Re the comments about the short break over the bye.

While the number of days of our bye is the same as last year there is no comparison to 2022. 

In 2022 we were blindsided by the AFL's progressive fixture roll out and we had only weeks to prepare for a shorter break.  The club's 2022 preseason and early season training would have assumed a 12-14 day break at the bye.

It is no coincidence that this year the AFL released rounds 1 -15 straight up so all clubs could plan their training schedules to incorporate their byes.

Also, last year our players got a second 4 day break away from the club and I would be surprised if they didn't again this year.

I mentioned in The Run Home thread we will have plenty of opportunity to rest/manage players in the last month while other competing top 4 clubs are fighting to maintain their position.

Our fitness and medical staff are much better prepared this year.  Fully trust that they will have the training/managing of players right.  imv we do not have a disadvantage to other clubs in terms of days break.

Edited June 19, 20231 yr by Lucifers Hero

2 hours ago, tiers said:

I do the equivalent mentally every working day. But I only work half a day each week. Too tiring.

Are you young?

5 hours ago, Redleg said:

Do you run about 15 k's in top speed bursts and crash into people for 120 minutes at work, at least once a week.. 

Would love to, like most of us that played the game at some sort of senior level for the love the game - no incident mitigating video review for reports playing diamond Valley footy back in the day

Edited June 19, 20231 yr by Demons1858

1 hour ago, Demons1858 said:

Would love to, like most of us that played the game at some sort of senior level for the love the game - no incident mitigating video review for reports playing diamond Valley footy back in the day

Some tough footy there.

On 6/18/2023 at 5:50 PM, —coach— said:

Just going to throw a thought out there in relation to the lack of proper bye week for us.

From a point of view of increasing aerobic training load which is something Selwyn said in the podcast they would be looking to do, the three games with 10 day breaks would actually be pretty ideal to do this as you have plenty of recovery time post game AND can fit in your extra aerobic work AND can fit in the main session which would contain a fair chunk of intensity. This may actually prove to be a more ideal way to do it than having one long break and regular 6-7 day breaks between the others. A blessing in disguise if you will.

We will only know how it went in the last month of footy, but hopefully amazingly well!

Agree. I know of elite distance runners who use a 10 day training cycle (rather than the typical but convenience-based 7 days) for similar reasons. Things you can do when you're a full-time athlete. 

13 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Re the comments about the short break over the bye.

While the number of days of our bye is the same as last year there is no comparison to 2022. 

In 2022 we were blindsided by the AFL's progressive fixture roll out and we had only weeks to prepare for a shorter break.  The club's 2022 preseason and early season training would have assumed a 12-14 day break at the bye.

It is no coincidence that this year the AFL released rounds 1 -15 straight up so all clubs could plan their training schedules to incorporate their byes.

Also, last year our players got a second 4 day break away from the club and I would be surprised if they didn't again this year.

I mentioned in The Run Home thread we will have plenty of opportunity to rest/manage players in the last month while other competing top 4 clubs are fighting to maintain their position.

Our fitness and medical staff are much better prepared this year.  Fully trust that they will have the training/managing of players right.  imv we do not have a disadvantage to other clubs in terms of days break.

I find it funny but not at all surprising how the AFL don't acknowledge the effect that these late notice decisions have on team preparation ie. the stars of the show. 

14 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Are you young?

Was once. Living wore me out.

15 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Re the comments about the short break over the bye.

While the number of days of our bye is the same as last year there is no comparison to 2022. 

In 2022 we were blindsided by the AFL's progressive fixture roll out and we had only weeks to prepare for a shorter break.  The club's 2022 preseason and early season training would have assumed a 12-14 day break at the bye.

It is no coincidence that this year the AFL released rounds 1 -15 straight up so all clubs could plan their training schedules to incorporate their byes.

Also, last year our players got a second 4 day break away from the club and I would be surprised if they didn't again this year.

I mentioned in The Run Home thread we will have plenty of opportunity to rest/manage players in the last month while other competing top 4 clubs are fighting to maintain their position.

Our fitness and medical staff are much better prepared this year.  Fully trust that they will have the training/managing of players right.  imv we do not have a disadvantage to other clubs in terms of days break.

That is an excellent point LH.

In his DL interview, Selwyn made that exact point - the late notice on the fixture gave them no time to prepare.

Andy interviewed him in aprox mid March, and in relation to a question about their planning for their fitness program said at least this year they know the fixture up to round 15, which unlike last year, meant they could properly plan out almost the full season program properly.

That said he did also say that the nine-day bye break was a real challenge, particularly in terms of player mentally refreshing.

But you're right, there is no doubt they are much better prepared this season, and as -coach- and others have noted it might even be an advantage having the nine day bye - particularly if they can engineer another break for some players, for example the Perth boys and Koz to get home. 

On last year, given the science of fitness preparation and how exact it all is, it beggars' belief that the AFL could even consider not setting the fixture in stone up to round 15 last season. 

 

51 minutes ago, binman said:

That is an excellent point LH.

In his DL interview, Selwyn made that exact point - the late notice on the fixture gave them no time to prepare.

Andy interviewed him in aprox mid March, and in relation to a question about their planning for their fitness program said at least this year they know the fixture up to round 15, which unlike last year, meant they could properly plan out almost the full season program properly.

That said he did also say that the nine-day bye break was a real challenge, particularly in terms of player mentally refreshing.

But you're right, there is no doubt they are much better prepared this season, and as -coach- and others have noted it might even be an advantage having the nine day bye - particularly if they can engineer another break for some players, for example the Perth boys and Koz to get home. 

On last year, given the science of fitness preparation and how exact it all is, it beggars' belief that the AFL could even consider not setting the fixture in stone up to round 15 last season.

Thanks for Selwyn's confirmation.

Must admit I didn't listen to the podcast; as a rule podcasts on any site aren't my thing.

Last year's fixture was transition from covid.  At the time the AFL did the first 9 games no one knew what covid interruptions might transpire.

Anyway, I'm very confident about a 14th flag!!

2 hours ago, layzie said:

I find it funny but not at all surprising how the AFL don't acknowledge the effect that these late notice decisions have on team preparation ie. the stars of the show. 

Not sure they had much choice last year as no one knew how covid would go once Victoria was fully open.  But yes, they left the middle rounds far too late.

9 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Last year's fixture was transition from covid.  At the time the AFL did the first 9 games no one knew what covid interruptions might transpire.

That is true - but they have no such excuse for the next AFLW season.

14 hours ago, Demons1858 said:

Would love to, like most of us that played the game at some sort of senior level for the love the game - no incident mitigating video review for reports playing diamond Valley footy back in the day

Was punched from behind several times in Diamond Valley - only lost conciseness twice (that I can recall). Typically came to with a brawl surrounding me.

I do worry about the long term impact though.
 

3 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Not sure they had much choice last year as no one knew how covid would go once Victoria was fully open.  But yes, they left the middle rounds far too late.

Yeah true that.