If September is the most challenging month of the season, January is the toughest month of the pre-season campaign.

As AFLX edges closer by the day, the JLT Community Series nears and Round 1 looms on the horizon, St Kilda has decided to turn up the program a notch this week by embarking on a training camp at Geelong Grammar.

St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson said the purpose of the camp was to not only challenge the players physically, but also improve team cohesion and finalise the leadership group for the season ahead.

“It’s a good opportunity for the boys to get away and spend a bit of time together,” Richardson told saints.com.au at Geelong Grammar on Tuesday.

“The reality is that this month is generally the most challenging for the players.

“They are in pretty good shape, almost fit enough to play, but physically we’ve still got a bit of work to do.

“But it’s great to get away, spend a bit of time nailing our leadership group, and spend a bit of time together as a group.”

Richardson said the camp will focus primarily on football, with three main training sessions plotted around work in the gym, in the pool and in the classroom. 

Although, the fifth-year coach suggested there might be some surprises instore.

“Fundamentally, it’s a footy camp. Not often do you go post-Christmas, but we’ve chosen to do that this year,” he said.

“Monday, Wednesday and Friday we will train like normal, we’ll do our weights and swim, but Tuesday and Thursday we’ll do some bonding activities to get the boys a bit closer.

“I can’t tell you what they are because they might end up watching those prior to the activities, but they will be a bit of fun… not.”