The Western Bulldogs kicked off their first full day on the Sunshine Coast with an intense training session under warm conditions on Thursday.

Both the playing group and coaches are visiting Mooloolaba for a ten-day training camp, which includes skills sessions, weights and team-bonding activities.

Bulldogs forward Tory Dickson said the skills session was a “solid” start to the Club’s time in the sunshine state.

“We’ve obviously had a pretty solid session today… it was quite a warm and sticky one out there but it was a good session.

“Everyone got through and everyone trained really well and got a bit of match play.”

The Bulldogs spent the afternoon in the gym, with Dickson highlighting the emphasis on fine-tuning the work done over the pre-season.

“There’s another month or so (until NAB Challenge) so it’s the last opportunity to put some size on and do some prehab to keep your injuries and niggles in check so it’s a really important part of the year.”

Awarded the Club’s Best Team Player at last year’s Sutton Medal, Dickson is no stranger to hard work.

The 28-year-old said the work he’s done over the last two pre-seasons has allowed him to improve and add to his game.

“Obviously my second and third year I had some injuries so I guess the prehab and the weights and making sure you’re strong physically and in the core side.

“I guess that’s what one of the main things I focused on last year was to get a really good pre-season under my belt and then go into the year with no niggles.

“I’ve been injury free, and it’s been good for my game, and obviously trying to improve my strength is one of my focuses.”

The Bulldogs will hold an open training session on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday 31 January. Click here for more information.