NAB Cup - will we go out to win it?

[Kildonan]

Grant Thomas is a big believer in going out to win every match we play.

Should we go all out in the preseason Cup matches? or are we better off playing kids to blood them and assess their development?

My best 22 (subject to fitness)

-B Voss Hudghton L Fisher
HB S Fisher Maguire R Clarke
-C Fiora Hayes X Clarke
HF Hamill Riewoldt Goddard
-F Milne Gehrig Dal Santo
-R Koschitzke Harvey Ball

Int Ackland (Thompson / Powell) Baker Montagna


The youth alternative might look something like this:

-B Ferguson Schwarze L Fisher
HB S Fisher Maguire R Clarke
-C Fiora McGough X Clarke
HF Sweeney Ackland Goddard
-F Murray Watts Gram
-R Rix McQualter Montagna

Int Brooks Blake Gwilt Gilbert Peckett Corr

We may not win, but we get to see some of the lesser lights and give them a chance to impress

What do you think our approach should be?

[JeffDunne]

If we beat Collingwood in week 1 we travel to Perth in week 2 (winner WCE/Freo week 1).

There's no guarantee that week 3 or even the final will be in Melbourne so I don't see any benefit in going all out, especially with a trip to Perth in the first H&A.

I'm sure if players are fit we'll play them, but I'd imagine most players we would be concerned about will be on programs having them fit for round 1 of the H&A, hence not being ready for the start of the NAB cup. If we get through the first two weeks I'd expect more experienced players to then be available, but I think it might be a first or second week exit.

[Axcellence]

I just think... going out without the intention to win is just wrong. We might just not turn up then!!!

If you go out on the field, you play it like you play your normal game. If you're worried about injuries, then maybe you should take up ping pong.

[JeffDunne]

I don't think anyone's advocating not trying to win. The 22 you put on the park are of course tryng to win. Sometimes in meaningless games you'll get more from your fringe players than you will from regular starters.

IMO selection policy in preseason games should be based more on who needs the game time rather than trying to sheild players from injury.

[sainter]

I don't think anyone's advocating not trying to win. The 22 you put on the park are of course tryng to win. Sometimes in meaningless games you'll get more from your fringe players than you will from regular starters.

IMO selection policy in preseason games should be based more on who needs the game time rather than trying to sheild players from injury.

I agree with that.

I expect the players that line-up against Collingwood to be going flat out but there's no need to field a full strength team. What's the point risking the likes of Harvey, Gehrig and Hamill? We all know what they are capable of and how costly it would be to lose them for a long period of time. At the same time it's a fantastic opportunity for the fringe players to challenge for a spot in our best team. We'd all love to win but protecting our older players and developing the youngsters is a far more important goal.

Over the years there has been a direct correlation between the teams that make the semi-finals in pre-season and who go on to make the finals in the regular season but you only have to look as far Carlton last year to see that it's not the be all and end all.

[m.diddy]

Grant Thomas is a big believer in going out to win every match we play.

Should we go all out in the preseason Cup matches? or are we better off playing kids to blood them and assess their development?

My best 22 (subject to fitness)

-B Voss Hudghton L Fisher
HB S Fisher Maguire R Clarke
-C Fiora Hayes X Clarke
HF Hamill Riewoldt Goddard
-F Milne Gehrig Dal Santo
-R Koschitzke Harvey Ball

Int Ackland (Thompson / Powell) Baker Montagna


The youth alternative might look something like this:

-B Ferguson Schwarze L Fisher
HB S Fisher Maguire R Clarke
-C Fiora McGough X Clarke
HF Sweeney Ackland Goddard
-F Murray Watts Gram
-R Rix McQualter Montagna

Int Brooks Blake Gwilt Gilbert Peckett Corr

We may not win, but we get to see some of the lesser lights and give them a chance to impress

What do you think our approach should be?

A few things I would like to see.

- Goddard play in the position they are setting him for, (Midfield, backline, floater, whatever) and play him almost everyminute of every game in that posi.
- Work L.Fisher into some match fitness.
- Don't play the G-train or R.Harvey, although i'm sure both will protest agaisnt that
- X.Clarke and R.Clarke to play almost every second of every game from the midfield/wing/halfforward, same to with montagna

[mad-saint-guy]

I think our Wizard cup team should look like this...

B: Gilbert, Rix, Ferguson
HB: Schwarze, Maguire, L.Fisher
C: Gram, McGough, Gwilt
HF: R.Clarke, Goddard, S.Fisher
F: Sweeney, Watts, Montagna

Foll: Brooks, McQualter, Murray
Int: Blake, Ackland, Fiora, X.Clarke, Dal Santo, Milne

Notes: When Brooks gets tired, play him forward, moving Rix into the ruck and Gilbert/Ferguson to FB.
McGough to play entire game in the centre.
Goose to try and outscore his opponent
Goddard just to lead and mark. Never drifting into the backline or anything.
Watts to stand in the goal square and try to out-mark his opponent. Little leading.
Gram to run, run, and run. See if he can get it from a kick-in and run to our goal-square.
Murray forced to play midfield until he's absolutely spent.
Fiora to play on opposition's enforcer (eg Hamill/Archer)
Blake to play in midfield as a tagger
Ackland to replace Goddard at CHF when buggered
Ferguson aim to keep his opponent to 2 possessions
Dal Santo played as a crumbing forward pocket
McQualter to play entire game in midfield. See what he can do with some decent gametime.
Raph try to markon lead 60-70m out, run past his opponent and let loose
Milney to play as rebounding defender (ala Aussie Jones)
Joey to lead and lead and lead. Always providing an extra option.
Chips to play fairly deep forward. See if he can take a pack mark or two
Gwilt to bomb it into the Watts/Fisher direction

Sigh, I realise chances are none of these will happen, but its still good fun coming up with this kind of stuff.

[mad-saint-guy]

Also I'd love to see McDonnel, Pfitzner and Corr get a game.

[SaintBot]

i agree m-s-g
corr, mcdonnel and pyfitziner should getta game...gilbert should be tested at chb/fb
sweeny on the wing/hff
raymond in the fp
and rix in the ruck


i think gt may take some senior players to w.a to get used to the conditions for rd 1