The two hours of game time are all most fans get to see of their team each weekend, but there’s a lot of work and preparation that goes in behind the scenes the day before and after a match.

In part one of this feature, afc.com.au takes an inside look at the Club's trip to the Gold Coast.

THE Crows’ round one expedition to the Gold Coast was a three-day event, starting bright and early at Adelaide Airport last Friday.

One of the first to arrive at the airport ahead of the 7:50am flight, Coach Brenton Sanderson drops his luggage at the designated group check-in area and makes his way to the terminal where he’s soon joined by the assistant coaches.

Only Team Manager Barrie ‘BJ’ Downs, Head Trainer Vinnie Del Bono and Football Manager Graham ‘Mocha’ Dunstan arrive before Sanderson.

For the most part, BJ and Mocha are responsible for coordinating the travelling party of more than 50 players, coaches and support staff (and their luggage), while Del Bono ensures the mountain of necessary equipment - 62 pieces and 1200kg in all - also accompanies the team on its trip.

Away from the organised chaos of check-in Richard Douglas, making his return from a hamstring injury against the Suns, speaks to the media as the other players check their bags and make a beeline for the Virgin Lounge.

The boarding call is issued a short time later and the travelling party files one-by-one onto the plane.

In his first official game as coach, Sanderson is bewildered to discover skipper Nathan van Berlo and midfield duo Patrick Dangerfield and Bernie Vince have secured seats in the first row, while he’s been assigned to the middle of the plane.

Brodie Smith and Daniel Talia are nervous about being seated next to larrikin forward and notorious prankster Taylor Walker, while Scott Camporeale and Dean Bailey express empathy for Darren Milburn, who has landed a seat next to senior assistant coach and renowned story-teller, Mark Bickley.

Bailey asks Sanderson - a qualified pilot - if he could fly the 747.

“I could try, but I wouldn’t be very good,” Sanderson replies.

Perhaps, not then given half the Club is onboard.

The talk amongst the coaches quickly turns to the Suns and their possible structures.

Full-back Ben Rutten, also making his return from injury, gets out of his seat and wanders over when the conversation turns to match-ups.

“You’ll have Lynch. He’s a good young player. Use your experience against him,” he’s told.

Smith and Talia have a chance to turn the tables on Walker when he makes the mistake of drifting off to sleep during the flight, but the goalkicker wakes before any damage can be inflicted.

Upon their arrival at Coolangatta Airport, the players, coaches and support staff collect their bags.

It’s not an easy task given all the bags look the same, just with a different surname and/or number printed on the top.

Once all the bags are collected, the group jumps on the team bus to Metricon Stadium.

Sando takes his regular seat next to forward Jason Porplyzia at the front of the bus.

After heading up to the Gold Coast two days earlier to spend time with his family and friends, local boy Kurt Tippett joins his teammates at Metricon for a light training session.

Sam Jacobs is in need of a volunteer to hold the ruck bag for him in place of coach Matthew Clarke, who won’t join the team until the morning of the game.

The 202cm, 105kg, ruckman asks Ian Callinan if he’ll step in for Clarke, but unsurprisingly the smallest player on the Club’s list politely declines.

A few supporters turn out to watch the players go through their paces.

One avid fan, Stephanie, hands out Easter eggs to her favourite players (‘Tex’ Walker’s chocolate bunny doesn’t survive the bus trip to the hotel!)

Gold Coast defender Nathan Bock, who is suspended and won’t play against his old side on Saturday, stops by to say a quick ‘hello’.

Sanderson speaks to a few members of the local media and then it’s back on the bus to the team hotel.

The hotel foyer fills with blue polo-shirts as members of the travelling party scramble to find their room keys, which have been conveniently laid out in alphabetical order on a table.

The players and staffers wait for one of the four elevators, which as the players will soon discover have minds of their own (stay tuned for part two!), to take them to their respective rooms spread across five floors.

The players are given their own rooms while the majority of support staff share accommodation.

Senior Performance Analyst Steve Edgecomb, whose family is joining him on this particular trip, is an exception.

‘Edge’ has requested a room to himself, but is still shocked to discover a penthouse-style suite when he puts his key in the door.

Honest as the day is long, he checks with Football Operations General Manager Phil Harper, who makes a phone call to the Club, to see that their hasn’t been a mistake - there hasn’t.

It’s just the luck of the draw and Edge and his family have hit the jackpot.

Starving after a long morning on the road the players demolish the lunch spread, which consists of pasta, rice, sandwiches, rolls, wraps, salad and fruit.

Required to travel interstate the day before a game under AFL guidelines, the team has a few hours to spare in the afternoon.

Several players head upstairs for a quick nap and others venture to nearby beaches and shops.

A number of parents, grandparents (both grandmothers in Rory Sloane’s case), siblings and partners have made the trip to the Gold Coast to watch their boys kick off the season, and some players use this free time for a rare in-season catch-up.

Patrick Dangerfield’s grandfather Bob - a regular at home and interstate games - also arrives at the hotel after catching a bus, train and plane to get to the Gold Coast from his home in Mildura.

The afternoon is also a time for treatment.

Players take turns visiting the Club physios, who have set-up ‘clinics’, in their rooms.

Make-shift ice-baths (giant plastic tubs filled with bags of ice from the service station across the road) are made available on the hotel grounds.

The ice baths are clearly visible through the windows in the hotel foyer and several overseas visitors stop and gawk at the bare-chested players standing waist deep in ice.

Concerned it might be an Australian custom, several inquire what the players are doing.

The players and coaches assemble back at the hotel in the evening for a series of meetings followed by dinner.

After another carb-filled feed, the room allocated to the Club for dinner is turned into a massage area.

The players take turns getting rub downs while watching the Hawthorn v Collingwood game, which much to the disappointment of a few players keen to get to bed isn’t available on the TVs in the guest rooms.

The room is packed with players, coaches and massage tables, but somehow there’s still space for a table tennis table.

Walker, Tom Lynch, Jared Petrenko, Andy Otten, Ian Callinan and Dangerfield, who has a table tennis table at home in his garage, are among the players to take part.

Camporeale, who fancies himself a bit of a master with the table tennis bat, also has a hit.

‘Campo’ has recovered from being hit between the eyes by a stray ball from Petrenko earlier in the day, which sent the players in uncontrollable fits of laughter.

Hydration is a big focus in the humid Queensland conditions and water and Powerade flow freely throughout the night.

From half-time of the footy onwards, the players starting filtering back to their rooms.

Engrossed by the entertaining game, a handful stick around to watch the end before going to bed.

After the players have cleared out, Trainer Richard Egan showcases his musical talents on the piano.

Soon enough, the rest of the travelling party heads to bed anxiously anticipating the first game day of the 2012 season.

Check back later in the week to read part two of 'On the Road with the Crows'