Training at altitude has helped a number of the Bulldogs’ players regain match fitness and increase their training load, while Stone said the ability to tap into a number of resources at Victoria University has also proved beneficial.
“We come here and use it with our rehab guys during the season, just to get the increased training effect, increased fitness and increased loading for whatever players that need it,” Stone said.
“There’s no facilities like this – that I’m aware of – anywhere else in Victoria… and they are so close to us, so we’ve just got access to such good facilities.”
“The [Victoria University staff] are always really helpful, [they] have it set up for us every time and we pick their brains on different tracks that we run as well, so they are great to have around.”
The university’s Footscray campus is in close proximity to Whitten Oval, making the facilities even more accessible to players and Bulldogs’ staff alike.
“It gets them out of that Club environment so it is something different for them, we do a range of things in there like cycling and boxing, even rowing – all at altitude,” he said.
The Western Bulldogs and Victoria University have an enviable relationship, creating a number of mutually beneficial outcomes as part of their Platinum Partnership.
