PORT ADELAIDE forward Mitch Georgiades has admitted he’ll sleep well after completing the club’s training camp on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on Wednesday, but says the real value for him came not from the physical workload but from the bonds built with his new teammates.
Georgiades arrived at Alberton in the AFL National Draft late last month and having moved across from Perth, the Subiaco junior has had a whirlwind first three weeks with the Power.
The 18-year-old was among six first-year players on the camp and found value in spending a week away with his teammates.
“For us first years, moving over (to Adelaide) and only being at the club for two and a half weeks so far, it’s pretty special to get to know the boys on an outside perspective rather than just a footy, footy, footy,” he told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“It was really good in that regard getting to know them off the field rather than just on the field the whole time in a more relaxed environment – playing table tennis and stuff like that, so it was a really good experience just getting to meet them on a more personal basis.”
Georgiades enjoyed the team paintball skirmish and water park challenge activities during the seven-day camp at Maroochydore and Lake Kawana.
But shoulder soreness meant the exciting forward wasn’t able to complete every training session.
“Personally, for me, not being able to train (was the hardest) thing and just sitting in rehab on the spin bike, and then just the repeat of getting up for training every day,” he explained.
“It’s good fun but it’s hard work and it pushes yourself to your limits, which is good and really exciting but you sleep well the next night.
“It’s been a solid week and great experience and heading home is a long flight home so there’ll be a lot of sleep after this.”
Despite his lighter training regime, Georgiades is looking forward to building on the work he did during the camp after the Christmas break.
“For us first year players it’s a big step up from what we’ve done before and it gets us to adjust to the load,” he said.
“We were training in the morning, training in the afternoon, hitting the gym, stuff like that.
“It gets you up and builds you into a pre-season of what’s expected to come in the coming months. It gives you a strong foundation going into the season.”