crazy_big_al
13 Aug 2004, 16:00
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says the late-season timing of Saturday night's match against the Western Bulldogs in Darwin is 'a little unfortunate'.
"To do it at this time of the year is a bit strange," Williams said before the Power's flight to Darwin on Friday.
"We'd have rather done it the week before the (mid-season) break, and that's what we asked for. We'll make the most of it and obviously we have to play where the AFL puts us.
"We're not worried about it (only three weeks before the finals and just six days before Port plays Collingwood at Melbourne's Telstra Dome) but it's not the ideal preparation."
Asked whether it was fair to say he wouldn't be putting his hand up again for a Darwin trip, Williams' only response was: "Yeah."
But then he added: "We're going up flat-out to win the game and the Bulldogs are looking to get a scalp by the end of the year, and ours would be a pretty important one for them, so I'm sure they'll be pretty keen.
"When we get there it's going to be really hot so we have to make sure our players keep out of the heat, but so do the Western Bulldogs.
"We'll be mindful of the rotations but we still want to make sure we're in front. We'll probably rotate more, though."
Williams looked surprise when a television reporter asked him: 'What's the attraction to play up in Darwin?'
He paused and then said: "Er, well, it's wonderful to spread the word of AFL footy. It's great for those people up there to see a real game and everyone having a real crack at it.
"It's a little unfortunate the timing, that's all, for us."
Were there many risks involved in going from a cold climate to a hot one and back to the cold again?
"Only time will tell, really," Williams said. "No one's done it before, so who knows?"
And when asked whether it was good for the players to be doing something different this week, Williams laughed and said: "If we wanted to do something different, we'd go to the beach."
Of Warren Tredrea and Peter Burgoyne playing their 150th AFL matches in Darwin, Williams said: "It's wonderful to see their development. They struggled early (in their careers) and they've been a great example to the young players.
"People like Damon White and Dom Cassisi have seen it takes a couple of years to get your grounding at our club. Once they get there and they get their confidence up, they can really play well."
Williams stressed that Port's players were not 'getting ahead of themselves' by looking ahead to next month's finals.
"They know they have to play well to keep themselves in the side," he said. "As a team, we are trying to get it better every week."
"To do it at this time of the year is a bit strange," Williams said before the Power's flight to Darwin on Friday.
"We'd have rather done it the week before the (mid-season) break, and that's what we asked for. We'll make the most of it and obviously we have to play where the AFL puts us.
"We're not worried about it (only three weeks before the finals and just six days before Port plays Collingwood at Melbourne's Telstra Dome) but it's not the ideal preparation."
Asked whether it was fair to say he wouldn't be putting his hand up again for a Darwin trip, Williams' only response was: "Yeah."
But then he added: "We're going up flat-out to win the game and the Bulldogs are looking to get a scalp by the end of the year, and ours would be a pretty important one for them, so I'm sure they'll be pretty keen.
"When we get there it's going to be really hot so we have to make sure our players keep out of the heat, but so do the Western Bulldogs.
"We'll be mindful of the rotations but we still want to make sure we're in front. We'll probably rotate more, though."
Williams looked surprise when a television reporter asked him: 'What's the attraction to play up in Darwin?'
He paused and then said: "Er, well, it's wonderful to spread the word of AFL footy. It's great for those people up there to see a real game and everyone having a real crack at it.
"It's a little unfortunate the timing, that's all, for us."
Were there many risks involved in going from a cold climate to a hot one and back to the cold again?
"Only time will tell, really," Williams said. "No one's done it before, so who knows?"
And when asked whether it was good for the players to be doing something different this week, Williams laughed and said: "If we wanted to do something different, we'd go to the beach."
Of Warren Tredrea and Peter Burgoyne playing their 150th AFL matches in Darwin, Williams said: "It's wonderful to see their development. They struggled early (in their careers) and they've been a great example to the young players.
"People like Damon White and Dom Cassisi have seen it takes a couple of years to get your grounding at our club. Once they get there and they get their confidence up, they can really play well."
Williams stressed that Port's players were not 'getting ahead of themselves' by looking ahead to next month's finals.
"They know they have to play well to keep themselves in the side," he said. "As a team, we are trying to get it better every week."