Jump to content

What is the pre-season for?

Maldonboy38
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

I am really struggling to figure out what the AFL clubs, including Melbourne, are looking for in the pre-season matches, be they NAB cup or NAB challenge games.

In the media, Nick Reiwoldt, that injured Collingwobble defender and even the flawed-Messiah James Hird have stated something like "we are not aiming to win the NAB cup". We hear all the reasons spun by clubs like:

[*]getting games into the young guys

[*]practicing our structures

[*]getting everyone match fit

[*]seeing who will step up this year

[*]etc...

In reality, it appears as if none of these are true. In some games, some clubs have put their best side in each week. Sydney rarely even attempt to win. Our pre-eseason form last year did not simulate our real season game-play at all. St. Kilda the other night were not going hard at many contest (Lenny Hayes was not beaten - he just didn't go at it like he usually does).

I didn't see any of the Melbourne/Lions game today but by reading the posts of those who were at the game you would think our backline was practising all things not to do during the regular season.

Any ideas of what the pre-season is for?

  • Quote
    •  

    It's for supporters to get their panties in a knot. Other than that, it serves no function at all.

  • Quote

    Helps give an indication of your players form/fitness/etc before the real stuff. The last 5~ players picked four Round 2 may get a gig based on their performances in the NAB Cup (Maric... Jetta today).

  • Quote
    •  

    Primarily it's to get some match fitness prior to Rnd 1.

    But with young or restructuring teams, not aiming for top 6, then it's also about teaching, & to help those senior players, struggling for good form, to get a chance to run themselves into some sort of form before the season start.

    But for supporters, who have got themselves too far ahead of themselves, it's a painfull realisation that we're not the only ones who happen to be Improving & Changing...

    We must remember that it's still the first week of March, and the Hottest part of the year, for footy.

  • Quote

    to work on a tactic that will not be used during the year, like full press zone

  • Quote

    I am really struggling to figure out what the AFL clubs, including Melbourne, are looking for in the pre-season matches, be they NAB cup or NAB challenge games.

    In the media, Nick Reiwoldt, that injured Collingwobble defender and even the flawed-Messiah James Hird have stated something like "we are not aiming to win the NAB cup". We hear all the reasons spun by clubs like:

    [*]getting games into the young guys

    [*]practicing our structures

    [*]getting everyone match fit

    [*]seeing who will step up this year

    [*]etc...

    In reality, it appears as if none of these are true. In some games, some clubs have put their best side in each week. Sydney rarely even attempt to win. Our pre-eseason form last year did not simulate our real season game-play at all. St. Kilda the other night were not going hard at many contest (Lenny Hayes was not beaten - he just didn't go at it like he usually does).

    I didn't see any of the Melbourne/Lions game today but by reading the posts of those who were at the game you would think our backline was practising all things not to do during the regular season.

    Any ideas of what the pre-season is for?

    You ask some very valid things in your opening thread.

    To me, and I am different to most- I think it is a great time for coaches to try to get the players to implement what the pre season is all about, try young players and implement strategies if current plan is not working.I thought the coaching department let down the club and it's supporters yesterday as the day-game was a nothing, excepting maybe gaining some match practice into several players. I attended match and afterwards left very disappointed,not that we lost , that we did not optimise the time.

  • Quote

    You ask some very valid things in your opening thread.

    To me, and I am different to most- I think it is a great time for coaches to try to get the players to implement what the pre season is all about, try young players and implement strategies if current plan is not working.I thought the coaching department let down the club and it's supporters yesterday as the day-game was a nothing, excepting maybe gaining some match practice into several players. I attended match and afterwards left very disappointed,not that we lost , that we did not optimise the time.

    Not to be rude...but how do you know the club didn't optimize the time yesterday? Maybe they did everything they wanted to do, maybe more.

  • Quote
    •  

    It's to give the players a training session as close to a real game as you can get.

    Unfortunately many on here take it way to seriously.

  • Quote

    It's to give the players a training session as close to a real game as you can get.

    Unfortunately many on here take it way to seriously.

