Port Adelaide and Crows expect breakneck pace for pre-season

WHY speed is expected to be king in football’s new format.

Melbourne recruits Jack Trengove and Jack Watts at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Tait Schmaal

ADELAIDE’S two AFL clubs have predicted speed to be the cornerstone as they prepare for football’s version of Twenty20 cricket — AFLX — at Hindmarsh next month.

The Crows and the Power will play in the first tournament on February 15 in a two-pool format alongside Fremantle, West Coast, Collingwood and Geelong.

The two best-performed teams will play in a Grand Final.

Port Adelaide began getting its teeth into the version before Christmas and has made it a regular feature during its training program.

Assistant coach Matthew Nicks said the players had taken to it and at this stage, nobody had been ruled out to represent the club in the 12-man squad for the event.

10 players 🏃
2x10 minute halves ⏱
10-point supergoal ✅
Last touch out of bounds ✋

For more AFLX information and to purchase tickets head to: https://t.co/SKs0wEAbzT pic.twitter.com/98S7gKVaP7

— AFL (@AFL) 23 January 2018

“We’ve been doing a little bit of work through December,” Nicks said. “And what we did on Monday was to set up the dimension and had a really good look at it with our players, played a couple of games, a couple of halves.

“They really enjoyed it.

“It’s an exciting concept that they’re bringing in and it can suit every player, even some of our key players.

“It’s just 10-minute halves and their fitness levels, if you dragged it out to 25-minute halves it’d be different. Then it might just be for those who can run all day because you’ve got so much space.”

Among those who impressed at Port’s AFLX sessions have been Jack Watts, who is agile and a good runner for a tall, the skilful Karl Amon and the quick Dom Barry.

Crows assistant coach Tate Kaesler said the game was similar to match simulation drills, which is a common training feature.

He expected clubs to experiment with tactics and make the most of the bench.

One thing was certain; it would be played at a flat-out pace with players expected to stay on the ground for three to four minutes and then rotate.

“We haven’t specifically trained for the AFLX game but I think you find that a lot of teams have these small scenario games,” Kaesler said. “And we do a fair bit of that so we sort of got the concept of the type of game it’s going to be.

“I think it’ll be a bit exciting; a bit like Big Bash.

“It’s a fair bit of space to cover, especially to defend.”

The Crows selection of players for AFLX will be made in consultation with the fitness department and is likely to showcase some of the younger players.

Kaesler tipped teams would approach it differently and expected to see both man-on-man and zone defences tried.

“I think it will be a combination and rotations will play a fair part in that,” he said.