Adam Cooney reveals how he spent his last footy-free weekend — and why Tigers can go back to back

ADAM Cooney reveals what footballers get up to on their last footy-free weekend of the year, how he tried to continue the tradition and why the Tigers can go back-to-back.

THE last weekend before Round 1 is always a testing time for players.

There’s a fine balancing act between relaxing and preparing the body and mind for the rigours of a hectic AFL season, or going full Max Gawn (young Max, not mature, sugar and carb-free Max) and destroying yourself with vodka cruisers and punching darts one last time before knuckling down into the bubble of professionalism and pain for the season ahead.

(It looks like the players all escaped trouble over the weekend, well done!)

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I’ve tested both theories myself over the years and, to be honest, found that one last blowout before Round 1 was the more effective way to spend the last supper (attack the liver before cleansing the soul), similar to the last bucket from the colonel on a Sunday night before starting a new diet on Monday.

Now a retired old has-been, my “last supper weekend” still has the same mentality to it as I’ll be working at the footy for the next 25 Friday, Saturday and Sundays, so I thought I’d better have one last hurrah.

Trent Cotchin and the Tigers are enjoying their pre-season — but not too much.

It started on Saturday similarly to most of my mates, doing as many chores/jobs around the house to obtain the arvo leave pass from the darl to go to the pub and watch the races at Flemington.

Hedges trimmed, house cleaned and clothes folded away, I assemble my three-man wolf pack and headed to the Yarraville Club for a pot and a punt. The day gets off to a good start, backing Khulaasa and Humidor, followed by the inevitable six-race run of seconds. I change tack and see if I can recoup some funds on the infamous “more chilli” gaming machine ... no chilli. Even the foolproof plan of backing the one, two quinella on trackside proves futile (when it’s not your day, it’s not your day).

From there it’s a five-minute Taxify (new, cheaper Uber) to Whitten Oval to watch the Dogs v Dees game to see who will book a spot in the big one the following week..

We jump out, breeze past Susan Alberti at the entry gates and walk into Whitten Oval, greeted by a strong breeze and an electric atmosphere with an 8000-strong crowd. We find our position perched in front of the “can bar” on the forward flank grandstand side, Geelong Rd end.

What a game of footy it was too, an arm-wrestle right to the end with the breeze helping the Dogs get home and into the GF thanks to a last-minute snap from sharpshooter Brooke Lochland.

Good luck to both teams this weekend. My tip: Dogs by eight points.

The Bulldogs’ AFLW win was the perfect way to spend a Saturday night. Picture: Michael Klein

Sunday morning I woke up, went for a run (3.2km in 20min, so technically it was a shuffle) and started thinking about who wins the men’s comp this year.

Which brings me to my point, what the 2018 top four will look like in 27 weeks. I’m pretty confident, but there are still some big question marks.

4. GWS Giants

Must finish in the top four this year. They still have depth across the ground and their midfield is the fittest in the comp. Playing as the No. 1 ruck will help Rory Lobbe take his game go to a new level.

Question mark? Nathan Wilson (gone to Fremantle) and Zac Williams (Achilles injury) will not be there, so who provides their run/drive from half-back? Lachie Whitfield, Brett Deledio and Ryan Griffen could all play roles there in 2018.

If they don’t get there this year, have they missed their main window?

Jack Watts could get a shot at a premiership this year at Port Adelaide.

3. Port Adelaide

Aggressive trading has Port right in the premiership window. Jack Watts’ ball use, Tom Rockliff’s grunt and Steve Motlop’s X-factor have all the bases covered at the Power. Expect to see Watts up on a wing at times.

They are a contested ball team and want to lock the ball in their forward half. I think their personnel and game style both stack up to be right among it this season.

Question mark? Travis Boak. With Rockliff, Ollie Wines, Sam Powell Pepper and Robbie Gray in the guts, is the Port Adelaide skipper in his team’s best 22? Boak needs to win more footy in 2018 to stay in there. He is a goalkicker which will help as I think he will spend more time forward this year.

2. Adelaide

The Crows are a pretty team to watch in full flight — quick, slick ball movement cutting teams up through the middle of the ground and scoring heavily most weeks.

Defensively they are well drilled and Don Pyke seems to know what he’s up to structure-wise, which helps. Bryce Gibbs bolsters an impressive midfield, and they say you have to lose one to win one (which makes no sense whatsoever, but that’s what they say).

Premier: Richmond

Back to back.

No hangover from the Tigers. They haven’t put a foot wrong in the pre-season, smacking Essendon and North in impressive fashion.

There is an air of confidence/arrogance coming from Punt Rd (which is great and well deserved). I get the feeling the Richmond players now feel like they are good enough to beat any team in the competition when at their best. I don’t even think they really believed that until September last year.

Hopefully there’s one more spot left on Tiggy train for me!

Toot toot.