Every team, and none more so than our beloved demons, have struggled in recent years in maintain the intensity required to produce their best football over a 22 week season. It is for this reason that teams have to consciously think about how they train, with thought given to peaking at the right time of the year. In fact, as the preseason matches began, i found myself hoping that we wouldnt be jumping out of the blocks (like last years cellar dwellers which make up the remaining clubs in the NAB cup finals)...

just posing the question...why should it be such a challenge to deliver consistent season long results (for the record, i think every club suffers those lapses...sydney, WC and adelaide all did last year at some point). As the game becomes faster and more physically demanding, do the supporters enjoy this challenge of maintaining consistency over a year (and using terms such as tapering and training blocks...terms previously synonomous with swimming and atheltics), or would they prefer a shorter season....i.e. no preseason comp or 15 rd season etc?

i know that a 15rd season would further complicate achieving a fair draw, and injuries would play an even bigger part...they are some obvious issues i thought worth mentioning from the start.

anyway, i for one will be hoping for a better showing this weekend against the tigers...cant help but want results to back up the inevitable pre-season optimisim...BUT, maybe danners and co. know that another half-assed performance will have us in better shape come Rd 22?!

The only advantage of a 15 game season is that every team will play each other once, and once only.

Also, if you played West Coast is Subi in 2008, that same game would be at the MCG in 2009.

However 15 games is just too small, and for those people like me who need their weekly footy fix- we would be sold short.

I agree with you that we need a strong showing against Richmond. Hopefully we have a full squad in and play some decent footy. I know many people don't care about results of practice matches, but I believe it would be a disaster for our confidence if we were 0-4 coming into round 1.

Every team, and none more so than our beloved demons, have struggled in recent years in maintain the intensity required to produce their best football over a 22 week season. It is for this reason that teams have to consciously think about how they train, with thought given to peaking at the right time of the year. In fact, as the preseason matches began, i found myself hoping that we wouldnt be jumping out of the blocks (like last years cellar dwellers which make up the remaining clubs in the NAB cup finals)...

Dont forget the not so might crows last year

I can see where ur coming from but i feel the season is too short. Halfway through the season most years i feel like round 1 was a couple of weeks ago. Its just too short. I think hjowever if this 8 game free thing went through i would be happy with 15-18 games not 21 as i would get to see 100% melbourne games. Still 8 free games will never happen and neither should reducing the matches.

At least our season is not 26 regular season games + trials and finals as well as representative games, and pre season training which total about 30 to 40 weeks a year. Now that is really putting strain on your best players.

So we are pretty lucky our season are not as long

While we would no doubt be top 4 at the end of a 15 round H & A season, the length of the season is dictated by what you can sell via the TV rights. The current arrangements seemed to suit the TV networks and the general public.

No change likely

I reckon the AFL should ditch the NAB cup and make the season 30 weeks long. Increase the lists by a few players and have a rule in place that says each player can only play 25 games during the regular season.

isnt it great when someone then writes an article in the paper discussing the same topics discussed here? read todays AGE for more..

The NFL only play 16 games a year.

A 4 week NAB cup season, followed by 15 rounds, 4 weeks of finals, a few state-of-origin games and the international rules series sounds like enough footy for me!

Footy season is not long enough. Expand the playing lists and make it 50 weeks a year!!!!

Too much footy is never enough!!!

melbourne have only one home game at the MCG in the last half of the season ....i wana use my reserved seat at the G more

i dont like melb having home games at TD....we seem to play bad there

One of the local Rugby League Coaches was bemoaning the pre season stuff here in Sydney. Reckons they may as well get into it..... Asking why have the injuries without the premiership points. Even Blind Freddy can see the AFL teams who are serious Premieship contenders don't take the NAB all that seriously - I can only guess the other teams just want to get as many full on contests into their greener lists?