Second-up syndrome: Can returning finals stars back it up?
IT’S one thing to dominate your first game back after a long lay-off, but how will stars like James Sicily, Jack Viney and Adam Treloar back it up in do-or-die finals? ‘Second-up Syndrome’ is no myth, writes Sam Landsberger.
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FOOTY’S comeback stars face challenges replicating their brilliant returns as they combat “second-up syndrome” in this week’s cutthroat finals.
Leading medical experts yesterday said players such as Jack Viney, Adam Treloar, James Sicily and Zac Williams were at a heightened risk of breaking down again.
“It is real, there’s no doubt about that,” Dr Peter Brukner told the Herald Sun.
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“Overall the average (performance) will be down a bit, whereas the expectation from fans is, ‘Oh, they’ll be even better with a game under their belt’.
“I will warn fans not to assume they’re going to be even better this week, because it might not be the case.”
All four semi-finalists rolled the dice on players returning from lengthy spells and were rewarded with powerful performances.
Several shape as keys to this week’s results with Collingwood stopper Tyson Goldsack a likely match-up for GWS star Jeremy Cameron and Giants star Toby Greene labelled his team’s barometer.
“Muscle strains have the highest rate of recurrence, so they’re more at risk — but they’re all at risk,” Brukner said.
“The other thing that happens is you’ve had a muscle strain in your hamstring and you end up straining another muscle, because you’re not match conditioned.
“I’d imagine most of those guys won’t be doing much training this week. They’ll be in the ice baths and at the beach and (consumng) drinks and protein — you name it, they’d be doing it.”
Treloar, Greene and Brett Deledio returned from muscle strains last week.
Brukner said the second-up battle was complex, but that AFL clubs were world leaders in recovery.
“I don’t know whether there’s a lot of science behind it, but it’s certainly well accepted,” he said.
“One (element) is psychologically — you’re up for the first game, and the second one is a bit of an anticlimax.
“No matter how much training you do, nothing is like playing. Playing week in, week out you’re still sore for a couple of days after, but you’re used to it. This is such a jump in the stress you put on your muscles.
“Ideally you’d play your first game and then have two weeks off and then play another game and then have another 10 days off.”
That method suits qualifying final winners Richmond and West Coast, which had Kane Lambert and Josh Kennedy return respectively.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said the “second game back was often a challenge”.
“You have the delayed onset muscle soreness that really kicks in,” Scott said on 3AW.
“When you’re coming back from injury (in your first game) you don’t have any of that to deal with.”
Melbourne veteran Jordan Lewis forecast the dangers last week.
“Whether players come back from suspension or they come back from a long-term injury, their first game is usually their best game,” Lewis said.
“It’s the second game where they struggle with the recovery process and their body adapting to the pressures of the game (and) they feel it in the following week.
“Those players (will) come in and play well fresh, but how they back that up is probably another question.”
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