WHAT is the best way to prepare for finals?

It’s the million-dollar question and while the answer will look different for each team, Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch is confident the Demons’ final five games have set them up in the best way possible.

“A lot of people could’ve looked at those last few games and thought ‘Melbourne’s got a tough run’, but we wouldn’t want it any other way,” Fritsch told Melbourne Media.

“We played in big finals-like games, and we played in close games, that creates the type of pressure that we know we’re going to face in the coming weeks, so I think that’s put us in a really good spot.

“Last year, that final round win against Geelong, it got us really excited about our finals series and now we’re back in that type of headspace again.”

But it wasn’t a smooth-sailing end to the season, with Melbourne losing three out of its last seven home-and-away games.

Reflecting on the year overall, the star forward said he knew that the faith the team had in their game plan and in each other was key to bouncing back from the losses and returning to their best.

“If we look back at what we wanted from this season and then look at how we’re sitting right now, we’re happy,” Fritsch said.

“We’ve had some bumps along the road, but I think we’ve been able to always get back on track quickly.

“I think that comes down to team defence, we know we get our offensive opportunities off the back of that.

“And I think it also comes down to the culture that we’ve created over the last few years, it’s something that is really special to be a part of.

“To come into work every day alongside these boys is something that I really do cherish."

As the Demons continue to prepare for Friday’s Qualifying Final against Sydney, the driving force amongst the group is the opportunity they missed last year – playing in front of a home crowd.

“The big difference this season is that we’re going to be at home in front of our members and supporters that weren’t there last year,” Fritsch said.

“Coming back to Melbourne with the premiership last season, to see all our supporters and what it meant to them, that’s really driven us from day one of pre-season.

“Hopefully we can come out and do something really special this year in front of them at the home of footy, our home ground.”

Melbourne will face Sydney on Friday 2 September at the MCG, with Melbourne’s AFLW side kicking things off in their Round 2 curtain-raiser.

The AFLW match will begin at 5pm (AEST), with the AFL Qualifying Final beginning at 7:50pm.

Supporters wanting to head to the game are still able to purchase tickets here.