DURING the split round 14, many AFL players put their feet up for a few days after a solid year so far. For a quarter of Melbourne's list, part of the time was anything but relaxing, but the satisfaction gained was rewarding.

That was the case for nine first-year Demons, as development coach Kelly O'Donnell, recently elevated leadership group member Brent Moloney and experienced defender Matthew Whelan took the group on a three-day boxing camp to Warrnambool. Club boxing coach Rod Ryan, who is based in town in Victorian western-district town, oversaw the sessions.  

Ultimately, the trip was a team-bonding, leadership exercise, with an emphasis on fitness and confidence. O'Donnell said the feedback from the group was positive.

"The camp was all about the players taking ownership of it. The players had to organise a few things themselves – they weren't spoon-fed," O'Donnell told melbournefc.com.au.

"They learned to hit and get hit, which is what they said they got out of it and you could really see them growing over the days – taking the next step with their fitness and confidence building."

But O'Donnell said the camp wouldn't have occurred without the support of board member Peter Szental and senior coach Dean Bailey, who threw their support behind the camp. He also commended the young players' attitude for making it happen. 

"We wanted to go, but the club didn't have it in their budget, so when we found that out, the players were still keen and were asked if they would help fund it and they didn't hesitate," O'Donnell said.

"When they said that, Dean Bailey found some more support through Peter Szental and we went ahead from there.

"'Beamer' and 'Wheels' were the real driving forces behind it, but the players were very keen to have it happen and the players were prepared to fund it, which is quite refreshing and it says a lot about this group."

O'Donnell said Moloney and Whelan were great leaders for the youngsters.

"With 'Beamer' being injured, I wanted him and 'Wheels' involved, because they've been driving the boxing program and 'Beamer' and 'Wheels' were tremendous.  

"'Beamer' basically took control in organising the accommodation and anything that needed to get done in Warrnambool."

O'Donnell said the players also experienced some "pretty chilly" recovery sessions in the Southern Ocean, on a coastline best known for its shipwrecks.

"After each boxing session, they were in the ocean and the water was freezing down there," O'Donnell said.

"When you see Austin Wonaeamirri in Warrnambool and then go back to the Tiwi Islands in the second part of the week, he would've seen a fair bit of difference in Australia during his break – some real extremities, particularly in the water."

For Moloney, it was a great opportunity to help out the youngsters and host them in his home town.

"[Now that I'm injured] I thought to myself: 'How am I going to get better?' That's by helping younger guys, so we're going to be better off in the long run," Moloney said.

"Mum and Dad and my sister loved having the boys. They put on a feed for them and they didn't really know the young boys, so it was a good chance to get to know them and the players appreciated what they did."

Monday
* Arrive in Warrnambool
* In the evening, a meal at Macy's Bistro, followed by a leadership session, which the players run

Tuesday
* Wake up at 5am. Start boxing session at 6am
* Visit Deakin University, a fish farm and Warrnambool Base Hospital
* In the afternoon, a hike to Tower Hill, followed by a boxing session in a converted wool shed in Koroit
* In the evening, Brent Moloney's parents and sister host the group for a roast dinner
* Watch the Victoria and All Stars Legends match

Wednesday
* Up at 5.30am for a 6am boxing session
* Return to Melbourne by 12pm


Shane Valenti and Club boxing coach Rod Ryan


The first year players, along with Matthew Whelan, Brent Moloney and Development Coach Kelly O'Donnell


The boys enjoy a nice home cooked roast at the Moloney's


Rod Ryan and keen boxer Matthew Whelan


In the ring