Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

[mighty_west]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

The other issue is that i'd rather us play at least an extra 1 or 2 games at the G, thats where the big finals games are played, and the more games played there especially for the younger players, the better experience they can get.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

The other issue is that i'd rather us play at least an extra 1 or 2 games at the G, thats where the big finals games are played, and the more games played there especially for the younger players, the better experience they can get.

I totally agree.

And i still believe we will get found out come finals, when we play at the G. You can't go around the wing & expect to win finals, especially with no big man up in the 50.

North Melbourne did it to us, and Collingwood did last night. Teams push us wide & make us use the wings, which gives us no options & forces us to bomb the ball in long. And when we do bomb it long, we are expecting Hahn, Johno etc.. to take a pack mark.

We need to play more games at the MCG, so we can work out a game plan to suit our side.

[mighty_west]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

I totally agree.

And i still believe we will get found out come finals, when we play at the G. You can't go around the wing & expect to win finals, especially with no big man up in the 50.

North Melbourne did it to us, and Collingwood did last night. Teams push us wide & make us use the wings, which gives us no options & forces us to bomb the ball in long. And when we do bomb it long, we are expecting Hahn, Johno etc.. to take a pack mark.

We need to play more games at the MCG, so we can work out a game plan to suit our side.

Geez i'd hate to take on Collingwood at the G in a night finals game, they seem to play that ground at night better than any other side.

[Ozza]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

Mates of mine that have played at the Docklands have all been of the opinion that it takes longer to recover from games there. The players get sore in the joints, groins and adductor areas.

As TCD said - its not about making excuses - its the reality of playing at Etihad - guys pull up sorer and will probably have more recuperation in their programs to manage it - and cut back on ball/track work.

Will be interesting to see if there is some regular turnover of a few players to keep guys fresh. You would think Higgins would have to miss one or two at some stage, Coons may be in line to miss one at some stage also.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

Mates of mine that have played at the Docklands have all been of the opinion that it takes longer to recover from games there. The players get sore in the joints, groins and adductor areas.

As TCD said - its not about making excuses - its the reality of playing at Etihad - guys pull up sorer and will probably have more recuperation in their programs to manage it - and cut back on ball/track work.

Will be interesting to see if there is some regular turnover of a few players to keep guys fresh. You would think Higgins would have to miss one or two at some stage, Coons may be in line to miss one at some stage also.

Tim Watson was banging on this morning on SEN that Cooney is having to be nursed through games, and having his knee heavily iced after matches, that Higgins groin isnt right, and Gilbees ankles isnt either

I'm hoping these injury's can be managed well, and that these three guys can come into finals football full fit

Cooney especially...

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

I totally agree.

And i still believe we will get found out come finals, when we play at the G. You can't go around the wing & expect to win finals, especially with no big man up in the 50.

North Melbourne did it to us, and Collingwood did last night. Teams push us wide & make us use the wings, which gives us no options & forces us to bomb the ball in long. And when we do bomb it long, we are expecting Hahn, Johno etc.. to take a pack mark.

We need to play more games at the MCG, so we can work out a game plan to suit our side.

I didnt think our players worked as hard as the Collingwood guys on Friday night

Ie running from end to end, and running into space when we had the ball

The Pies ran back in droves to chock up our 50m, later forcing us to kick to a contest when there were 30+ players in our forward 50m. Gotta respect Hahn, Johnno and Higgins, but those guys arent going to take a pack mark every time like Riewolt and Franklin can...

We didnt run hard enough, and look for options with quick movement of the ball via foot...Collingwood did this well

It was a care of Pagan's paddock a few times on Friday night, no one in our forward 50m to kick to...

Its when we need speedy forwards....those that can come out on a fast lead or sprint forward onto loose balls when there is no one in the forward 50....a Harbrow or Aker would be perfect

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

Too much negativity in this thread.
While the surface is acknowledged as being harder there is no evidence tha teams that play there struggle in following matches.
There is much more evidence suggesting being caught in cold, wet , heavy conditions are a negative for the following game, although this rarely occurs now as the grounds are better prepared and do not develop the heaviness of 20 or 30 years ago.

There is also good evidence that having a shorter recovery period is a real negative and this is exacerbated with a travel factor. I believe this was a contributor to our early season slump and also a factor in our poor skill execution in the early stages against Collingwood (their 7 day break to our 6)

We better be up and going this week against Essendon as we are advantaged on the recovery period for one of the few times all year. We also get an advantage against St Kilda, who will have 7 days to our 9. Most sides seem to be OK if the rest is at least 7 days.

Hmmm ............St Kilda Perth game after the tough Geelong effort and then a red hot Adelaide while they cope with the travel - They are vulnerable for the next 2 weeks.

[Mofra]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

I didnt think our players worked as hard as the Collingwood guys on Friday night

The workrate off the ball is as important as workrate when your team has the ball these days. Collingwood certainly worked harder in blocking space, especially in our forwardline.
Hawthron did this very well in the QF last year and it murdered us.

[Sedat]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

Too much negativity in this thread.
While the surface is acknowledged as being harder there is no evidence tha teams that play there struggle in following matches.

It's a legitimate issue worthy of discussion IMO. Daniel Southern's career ended stone-dead at 24yo after playing 5 matches in a row at the Dome back in 2000. Man-management will be very important between now and September.

[Desipura]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

It's a legitimate issue worthy of discussion IMO. Daniel Southern's career ended stone-dead at 24yo after playing 5 matches in a row at the Dome back in 2000. Man-management will be very important between now and September.

I was not aware it was due to the Dome's surface. Anyone else know this? I thought it was due to him having constant issues with his knee. He had a knee injury at 15yo and then a few more.

[Sedat]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

I was not aware it was due to the Dome's surface. Anyone else know this? I thought it was due to him having constant issues with his knee. He had a knee injury at 15yo and then a few more.

He had issues with his knees but they were exacerbated by 5 games in a row on the rock hard surface of the Dome in early 2000 - being the first year of operation, nobody was fully aware that the stress levels on the body would be so severe at the Dome.

He had something like 15 operations all up on his body in his AFL career - knee recos, shoulders, hand, you name it, he had it.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

The workrate off the ball is as important as workrate when your team has the ball these days. Collingwood certainly worked harder in blocking space, especially in our forwardline.
Hawthron did this very well in the QF last year and it murdered us.

Exactly the reason we need a key forward.

[comrade]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

Exactly the reason we need a key forward.

Consistent work rate across the ground is more crucial than a key forward.

[Happy Days]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

He had issues with his knees but they were exacerbated by 5 games in a row on the rock hard surface of the Dome in early 2000 - being the first year of operation, nobody was fully aware that the stress levels on the body would be so severe at the Dome.

He had something like 15 operations all up on his body in his AFL career - knee recos, shoulders, hand, you name it, he had it.

He did well to put 5 games together in all honesty

[LostDoggy]

Re: Consecutive Games at Etihad Stadium

Consistent work rate across the ground is more crucial than a key forward.

You will not get that in finals.