Richmond fans are famous for their loyalty and there may be no more loyal Tiger than Andrew Sloman. Despite being based in New Zealand, “Slowy” rarely misses a game, travelling all across the country to follow the yellow and black. He has also often joined the team on their pre-season training camps, including making the trip to Arizona some years back. “Slowy” is with the team on their pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast this week and we thought it would be great to get a fans perspective on what he sees on the camp and what excites him most about season 2018.

Day 3

Kia Ora all from another sunny and humid day here in Maroochydore.

Day 3 activities started at the usual time of 6.30am. Twin Waters has a free barista service as part of the breakfast offering, so the competition amongst the playing group to be first in the door and at the barista station is quite fierce. Given our support role, we have decided to ease the pressure by lining up on the players’ behalf and sourcing their coffees in a bulk order. The barista does look at me rather oddly when I order 10-15 coffees. Can you guess which player drinks a Piccolo Latte?

Given the heavy load of Day 2, the planned field activities for Day 3 were lighter in intensity and focussed on the line groupings of forwards, mids and backs. Myself and fellow support staff Rodney Banks were assisting the forwards. Support involves supplying fluids, fetching Sherrins and even supplying lollies to keep the energy levels up. Rodney had the great idea of buying for the forwards $30 worth of snakes and strawberry frogs at the hotel deli. You could probably imagine the size of the mound of confectionery, but it didn’t last long!

The team played a field drill that mirrored a game of baseball. The batting side kicked a ball out to the marked field. The role of the defenders was to gather the ball, without fumbling, and handballing to base to out the “batter”. If a defender fumbled, then it was a free base run. Balls kicked in the air and caught were out. So the batters were inclined to kick low, hard ground kicks away from first base to draw a fumble. It was a game designed to test ball handling and rapid spread of the ball by hand. Again the competitive juices flowed, and there was much banter and conjecture re fumbles and base running!

The field activities lasted just on one hour. We then entered 50 minute rotations of gym work, massage and personal development and reflection sessions known as “Richmond Man”. The Richmond Man sessions are facilitated by leadership consultant Shane McCurry. We, as support crew, are really honoured to sit in on these sessions. While I don’t want to go into too much detail as to what the sessions cover, you can see the benefit to you as an individual by performing the tasks, considering your strengths and authenticity, and rating and improving relationships important to you as a person. I’m sensing the shift in focus in football away from the “four points” and associated football factors being the defining aim. The four points is an outcome of managing the personal development and wellbeing of the individual and their alignment to the collective Richmond Man goal, together with the application of the football skills and strategy.

The afternoon activity was a team challenge involving playing Paintball or “Skirmish” to some. Our team orange combined with team red to take on team green and blue. The battlefield was a section of Southern Queensland bush. The objective was to seize a flag in the centre of the battlefield, with teams starting at opposite ends. We were dressed in camouflaged overalls and protective gear, which still didn’t stop the odd welt! I was rather unlucky in that my gun jammed 3 minutes in to the 20 minute game. Thankfully I had a rather obliging team member in Dustin Martin behind me, who covered me while I could retreat to relative safety. I still managed to take a few hits, and the welts are now subsiding.

Certainly the skirmish players to impress were Nick Vlastuin, who had a rather ferocious exchange of fire with supporter Brett Vorhauer, and Reece Conca whose recent meditation and yoga trip to Cambodia has not dulled his combative spirit!

Fair to say, dinner afterwards was a subdued affair, with many retiring to their rooms in the early evening.

Day 4

Day 4 is a rest day. Currently, some players are in Noosa swimming, while others are out fishing. All activities are at the cost of the individual. Support Crew Chris Dodd, Mark George, Marty Oke and myself were lucky to play golf with a group of players at Twin Waters Golf Club. Nathan Broad was the victor in the friendly competition amongst us. And I’d like to thank Maroochydore local and long time Tiger fan Rick Barrett who came and walked the course and told us where to hit it, although the intention and actuality was often far apart!

Oh, The initials of the player who drinks a Piccolo Latte are TC!