CO-CAPTAIN Jack Grimes is hopeful the club will embark on a pre-season training camp in the Northern Territory later this year, so it can create a ‘home ground’ advantage when it plays further matches in the top end.
Speaking after Melbourne’s 28 point loss to Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium on Saturday night, Grimes said the long term advantages of having a niche in the Territory could become beneficial.
“Hopefully, we can use that [pre-season camp] as a bit of weapon for when we do come here and play during the season, and we can get used to these conditions, because it is very different to playing down in Melbourne,” he said.
“It’s slippery, it’s warm and it’s humid … but hopefully that’ll hold us in good stead for games in the future.
“We felt we prepared as well as we possibly could for this trip, with the training that we did in the weeks leading up to it. I don’t think we can use that as an excuse at all, and Port was in the same conditions as well. It was tough, but it was for them too.”
Grimes said the Melbourne players had no issue with playing home matches in Darwin.
“Yeah, it’s always good to get out of Melbourne sometimes and get a bit of warmth,” he said.
“But we really look forward to this - it’s a great opportunity and we have a good record up here, and we really felt like we were in for a good show and we were going to play well, because we prepared well.
“So we definitely looked forward to it.”
Grimes said the support from the Melbourne faithful in the Territory was also encouraging.
“The support was great again, and we really felt like the Melbourne supporters outnumbered the Port supporters and were really loud. So it was a credit to them for coming out, and we hope they enjoyed the game. It was fantastic by them,” he said.
“But you never like to disappoint the supporters, and when they turn out like that, you want to give them a win - and we want to win - so it’s as disappointing for them, as much as it is for us.
“Hopefully next year we can turn it around for them.”
Speaking after Melbourne’s 28 point loss to Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium on Saturday night, Grimes said the long term advantages of having a niche in the Territory could become beneficial.
“Hopefully, we can use that [pre-season camp] as a bit of weapon for when we do come here and play during the season, and we can get used to these conditions, because it is very different to playing down in Melbourne,” he said.
“It’s slippery, it’s warm and it’s humid … but hopefully that’ll hold us in good stead for games in the future.
“We felt we prepared as well as we possibly could for this trip, with the training that we did in the weeks leading up to it. I don’t think we can use that as an excuse at all, and Port was in the same conditions as well. It was tough, but it was for them too.”
Grimes said the Melbourne players had no issue with playing home matches in Darwin.
“Yeah, it’s always good to get out of Melbourne sometimes and get a bit of warmth,” he said.
“But we really look forward to this - it’s a great opportunity and we have a good record up here, and we really felt like we were in for a good show and we were going to play well, because we prepared well.
“So we definitely looked forward to it.”
Grimes said the support from the Melbourne faithful in the Territory was also encouraging.
“The support was great again, and we really felt like the Melbourne supporters outnumbered the Port supporters and were really loud. So it was a credit to them for coming out, and we hope they enjoyed the game. It was fantastic by them,” he said.
“But you never like to disappoint the supporters, and when they turn out like that, you want to give them a win - and we want to win - so it’s as disappointing for them, as much as it is for us.
“Hopefully next year we can turn it around for them.”
