I’ve never really understood why coaches play down the Derby, especially when the team hasn’t played finals in a while. Look at the way Essendon and Collingwood lean into ANZAC Day. Obviously it’s one of the biggest marketing free kicks going around, but I think the coaches recognise that it’s a good opportunity for their young players to play in a game that’s akin to a finals game.
Wouldn’t you want to big up the game up rather than play it down for that very reason? Turn up the pressure, throw a few completely justified barbs West Coast’s way before the game, point out their fans are the worst in the league and publicly speculate on which of Dalgliesh or Margetts will fall over themselves to give a free kick before the bounce. Turn the pressure up to 11 and see which players respond. Pat the ones that do on the head, and pull the young blokes who wilt aside and say ‘we’ve got them again later in the year, and I know you’ll do better’.
Do this enough times and it becomes a must-watch game.
No-one at our club has any sense of theatre.
I think CC and Harvey - depsite not being from WA - understood that.
