COLLINGWOOD and Melbourne have indicated their interest in repeating a combined summer training session after the two clubs had a successful joint hit-out earlier this month.
With AFL approval, the clubs' younger players took part in a joint training run at Victoria Park on February 10, and the clubs say there were many benefits.
The Pies and Dees, who train alongside each other at Gosch's Paddock, decided to instigate the session the week before the NAB Cup kicked off.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said his young charges had gained plenty from the break away from traditional training.
"You end up being up against your own teammates' bodies so often in match practice through late January and February, we did have a discussion about running some simulated training drills with each other, and Vic Park provided us with that a couple of weeks ago," Buckley said on Wednesday.
"The young players get the opportunity to test their structures against another opposition and I think that was beneficial for us.
"Hawthorn and Richmond have done it in the past and we may do it in the future as well."
Collingwood youngsters Jarrod Witts, Jarryd Blair, Tyson Goldsack and Steele Sidebottom took part in the session, while Melbourne was represented by players such as Jack Watts, Matthew Bate, Cale Morton, James Sellar and Stef Martin.
AFL rules stipulate that clubs are not allowed to hold any form of training session involving another club without the League's permission.
The collective bargaining agreement and the AFL player rules "prevent competition between clubs outside of official NAB Cup and premiership matches".
To gain the League's permission to combine training, clubs must adhere to conditions that ensure such sessions are used as a development tool for young players where they can accelerate their learning of set plays such as kicks ins and ball movement.
The session can combine primary and rookie list draftees and other young players but no senior players, and there must be no continuous "match play".
Plays are to be called by the senior coaches, drills re-set once the ball is turned over, and there is to be no tackling or sliding to the ground.
The benefits include allowing young players an opportunity to drill against others who do not have intimate knowledge of set plays.
Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said the Demons were keen to revisit the training technique if they were granted permission again in the future.
"We put our younger guys out there and did some training activities," Neeld said, in a press conference held half an hour before his former colleague Buckley.
"In terms of opposition analysis at this stage of the year, it is about what you are doing with your own club.
"We thought it was a great idea. The players got a bit out of it and it really suited where we were both at in our pre-seasons, and provided the AFL tick it off again next year, we will do it."
Buckley and Neeld worked together for two seasons at Collingwood.
On Saturday night, they will coach against each other for the first time when the Pies meet the Demons in round two of the NAB Cup at Etihad Stadium.
Buckley said he had an expectation of how Neeld would approach the game, having worked so closely with him over the past two seasons.
"I think he's been fairly clear and honest about how he expects Melbourne to play the game, and a lot of it's around contested ball and playing a disciplined and structured brand of footy," he said.
Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.
