A MID-week trip to the movies could prove just the ticket in Melbourne’s quest to win Monday’s Queen’s Birthday encounter against Collingwood at the MCG.

Coach Paul Roos told reporters at AAMI Park on Thursday that players and coaches watched the new Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling film Nice Guys at the Jam Factory on Wednesday afternoon to mix up the nine-day break between games.

“We had a bit of a lighter day yesterday (Wednesday) and went to MSAC and just did some craft. We [then] went to watch Nice Guys, which I can highly recommend, if anyone wants to see a movie. It was a good movie in the afternoon,” he said.

“Also, being a Monday game, you’ve got to prepare for Saturday, when we’ll [train] for half a day, so you’ve got plenty of times to get your meetings in. But you don’t want the players to be at the club and then come Monday they feel like they’re exhausted.

“The guys manage it really well – our fitness staff, medical staff and all of the coaches. It’s certainly [a] different [week], there is no doubt.”

Roos said breaking the program up, every now and then, such as going to the movies was important. He added that on the longer weeks there was an opportunity to do these types of activities.

“With seven-day breaks and six-day breaks, it’s really hard, but on a nine-day break – we try to do different things and try to stimulate the players, but also get them away from the club,” Roos said.

“You don’t want to be in every single day and then come Monday they feel like they need a day off.

“It’s not a great day to take off, when you’ve got to play. We hope that doesn’t happen.”