Contrasting approaches as Pies, Crows return from bye

There is no dodging the fact AFL teams have collectively struggled to post positive results in their first game back after a mid-season bye.

The trend has spanned years as coaches search for a successful method to emerge from the break, which has often proved a speed bump for momentum.

In opposing styles, Collingwood have kept it strictly business as usual this week while Adelaide have decided to tackle the issue head-on.

The sides’ contrasting approaches will be put to the test when they battle at the MCG on Sunday.

“We’ve gone pretty hard and the contest (at training) was second to none,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.

“The guys had incredible energy, they’re ready to go and I guess time will tell.

“Both teams are coming back off a bye, which is an interesting one, and so far the results off a bye this year haven’t been strong.

“The start will be crucial for us, especially on that venue where we haven’t been this year.”

Only St Kilda have posted a win straight after a bye so far this season – against Sydney, who also had a break the previous week – while eight sides have lost on return to action.

Essendon and West Coast added their names to the list on Saturday, losing to Fremantle and Sydney respectively.

But Collingwood coach Craig McRae dismissed the bye as a factor.

“I think you love it as a story more than what it is. We haven’t (addressed it),” McRae said.

“(We’ve prepared) like we do every week … I talk about putting your backpack on ready to go to match-day and what you’ve put in it through the week.

“Preparation, training, diet, getting better – all those things you want to put in your backpack – then you rock up and you have this comfort. We’ll just back that in.”

Melbourne took an unusual approach to their return from a bye this week, treating a one-hour road trip to Geelong as an interstate fixture.

They stayed overnight at nearby Torquay and trained at GMHBA Stadium before Thursday night’s clash with the Cats.

Story continues

The Demons led by seven points at three-quarter time but were overrun by Geelong in the final term.

“People will judge it by the result, clearly, but with the way we played in the first three quarters, I thought we prepared as well as we could,” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.

“Coming off the bye, trained down here, get used to the conditions, prepare as best we can today and come out here and try to perform our best.

“For three quarters we were right on track and the last quarter we were disappointed.

“We walk away knowing that was a game that was up for grabs. We lost the arm wrestle and we lost the game.”