SYDNEY players have trained through the effects of the NSW bushfires in recent weeks, with a smoky haze blanketing the Harbour City.
On Tuesday, the Swans got to meet some of the heroes that are fighting the devastating blazes on the front line.
In Coffs Harbour on their pre-season camp, the entire Sydney playing squad and some staff dropped into the local Rural Fire Service branch to present team manager Sean McArdle with a signed jumper and lend support to the brave volunteers.
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NSW has been hit by severe bushfires for the past two months, with the air quality in those areas of the state affected listed as hazardous on Tuesday, according to the Department of Planning and Environment.
Hearing how much effort goes into fighting the bushfires by community members was 'eye-opening', according to Sydney co-captain Dane Rampe.
"It is pretty confronting," he said.
"You get a real appreciation and respect for what the wider community, not only here in Coffs Harbour, has been doing to help fight these bushfires.
"It's an insight into the physical and mental toll of what these fires have created.
"It's only been on the news I guess for the last month or so (in Sydney), but to hear that these firefighting efforts have been going for 13 weeks already, and the expectation is that it'll go well into February, is pretty incredible and inspiring."
The Swans began pre-season training in late November, well after the bushfires had started around the state, but Rampe said the club hasn't had to alter the summer program too much so far.
"Early last week we had a few days that were really smoky, and you could really notice it," he said.
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"It's definitely something our staff and the conditioning team are keeping an eye on.
"We've just been reducing the length of training and making sure that our intensity is high, and that will continue to be monitored over the next few weeks."
The Swans enjoyed a well-earned day off on Tuesday after a brutal Monday morning training session, but will hit the track again on Wednesday before flying back to Sydney.
