World Footy News

Plenty of AFL players have been heading to the US in the offseason with Jordan Lewis and Shane Mumford probably the highest profile as they made headlines for a nightspot punch on in LA. But far from rest and relaxation (and other not so healthy activities) are the high altitude camps undertaken by North Melbourne and Collingwood.

North Melbourne have spent the past week in Utah and are hoping to benefit from the long proven theory that training at high altitude can significantly improve fitness due to the change in the body such that more oxygen can get into the body through red blood cell level increase.

The Kanga's have been in Park City Utah and have been put through a series of hikes through the snow-capped Deer Valley up the 2685m-high Bald Mountain as well as a number of suprise sessions keeping the players on their toes. It is hoped that the whole experience can help greatly with team bonding and player's personal development.

Reigning premiers Collingwood will depart for the club’s annual high altitude pre-season training camp in Arizona, USA tomorrow and return to Melbourne on Wednesday 1 December. As has been the case in 2005, 2006, 2008 & 2009, the team will be based at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, where it will utilise the world-class training facilities on campus. Word has filtered out of the club over the last two years that the club is very happy with the experience and convinced that it has great benefits to the players and the club as a whole.

It is no coincidence that North Melbourne's coach Brad Scott is a former Collingwood assistant coach and has been on these trips in previous seasons with the Pies.

While it originally looked like Shae McNamara might spend a second year in Melbourne working on his skills while most of the team were in Arizona, he recently received news he would be heading back to his home nation to take part in the camp. This has to be a positive development, and continually looking like he might make a debut in the senior team at some time in 2011. If he was omitted it would have sent a message (at least to outsiders) that the club didnt consider him a chance this year.

The Western Bulldogs who have also previously completed a preseason altitude camp in Arizona will this year be staying closer to home, conducting a week-long high altitude camp on New Zealand's South Island from December 4. The camp will mix hard, altitude-based training and football sessions with some adventure-based activities.

Queenstown is one of the adventure capitals of the world, with a host of companies offering bungy jumping, tandem skydiving, white-water rafting and jet-boating. The Dogs will take part in a lengthy hike and an adventure race.