St Kilda’s younger brigade has endured hotand gruelling conditions on day one of their four-day AIS training camp.

After a Friday morning skills session, theplayers flew up to Canberra unaware of the program ahead and spent the eveningundertaking more than eight hours of intense physical and mental challenges. 

Senior coach Alan Richardson said he wasimpressed with their efforts as they were confronted with five hours alone ofagility and endurance testing.

“I’m looking at how they push themselves,how they support each other, how they behave and respond under duress andpressure,” he said.

“The VO2 Max test is the best indicator ofa players' aerobic capacity.  Nathan Wright smashed it and Seb Ross also recorded an impressive result.

“Their ability to maintain high work rateswhilst under extreme lactate fatigue was off the charts and that backs up whatwe see at training, even at this early stage of the pre-season.”

“As a coach that is incredibly encouragingto see players push themselves to their limits.”

Cameron Shenton and Jack Newnes were alsoamong the top performing midfielders for the physical testing.

Players have also been confronted withmental challenges such as limited food and had to battle their sleepdeprivation into the night.

The program is designed to develop theirleadership qualities and push them to their absolute limit.

 “It’sabout being prepared to push through it. The sports scientists will be looking for where the guys are at; gettinginformation from the tests that will lead to improving programs that take them to anotherlevel. 

“Our program is about giving opportunitiesfor these blokes to grow and develop and this camp is part of that.”

Players completed the intense testing atmidnight, moving into a cycle session with Green Edge coaches for another hour.

Bedtime wasn't in sight at 2am as the players embarked on a video review session.

The emerging leaders camp will continue until Monday.