The bye round might be welcomed by players across the land, but there is no escaping from the fact that it is fraught with danger.

While the opportunity to recharge after a taxing start to the year is undoubtedly beneficial across the second half of the season, games straight after the bye are tough to win, especially if you face a side that isn’t coming off a bye.

Decorated St Kilda veteran Leigh Montagna is well aware of the challenge faced by teams coming off the week off.

From last year’s sample, of the nine teams who faced a team who had played the previous week, only one of those sides acquired four premiership points – Carlton beat Port Adelaide by four-points in Round 12.

“It’s a challenge for us this week,” Montagna told Melbourne radio station Triple M on Thursday morning, ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Geelong at Etihad Stadium.

“I looked at some stats from last season and I think there were nine games where a team coming off the bye played a team who had played the previous week and there was only one win to the team coming off the bye.

“I think there is something in that - you lose a bit of continuity. Footballers are very structured, we love routine, we’re finely tuned.

“I think having that four or five days off where you relax mentally and physically, it takes a while to get back in the groove.” 

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