COACH Simon Goodwin says it's been a deliberate “slow build-up” to Monday’s clash against Collingwood at the MCG, given Melbourne hasn’t played since May 27 when it defeated the Suns in Alice Springs.
Goodwin said he wanted to get the timing right with his side for the Queen’s Birthday blockbuster.
“We’re coming off the bye, so we’re really going to crank our boys up on Saturday and Sunday heading into the game. It’s been pretty low-key this week, leading into the game and we’ll really switch their minds, come later in the week,” he said at a media conference at AAMI Park on Thursday.
“It’s an opportunity to get ahead of the ledger. At five [wins] and five [losses], we’re really looking forward to pushing our claims and really improving as the season goes on.
“We’re in that position now where we’ve set our season up to have a real crack at the second half of the season and I know the players are looking forward to the stage on Monday.”
Goodwin said he had been particularly impressed by Collingwood’s form in recent times.
“They’ve been in really good form. They’ve been playing some super footy in the last three weeks, so we’re under no illusions of the task ahead of us,” he said.
“They’ve got a lot of players in good form, and they’ve got three guys out [through injury from last round’s team], but at the same time they’ll have three guys coming in ready to go.
“Around the ball, they’ve been exceptional. They’re moving the ball and taking a lot of uncontested marks. They’ve improved significantly and it’s something we’re going to have to be mindful of throughout the game.”
Goodwin said had no problem with Taylor Adams’ comments. The Collingwood vice-captain said former Demon and now Pie Lynden Dunn was enjoying his time at Collingwood, as he hadn’t been at a successful club.
But Goodwin said there was truth in the statement, even though he acknowledged it was some pre-match banter.
“It’s a bit of fun. It’s great for the game and it’s a bit of theatre. A lot of what Taylor Adams has said is right. We haven’t been a successful club for a long period of time and that’s what we’re striving to achieve,” he said.
“You’ve got to earn the right to be a successful club over a long period of time and that’s what we’re trying to build. But for the theatre of the game, I think it’s terrific.”
Goodwin praised the performances of Jeff Garlett this season and said another small forward, Jay Kennedy-Harris, was not far away from a return.
“He’s (Garlett) been terrific. He’s the No.1 forward pressure player in the comp and he’s kicked 25 goals and he’s a really important player for us. He’s done an enormous job for us this year,” he said.
“He’s (Kennedy-Harris) working really hard – 47 possessions is a lot in a game. He’s doing a lot right and we’re really working closely with him on his forward 50 and inside 50 finish. He’s improving all of the time and his contested work is improving. He’s not too far away.”
Goodwin said key forward Jesse Hogan was close to returning to the track.
“We said at the start that it was going to be four to eight weeks. He’s not that far away, but he’s now got to get some training into him and we’ll assess him week-by-week,” he said.
Meanwhile, Goodwin said superstar Patrick Dangerfield was the best player in the game.
“I can’t argue with that. He’s the reigning Brownlow medallist and he keeps dominating games, so for me, Paddy Dangerfield would be the No.1 player in the comp,” he said.
