A TOTAL of 174 days will have passed since the 2010 grand final replay until Carlton and Richmond play in the opening match of the season at the MCG on March 24.
And for so many people, it feels like an eternity.
Since that grand final replay, I’ve heard the same line from many people: ‘I can’t wait for round one of the 2011 season’.
We are constantly reminded that round one means so much.
From an AFL club perspective, there has often been a perception that the whole year hangs on round one and the result of the game will determine how the year pans out.
As an individual in the team, questions always arise: ‘How will I play? How will I feel? How will I kick and handball? Will round one decide how good or bad my year is?’
After all of the weights, running and skill sessions and pilates - it all comes down to round one.
Or does it?
As much as we think about round one, answer these questions.
In 2010, how did Collingwood perform in round one?
How did Dane Swan play in round one?
Who were the eight winners and losers in round one?
To be honest, I don’t know off the top of my head.
And unless you barrack for Collingwood or your team played it in round one, you won’t know the answer either.
In 1996, I was playing with the Western Bulldogs. That year we finished second last to Fitzroy and were in all sorts of trouble.
Terry Wallace took over as coach from Alan Joyce early in 1996, so his first full pre-season as coach was the start of the 1997 pre-season.
Our last match in 1996 was on August 30, yet we started our pre-season on October 5.
That’s right October 5!
It was the hardest pre-season of my career.
We started at 6am four days a week and trained all over town.
For us, it was all about round one.
We wanted to get better, bigger, stronger and faster, so we could win round one, get the season off to a flyer and turn the club’s fortunes around.
For us, it was a dream draw. Not only were we much fitter and much more structured, we were drawn to play Fremantle at Optus Oval (formerly Princes Park and now Visy Park) on a Saturday afternoon in the opening round.
It was the perfect scenario.
But let me tell you, it wasn’t. In the finish, it was actually a nightmare.
Winnie Abraham kicked a late goal and Fremantle won by four points.
For so long, the build-up was all about round one.
Post-match wasn’t pretty.
Coaches were yelling, players were staring with disbelief and fans were tearing up membership tickets.
Our focus was all about round one.
But should it have been?
By the end of our 1997 campaign, the Bulldogs finished third and lost the preliminary final to Adelaide. Although it was a heart-breaking three-point loss, we climbed from 15th in 1996 to third in 1997.
As everyday passes, the 2011 season gets closer and closer.
Expectation rises and demons start to rise their way to the surface.
Whether you’re a player thinking about how you’ll perform or a coach wondering if you’ve prepared the players well enough or a member thinking if this will be the year - no one escapes the mind games or demons of round one.
And for so many people, it feels like an eternity.
Since that grand final replay, I’ve heard the same line from many people: ‘I can’t wait for round one of the 2011 season’.
We are constantly reminded that round one means so much.
From an AFL club perspective, there has often been a perception that the whole year hangs on round one and the result of the game will determine how the year pans out.
As an individual in the team, questions always arise: ‘How will I play? How will I feel? How will I kick and handball? Will round one decide how good or bad my year is?’
After all of the weights, running and skill sessions and pilates - it all comes down to round one.
Or does it?
As much as we think about round one, answer these questions.
In 2010, how did Collingwood perform in round one?
How did Dane Swan play in round one?
Who were the eight winners and losers in round one?
To be honest, I don’t know off the top of my head.
And unless you barrack for Collingwood or your team played it in round one, you won’t know the answer either.
In 1996, I was playing with the Western Bulldogs. That year we finished second last to Fitzroy and were in all sorts of trouble.
Terry Wallace took over as coach from Alan Joyce early in 1996, so his first full pre-season as coach was the start of the 1997 pre-season.
Our last match in 1996 was on August 30, yet we started our pre-season on October 5.
That’s right October 5!
It was the hardest pre-season of my career.
We started at 6am four days a week and trained all over town.
For us, it was all about round one.
We wanted to get better, bigger, stronger and faster, so we could win round one, get the season off to a flyer and turn the club’s fortunes around.
For us, it was a dream draw. Not only were we much fitter and much more structured, we were drawn to play Fremantle at Optus Oval (formerly Princes Park and now Visy Park) on a Saturday afternoon in the opening round.
It was the perfect scenario.
But let me tell you, it wasn’t. In the finish, it was actually a nightmare.
Winnie Abraham kicked a late goal and Fremantle won by four points.
For so long, the build-up was all about round one.
Post-match wasn’t pretty.
Coaches were yelling, players were staring with disbelief and fans were tearing up membership tickets.
Our focus was all about round one.
But should it have been?
By the end of our 1997 campaign, the Bulldogs finished third and lost the preliminary final to Adelaide. Although it was a heart-breaking three-point loss, we climbed from 15th in 1996 to third in 1997.
As everyday passes, the 2011 season gets closer and closer.
Expectation rises and demons start to rise their way to the surface.
Whether you’re a player thinking about how you’ll perform or a coach wondering if you’ve prepared the players well enough or a member thinking if this will be the year - no one escapes the mind games or demons of round one.
