing a full squad out on the park.

“We’ve had some guys who were in long term rehab but they’ve come back and they’re training really well. 

“We’ve had pretty much the whole group training throughout the whole camp so that’s been really positive for us.”

The Bulldogs will take on the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the first NAB Challenge match on Thursday, February 25 at Manuka Oval in Canberra. 

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