San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan arrived in Melbourne a week early to prepare his squad for the NFL’s inaugural regular‑season game on Australian soil. Speaking at the team’s training base at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Shanahan laughed that the massive time‑zone shift left him “feeling like I’m in the future” as he tried to reconcile his clock with his family’s schedule back home.
Preparing for a historic kickoff
The 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams on Friday at the 100,000‑seat Melbourne Cricket Ground, marking the first NFL regular‑season contest played in Australia. The game is slated for a 10:35 a.m. local start (0035 GMT), requiring the San Francisco side to adjust their routines dramatically.
To combat jet lag, the team has been training in the Australian morning and received a detailed packet from staff outlining sleep, nutrition and supplement schedules. Running back Christian McCaffrey praised the thorough preparation, noting that players were given specific instructions on when to stay awake, when to rest and which supplements to take at various times.
Rams take a different approach
In contrast, the Rams plan to arrive only the day before the game, maintaining their usual California‑time training and sleep habits. This divergent strategy highlights the logistical challenges of staging an NFL matchup on the opposite side of the world.
Adjusting to an oval stadium
McCaffrey also warned that playing in an oval‑shaped venue will feel unfamiliar. He said the crowd of 96,680 spectators, who were there for an AFL playoff between the Geelong Cats and Carlton Blues, will provide a unique atmosphere, but the stadium’s dimensions and acoustics will require on‑field adjustments.
Despite the logistical hurdles, Shanahan emphasized that the 49ers are “pretty jacked” and relish the chance to be the sole focus of a global audience, rather than competing with multiple games on a typical Sunday back in the United States.
Looking back and moving forward
The 49ers concluded the 2025 season with a 41‑6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoffs. Coach Shanahan hopes the Australian adventure will give his team a fresh start and a memorable experience as they kick off the 2026 campaign.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
