Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has declared that the scorching weather conditions are providing a mental edge to the playing group as they battle through the testing pre-season sessions.
Speaking at his Wednesday media conference at the St Patrick’s Community Support Centre—where Pearce and the playing group visited and made a donation—the captain said the challenging weather conditions would hold the side in good stead for the season ahead.
“It is hot. It’s been a really tough preseason, particularly over the last couple of weeks since Christmas,” Pearce said.
“It just so happened that the hottest week of the year coincided with our largest running period of the year.
“We see it as a competitive advantage, being able to train in the heat.”
Pearce compared the mental toughness required to push through the heat to the challenges the side would face during the AFL season.
“We get tested all throughout the pre–season, and pre-season is always really hard and challenging, but when you add the 40-degree weather, it makes it a little bit harder,” Pearce said.
“It’s often mentally that it becomes a little bit tougher, and to be able to stay upbeat, positive, and communicate through that is a real challenge.
“We spoke a lot throughout that period about how the season is going to test us.
“There will be many moments during the year when we are going to be tested, and being tested through the pre-season is a great learning experience for the guys.
“We handled that really well… It’s a great opportunity to improve and to really face some tough challenges.”
Fremantle’s playing and coaching group spent Wednesday afternoon volunteering at St Pat’s, handing out refreshments to those in need and receiving a tour of the Fremantle facility.
The visit coincided with a $20,000 donation to the not-for-profit organization from the Fremantle Players’ Community Charitable Fund, providing the St Pat’s campaign with a head start in raising vital funds for the fit-out of its new Engagement Hub.
“It’s always good to have moments like this, where we step away from the training track, away from the pressures of football, and acknowledge that we have a bigger role in society and within the Freo community,” Pearce said.
“It’s great for our playing group to see that we can have an impact on other people’s lives.”
