With the AFL becoming an increasingly even competition - as evidenced by Carlton's upset win over Melbourne yesterday - any advantage the Lions can get will be crucial.
As such, one of the Lions' weekly sessions (normally a Thursday) will be closed to the public and media alike, so that Matthews and the squad can work on important team structures and game plans - away from the eyes of the opposition.
Matthews says such a move will be especially useful during the Lions' current development stage. Virtually all of the other 15 AFL clubs already hold closed sessions, but this is the first season in which the Lions will do so.
"If you've got a settled team then, as they say, you could almost give the opposition your game plan and it wouldn't matter," Matthews explained.
"(At this stage of our development) we've got to be a little less predictable and being less predictable means not letting them (opposition) see."
The decision to hold closed sessions was made before the weekend's season-opening loss to Geelong. That said, Matthews is already expecting a much better display against traditionally fierce rivals Essendon at the Gabba on Saturday.
"The good news is that the siren went and that game (against Geelong) was finished. And then you move and think ahead," he said.
"I can guarantee that when we play Essendon the scoreboard will start at nought-nought. I'm expecting us to play a lot better on Saturday night."
