The more damaging hangover after an AFL grand final is now with the losers - not the winners

RUCCI ON SATURDAY: AFL grand finals have significant post-scripts, but not just with “premiership hangovers” - the losing team can be scarred for a long time testing coaches.

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STRANGE things happen after AFL grand finals.

Usually, it is the winner that struggles (or celebrates) most. The infamous “premiership hangover” sets in.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge last month delivered the extraordinary observation that “what we did in ’16” in rising from seventh to a drought-breaking AFL flag “hasn’t done anyone a favour”.

“It probably hasn’t done us a favour because everyone just thinks they can win it every year,” added Beveridge - and this theme was picked up by Geelong premiership coach Chris Scott last week in forecasting how September’s top-eight could play out this year.

There also was expectation that the Bulldogs could not live up to ... and perhaps the belief many “Footscray” players could live off their success for the rest of their careers after giving a downtrodden club its first flag in 62 years.

This is the classical premiership hangover.

And yet Richmond, after ending its own drought (37 years), appears better - far better - as a premiership defender this year than it did as a contender 12 months ago.

The fascinating sequel to last year’s AFL grand final is not how Richmond has avoided the hangover but how the losing team - Adelaide - has suffered (or created) the greatest headache known in football.

Midfielder Curtly Hampton’s retirement this week - citing a loss of passion for the game at 25 - adds to the conspiracy theories that linger from the contentious pre-season camp at the Gold Coast in late January.Veteran forward Eddie Betts raised the eyebrows - that have been considerably stretched this year - by telling of his post-grand final demons.

FOOTY TIPS: THE EXPERTS’ AFL TIPS FOR ROUND 18

“I was in the same boat,” said Betts of his struggle with motivation in the off-season, “trying to find that joy and bring the love back to the game.”

Port Adelaide never dealt with the scars of its horrendous 2007 grand final loss to Geelong. The theme of “great season, bad day” was more about denial than dealing with the record 119-point loss to the Cats, as highlighted by the Power’s fall from potential pacesetter to also-ran for five-consecutive seasons.

The Crows were - supposedly - to be more motivated this season by the opportunity they let slip in the grand final. Yet, some players returned from their off-season break - as coach Don Pyke has confirmed - in such concerning physical condition they needed to be reminded of how they were not meeting club standards.

Perhaps the bodies were reflecting the minds - minds that needed to be mended rather than taken to the limit as the Collective Mind program did at the Gold Coast. How does Betts, a player who - more so after the Carlton experiences - knows there are few chances remaining to win an AFL flag, lose motivation?

The most interesting notes from the Gold Coast are those of Crows players who had their bonds of trust - and confidence - with their coaches and club tested (and perhaps broken) by a pre-season camp that appears to have created new problems rather than solved those from a losing grand final.

The conspiracy theories will linger ... probably until Betts writes his book.

AFL legend Malcolm Blight at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Tom Huntley

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“CHANGE is coming. If you don’t like it, resign and go and join the unemployment queue.”

HALL of Fame Legend MALCOLM BLIGHT on the battle to save Australian football with rule changes.

REALITY BITES

WORLD CUP BLUES

FRANCE - “Les Blues” - won the World Cup, delivering the soccer title to Jules Rimet’s home for the first time in 20 years in a tournament that is generally regarded as one of the best.

But the World Cup also is a commercial tournament (although, there is the small mercy that FIFA still forbids major sponsorship logos on the national team jumpers).

So who won the World Cup from the High Street?

Marketing experts assessing the business theme to the month-long event in Russia have declared: Adidas won the World Cup. This is measured by adidas having 42.9 million engagements worth $A84 million in social value. By contrast, Nike was next best - 6.5 million engagements and a social value of $11 million. Puma was third with 3.6 million engagements and $6 million in social value.

And which of these sporting apparel brands has France? Nike.

CR7 DIVIDEND

ITALIAN football giants Juventus is hardy short of money, as noted by its big play that scored CRISTIANO RONALDO from Spanish rivals Real Madrid in a record signing that includes a four-year contract worth $A157 million.

Ronaldo would not have needed to check Juventus’ credit rating before signing his deal - and certainly does not need to doubt how much money Juve has in its Turin bank account this week.

As soon as the striker’s new No. 7 jumper was put on sale on Tuesday, Juventus sold $60m of merchandise in just 24 hours. Another win for adidas.

TIP OF THE WEEK

STEVE Marshall’s new State government has made a successful recruiting raid on the Adelaide Football Club front office - and there are still many noting a senior Crows executive spends a lot of time at the State Administration Building at Victoria Square.

HIT OF THE WEEK

FROM Geelong premiership player CAMERON LING: “Just so I understand correctly - major changes to the fabric of a great game, that is over 150 years old, are being made off the back of a few 20-minute trials during in-season training sessions where players go at 80 per cent intensity? Hardly seems like a robust process ...

“Whatever your favourite era (80s, 90s etc)poor games were played (such as) Round 11, 1989: North Melbourne 49 defeated Fitzroy 14 in front of 7187 people. But we don’t remember them. Instead we rightly choose to celebrate the great games and the incredible players, as we should with today’s footy.”

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

“WE don’t need it. If we are going to bring in big stars, then let’s get proper marquee players, for which you have to pay.”

FOX Sports commentator SIMON HILL on the prospect of Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt earning a contract with A-League club Central Coast Mariners.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

WHY would North Melbourne put a long-term deal - supposedly worth $700,000 a season - to out-of-contract Port Adelaide wingman JARED POLEC after the South Australian moved from Brisbane citing “home-sickness” as a reason for his trade? At some point the Kangaroos have to be more strategic when their current recruiting ploys seem to only increase a player’s worth at his current AFL club.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

“Wish Channel Seven would learn how the reportable offence system works rather than throwing out random numbers. ‘Tex’ - careless (you are allowed to bump, he just did it wrong) high contact, medium impact = one week. If delayed concussion, could get to high impact = two. Public deserve better.”

FORMER St Kilda great NATHAN BURKE on Adelaide captain Taylor Walker’s report for his high bump on Geelong defender Zach Tuohy - and the pre-MRO rulings on Channel Seven.