FIFTY-THREE VFL footballers have arrived in Cohuna on a three day pre-season training camp.
The Williamstown Football Club, on its third visit to the town, arrived yesterday morning and will leave tomorrow afternoon.
The team of 53 players, 10 coaches, three support staff and four board members are based at the footy ground, with the players camping in the show pavilions.
Senior coach Andrew Collins said the venue was ideal for a pre-season camp.
“We love it; it’s a footy camp paradise with everything we need in the one vicinity,” he said.
“There are two terrific ovals and the swimming pool, tennis courts, bowling green and creek are all nearby.”
The relationship between the club and Cohuna began when Collins, who played 212 games for Hawthorn between 1987 and 1996, was appointed Williamstown coach in 2014.
“Ron Haig introduced me to the club when I was playing nearly 25 years ago and since then I haven’t forgotten the place and I’ve visited occasionally,” he said.
So upon joining Williamstown, Collins contacted the Kangas about the possibility of using their facilities for a training camp, and they jumped at the idea.
“The footy club is incredibly obliging, setting the goals up, marking the oval and feeding us,” Collins said.
“We’re really well supported and welcomed by all the locals and we hope to put some money into the local economy in return.”
Players will take part in a skills session today and a triathlon tomorrow before returning to Melbourne.
“The focus of the camp is footy education and team bonding, formally and informally, so we’ll do things like play lawn bowls and golf and have a dodgeball tournament,” Collins said.
