The GIANTS’ AFLW squad recently stepped away from the football field for a unique experience, taking part in a pre-season camp at Blamey Barracks in Kapooka  

The 36-hour camp was designed to challenge the group physically and mentally while strengthening connection, communication, and teamwork. 

The squad was immersed in a range of army-inspired activities that pushed players outside their comfort zones and tested their ability to work together under pressure. Through team-based drills, obstacle courses and simulated scenarios, players were challenged to communicate effectively, solve problems and rely on one another in demanding situations. 

Working in small groups, players completed tasks that required leadership, coordination and trust between teammates, including carrying equipment between stations, navigating obstacles, and responding to high-pressure scenarios where they had to apply new skills while supporting those around them. 

The experience was designed to help the group develop the foundations needed for a successful season, with lessons from the camp extending beyond the training environment and into game-day situations. 

GIANTS Executive General Manager of AFLW, Alison Zell, said the camp was a great opportunity to work on vital skills in a fun and unique environment away from the footy field.  

“We really wanted this year's camp to focus on things like performance under pressure, leadership, and communication - and we found this was a great way to do that in a different setting rather than your usual footy schedule,” Zell said.  

The Australian Defence Force team tailored a range of activities based on the GIANTS’ pre-season goals. 

“They were fantastic. We were able to brief them on where we're at, what we're trying to work on, how we want our group to continue to evolve, and then they basically put together activities based on different training activities that they do with Defence Force recruits to apply to what we wanted to get out of it,” Zell said. 

A key part of the camp was the opportunity for players to reflect on each activity through debrief sessions, with Defence Force psychologists helping the group understand the lessons learned and how they could translate into football. 

“One of the most impressive things we took out of it is something that they do day to day in their workplace which is that they spend a lot of time making sure they've met the objectives of a task,” Zell said. 

“So they'll do a task and then they'll debrief the task. At the end of every task that we did, we did a debrief with their psychologist to really understand what we got out of it and what we could continue to work on. 

“And then we did have discussions around how it could apply to football or game-like scenarios.” 

The camp included learning practical skills such as carrying a stretcher, lifting heavy objects correctly and applying a tourniquet, before players were put through a challenging early-morning PT session, a high ropes course, and a final team-based activity designed to bring together everything they had learned.  

Zell said the feedback from the group was extremely positive, with players embracing the challenges.  

“It was really positive. They really enjoyed it but they found it challenging enough. 

“It's probably indicative that when we got back, we all had dinner together and everyone was in bed by about 8 o'clock. That's usually a good sign, but they did have the enjoyment across the day as well.” 

Prior to the camp, the AFLW squad first travelled to Wagga Wagga where they trained at Robertson Oval before hosting a junior girls clinic for the local community. 

Zell said the opportunity was an important part of connecting with the wider GIANTS region and giving young footballers the chance to engage with elite female athletes.  

“It was a great opportunity while we were there to invite the community down and make sure we connected with the local kids,” she said. 

“They got the opportunity to see some elite footballers in action, but also got to participate in a clinic as well.” 

With stronger connections, greater resilience and a deeper understanding of how to perform under pressure, the GIANTS AFLW group returned from the camp with valuable lessons to carry into the season ahead.