EDFL 2021: McGuane, Morrell, Horne have say on practice matches

Do pre-season hitouts take on extra significance after a cancelled season? We asked three leading EDFL coaches.

Three-time Keilor premiership coach Mick McGuane. Picture: Jamie Morey

Leading Essendon District Football League coaches have resisted the urge to load up their clubs’ calendars with extra practice matches after the cancelled 2020 campaign.

Premier Division sides Keilor, Strathmore and Pascoe Vale have joined most suburban sides in sticking with three hitouts before the opening round.

Next month will mark the first time clubs have taken the field in official games since September, 2019, while several were able to contest practice matches before the 2020 season was canned.

The scratch matches will form an important part of clubs’ preparations for the season proper given the lengthy break, but coaches are keen not to overload their players.

Pascoe Vale coach Digby Morrell. Picture: Jamie Morey

“I’ve read some teams were looking to do four or five pre-season games. I’ll stick to the traditional three rolling into Easter,” Pascoe Vale coach Digby Morrell said.

“There’s always a balance of getting enough work into the guys, learning more about your group, but also keeping them fresh for a pretty solid season.

“Enthusiasm for the games is definitely going to be there and holding them back is probably going to be the balancing act.

“Everyone’s in the same boat, they’re really keen to play and get out and compete.

“But making sure they’re in the right nick is probably our first port of call and most of our guys have come back in really good nick, which has been pleasing.”

Premier Division heavyweights Keilor and Strathmore will meet in a blockbuster Good Friday clash on April 2 – eight days before their flag rivals start their seasons.

Three-time Blues premiership coach Mick McGuane said practice matches took on no added significance despite the time off, adding his club would maintain faith in the program which helped it complete an undefeated 2019.

“We’ll be rusty like all clubs will be … but that’s what training’s about – trying to gear them as close to match-day intensity at the right time so it’s not a huge shock to the system but also understanding there’s a long season to go,” McGuane said.

“So it’s a balancing act to get right.

“Once it gets to Round 1, we would have played six hours footy in 18 months, so we know not many clubs will be at their best in the early stages.

“Providing our attitude and effort is right, I think the talent will look after itself.

“We’ll just treat our program as if nothing has changed the past couple of years because we believe in what we do.”

Strathmore coach Matt Horne. Picture: Hamish Blair

Strathmore coach Matt Horne, who steered his team to a preliminary final berth two years ago, said the lead-up fixtures “may have extra significance”.

“I always think they’re relatively important. We’ll probably gear up in a different way this year, just with how we plan and that type of thing,” he said.

“Without blokes having proper competitive stuff in over 12 months, it may mean there is a little bit more dust to get off.

“But I haven’t over-thought it too much to be honest.”