Opening Round: GWS v Collingwood, Saturday afternoon

[sr36]

If that is "success", it raises the question as to why bother with GWS at all.

The AFL are playing a long game. It's about generations to build a big following in the area and big supporter base. It's not about the 10 years that these guys have been in the AFL.

 

[doofdoof]

The AFL are playing a long game. It's about generations to build a big following in the area and big supporter base. It's not about the 10 years that these guys have been in the AFL.

So why not rotate the teams that play? Surely having an extra 2-3k people there in 2024 makes very little difference over 40-60 years (generations)

 

[Mollythedolly]

So why not rotate the teams that play? Surely having an extra 2-3k people there in 2024 makes very little difference over 40-60 years (generations)

Depends how many of those 2-3k are relative newcomers to AFL, and how many of them continue to go to the footy. If you can add even a few hundred now then that could underpin exponential growth year to year. If they’re all regulars who are already engaged then it’s a slower process.

 

[BEEG]

It's a rubbish concept this round 0.

Didnt stop me buying flights and accommodation to see both Sydney games.

 

[doofdoof]

Depends how many of those 2-3k are relative newcomers to AFL, and how many of them continue to go to the footy. If you can add even a few hundred now then that could underpin exponential growth year to year. If they’re all regulars who are already engaged then it’s a slower process.

Um ..... they are all Collingwood fans. That's why the crowd is not 5,000

 

[jimmy35]

Pretty happy with our draw actually, I see it got caned in the paper but looks okay to me generally.

 

[jimmy35]

It's a rubbish concept this round 0.

Didnt stop me buying flights and accommodation to see both Sydney games.

I’m sure the AFL have explained the 0 round concept but I missed it. What was their rationale?

 

[BEEG]

I’m sure the AFL have explained the 0 round concept but I missed it. What was their rationale?

Compete with Rugby League.

 

[sr36]

Compete with Rugby League.

I think it's ultimately to add a week of tvs big timeslots.

Interesting what they'll do with Tassie and gather round - they can't keep having 23 games, as it can't work. Gather round has been surprisingly successful Will even numbers of home and away go out the window?

 

[76woodenspooners]

Yes….but it wasn’t fair that we had the shortest off-season AND were scheduled to play three matches before most other teams had played two.

We had 22 weeks break. Our opponent had 23 weeks break. Some teams had 28 weeks break.

You really think there is that much of a difference between 22 weeks and 28 weeks?!?!?

I don’t see why 5 months wouldn’t be ample time for players have a decent well deserved rest, and then prepare strongly for the season ahead.

 

[manicpie]

We had 22 weeks break. Our opponent had 23 weeks break. Some teams had 28 weeks break.

You really think there is that much of a difference between 22 weeks and 28 weeks?!?!?

I don’t see why 5 months wouldn’t be ample time for players have a decent well deserved rest, and then prepare strongly for the season ahead.

If you consider that footy is a percentage game, you only have to be 5% off to lose from week to week. It will have some advantages to having 5 weeks on your opponents. I tend to agree with you though. 5 months should be ample time to be ready for round 1

 

[76woodenspooners]

If you consider that footy is a percentage game, you only have to be 5% off to lose from week to week. It will have some advantages to having 5 weeks on your opponents.

Let’s say one team has a 5 month break and another team has a 2 year break, does that mean the team with the 2 year break has an advantage? Of course not, they’ll be at a disadvantage because they’ll be out of competitive practice.

That’s the argument we use when teams fall over in a Prelim final - they’d only played 1 game in 4 weeks or whatever so they were rusty.

So when one team has a 22 week break and the other has a 28 week break, why don’t we say the team with the 28 week is at a disadvantage because they’re rusty?

 

[jmac70]

Let’s say one team has a 5 month break and another team has a 2 year break, does that mean the team with the 2 year break has an advantage? Of course not, they’ll be at a disadvantage because they’ll be out of competitive practice.

That’s the argument we use when teams fall over in a Prelim final - they’d only played 1 game in 4 weeks or whatever so they were rusty.

So when one team has a 22 week break and the other has a 28 week break, why don’t we say the team with the 28 week is at a disadvantage because they’re rusty?

The best team normally wins.

 

[76woodenspooners]

The best team normally wins.

Surely the best team always wins, by definition?

 

[Piesinmyeyes]

I think it's ultimately to add a week of tvs big timeslots.

Interesting what they'll do with Tassie and gather round - they can't keep having 23 games, as it can't work. Gather round has been surprisingly successful Will even numbers of home and away go out the window?

Speaking of Tassie, have they turned any soil yet or is the stadium just going to appear?

 

[Jelly Bean]

We had 22 weeks break. Our opponent had 23 weeks break. Some teams had 28 weeks break.

You really think there is that much of a difference between 22 weeks and 28 weeks?!?!?

I don’t see why 5 months wouldn’t be ample time for players have a decent well deserved rest, and then prepare strongly for the season ahead.

Yep, it's a big difference between 22 and 28 weeks in this context, especially at the point in time of the first game of the season. Bear in mind that the players have mandated time off of 2.5 months in that time, whether you played finals or not, so we are down to around 12 weeks training v 18 weeks training. That is a large amount of extra training volume for the non-finalists to build back up the fitness base, strength base, etc (an extra 50%).

 

[sr36]

Yep, it's a big difference between 22 and 28 weeks in this context, especially at the point in time of the first game of the season. Bear in mind that the players have mandated time off of 2.5 months in that time, whether you played finals or not, so we are down to around 12 weeks training v 18 weeks training. That is a large amount of extra training volume for the non-finalists to build back up the fitness base, strength base, etc (an extra 50%).

Plus more importantly - a big difference in terms of nailing game plan tweaks. Pretty clear that last year's tweaks didn't work at all giving us our shit start - an extra 6 weeks and we may have gotten it right.

 

[sideswipe]

Plus more importantly - a big difference in terms of nailing game plan tweaks. Pretty clear that last year's tweaks didn't work at all giving us our shit start - an extra 6 weeks and we may have gotten it right.

I would guess the difference in game plan training makes more of a difference than the fitness training benefits. A few dickheads excluded, players keep themselves in good shape all year round. Maybe the kids benefit from exposure to a bigger opportunity to build base.

But the biggest difference by far is surely the relatively lower amount of motivation that results from winning a flag. It's only human nature to rest on the laurels a bit - even if "everyone is fitter than they have ever been".

 

[sr36]

I would guess the difference in game plan training makes more of a difference than the fitness training benefits. A few dickheads excluded, players keep themselves in good shape all year round. Maybe the kids benefit from exposure to a bigger opportunity to build base.

But the biggest difference by far is surely the relatively lower amount of motivation that results from winning a flag. It's only human nature to rest on the laurels a bit - even if "everyone is fitter than they have ever been".

I think it was more than effort and the game plan changes last year just didn't work. We were a mess in those first 3 games. Whatever we were trying to do didn't work and just gave the opposition free reign in the midfield.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Yep, it's a big difference between 22 and 28 weeks in this context, especially at the point in time of the first game of the season. Bear in mind that the players have mandated time off of 2.5 months in that time, whether you played finals or not, so we are down to around 12 weeks training v 18 weeks training. That is a large amount of extra training volume for the non-finalists to build back up the fitness base, strength base, etc (an extra 50%).

Also need to factor in the post season surgery’s and the impact they have in delaying preseason training. We’ve seen how much work players have been putting in during their breaks just to be ready to start preseason. Delaying that by 5-6 weeks while doing rehab puts those players behind the 8-ball. Certainly played a part in our shortened preseason this year.