The training intensity at Metricon Stadium has risen to another level following the Christmas break, with coach Rodney Eade demanding even more from the playing group.
 
GC SUNS veteran Michael Rischitelli is one of the elder statesmen charging around Carrara, but the midfielder is relishing the intense nature of Eade’s regime.
 
The 29-year-old has not missed a session of the 2015 pre-season and is focused on continuing the consistent form he produced last season.
 
“Each pre-season is hard and they get harder each year, but it’s a bit more intense for this time of the year having Rocket on board,” Rischitelli told SUNS TV.
 
“I know the boys are hurting in the sessions we’re doing at the moment so its good. We definitely needed a bit more intensity with our training and definitely our skills so it’s been pretty good.
 
“Starting from day one, Rocket was pretty clear what he wanted with the standards. The boys have knocked that on the head and really embraced it so the boys are looking forward to some more training and hopefully (we’ll) have a good season.”
 
The former Brisbane Lions best and fairest winner returned to form in 2014, putting behind him a frustrating couple of years that were tormented by persistent injury troubles.
 
Rischitelli played all but one game last season, averaging 18.7 possessions per outing to finish 8th in the SUNS club champion award behind winner David Swallow.
 
“I was a bit concerned with how I’d go for the year (last season) but body held up well. I’d done a lot of work over the summer and I was hoping I didn’t break down and I didn’t,” Rischitelli said.
 
“So, all the work that I did really paid off and hopefully I can continue that this year.”
 
After looking destined to feature in September at the halfway mark of last season, Gold Coast’s form plummeted in the backstretch and a maiden finals berth went begging.
 
The recruitment of Sydney premiership star Nick Malceski, along with the luring of prized young Hawk Mitch Hallahan, as well as another season of development for the blossoming crop of young SUNS has instilled confidence in Rischitelli.
 
“I think the boys are ready this year (to play finals football). Almost had a taste last year but a few things didn’t go our way,” he said.

“I know the boys will be in the back of the heads a missed opportunity last year so you speak to the boys all the time, they are pretty keen on playing finals. But without looking too far ahead, we’ve still got to do a lot of work to reach that.”