ALAN Richardson has gone "old school" with the St Kilda players, with the instigation of a tough pre-season regime Adam Schneider believes is the hardest they've faced in years.
The entire list returned to training on November 18, just days after Richardson's appointment as Scott Watters' successor.
Schneider, entering his 13th season, says Richardson has had an immediate impact since he took his first session.
"Richo has been great. He's old school, which I like, he's all about hard work and that's the first message we got from him; that we're going to be a hard-working team and train hard and that's what you've got to be if you're going to be part of St Kilda," Schneider told AFL.com.au.
"From the day he walked in to three or four weeks later, he's still stuck by that word.
"A few of the boys have been blown away with how hard it's been. It's been one of the hardest pre-seasons the boys have had in the last five or six years.
"We're all extremely fit at the moment and all flying, so we're reaping the rewards and that's all because of the way Richo has approached it."
The Saints' pre-season involved a two-and-a-half week altitude training camp in Boulder, Colorado, which was highlighted by 32km hike/run in sleeting snow and -20 degree conditions.
They then returned to train in Australia for a week before the Christmas break.
Schneider said the overseas venture – the Saints' second in two years – delivered better results this time as the players were better prepared.
He also said the level of training went up a notch, which the players embraced whether it was hiking through the elements or training under Colorado University's Bubble facility.
"The whole camp had such a different feel this year. We went over there and we did some things we haven't done in the past; we did some extremely hard training and went old school and they really smashed us, which we felt we needed and the boys are reaping the rewards for it," he said.
"I think last year it was the unknown for the group with the training standards whereas this year we decided to go over there and go completely full on with the training and not worry about the altitude.
"That's probably the way we attacked it. It was all about getting it done and no whinging and making excuses and I think that's what we did."
Schneider, 29, is one who has benefitted from the difficult pre-season regime.
After two seasons ruined by hamstring problems, Schneider made a pact with Lenny Hayes to start training ahead of the group's return in attempt to put his run of bad luck behind him.
He has dropped four kilograms and says he's in the best shape he's been in for a number of years.
Schneider said the arrival of Richardson had freshened the group given his new approach.
"Coming off last year, winning five games for the year, it wasn't the greatest," he said.
"To have someone new come in, it's given us all a new lease on life to keep going and start again."
