STABILITY is key for Adam Cerra heading into the 2024 pre-season.

Heading into his third season at IKON Park, Cerra commended the coaching and playing group on staying determined and cohesive. 

When it came to focuses for the pre-season so far, the message from Cerra was clear: the Blues were keen to pick up from where they left off.

"We're continuing to focus on our strengths . . . we want to take it to another level," Cerra said.

“Stability has been great – last year we showed resilience and I think having the same coaches and same playing group staying together helps us through the ups and downs of the season.

“We feel like we’re a really resilient group because of it. We’re trying to continue to build that connection and get stronger.”

With pre-season comes a lot of intense training and a fair bit of running, something that has caught Cerra’s eye in the early training blocks.

While he wouldn't reveal Michael Voss and the coaching staff’s theme of each training session, he did divulge who he thought was flying on the track. 

“‘Sammy’ Walsh always impresses me in pre-season,” he said.

“Jaxon Binns and Matt Cottrell in all the running drills, they’re always neck and neck competing for that title, so it’s good to watch."

As for the goals of the pre-Christmas training block, the 24-year-old said it was more of the same for the Blues, building on their strengths from the 2023 season. 

With a high motivation and intensity amongst the group, Cerra is confident that the group will come back in January in even better shape. 

“Our pressure and our contest game . . . on top of that, we’re just adding layers in being a little bit more dynamic and explosive. 

“All the drills have been a really high intensity and the boys are really embracing it.”