A few weeks ago now, a troop of seven Warriors selected exclusively for their fitness, skills, intellect and strength ventured up to Walhalla for an SAS-style training camp that no others would have had any chance of completing. The 2025 Warriors Training Camp was a brutal, intensive 2-day endurance battle that would embarrass the Navy Seals.

Organised by Gezza, the elite group (Gez, Carbo, Rob T, Pas, Julien, Col and me) trekked up to this picturesque, historic gold-mining town, camping in a beautiful free spot just a few hours from Melbourne.

Each day consisted of a 20km mountain trail run in bare feet wearing backpacks stuffed with bricks, breaking rocks with our bare hands, hunting wild boar who were also hunting us, and getting Carbo’s car started. And that was just before breakfast.

We played a game of footy at extreme high altitude at the famous Walhalla Cricket Club, carved on top of the mountain above the village. We bonded over wild boar snags cooked over an open fire and heard a lot about Julien’s opinions on everything. We saw plenty of wild life (Col and Rob) and explored old mining huts, caves and cemeteries. There was a swim in the Thompson River, scones, bagpipes and a 125km hike in search of a decent coffee.

Little did I know at the time that I was rubbing shoulders with the future captain and vice-captain of the Warriors Over 50s, Pas and Gez, not to mention Col as the mid-field leader. I didn’t know the club rotated captains so I’d wasted a lot of the weekend sucking up to Carbo.

The Warriors Training Camp was a great experience with a top bunch of guys, and special thanks to Gez for pulling it together and supplying a lot of the camping gear. We hope to see a few more Warriors join in in 2026 as long as you make the cut at trials, it’s not for the faint of heart. There’s a bit more to it, but what goes on at Warriors Training Camp stays at camp, and the rest is NONE OF YOUR F#$KING BUSINESS!    (In joke)

Grunta