2025 Trial Matches - who's playing who

[wenchbarwer]

Are trial games losing their value?

Ahead of us playing a trial this weekend, I'm wondering if there really is any point to them anymore.

Other than for having a look at new recruits and/or kids, I think it's more a novelty factor than anything.

Clubs do plenty of match sim, it's nice to vary it with a "proper" opposition" as opposed to a teammate.

[locky801]

Are trial games losing their value?

Ahead of us playing a trial this weekend, I'm wondering if there really is any point to them anymore.

Guess if you are lucky enough to have a full day at your home ground its a bit of extra money over the bar and canteen than you would normally have

[gadj1976]

Are trial games losing their value?

Ahead of us playing a trial this weekend, I'm wondering if there really is any point to them anymore.

For new coaches they might serve a purpose. Otherwise, nada.

I have seen over the years, some coaches (say D3 playing D4) can use it as a confidence booster going into the season providing you easily account for that team. If they lost, then they'd convince themselves or others that they had injuries, players missing or tried some things. In other words, all bluff and dander.

If a coach (say D4 playing D3) get close, can use it as a confidence booster going into the season. If they get blown out of the water, then they'd convince themselves or others that they had injuries, players missing or tried some things. In other words, all bluff and dander.

[Arch44]

Are trial games losing their value?

Ahead of us playing a trial this weekend, I'm wondering if there really is any point to them anymore.

They are over rated.

[locky801]

Are trial games losing their value?

Ahead of us playing a trial this weekend, I'm wondering if there really is any point to them anymore.

They are over rated.

More value for the supporters to begin their preseason drinking antics

[wenchbarwer]

Are trial games losing their value?

Ahead of us playing a trial this weekend, I'm wondering if there really is any point to them anymore.

They are over rated.

More value for the supporters to begin their preseason drinking antics

Yep, the real preseason

[Hack]

Are trial games losing their value?

Ahead of us playing a trial this weekend, I'm wondering if there really is any point to them anymore.

Have never read into the results much at all.

They are a good way to train new structures and test what works/doesnt. Things like centre bounce structure is hard to train during internal trials as the opposition (your own teammates) know the structure and what you are setting up to do much of the time so can combat it easier than real opposition.

[whufc]

Are trial games losing their value?

Ahead of us playing a trial this weekend, I'm wondering if there really is any point to them anymore.

Yeah tend to agree. Last year we played 2 and ended up with 3 ACL's. Given most our grounds up this way will be dry we are doing 1 this year.

We've probably seen equal benefit from playing internal trials/match simulations. We did a 3 x 20min one Monday night. Broke the guys up into even sides. Gave us the ability to stop play when we wanted and check how our stoppage set up/structures looked. Occasionally a team would kick a goal but instead of a center bounce we would walk through a kick out and setting up our zones. Play scenarios like each side having an extra defender behind the ball, playing timed scenarios at stages as well.

We just felt in general we had more control of what we wanted out of the game. Less risk of injury given we could manage all the players on the oval yet still got to see where blokes were at on certain match ups etc.

We will probably do another one of those rather than an extra trial

[The Bedge]

These are my thoughts why I think trials are a waste:
People are time poor already
Footy is a long season without adding extra commitments / games.
Not much break between cricket / footy
Grounds are hard to source at times
Most decent coaches should be doing a lot of game sense / match sim type training anyway, so you're getting that competitive work.
Internals give you a good look and can move things around easier as well as stop the game if really needed.
Most groups seem to only use it for a confidence booster - that's why clubs often approach / schedule against sides in a lower division.
Large number of players are often U/A which then doesn't give you a proper insight into how your team structures up.

[whufc]

Yeah agree with all of that....

I guess the flip side to what the benefits of a trial is....

-Internals maybe don't 100% replicate the intensity of playing an opponent rather than your mates (ill make a case however that maybe this is also a con to playing a trial)

-Playing against different styles of sides/players. Not knowing the style of play a team will play against you must carry some weight. I know in our internals you could see blokes knew exactly what the player would do, eg kick down the line so they didnt really defend the corridor because they knew the kicker so well.

