How are you finding life in the AFL and what are your goals for 2011?
Lucas Cook: It’s obviously different from what I’m used to. There is a lot of hard work, but the boys have been really good and I couldn’t be happier. I just want to play the best football I can and put my best foot forward. If that’s at Casey or Melbourne - then I’m happy. I just want to develop the best I can.
Troy Davis: It’s been pretty full-on and it takes a bit to get used to, but once you get the swing of things, I love it. It’s now my job and I couldn’t think of anything better. I just want to improve my fitness and hopefully soon enough, I can get a game. But getting fit and smarter at the game are the keys. Then the rest we’ll worry about.
Michael Evans: It’s been really good so far. It’s been pretty full-on, but I’m enjoying living in Melbourne and living with Cale Morton. Everything has been pretty smooth with settling in, so I’m looking forward to knuckling down.
Jeremy Howe: It’s been fantastic so far; I love it. I’m enjoying everything - getting in the swing of things with training. And now I just want to get through the rest of pre-season and keep myself as fit as I can and put myself up for selection - maybe in the NAB Cup and best case would be a senior game in 2011. I just want to keep my body in good shape, so I can be ready.
Cameron Johnston: I’m just looking to keep improving and keep learning as much as I can.
Kelvin Lawrence: I’m really enjoying it. I hope to play a couple of games this year in the NAB Cup and I hope to continue getting fitter.
Tom McDonald: It’s really exciting. It is hard work and not easy, but I it’s something I love doing - training for football. It’s not a chore. Life is very different living in Melbourne, after living in country Victoria. But it’s a good change and it’s been good to move out of home and experience new things as well. I haven’t set specific goals, but I know skill wise I’ve still got to work on kicking and technique. Becoming a bit more comfortable and settled is a goal for every first-year player, along with playing your first senior game - that’s what you strive towards every week of your life in the AFL. Working on body strength is another key.
Daniel Nicholson: It’s been great so far - it’s lived up to the expectation - that’s for sure. Being in a full-time environment has been great and I really love it. A promotion would be great, but I don’t want to see anyone get hurt in the long-term. But if the opportunity arises, then I’d love to grab it with both hands and see how we go.
What did you take out of the AFLPA induction camp?
Lucas Cook: It’s been good to get some insights from the AFL players. It’s going to help us become better role models in the community, which is important for the Melbourne boys.
Troy Davis: It’s been good. We listened to Thommo (Nathan Thompson) speak and he told us a fair bit. It’s also been good to catch up with some of the boys I played with who are now at AFL clubs. It’s good to hear their stories about other clubs as well.
Michael Evans: It’s good to hear about how the AFLPA can guide you, if you need a bit of help. There is always someone there to support you, so it’s been good to learn about it.
Jeremy Howe: You’ve got a fair idea of what you can and can’t do and the speakers have only reinforced that. It’s good to hear players’ experiences and what you have to do. It was good listening to guys like Scotty Lucas.
Cameron Johnston: It’s been really interesting learning about other people and their pathway through the AFL. It’s been good to gain as much information as I can.
Kelvin Lawrence: It was good to learn a bit more about the AFL and hear from some of the former AFL players.
Tom McDonald: I realise there is a lot of responsibility when it comes to being on an AFL list, but it’s good to learn about all of the aspects of what’s important and what’s not. Hearing from ex-players and current players like Aaron Davey and Scott West, who we have had a bit to do with already, is fantastic.
Daniel Nicholson: It’s been good to get a further understanding of what it’s like to be in the AFL. A lot of past players have been involved in the camp and it’s good to hear from them and what it’s like to play in the AFL. It’s good to hear what’s changed and what we can expect from playing in the AFL.
What did you get up to on your break?
Lucas Cook: I kept it pretty quiet. I went to Ocean Grove for a bit and Phillip Island for Christmas, so it was pretty low key, but it was good to spend some time with family and friends. I loved it, so it was great.
Troy Davis: I just went home back to Sunbury. I was there for the start of the holiday and then back to Kerang. I went up there and trained with some mates, because it was much better than training by yourself. I like to train with someone, because it makes you train harder. So it was good to catch-up with people and do some training.
Michael Evans: I went back to Western Australia and caught up with some family and friends. It was good to chill out and head down the WA coast as well.
Jeremy Howe: I flew back down to Tassie and managed to catch-up with the family for Christmas. It was a pretty chilled out break.
Cameron Johnston: I went back to Geelong and trained down there and caught up with some mates, so that was good.
Kelvin Lawrence: I went back to Perth. It was good to hang around with the family and enjoy some BBQs.
Tom McDonald: I saw a lot of my schoolmates. I went to a boarding school in country Victoria, so we all caught up in Mildura for a few days. I then went to Robe and Kingston in South Australia with the family for Christmas. My Mum’s family is from Adelaide and South Australia, so that was good to see them.
Daniel Nicholson: I was very low key over the break. I went back to Derry, which is near Mortlake in the western district, for Christmas and spent it with the family. So that was good and then the rest of the holidays I spent back up in Melbourne, using the facilities in the gym.
