Adelaide kicked off its 2013 campaign with a two-hour session on Max Basheer Reserve on Monday. Sanderson said it was good to have the focus back on football after a difficult offseason for the Club away from the field.
“There was a great energy amongst the players this morning,” Sanderson said after training.
“Guys are bouncing into work, which is probably unusual for the first day of pre-season. Normally, there are glum faces because the holidays are over, but I think there’s a really good sense of expectation that 2013 might be something special for this group.
“They’re really determined to build on this year and ensure we have a great season in 2013.”
It was the team’s first training session since the departure of forward Kurt Tippett.
“I’m not going to sit here and dwell on the past,” Sanderson said of Tippett’s decision to leave.
“I was disappointed (in Tippett’s decision). The day Kurt told me he was leaving we had a coaches’ meeting for about half an hour about it and then we moved on pretty quick to how we can make the group better next season.
“Immediately, we were talking about Shaun McKernan and Josh Jenkins as guys, who have to stand up next season. Without putting too much expectation on those guys in particular, it’s important they realise there’s a great opportunity there for them to step into a really good side next season.
“We lose Tippo, which is disappointing, but we’ve got a group of really good, young guys who want to be here.”
The majority of players tested their fitness in a five-minute run on Monday.
New rookie Tim Klaosen impressed on his first day of training, claiming first place in his group.
Skipper Nathan van Berlo started the pre-season in familiar fashion by winning his group run, while Sam Kerridge, Brodie Smith, Tom Lynch, Brad Crouch, Rory Laird and Tim McIntyre also impressed.
Ruckmen Angus Graham and Jack Osborn both showed off their impressive frames in their first training sessions.
