It takes approximately four hours and 55 minutes to fly from Brisbane to Perth, while the return trip takes around four hours and 20 minutes. The discrepancy in travelling times is due to the jet stream, or strong tail winds, which help speed up flights heading from west to east.
For the Brisbane Lions, who will travel to Perth this week to play Fremantle, careful planning is required from the Club’s Physical Performance department to ensure the players’ bodies are best prepared for the long trek.
During his weekly Bupa Recovery Report on LIONS TV, Physical Performance Manager Brett Burton gave insight into some of the team’s practices on long flights interstate.
“We have to wear our SKINS compression garments - the most important thing is to make sure they get compression through their body,” Burton said.
“It’s a six-hour flight over to Perth so we also have to get the boys up and moving continuously so they’re not sitting in the same spot.”
“Hydration’s another important thing.”
The Lions should also be fresh after being afforded a couple of days off as part of their nine-day break.
“Obviously coming off a five-day break, the boys were pretty sore,” Burton said.
“But in general, everyone’s raring to go instead of Blacky this week.”
“Being a nine-day break, we gave the boys a chance to have a physical and mental recovery, so we gave them the weekend off which was good for them.”
“Particularly at Easter time, they were able to spend some time with their family.”
“But that’s done and dusted and now we’re into a normal seven-day week.”
CLICK HERE to visit the Bupa Health Centre to find out which Lions players are currently sidelined and which players are close to returning.
