Carlton players will trade the snowy peaks of Arizona for a training camp closer to home this pre-season.

The Blues will embark on a five-day pre-season training camp at Mt Buller in January, ahead of what is set to be a heat-testing opening NAB Cup match against West Coast in Mandurah.

Carlton’s Football Operations Manager Andrew McKay says the decision to train closer to home is largely a financial one.

“With the cap on football department spending we just didn’t have the money to spend on a pre-season camp in Arizona,” McKay said.

“We can still see the benefits of altitude training, however there are benefits in training in the heat as well. We feel Mt Buller gives us a bit of each of those components.

The Blues ventured to Arizona in 2012 and 2013. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)

“The good thing for us here is that we don’t have to travel too far from home and we still have the altitude room at the Club.”

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has long been an advocate of altitude training and concedes if it wasn’t for the football cap Arizona may have still been on the cards. But he says a pre-season camp is about much more than just a training opportunity.   

“It’s as much about bonding,” Malthouse said.

“It’s a good opportunity to refresh ourselves and (work on) our game structures, on our game plans, on our principles, on our culture and so forth.

“So it’s a matter of getting away and making sure we work together, and coming back and reaping the benefits of that camp.”