Competitions Official 2016 Player Sponsorship - THIRD COMPETITION : PRE-GAME ROOM PASSES.

[Twinkletoes]

Yeah I'm interested whether it's cool or if you feel in the way a bit. Are you fenced off?

You are fenced off. It's like you're a battery hen watching the free range chooks doing warmups.

 

[fusion]

Sorry for the late post.

Arrived first and was taken down to the service entry of the ground. Checked in by security and then had to leave my phone with the NM staff as it's a no mobile zone (AFL rule).

Kept behind a wire cage, and the players were in one large room warming up. NM officials keen for no distractions to the pre-game routine, so no communication with the players. The music is blaring out, and players go through their warm ups.

A bit of yoga with all the lights off, with stretches etc, and then after that some drills in pairs (like tackling, body contact etc), and then each player does his own thing - some do ball work, some get taped up in the medical room.

Brad Scott arrives, looking recovered. Saw Anthony Stevens also. Players all enter a separate room which we can't see or hear - obviously to go through match tactics. A lot of the time players are off to another room which is also out of sight.

Then the players get to run up for the on ground warm up and we are allowed to stand at the race. After that they go back in for another meeting with the coaches which we can't see, and then that's it.

Not the most interesting thing to see - it would be better to be in the rooms after the game following a win. Understandably no player interaction before the game. Most of the time I was standing around wishing I'd had something to eat before I entered the rooms.

I did see Higgins who was on crutches, and he said he's come out of a knee brace. Hard to know when he'll be back. Maj also stood with us in the race as the players warmed up on ground. I can kind of understand how difficult it was for Richmond to replace a player at the last minute - the guys aren't ready to play.

I wonder if they are allowed to have the emergencies warm up and ready to go? For a grand final, why wouldn't the emergencies warm up as if they will play, even if named as emergencies. An injury during the warm up would leave the team 1 short for 10 mins or so. Probably an AFL rule about it, but surely warming in the rooms would be ok?

Thanks for the opportunity to attend - but there wasn't much to see. Watching training is more interesting.

 

[Twinkletoes]

It's exactly like that before every game fusion, although that was an away game and we were in the away rooms.

As for the other room the players are secreted to, that's the mini lecture theatre which I was fortunate enough to sit in on pre and post warmup before last year's game v's Brisbane and you're correct, it's where they go through the game plans and matchups etc, with a bit of a pregame rev up.

 

[fusion]

I'm not much of footy "groupie" as I really can't relate to elite athletes in their 20s with high disposable income. So I find it hard to know what to say to players when I meet them, without being too prying.

I would hate it if someone came into my workplace and told me what to do, so I know there's little point talking about actual footy with them.

The best "inner sanctum" experience I had was a small group session with Dean Laidley. About 10 player sponsors were invited and he went through the post match tactics of the previous game. What they tried to setup and the message to players etc. Then it was open forum with any questions and answers to Dean, Crocker and one other assistant coach at the time. I remember asking Crocker where he thought Hansen would end up - and he felt he would be a KPF!

 

[Grogg]

Yeah I'm interested whether it's cool or if you feel in the way a bit. Are you fenced off?

Fenced off. Phones are confiscated. Hushed tones, its all very low key with a little bit of JZ's questionable music pumpingin the background. You don't feel in the way particularly, no more than a tourist in the way at the zoo looking at the wildlife. Pre game address is done in a separate room which we are not privy too, so what you see is some basic warm up drills and that's about it. A good experience all up, as it's one I can tick off the bucket list but fairly similar to any change room stuff people would have experienced if they've chased the little leather ball around competitively on a Saturday afternoon.

Thanks go again to Flawed Genius for pulling out & Chadwiko for organising the sponsorship on behalf of us all here on bigfooty.