THE TIGERS will replicate their 2017 pre-finals bye schedule next week with the players to again relish the opportunity to mentally reset before their September campaign officially starts.
The players will be given a few days off early in the week following their recovery from Saturday's final round clash with the Western Bulldogs before training ramps up again.
Kane Lambert and Dan Butler will be among those considered to play in the VFL team's first final on the bye weekend as part of their recovery from ankle injuries.
It's the opportunity to allow players like them the chance to gain match fitness in the VFL, plus the break it affords the entire group, that has premiership coach Damien Hardwick in favour of the bye after round 23.
"It's a long season and I think the players enjoy the mental break of the finality of one season and the start of another," Hardwick said.
"Even from a coaching point of view, it's good to reset and recharge and then we look forward to the second, more important part of the season starting."
The Demons, having last played finals in 2006, well before the bye was introduced in 2016, are less clear on what next week will look like for them.
Coach Simon Goodwin was determined to keep their focus on Sunday's clash with Greater Western Sydney that could see them earn a top-four finish, rather than what happened in the days following.
"We'll cross that bridge next week but clearly this is the opportunity to get ourselves into a position as high as we possibly can and be in the best form we can possibly be, and we get a chance to do that against GWS this week, who are a really good footy team," Goodwin said.
But the former Crow, who played in 23 finals in his 275-game career, declared his support for the concept ahead of the start of the "new tournament".
"I think it's a great opportunity for clubs to reset," Goodwin said.
"We're into our 23rd week and it's a really important week.
"All the clubs go full steam, right to the line and get a chance to reset."
For the Demons, the most obvious beneficiary of the break is co-captain Jack Viney, who is on track to return from a foot injury in the first week.
Goodwin also said Jayden Hunt (ankle) and Joel Smith (collarbone) would be in line to play in the VFL finals on bye weekend in a bid to keep their own seasons alive.
The Magpies have also not experienced a post-round 23 bye, having not made the finals since 2013.
Coach Nathan Buckley also has the luxury of the club's VFL side qualifying for finals, which gives him a vehicle for players returning from injury – such as Jeremy Howe - to gather match fitness if required.
"You can get some fair loads in," Buckley said.
"You can train the boys at fairly high intensities and try to replicate games as much as you can, but we also have the flexibility of the first finals in the VFL.
"That's a consideration – and all of those management options come into play. But hard training and getting set … it won't be a concern."
