Maxy’s not crazy about split round

Magpies veteran Nick Maxwell is not a fan of split rounds. Picture: Getty Source: Robert Prezioso / Getty Images

MAGPIES premiership captain Nick Maxwell is not a fan of a split AFL opening round, believing the long delays between games lead to "crazy'' criticism of teams and individuals.

Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond have all been heavily analysed and panned for the past fortnight after suffering disappointing losses on the opening weekend of the split round.

"In an ideal world I think everyone, AFL included, would like to start it on the same (weekend) but due to circumstance with the way everything is at the moment with all of the grounds, we just have to split it,'' Maxwell said on the eve of his 200th match. "Because up north (the NRL) are getting a jump on us with the league and we've just got to make sure that we're on TV and in front of people.''

Maxwell with his children Milla, 3, and Archie, 16 months, ahead of his 200th game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Maxwell said the fact that there a huge number of television and radio shows, some of them needing to fill airtime on a daily basis, meant there was some extravagant and kneejerk criticism.

"All Round 1 was just crazy with a lot of the commentary coming out of it,'' Maxwell said. "So much of it was way over the top, not just for individuals but for teams as well. Now that there's games every week and there's more to talk about they'll take a breath and they'll actually take a few notes before they start mouthing off.''

Maxwell said it "felt like a lifetime'' since the Pies opened the season with a wretched 70-point loss to Fremantle "and look it's probably felt the same for Sydney as well''.

He agreed with coach Nathan Buckley's assessment that the players had "a churning in the guts'' about their performance against the Dockers and were determined to bounce back against the Swans.

Maxwell stretches during the Magpies training session. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

The Magpies are expected to make two changes at selection, with former Sydney forward Jesse White coming into the team.

Maxwell suggested Nathan Brown or Jack Frost would be given the key match-up on Lance Franklin, but the key to nullifying his influence would be to "to make sure we match them in the contested possessions and the clearances'' in the midfield.

He said Franklin did "not need a lot of possessions to tear you apart'', but warned that a fully fit Sam Reid, who was hobbled by injury last season, was also an extremely dangerous prospect.

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