Richmond's AFLW pre-season camp took place across the Mornington Peninsula this week, with three days full of team building, connection and planning with coaches, players and staff alike.
The formalities began at Kinetic Stadium in Frankston on day one, as the team gathered and prepared for a big session on the track.
With the rain holding off and the sun peeking through, it made for a perfect start to the time away.
Training began with handball skill work, as small groups worked their way through traffic and perfected the ability to move with confidence.
Sierra Grieves stood tall and looked agile early, while draftee Baia Pugh was learning her craft off Monique Conti on-ball.
Pugh was confident in front of goal, as she was delivered handy marks inside-50 from Beth Lynch, Kate Dempsey and Ellie McKenzie.
Caitlin Greiser and Poppy Kelly competed hard in the ruck, while Laura McClelland was prominent down back during match simulation.
The cars then loaded up and headed to Don Bosco campgrounds in Safety Beach, where a plethora of activities kicked off the team building week.
The dreary weather conditions didn’t deter anyone, as leadership and team values meetings took place after a hearty lunch together.
Discussions centred around what the upcoming season will look like, and how the team as a whole will unite to achieve their goals.
Coaches and players worked together and encouraged open dialogue, before a few milo's and chats prior to bed.
Tuesday morning brought a fresh start, with a quick ocean dip kicking off dawn, as the energy remained high well into the morning.
Before long, it was right into breakfast and team meetings, as the group prepared for their skills training session.
The team arrived at the Red Hill Recreation Reserve for their second training session of camp. On a perfect deck, and in blustery conditions, it was a session of craft and skills.
No.1 draft pick Olivia Wolmarans was confident during her marking drills, followed suite by Fina Dethlefsen, who took a screamer that had veteran Bec Miller jumping for joy.
Montana McKinnon joined in the main skills session, and impressed with her ball reading ability, as she continues her ACL rehab.
Paige Scott was busy teaching Irish recruit Ana Mulholland the secret success to sneaky goals from the boundary, while Georgia Stubs and Ally Dallaway worked under the watchful eye of Katie Brennan on their contested ball skills.
The next activity awaited, with the players ready for an afternoon of biking, cooking and team connection along the Mornington Peninsula.
The group landed at the Quarantine Station at Portsea, with maps, bikes and helmets meeting them on arrival. But there was one thing they had to complete first.
The team was tasked with cooking lunch for the entire playing group, coaches and staff. It was done with ease for some, but not for all.
Scott took hold of the burger cooking with Grieves and Lynch, while Sarah Hosking cooked up the salmon and chicken.
McClelland, Issy Bacon and McKenzie took to taking control of the salad station, while Dempsey guarded the bread rolls with her life (despite being gluten free herself).
Coach Jarrad Donders, along with Executive General Manager, Women’s Football, Jane Woodlands-Thompson, laughed along and somewhat enjoyed their burgers, presented to them on paper plates in the pouring rain.
As the rain began to clear, it was activity time.
Split into groups of five, each team was handed a map with riddles and clues to work out during their mountain-biking tour. While it wasn't a race, the team who could work out the cryptic codes, successfully meet their coaches at different activity stations, and make it back in one piece, would be crowned winners.
Players took off on bikes in every direction, and rode eight kilometres around the quarantine station, finding clues, handball games and messages to decode.
It was Lynch's group who arrived back first, while Libby Graham and Brennan got stuck on the shuttle bus back to base, arriving to a chorus of cheers and laughs.
The group headed back to camp for the night, before a recovery session at the Peninsula Hot Springs.
Wednesday morning brought the chance to evaluate their camp experience, and understand what values and mission statements they'd be bringing home to the Swinburne Centre, both on and off field.
A brunch as a team and then hitting the road home, camp could be summed up in a few short words.
A week full on fun, ferocity and a driven focus on succeeding as one in 2026, something the group is craving.
