The rising development of AFL groups failing on return from their mid-season byes has put Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley on edge.
The Power, sitting in second spot, are driving excessive on a club-record 11-game profitable streak main into Saturday’s large conflict with sixth-placed Essendon on the MCG.
But they’re cautious of turning into one more crew to fall sufferer to the week off.
The dismal file of groups coming off byes in opposition to opponents who had been lively the week earlier than stands at 0-8 up to now this season.
“It has to (make you extra cautious). There is a bit of proof now that says that there’s some issues with it for some sides,” Hinkley informed Fox Footy.
“I looked at a number of those games and the team that have come off the bye have actually started really well on a lot of occasions
“The actuality is it is a quantity in entrance of us however there’s a number of numbers in entrance of us in each a part of the season.
“We’ve got to buck the trend and that’s our opportunity this week.”
Essendon are one of many eight sides who’ve failed the post-bye take a look at thus far, struggling a 32-point defeat to Fremantle final week.
It delivered to an finish the four-match profitable streak the Bombers constructed earlier than the bye.
“To put it down to attitude or mindset (not being) in the right place I don’t think is right,” Essendon coach Brad Scott informed Fox Footy.
“We certainly analyse the game a bit closer than that, but it is a trend.
“It’s a truth: 0-8. There’s one thing to be stated for continuity.”
Scott said a simple solution to the bye dilemma would be for the entire AFL to have a week off at the same time.
He added a competition-wide bye would have a flow-on benefit of increasing the focus on state leagues and community football for a week.
If the mid-season bye rounds are to remain stretched over four weeks, teams could be scheduled to return to action against rivals who had their breaks in the same week.
But Scott said those remedies aren’t preferable for the AFL, which he said puts a heavier focus on maximising ratings and attendance.
“We’ve bought a nineteenth crew are available and till we get to a twentieth crew and we are able to have a severe dialogue about real fairness throughout the competitors, then we’re at all times going to have these anomalies,” Scott stated.
“With every part you have a look at there’s inequities and the AFL simply attempt to do their finest, however sadly fairness and equity is just one a part of it.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
