STAR recruit Paddy Ryder could not speak more highly of his new teammates as he is being pushed to the brink during Port Adelaide’s training camp in Dubai.

Ryder, who crossed from Essendon amid the fallout from the supplements scandal, said the training at the exclusive Nad Al Sheda Sports Complex had been every bit as testing as he had expected.

But he was confident it would not only build fitness levels that can be leaned on through the 2015 season, but also personal bonds that will strengthen Port as his old club continues to strain under the ASADA saga.

Ryder said he could not feel more at home at Port, and his early take on the pre-season camp had validated his move.

``The boys are working hard and Kenny (coach Ken Hinkley) and Burgo (fitness coach Darren Burgess) are putting all the boys through some tough training,’’ Ryder said. ``But it’s all for the good of the team.

``But for sure (everybody’s supportive). That’s the beauty of playing footy; you’ve got 40 other mates there on the list to go through everything with you.

``If someone’s down a little bit, everybody else picks him up. Good times.

``But we’ve done some tough stuff over here. But that’s what we’re here for — hard work.

``We push ourselves to the limit and I won’t be surprised at all if it’s going to get worse.’’

Port’s players are beginning to get used to the routine of their camp in the middle east: ride to training for a morning or relentless running drills, then meetings and ball games such as beach soccer to break up the day before weights and recovery sees out the day.

The usuals have stood out in the running: Kane Cornes, Tom Clurey, captain Travis Boak and second-year player Karl Amon

As Ryder was training in Dubai, there has been widespread reaction to the AFL’s decision to have Essendon’s anti-doping hearing held in private.

The decision was made to protect the players’ privacy and was judged to outweigh the public interest in the case, in which 34 current and former players face bans of up to two years.

AFL great Leigh Matthews tweeted: ``Very disappointed in David Jones decision to make AFL ASADA hearing closed, secrecy and finding the truth rarely partners.’’

Matthews continued: ``Let me add that a closed hearing and cynicism about the justice of the eventual outcome will go hand in hand.’’

Ryder and Power teammate Angus Monfries, both of whom were at Essendon during the controversial 2012 supplements program, are understood to be part of the 34 players in question.

The hearing starts next Monday.