Throughout the NAB Challenge series there has been much debate on the importance of playing pre-season games ahead of the home and away season.
 
Long-term injuries suffered by 2014 Western Bulldogs and West Coast Eagles best and fairest winners, Tom Liberatore and Eric Mackenzie, have prompted some media analysts to criticise the benefit of risking players ahead of the proper season.
 
With the gap between internal match simulation and the intensity of round one against proper opposition being enormous, Gold Coast SUNS utility Danny Stanley sees the value in gaining match fitness and blowing out the cobwebs ahead of the leap in round one.
 
“I definitely do (see the value in playing pre-season games). It just gives you that match fitness. Anyone who has played footy at a high level knows you can’t just run out on the park and play good competitive footy,” Stanley told goldcoastfc.com.au.
 
“Maybe if you’re Gary Ablett you might be able to, but for the rest of us it’s important to get out there and run around and get that match fitness early on.”
 
The transition between pre-season and the regular season is in the process of completion, with the focus on conditioning gradually being replaced with a focus on recovering between games.

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Stanley admits he’s adapted well to the transition to proper practice matches following a gruelling pre-season campaign in the brutal Queensland sun.
 
“(Body has adapted) really well, just been focusing on recovery at this time of year as opposed to bigger sessions, running the k’s,” Stanley said.
 
“We’ve sort of done all that through pre-season, so now it’s all about getting your body right for the next game.”
 
With 75 games in SUNS colours, Stanley is one of the more experienced campaigners in the Gold Coast line up.
 
He has been earmarked for a role as a high half-forward this season, but given the reality he has become a modern day utility during his time at Metricon Stadium, the 27-year-old is happy to fill whatever role is required of him.
 
“Still hoping to play that high half-forward role, nothing’s changed as yet, things can change pretty quickly though,” Stanley said.
 
“I won’t be disappointed to play somewhere else, just as long as I’m playing.”