MDFL - The Wickliffe/Lake Bolac pre-season is well and truly underway.
Coach Nic Willox said training had taken on different levels and forms ahead of a practice match scheduled for later this month.
"We started out lightly before Christmas, but now we have moved towards some interval training," he said.
"The players are pushed to run 50 to 100, to 200 metres as often as they can.
"We'll then move to some high intensity stuff that will require the players to push themselves as hard as they can go."
Willox, who took over as coach in October, said looking to the season ahead he wants the team to be able to play a running game.
"We really want to utilise the number of medium build players we have and implement a game plan from day one," he said.
"I think we certainly have the talent to get us to the finals and if we have the fitness I think we can definitely be a good chance of finishing in the top three.
"We have a really deep team, with eight players on the bench who will still all be capable of contributing to the team.
"I have found the role a lot more involving, which has been really good, it has kept me busy around the clock."
Willox, who already works a 40 hour week running a restaurant in Ballarat, has the added task of travelling to three locations for training sessions across the week.
With players coming from across the district, training sessions are held in Geelong and Ballarat on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while Lake Bolac hosts the team Tuesday and Thursday.
Willox said it would be important for the group to take part in social as well as fitness events, which included players taking part in the Willaura Farm to Pub, with the constraint of distance keeping some of the playing group apart.
"It will be important to keep the team in touch, so they are working together on and off the field," he said.
"So far that has all been pretty positive."
The Mininera and District Football League season kicks off on Saturday April 13.
