He’s amid his fourth pre-season with the Hawks, and young gun James Sicily says that training is just as gruelling as ever.
“It doesn’t get easier. I guess you know what to expect coming into the pre-season, so it’s something that’s not foreign, but it’s still very hard and always a challenge.”
Sicily now has something to compare it to, however, having hiked the Kokoda Track with a group of his Hawthorn teammates in November.
The mental and physical challenge of the trek has set a benchmark for the boys, and spurs Sicily on during exceptionally tough training sessions.
“When you’re in running sets and times are tough and you’re struggling a bit, you try and reflect on how tough it was back in Kokoda and you can find a bit extra in yourself.
“[The trek] definitely helps with your mental toughness and your ability to keep grinding when things are challenging.”
Not only has the Kokoda experience helped to ease the mental grind of pre-season camp, but it has also helped foster a close bond between the emerging group of players.
“The first to fourth year guys are the next wave of players coming through, so having that strong bond and good chemistry between the boys will really hold us in good stead in the future.”
While success as a playing group is the overarching goal heading into the 2017 season, Sicily also has some personal objectives.
“At the moment I’m just trying to stay healthy and complete as much of the pre-season as I can.
“I’m trying to get some good, solid work in, because the amount of work you’ve put in during the pre-season definitely shows later in the season.”
The boys are currently half way through their Mooloolaba-based camp, and will be returning home on Tuesday.
