It was perhaps the most bizarre whinge by an AFL coach this season.
Despite his side flogging Brisbane at the ‘Gabba in Round 20, Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson claimed the welfare of his players had been put at risk by playing in 24C weather.
Instead of lauding his charges for their 105-point win over Brisbane which cemented them in the top eight, Sanderson chose to shift the focus to the 1:10pm start time.
“Playing a game here in the middle of August, in the middle of the day, is just baffling,” Sanderson said at the time.
“I think if you’re going to schedule games up here at this time of year, you’ve got to put them at night, otherwise you’re going to put players health and safety at risk.”
His comments were widely ridiculed, which was not surprising given pre-season matches and practice games are often played in temperatures well into the 30s.
Yet, rather than backing away from his claims or simply moving on from them, Sanderson chose to continue his moaning in the lead up to Adelaide’s pivotal clash with Richmond last round.
At a press conference the day before this match, Sanderson churlishly listed how rarely several high-profile Melbourne clubs had played day games at the Gabba over the past 20 years.
Sanderson had also put on the agenda his side’s frequent six-day breaks and whether they would be able to rebound from this latest one following the game in supposedly-searing heat at the Gabba.
All this sounded like excuses. Ready-made excuses should his side wilt on their home ground against the surging Richmond.
It surely sent a poor message to his own players – that their coach was concerned they wouldn’t be able to perform to their peak in the make-or-break clash with the Tigers.
That message would also have been received by the Richmond camp, although in a far more positive light. They would have been buoyed at the thought that their opponents were worried they may not have the legs to last the match.
It’s hard to think that the Richmond coaches and team leaders didn’t raise this point before the game. You’d also imagine it may well have been emphasised in the huddle at three-quarter time as the Tigers plotted how to hold on to their lead and earn the four points.
At such junctures, this sort of message can be just what a side needs to instill faith. Richmond must have felt confident they could over run Adelaide and, after a scare, they managed to hold strong and come out victorious.
Tigers leader Brett Deledio even made a veiled reference to Sanderson’s bleating in an interview after the match.
“I knew we had the run in our legs because they obviously came off a six-day break in the heat up in Brisbane,” Deledio said.
Upon reflection I still cannot understand what Sanderson was trying to achieve with his comments. Adelaide were entering the most important match of their season.
They are now barely hanging on to their top eight spot with Richmond, Collingwood, West Coast and Gold Coast all within reach of denying them a finals spot.
What were you thinking Brenton?
Don Freo
Guest
Agreed...inane. I'd can press conferences until reporters start thinking.
Gregor
Guest
There was a game where North Melbourne played Brisbane at the Gabba when the North players were standing in the shade of the stand at quarter time because they were hot.Brisbane grilled them
vocans
Guest
Now I know why they stand around so much! And I thought it was something to do with legendary strategy and tactical considerations!! They need plenty of time to cool down between plays; and ditto to warm up in huddles like emperor penguins.
Cat
Roar Guru
Hottest recorded NFL game was 109f (42.7c) at kickoff (reportedly reached 150f (65.5c) at ground level near the artificial turf), Coldest NFL game ever was -13f (-25c) with a windchill of -48f (-44.4c). Quite the range of conditions.
joe b
Guest
I would think Aussie Rules players are heavier than soccer players, and this would result in different physiological impact between the two codes when playing in the heat. As for extreme cold, I know soccer games get canceled from time to time (eg. frozen ground)...AFL hasn't been exposed to snowy conditions that I know of.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I remember commenting at the time it was a bunch of crap. If the players can't stand 24 degree heat they need to take a few medical checks. Seriously, that is next to nothing. Soccer players play in the Snow. Do just fine.
Darren
Guest
Same way Malthouse contributed to Dale Thomas injury - you posted it Friday. I just felt the urge to remind you.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Mark Stevens asks for what he gets off Malthouse.
Mik
Guest
Put and AFL team in Darwin and then play em in the build up to the wet season - thats hot.
AR
Guest
That's a big "if"...and really, just vague speculation.
AR
Guest
"If anything the Queensland teams should be requesting day games to retain some home ground advantage up here during the middle of the southern winter." I agree with that SFGC. The Cowboys would hate having to travel to Melbourne when it's freezing cold, just as the Lions would hate travelling to Tassie for Hawthorn games. That's the reality of a truly national competition in Australia - and long may it continue.
vocans
Guest
Yeah, in the NFL there's plenty of time to stand around freezing your tits off too. :)
vocans
Guest
I think night fixtures would suit the Queensland teams too. It was fortunate for the Crows that the energy level required was less in the final q as you say.
Jason H
Roar Rookie
and with that attitude you found yourselves in the GF last year. Maybe Ross is onto something.
Ash
Guest
You cannot blame a close loss on one line a coach said in a six minute press conference. However, I get irritated when footy folk in Australia complain about the weather. They should try playing an NFL playoff game in one of the cold weather cities in the US like Green Bay or Denver. There was a playoff game in Denver a couple of years ago in which the temperature was minus 10 degrees at 2.30pm.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
It may not have been consciously in the players minds, but maybe just somewhere in the back for a few of them, when they began to feel a bit fatigued it might be down to the heat rather than something they could've run through. Either way it probably offered more to the Richmond players, that they could turn the screws a bit more on a flagging opposition. Like when the Hawks went and stood in the shade all those years ago at the Gabba.
Daws
Guest
Has Sanderson heard of Perth or Darwin? It hit 29 in the middle of winter for a home game here earlier this year.
Daws
Guest
Boom.
Radelaide
Guest
I'll agree Sando is a poor coach IMO and I think we got the good Geelong assistant but how did Sando contribute to Ottens knee injury? I mean Ottens has been up and running for a while now.
Gavin
Guest
Ah no it didn't cost us the game. Stupid article. Are you really suggesting that the players are out there thinking about their coaches comments when they're kicking and handballing? No.