Cold and wet conditions confronted the Collingwood as they trained at Gosch's Paddock on Friday 19 December in the last pre-season closed session before the new year.

The session commenced at 8 am and was conducted for over one hour and 20 minutes.

Sports science director, David Buttifant, took advantage of the wet conditions and raised the intensity for the entire session.

Handball drills were a focus during the first 30 minutes with players forcing to negotiate a slick ball.

Newly appointed captain, Nick Maxwell, worked with Dayne Beams during the drill.  It was obvious the captaincy has affected Maxwell, working with his younger teammates on many one-on-one drills.  His teammates were also quick to cotton on to his new role as "Maxy" was replaced with the titles "skip" and "cap".

The handball drill was followed by a complete open ground game simulation with coaches watching how various players were coping with the wet conditions.

Steele Sidebottom looked comfortable on the ground, kicking the ball through the middle to leading forwards.

Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes were strong overhead, marking the ball and converting set shots.

The team finished off the session with "The Gauntlet", a handball drill with a team of three moving the ball through five defenders.

The players will now take indivdualised programs over the Christmas break and will recommence in the second week of January.




Ben Johnson works the ball to Sharrod Wellingham during "The Gauntlet"




Brad Dick delivers the ball to Tyson Goldsack with Shane O'Bree running alongside.




Shannon Cox stretches out for a mark.




Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke and Tristan Francis thrived in the wet conditions.




Jarrod Blight takes a mark with rain descending on Gosch's Paddock.