The first to four-year players completed the two-kilometre trial in warm conditions, while those still recovering from injury took part in an intense boxing session.
Australian track and field Olympian and St Kilda High Performance Manager, Adam Basil, said the testing benchmarks the players’ aerobic capacity in preparation for pre-season training.
“The work they’ve done in the offseason was reflected today,” he said.
“There’s quite a few of them that have worked hard in the offseason and stepped up to hit their PBs and target times which was good to see.
“Our list is developing and improving and building towards the standards that we’ve set as a footy club. The test today shows their ability to run and we need a group of elite midfielders that have that endurance.”
Jack Newnes was the fastest finishing St Kilda player, while Sandringham listed player Jack Noone, who is training at Linen House Centre in the pre-season, finished first overall. Former Gold Coast player Jeremy Taylor finished third, Josh Saunders fourth and Mav Weller rounded out the top five.
Newnes, Weller, Ross, Wright, Markworth, Shenton and Holmes were amongst the 11 players who recorded personal best times.
“What Jack did today on the first day of pre-season testing is reflection of his professionalism and the work he has put in over the off-season,” Basil said.
“The offseason program traditionally is one that isn’t too intense, but the challenge we set our players was to come back in a good fitness shape which was challenging for them – but it was programmed that way.”
The five-plus year players will return to training on November 17, where they too will be tested in a two-kilometre time trial.
Basil said the training program will kick up a gear when the players go to Queenstown for an intense high performance camp in December.
“The program is heavily designed to improve running times … by the time they come back from Queenstown I would expect the guys step it up another notch.”
