“The continual improvement of these younger guys is really going to help us going forward; the way they’re training at the moment is first rate,” Rawlings told kangaroos.com.au.
“It’s probably the hardest program I’ve seen in my time in footy. The boys are really fit and they’re healthy…last year we probably couldn’t say that.”
The pre-season camp in Tasmania as well as the gruelling training at Aegis Park has been tough for the new Kangaroos and there has been little time to rest as they adapt to life as AFL footballers.
“It’s a bit of a shock to their system when they first arrive at the club, they’ve gone from training maybe once or twice a week at their local club and most of them have never done weights before.
“They come into a professional environment training every day as well as doing weights, boxing and recovery. It’s a lot to adapt to but we want to make sure we get enough work into them so that when the season comes around, they can be ready to go.”
Born and bred in Tasmania, Rawlings couldn’t be happier about North Melbourne’s two home games in Hobart this year and the impact the club will make in the community as well as on the football field.
“We’re very confident coming down to Tassie and getting amongst the people of Hobart, everyone here absolutely loves their footy and they’ve been starved of it over the years.
“As a club I think we’re the most accessible going around in terms of players and coaching staff. We’re going to give Tassie things they’ve probably never seen before.”
With the NAB Cup opening match just a few short weeks away, the new recruits will be hoping to earn themselves a spot in the round robin fixture against Richmond and Hawthorn.
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