COACHES ON COACHING – ParT 5 UNDER INSTRUCTIONS: During the week, Matthew Knights and his assistants set about planning and preparing for the challenge ahead. The importance of preparationMeticulous preparation throughout the week is crucial to success on game-day, as Essendon coach Matthew Knights explains in the fifth part of the AFL Record’s ‘Coaches on Coaching’ series. n 15 years at Richmond, yourself an opportunity to beat They are often one of your best with a detailed report on how I played under six any opponent. resources in working out what they play. The other coaches coaches – Kevin Perhaps the most important went right and wrong on the then have their input, and from Bartlett, Allan Jeans, part of preparation is reviewing day. They see things from a that we decide what we need to John Northey, Robert the previous match. This starts different perspective because work on during the week. Walls, Jeff Gieschen immediately after the game they’re out in the thick of it, You might say: “We need to and Danny Frawley. It wasn’t with your interaction with and their views can be very develop and focus on this part Iideal. However, from a the players. beneficial to the group. We find of our game because we feel coaching perspective, it has I go home that night and that refreshing. it’s an area we can really get been a godsend because it watch footage of the game. I also meet with the some upside.” has equipped me a wealth With technology these days, leadership group most The way a club goes about of knowledge and exposure every on-field act is coded, Mondays for a general its review and preparation to different methods, which makes it easy to pinpoint discussion about the previous will vary depending on philosophies and ways different aspects of the game game and how we might where they think they are in to communicate. – inside 50s, rebound 50s, approach the week ahead. their development. Along the way, I have stoppages, etc. Early in the week, generally At Essendon, we have learned that preparation is one The coaching panel conducts on Tuesdays, we start looking a reasonably young list that of the keys to success – in any its review initially and then we at our next opponent. Our is in the second year of a new walk of life. go through it with the players. opposition analyst, Craig program, so we’re planning I firmly believe that if you Players play a much Jennings, watches opponents for the medium to long-term, prepare yourself in the best bigger role in the review for two or three weeks before with an emphasis on learning possible manner, you’ll give process than they ever did. we play them and provides us and development. As a result, AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au 63 COACHES ON COACHING – ParT 5 Preparation is one of the keys to The best players do the 1 success – in any walk of life. basics very well. Our Perhaps the most important part veteran defender Dustin 2 of preparation is the review of the Fletcher is a perfect previous match. example of that. In Players are often one of your best many ways, Dustin is a 3 resources in working out what went genius because he hits right and wrong on game-day. targets he’s meant to hit, With a reasonably young list, focus he closes space when 4 more on your game than he has to, he applies a the opposition’s. spoil when he needs Don’t overload younger players to, and so on. He does 5 with information because you’ll risk exactly what’s required, overlooking the basics. which makes him Delegate responsibilities to assistants. very predictable to his 6 If you try to do everything yourself, teammates. you’ll spread yourself too thin. A coach also needs You’re dealing with young men’s to examine what’s 7 careers, so don’t take selection required in his role and decisions lightly. delegate responsibilities Ensure you’ve done all you can to to his assistant coaches 8 help your team perform at its best. DEFINING ROLES: On game-day, Matthew Knights believes some players like accordingly. If you to have one consistent role to play, while others prefer to multi-task. try to do everything yourself, you’ll spread we’re more centrally focused they don’t come to fruition yourself too thin. The life of an AFL coach on our game rather than overnight. It might take a I tend to delegate most is consumed by football, but the opposition’s. season or two for it to gel, early in the week to give our you need an outlet somewhere, But as we improve over the so you have to ensure your assistants the chance to take so I try to go for the odd run or next season or two, I’m sure players adapt well. drills, work on reviews, take bike ride. And when I go home we’ll pay increasing attention to Our methodology is that we line meetings, etc. It helps their at night, I completely switch the opposition. want to get certain styles right development as coaches and off from footy and try to spend We’re very mindful of not before we move on to others. also gives the players a break some quality time with getting ahead of ourselves You might put more time and from me – I’m sure they don’t my family. and trying to get the cream on resources into some styles than want to hear my voice all It’s all systems go from the cake because, in reality, others, and as you get better at the time! Thursday, when we’re generally we’re still just trying to get the one area, you might shift the Everyone gets a break on focusing on our opponent. ingredients right. In my view, focus a little. Wednesdays, when staff We go through the theory as we’ve still got a long way to go With younger players, you can take part of the day off. a group in an auditorium, and to instil the basics of football shouldn’t move too fast or throw I take the morning off and then work on the practical side into our playing group. too much at them because you’ll take my kids to school and of it during ‘closed’ training We might have three or four risk overloading them with have breakfast with my wife. sessions, hopefully away from different styles or game-plans information and overlooking the (Knights and wife Carolyn have prying eyes – although you that we try to implement at basics, which will always be a a son, Zachary, nine, and a could watch training at Windy different stages of games, but crucial part of the game. daughter, Alisha, seven.) Hill from the street! Because we love a good sport At Holiday Inn, we love a good sport which is why we’re proud to be the Official Hotel Group of the AFL. So whether you’re home or away, on holidays or catching up with mates for the game, stay where your heroes stay and enjoy comfortable rooms, warm surroundings and really friendly service. Relax. It’s Holiday Inn. To book online visit holidayinn.com.au/afl or call 1300 666 704. The Official Hotel Group Of The AFL 64 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au COACHES ON COACHING – ParT 5 At match committee meetings, want them to play. Sometimes some ‘what if’ scenarios that whiteboards. It’s a quiet, we go through a set criteria – circumstances prevent that. For might eventuate. chilled-out period. which I imagine would be fairly instance, if we’re unsure if a few If we’re playing the next day, We leave the players to their similar at most AFL clubs – players will be passed fit, it might I’ll either have a quiet night own devices, but they can come where we look at the opposition be delayed by 24 hours. at home or, if there’s a game to us for any final instructions. and their strengths, and then we Some players have a at Docklands or the MCG, I’ll I don’t try to gauge the attitude look at our own strengths and consistency of role, and they go along and watch it from a of players before a game. A few the way we want to play. actually prefer that, while strategy point of view. people have tried to do that Then we select our team, others might play three I don’t have any sleepless in the past, but I don’t think it which could take four hours of different roles in a game – we nights before games, and that reflects in performance. discussion – and so be it, because have a few players like that and comes from feeling prepared. Besides, we’ve got a real it’s vital to get it right. You also it suits them. Working out what That might not be the case variance in ages at Essendon – have to realise you’re dealing suits each individual is part of if there are question marks players like Michael Hurley are with young men’s careers, so the people management and swirling through your mind. 19 and then there’s Dustin, you should never take selection psychology of coaching. That relaxation generally who’s 34. They’ve got different decisions lightly. My movements on game extends into game-day.