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The Value Of Practice Matches

Ghostwriter
in Melbourne Demons

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I’m starved of footy, so selfishly and from a fan point of view, practice matches serve as an entree after a long 6 month wait. 

With the next big tennis tournament Indian Wells starting in 2-3 weeks time and Tottenham being [censored] as always, I am bored, so I am forced to watching the Super Bowl Eggball as some sort of comfort while waiting for the real sport to soon start.. 🤣

Edited by VNightCityLegend

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    I'm fully in favour of no practice matches or any interactions with other teams until the first game of the season. I believe it would make the season openers much more exciting. What matters is bringing the crowds to games and eyeballs to TV.  While I appreciate it means teams might be a bit rusty in their first game or two, I believe that going into the season with every team starting equally (ie, haven't been "beaten" in a meaningless practice game) gives every fan a reason for optimism.

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    On 06/02/2025 at 15:09, dazzledavey36 said:

    Trust me, you may be the fittest bloke on the list who has completed the whole pre season without missing a session, an intra club match in between, and it still doesn't stop you from blowing up completely in the first 5 minutes of a practice match b

    So true

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    On 07/02/2025 at 13:14, Vipercrunch said:

    I actually think the practice matches provide the build up and without them, crowd numbers and engagement would be lower in the first few rounds.  For every one footy tragic who has eagerly been devouring training reports all off-season, there are 5 or 10 far less engaged supporters who need the mainstream reporting of the prctice games to create their expecations and get the anticipation up for Round 1.

    And like most, I agree that Round Zero is a train wreck that needs to be scrapped straight away.

    No, as long as the teams from round 0 play other round 0 participants in round 1 and thus no team in round 1 has a one-game headstart I'm fine with it. But will the AFL have enough sense to change it to this from now on?

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    Speaking of practice matches does anyone know what time the North game is supposed to start on Saturday 22 February?

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    3 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

    Speaking of practice matches does anyone know what time the North game is supposed to start on Saturday 22 February?

    @Harvey Wallbanger mentioned last week that the game will most likely start at 11am

    And confirmed by norf

    Edited by dice

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    • Thanks 1
    8 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    I'm fully in favour of no practice matches or any interactions with other teams until the first game of the season. I believe it would make the season openers much more exciting. What matters is bringing the crowds to games and eyeballs to TV.  While I appreciate it means teams might be a bit rusty in their first game or two, I believe that going into the season with every team starting equally (ie, haven't been "beaten" in a meaningless practice game) gives every fan a reason for optimism.

    Exactly. New Game plans from all teams shown for the first time, Round 1

    Coaches and Players would all be nervous as hell!!!

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    10 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

    Speaking of practice matches does anyone know what time the North game is supposed to start on Saturday 22 February?

    It’s been in the paper and is on our website ( where info on MFC is published ) for about a week now. 

     

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    All I can think about seeing this thread is Burt Reynolds in the the longest yard (the original one not the adam Sandler remake)

    The captain of the prison guard football team asks him how their semi pro team could start the season better as they always lose their first round. His response 

     

    'What you need is a tune up game'

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