    Which is a real shame because it brings down the general morale for the season ahead!!!

  • Quote

    to work on a tactic that will not be used during the year, like full press zone

    Certainly doesn't seem to be what we are trying to do. I support playing young kids to give them a chance to see what it's about. But we have played so many there is no way we can expect any system out of them. Yesterday's system was abysmal. Not much better against bombers.
  • Quote

    Not to be rude...but how do you know the club didn't optimize the time yesterday? Maybe they did everything they wanted to do, maybe more.

    It certainly showed us what we are not good at. But that is a great learning experience in itself.
  • Quote

    It's to give the players a training session as close to a real game as you can get.

    Unfortunately many on here take it way to seriously.

    I think they'll start to step it up next Friday & the week after.

    We play the Hawks Friday, so we will want to keep them honest, as we play them Rnd 2, I think. We won't want to show all our tricks Friday, but we'll need a stepup in Intentcity.

    Then the Lions Rnd 3.

  • Quote

    Certainly doesn't seem to be what we are trying to do. I support playing young kids to give them a chance to see what it's about. But we have played so many there is no way we can expect any system out of them. Yesterday's system was abysmal. Not much better against bombers.

    we were using a full press zone in both the matches, and ill bet come round one we will be playing man on man, as the midfielders and defenders had no clue who they were manning up on as brisbane players ran into space.

    so its a teaching experience for the defenders so they can slot into a position if injures occur.

  • Quote

    • Archived

    This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • REPORT: Port Adelaide

      Of course, it’s not the backline, you might argue and you would probably be right. It’s the boot studder (do they still have them?), the midfield, the recruiting staff, the forward line, the kicking coach, the Board, the interchange bench, the supporters, the folk at Casey, the head coach and the club psychologist  It’s all of them and all of us for having expectations that were sufficiently high to have believed three weeks ago that a restoration of the Melbourne team to a position where we might still be in contention for a finals berth when the time for the midseason bye arrived. Now let’s look at what happened over the period of time since Melbourne overwhelmed the Sydney Swans at the MCG in late May when it kicked 8.2 to 5.3 in the final quarter (and that was after scoring 3.8 to two straight goals in the second term). 

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 2 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Essendon

      Casey’s unbeaten run was extended for at least another fortnight after the Demons overran a persistent Essendon line up by 29 points at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne last night. After conceding the first goal of the evening, Casey went on a scoring spree from about ten minutes in, with five unanswered majors with its fleet of midsized runners headed by the much improved Paddy Cross who kicked two in quick succession and livewire Ricky Mentha who also kicked an early goal. Leading the charge was recruit of the year, Riley Bonner while Bailey Laurie continued his impressive vein of form. With Tom Campbell missing from the lineup, Will Verrall stepped up to the plate demonstrating his improvement under the veteran ruckman’s tutelage. The Demons were looking comfortable for much of the second quarter and held a 25-point lead until the Bombers struck back with two goals in the shadows of half time. On the other side of the main break their revival continued with first three goals of the half. Harry Sharp, who had been quiet scrambled in the Demons’ first score of the third term to bring the margin back to a single point at the 17 minute mark and the game became an arm-wrestle for the remainder of the quarter and into the final moments of the last.

        • Clap
      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Gold Coast

      The Demons have the Bye next week but then are on the road once again when they come up against the Gold Coast Suns on the Gold Coast in what could be a last ditch effort to salvage their season. Who comes in and who comes out?

        • Thanks
      • 81 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Port Adelaide

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 16th June @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to the Power.
      Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
      Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

        • Thanks
      • 31 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Port Adelaide

      The Demons simply did not take their opportunities when they presented themselves and ultimately when down by 25 points effectively ending their finals chances. Goal kicking practice during the Bye?

        • Haha
        • Thanks
      • 252 replies
      Demonland

    • VOTES: Port Adelaide

      Max Gawn has an insurmountable lead in the Demonland Player of the Year ahead of Jake Bowey, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Kozzy Pickett. Your votes please; 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Thanks
      • 31 replies
      Demonland
    View All