Footy season, for us passionate fans, means a few things: rowdy nights at the pub, a hot pie in the stands at the ‘G and unrelenting banter in the group chat. For AFL players like Collingwood Football Club’s Josh Daicos, it’s a little bit different.

Team training is unrelenting, with players dedicating a minimum 25 hours a week at the club. But Daicos keeps up the regimen outside club hours too. The 25-year-old has a strict routine, prioritising training, mindfulness, nutrition and recovery. “That usually [involves] eating well, stretching, breathwork and monitoring my sleep,” he says.

Before a game, you’ll find him fuelling up on high-carb foods and coconut water. “I have a unique meal that I eat three to four hours before every game: rice, banana, honey and salt,” he says. “It might not be the tastiest, but it’s easy to digest.”

We think you might like Access. For $12 a month, join our membership program to stay in the know.

SIGN UP

Post-match recovery is just as considered. The Collingwood team will typically hit the beach for cold plunge therapy, but Daicos takes this one step further with a fire and ice session (three rounds of a three-minute cold plunge and a 15-minute sauna session) at Saint Haven.

The luxe space in Collingwood is one of Australia’s most upmarket private clubs. Inspired by the international members-only Soho House, it’s where members can relax, eat, socialise, work out and recover, all in one place. Membership fees will set you back up to $500 per week, meaning it’s off-the-charts luxurious and arguably Melbourne’s most exclusive club.

This year, entrepreneur Tim Gurner is expanding the concept with the launch of Saint Private Social Club in St Kilda, where members of all ages can socialise, connect, train, recover, refuel and work in an inspired, thoughtfully considered environment. Its main premise is to connect members who share similar goals and a young mindset, to prioritise social connection while fostering a positive outlook on life, no matter their age.
Saint combines luxury amenities, an organic wholefoods restaurant and six-star hotel concierge-style service with visual-heavy design. Memberships here will start from $89 per week.

“Saint [will be] integral to both my game day preparation and recovery,” Daicos, who is a founding member, explains. “Optimal training is all about consistency and commitment. That’s why having everything in one place, such as at Saint, is so important for me.”

And Daicos is particularly pumped for the social element. “The ability to train with mates during the day, then getting to do some work in the club lounge in the afternoon before having dinner at the bar – all without leaving the facility – is incredible.”
On arrival, members will first enter The Portal, a multisensory cube where they’ll select either Black or White, setting the tone for the rest of the day.

One of the most popular features in Saint Haven’s suite of private clubs is the co-working lounge, where members can either work in private or through collaboration. At Saint Private Club, this is levelled up with a sunken lounge surrounding the bar. Called The Den, it’s for socialising, co-working and collaboration with plenty of private break-out areas, a boardroom and a library.

This is also where you’ll find the gym floor, a multi-purpose space designed for elite training with six studios: strength and conditioning, Fight Club (a boxing and MMA studio), The Arena, reformer Pilates, yoga and a breathwork cave.

Haven is all about recovery, through IV infusion therapy, infrared saunas, and red-light therapy. A wholefoods restaurant and bar will help nourish members with organic macro-balanced dishes and take-home meals by nutrition mentor Luke Hines and executive chef Chad Lynch, while the bar will serve alcoholic elixirs featuring adaptogens and plant-based mood enhancers (like Kava).

As for where to find Daicos, it’ll depend on the time of year. “During the off-season, I’ll predominantly choose Black high-energy days to build power and endurance and prepare [myself] for the demands of the upcoming season,” he says.

“During the season, my focus will shift towards relaxation and recovery. I’ll spend a lot of my week utilising the traditional sauna and cold plunge. The balance between intense training and dedicated recovery time is essential for maintaining performance and preventing injuries. Saint will allow me to tailor my routine whether I’m gearing up for the next big game or recovering from a tough match.”

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Saint Private Social Club, which opens in St Kilda this November.