-Is there a benefit / confidence to 'winning', maybe a small case to be made.

But overridingly i agree with you and whilst our A grade coach and myself are involved we won't be playing any more than 1 trial game and to be blunt our A Grade have still won the flag each year so it's not a make or break. We've won our round 1 game each year so i wouldn't say we are having slow starts because of it.

I will say however in our clubs case we are an established side with only a couple new ins etc so maybe for a team who was forming and had a bunch more in that might be more critical.

[Lightning McQueen]

These are my thoughts why I think trials are a waste:
People are time poor already
Footy is a long season without adding extra commitments / games.
Not much break between cricket / footy
Grounds are hard to source at times
Most decent coaches should be doing a lot of game sense / match sim type training anyway, so you're getting that competitive work.
Internals give you a good look and can move things around easier as well as stop the game if really needed.
Most groups seem to only use it for a confidence booster - that's why clubs often approach / schedule against sides in a lower division.
Large number of players are often U/A which then doesn't give you a proper insight into how your team structures up.

A good way to see how the new boots look or whether a headband suits or not.

[Down the Hill]

With many trials getting cancelled due to heat last week and the ongoing issues with finding ovals then I think we might see a shift in trial match strategy after this year for the reasons that Bedge has mentioned. $ are also a factor. If you have to hire an oval and not benefit from any beer and food sales then it's all money going out for trials. Our trial this Saturday is costing the two clubs $650 each in umpires and hire fees.

[The Bedge]

If the season had started after Easter like it should've I think you might've got more interest in trial games next weekend, and clubs could've hosted.

The closeness and almost overlap of the summer + winter seasons is getting out of control.

*edit* - but you shorten the footy season and nuffy coaches that think they're in the AFL system end up running longer pre-seasons.

[Down the Hill]

Spot on Bedge. Once we knew the Gather Round and Easter implications I was a big advocate for commencing 26 April and just having a final 4. But just like the trial match talk, some people out in club land are so set in their ways and just think every season should be rinse and repeat. I wonder how many of the clear majority that voted for the 5 April start are now wondering if it was such a good idea after all. No fault of the league of course. They went to the clubs, as they should, and that's where we landed.

[Dutchy]

How many trials have Kilburn had? If they play finals they will be up to 23+ games for the year

[Footy Chick]

How many trials have Kilburn had? If they play finals they will be up to 23+ games for the year

Shrek said on Friday night they've got a total of 5 - that's crazy

With our cancellation last week, we'll scrape in one trial v Willaston (at Willaston) on the 29th

[Lightning McQueen]

How many trials have Kilburn had? If they play finals they will be up to 23+ games for the year

Shrek said on Friday night they've got a total of 5 - that's crazy

With our cancellation last week, we'll scrape in one trial v Willaston (at Willaston) on the 29th

Got a clash guernsey?

[Lightning McQueen]

I remember when the 9-a-side comps were all the rage, decent prize money too, they were being hosted everywhere and very populated.

[Footy Chick]

How many trials have Kilburn had? If they play finals they will be up to 23+ games for the year

Shrek said on Friday night they've got a total of 5 - that's crazy

With our cancellation last week, we'll scrape in one trial v Willaston (at Willaston) on the 29th

Got a clash guernsey?

That's how much i know about BLG, i didn't know their colours - but yes, we have a mostly black with red and blue clash strip, would that work?

[Lightning McQueen]

How many trials have Kilburn had? If they play finals they will be up to 23+ games for the year

Shrek said on Friday night they've got a total of 5 - that's crazy

With our cancellation last week, we'll scrape in one trial v Willaston (at Willaston) on the 29th

Got a clash guernsey?

That's how much i know about BLG, i didn't know their colours - but yes, we have a mostly black with red and blue clash strip, would that work?