MELBOURNE is preparing for one of its biggest occasions on the AFL calendar - the Big Freeze clash with Collingwood.
AFL coach Steven King addressed media on Thursday morning to discuss the significance of the occasion, the focus for the side following back-to-back losses and the selection opportunities ahead of Monday.
Big Freeze 12
“The significance of the occasion is enormous and bigger than the game itself,” King said.
“As the week goes on we’ll focus on us, we’ll do a little bit on the opposition but by time Monday comes around, the significance will speak for itself and that will naturally play out.
“We want to get back to playing a brand of footy that we know we can, and we're coming up against a quality, experienced opposition.
“We’re looking forward to putting on a really good show, one that fits the occasion and that makes Neale proud.”
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Round 12 loss
“We were really disappointed with our performance last week,” King said.
“The thing I can do best is to make sure we get back to playing a more efficient brand of footy.
“We’re training today and our focus is re-discovering what makes us a hard team to play against.
“Our roles and executions with the ball [are a focus], which the players went through a bit yesterday and this morning, it’s a reminder to us on how we can be more efficient, use our numbers better and be a bit more composed.
“For me, I’ve got to trust the players and let them play the game.”
On Joel Fitzgerald
“When anyone dishes up 39 disposals and 12 clearances, as a match committee, you’ve got to look at those numbers and think how would he stack up in our [AFL] team?” King said.
“He didn’t look out of place at all. Changing clubs, new teammates, different system, it clearly didn’t phase him.”
On selection opportunities
"[Jake Lever] has to get through training today, so if he keeps ticking off those boxes, it'd be great to get him back," King said.
"It's been shattering for Andy Moniz-Wakefield, who's ruptured his ACL last week, but that'll be one definite change.
"We'll look at the integrity of selection, rewarding players that are performing and it's always about how our team is balanced, that's something that is really important."
