Bendigo Pioneers hopefuls were put through a strenuous range of fitness tests at LaTrobe Univeristy on Sunday.
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More than 100 players took part in a testing session not too dissimilar to what potential AFL draftees complete each year prior to the national draft.
Rookie Bendigo Pioneers coach Rick Coburn was impressed with what he saw.
“Our under-17, under-18 and youth girls players took part and it was a big day for everyone,’’ Coburn said.
“The players completed fitness tests, beep tests, 20m sprints, AFL agility test, the vertical jump and we did the Nathan Buckley kicking test and a clean hands skill test as well.
“We also ran a leadership rotation where we start to work on our team culture and goal setting for this year.
“We were really happy with the results, particularly the boys. With the girls we don’t have the historical data as yet and it’s a bit harder to judge.
“The boys have come back really well from the Christmas break and they’ve been very professional. Overall, we’re very happy with the fitness levels.”
Coburn and his coaching staff have about six weeks left to cull the training squad to a final list of about 55 players.
“The full training squad will have a group session on February 5 in Swan Hill and then our first intra-club is in Bendigo on February 19,’’ Coburn said.
“That will give us an opportunity to start making some decisions on some of the boys. Our first practice match is against Ballarat (in Ballarat) on February 26.
“By the start of March we want to have that list sorted to 55 or 60 players.”
