CTV in Arizona > Watch the 'Eddie and the Execs' feature

Collingwood did something completely unique when it opened up the Arizona high altitude training camp experience to the public – at a price.

Three loyal and passionate Magpie supporters took the club up on the offer, and on Thursday they returned to Melbourne after 10 days of living the dream as Collingwood players.

Daryl Thomas, Peter Murphy and Chris Ketsakadis joined Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and director of marketing David Emerson in Flagstaff, forming the executive component of the group, or the ‘execs’.

While perhaps lacking the pace and skill of the likes of Leon Davis, Alan Didak, Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas, each member of the ‘execs’ completed all the training and activities, including the gruelling Mt Humphrey and Grand Canyon hikes, set out by the club’s head of conditioning David Buttifant, and certainly earned the respect and admiration of all Collingwood players and coaches.

“Watching how committed they are and how passionate they are, the coaches, such a quality group of people, it’s just been a thrill,” Murphy said when interviewed by McGuire on CTV on the final day of his Arizona experience. “This group of people is as impressive as any that I’ve ever seen.”

McGuire was full of praise for the execs, as well as the players and coaches, having experienced firsthand how everyone tackled the taxing training regime.

“I can tell you that the execs have certainly put in over the last 10 days. Mt Humphrey caught me out, but I think I bounced back on the Grand Canyon and in the cycle ride.

“I can honestly say that in 30 years of covering Australian rules football, that I’ve been so impressed by the guys here representing the Collingwood Football Club, and I look forward to 2009.

“Certainly the pre-season is off to the start that we could only have hoped for,” McGuire added.