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The revamped Magpies under new coach Craig McRae spent a night camping under the stars at Wonga Park in Melbourne’s outer east as a final bonding session before their season kicks off with a practice match against Hawthorn in a fortnight.
A contingent of close to 80 people, consisting of the players and all football department staff, ended up at a camping ground, Clifford Park, to sleep in swags and tents as they undertook a series of workshops and exercises designed to build connections among the new-look group.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae chats to Jordan De Goey at a recent club training session.Credit:Getty Images
Apart from numerous list changes, the Magpies enter the year with McRae leading a coaching panel that includes Justin Leppitsch, Brendon Bolton, Neville Jetta and former player Josh Fraser in his first season at the club, while Hayden Skipworth and Scott Selwood remained on board at the end of a season that saw Nathan Buckley depart.
They have also recently bolstered their recruiting department with Adam Shepard re-joining the Magpies.
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The players and staff had not been told where they were heading when they boarded a bus early Tuesday morning, having already had a session at Victoria Park earlier in the week training and hearing a presentation from 1990 premiership player Denis Banks about the flag and former Collingwood great Darren Millane, who died in 1991.
However, despite the mystery surrounding the destination, club sources said the activities were traditional with a schedule that included hiking focused on teamwork and maintaining discipline with lessons around leadership built in to the program.
Collingwood sources say the club has a very healthy list heading into the season, having added Patrick Lipinski and Nathan Kreuger to the list during the trade period while securing prized father-son Nick Daicos at pick No.4 in the national draft as well as Arlo Draper, Cooper Murley and Charlie Dean.
Jordan De Goey also returned to the club to train recently after he pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment in a New York court for an incident in October. He did not record a conviction and the Magpies have been impressed with his attitude since he returned.