HAWTHORN midfielder Brad Sewell believes the 12-day training camp in South Africa will give players a better understanding of their teammates.

The camp is designed to take the players out of their comfort zone and challenge their physical and mental strength, something Sewell sees as valuable knowledge of himself and his teammates for next season.

The playing group arrived safely in South Africa on Sunday evening, where they will complete a 12-day training camp in two locations.

Sewell and his teammates are first training at Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus, where they have completed skills and running sessions in preparation for season 2014.

“Whilst it is a once in a lifetime trip, ultimately this is a training camp,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“This is a performance camp designed to push our physical limits but more than that, our mental limits.

“How will we perform and react outside our comfort zone?”

Brad Sewell trains with teammates in South Africa.

Draftees Billy Hartung, Dayle Garlett and James Sicily have made the journey to South Africa as have new rookies Dallas Willsmore, Ben Ross, Zac Webster, Kurt Heatherley and Shem Tatupu.

The camp will provide them with an opportunity to both bond with their new teammates and train in unfamiliar surroundings.

But Sewell believes the camp won’t just provide an insight into his new teammates but also those who have spent a couple of seasons on the list.

“As one of the leaders, this time spent outside of our normal environment is arguably the best way of understanding our new players, both young and experienced,” he said.

“It’s also intriguing to watch how players that have been in our system for a period and how they developed during that time.”

Players will soon head to Stellenbosch, near Cape Town for the remainder of the camp before returning to Melbourne on 20 December.