IT IS UNLIKE anything they’ve experienced before – being thrown into an elite AFL training camp less than a week after being announced as the newest St Kilda players for 2015.

The draftees and rookies were full of nerves and excitement as they arrived in Queenstown last weekend, not knowing what lay ahead but ready and raring to take on any challenge that presented itself.

They were each paired with a senior player who would act as their mentor to guide them through the day-to-day activities they were about to embark on.

Jack Lonie saddled up with the now rookie-listed Adam Schneider, a player who is renowned for his football smarts and leadership qualities.

“They (senior players) have looked after us and make sure we’re in the right spot at the right time and make sure we’re always up to go out for lunch and dinner so they’ve been great,” Lonie told SAINTS.com.au.

30-year-old Schneider faced a nervous wait heading into the camp, unsure about whether he would be lining up with his teammates for a thirteenth season after being re-rookied by the Saints earlier this month.

Entering his twilight years as an AFL footballer, Schneider will take a much more supportive role as an unofficial playing coach next season to steer the young and inexperienced group to the club’s next premiership.

“I couldn’t ask for a better mentor, he’s very good with his brain and knows a lot about his footy and I’m willing to learn as much as possible off him,” Lonie said.

“Hopefully I can spend a lot more time with him in training and throughout the year to just keep learning off him.

“If I could turn out half a good a player as he is, I’ll be very happy.”

Learning the ropes has been a breeze so far according to Lonie, but he knows the expectations are high to succeed at the elite level.

“I couldn’t really put into words how lucky I am, it’s been a whirlwind but I’m just really trying to take in my stride and keep learning.  There’s no real time to sit back and relax because you’ll get left behind.”

The new recruits have been taking part in a slightly modified program as their bodies get used to the intense training loads.Rookie Brenton Payne said apart from the physical toll it has taken on his young frame, he is slipping into the early morning routine quite well.

“The early mornings are fine because I’m used to getting up and getting ready for school; it’s just getting through it session by session (that is the focus) and getting ready for the next one that’s the tough part,” Payne said.

“I’ve learnt about a whole new dimension of footy, and it’s good to buy into the program.”

Payne, or BP as he is affectionately known by his new teammates, has already passed the first induction phase into the team, accepting a creative nickname from his teammates; ‘Petrol’.



He has buddied with Sam Fisher for the camp and is enjoying the camaraderie.

“To be around all the boys has been pretty fun and I’ve already created a couple of friendships,” he said.

“They’ve kind of taken me under their wing, so it’s pretty good to be close to a couple of the senior blokes.”

The draftees will be thrown into their first hike as a team through the picturesque Queenstown mountains on Friday morning, before heading back to Melbourne on Saturday.