Their competition is on hold but Bond University AFL players are on a dream run to the MCG.
In a bid to stay fit and motivated, the 40 members of the squad have set out to run a combined 1697km – the distance from the university to the spiritual home of their sport in Melbourne.
Bull Sharks AFL coach Sam Whish-Wilson said the run was the idea of captain Steve Mahoney.
“It was Mahoney’s idea to give us a purpose and more motivation with our fitness," Whish-Wilson said.
“On average each person has to run a marathon, it’s about 42km.”
The Bull Sharks players were looking to defend their 2019 premiership before COVID-19 postponed the 2020 season.
Now they are staying sharp and healthy during the enforced break.
Split into four groups, the players wear smart devices and count their running kilometres on fitness apps.
The run started on April 10 from the Canal – Bond’s home ground – and the players are well ahead of schedule to finish the distance inside three weeks.
“The goal posts have literally shifted,” Whish-Wilson said.
“We were successful in the competition last year and were really motivated to go back to back and prove it wasn’t a fluke.
“Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.
“Each player has their own motivation, but we are really doing it for Nan and Pop, doing it for those who give us so much and have always been our biggest supporters.”