Preview NAB Cup Round 1.

[mattys123]

So, with about 2 1/2 weeks until out first official game of 2011, I thought it was time to actually start discussing what our approach should be to this "joke" of a so called competition.

When: February 12th, 8.20pm + 9.25pm
Where: Etihad Stadium
Opponents: Carlton, Richmond
Tickets on sale: Monday, 31st January, 9am

"Trial rules"; (Too many to quote)

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=106211

Teams;

I'm assuming when picking these teams, that the same interchange rules exist as per the 2010 NAB Cup, when each team had 6 "bench" players and 2 "subs".

My predicted team vs Richmond (1st game)

Back: Goldasck, Brown, Toovey
HB: O'Brien, Reid, Tarrant
C: J.Thomas, Swan, D.Thomas
HF: Rounds, Cloke, Krakouer
F: Dick, Dawes, McCarthy
Foll: Wood, Pendlebury, Beams
Int: Keefe, Davis, Young, Wellingham , Blair, Ball,
Didak (1st sub), Johnson (2nd sub)

This team is purely selected on our terms, with no consideration given to the opposition at all, we need to get as much game time into as many possible round 1 "candidates" as possible, with exceptions to the older and "superstar" players.

Team vs Carlton;

Back: Toovey, Brown, Reid
HB: Maxwell, O'Brien, Shaw
C: Didak, Thomas, Sidebottom
HF: Tarrant, L.Brown, Rounds
F: Davis, Dawes, Blair
Foll: Jolly, Ball, Wellingham
Int: Reed (rookie), Krakouer, Buckley, Beams, Young, Sinclair,
Swan (1st sub), Pendles (2nd sub)

You can see for the second game, our 2 absolute superstar are the subs, and they should be used in a very minimal way. I wouldn't even mind if Swan and Pendles missed game 2 (or game 1) entirely and they're places were taken by a Fasolo or a Ugle type. Tarrant and Krakouer need to play almost the full games, as they need to get "assimilated" with the main players in their part of the ground as soon as possible.

Players left out: Seedsman, Ugle, Farmer, Ceglar (all 1st year players), Macaffer (inj)

Tough to leave all but Fasolo out from our draft/trading period, but I believe we are preparing for the season, and I can't see any of these 4 at any time pushing for senior selection. Scott Reed is the only "rookie" to get a go, plainly because he is the only one IMO who has any chance of promotion to the senior list within 2011.

(Note: I probably left 1-2 players out entirely without knowing, as this exercise actually isn't as easy as it seams)

Discuss, critique, or have a "crack" at the selection of both sides.

 

[daics_35]

I am really looking forward to this and I like the format this year, cant wait to see the boys running out again and preparing for a big season. I doubt Didak and N.Brown will play at all in the pre season comp but apart from them we should rotate the team around and try as many new players as possible. Looking forward to see Tazz, Krakour and Fasalo play. I wonder who the Richmond fans will go for when we play Carlton. I rekon they will be going for us.

 

[Ed D]

Apparently teams playing back to back halves can only make 2 changes to their team.

But it's going to be interesting to see how it goes. We get a preview of how Richmond and Carlton play and then get to play a warmed up/fatigued Richmond straight up. No doubt we'll pick up som strategies from that as well as the game the night before, but really I think it's going to be hard to know anything from these games.

Hopefully we get through so we don't have to play on suburban grounds the rest of the preseason.

 

[mattys123]

I wonder who the Richmond fans will go for when we play Carlton. I rekon they will be going for us.

Being Richmond fans, I expect them to be at the bar.

 

[Ed D]

I wonder who the Richmond fans will go for when we play Carlton. I rekon they will be going for us.

They play their games first up so I'm guessing a lot of them will leave, unless there is a reason to stick around.

 

[mattys123]

Apparently teams playing back to back halves can only make 2 changes to their team.

If that's true, then Swanny, Pendles, Didak (our superstars) and anyone with a slight injury is not playing, even as a sub.

Typical dictator like bullshit from the AFL, it's 2 separate opponents, and you can only make 2 changes, WTF?

 

[daics_35]

They play their games first up so I'm guessing a lot of them will leave, unless there is a reason to stick around.

That would be silly, you may as well stay and watch some more footy for another 40 minutes but anyway I am sure most of us will be going for them against Carlton. It will interesteing cheersquad wise as well with three teams playing on the same night. Can wait for Nab Cup.

 

[Ed D]

I'm expecting Richmond to be beaten both games, so I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't in the mood for more football. It'd be a different story if they won a game though.

And yeah the 2 changes rule, I'm pretty sure I read that on the AFL website in an article somewhere. It's a bit stupid because AFAIK Carlton can make as many changes as they want. I guess he downside is they have to wait 40mins or so in between. It's going to be interesting, and I wouldn't be surprised if we never saw this format of the game again.

 

[mattys123]

Oh yeah, I forgot to highlight this, but here is the worst rule change/trial in the history of our game;

5. Last touch out of bounds
To be trialled in the first round of matches only, a free kick will be paid against the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds. A free won’t be paid if the umpire is unable to determine who touched the ball last, if the ball goes out of bounds from a spoil after a marking contest or if the ball goes out of bounds as a result of a defensive smother to a kick or a handball.

Really? Do we have to trial a soccer rule? (Do you have to handball the ball back in?). I don't get it, why trial a rule that no club would except in the home and away season?

 

[Ed D]

The last out of bounds rule changes the game in a big way too IMO, it means teams can't really make spoils near the boundary line and hit it out, which could be handy for us actually.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Looking forward to NAB Cup.

Be really interesting to see the dynamic between 3 sets of supporters. Especially such old rivals.

I'm going with a mate who supports Richmond, so I'll be watching all 3 games. Should be good.

 

[Jelly Bean]

The last out of bounds rule changes the game in a big way too IMO, it means teams can't really make spoils near the boundary line and hit it out, which could be handy for us actually.

Yes they can - defensive spoils are not penalised. A defensive spoil is still a boundary throw in.

 

[Heater39]

So we're playing Richmond and Carlton on the same day? How long are the matches and the breaks inbetween the matches?

 

[Ed D]

Yes they can - defensive spoils are not penalised. A defensive spoil is still a boundary throw in.

Ahh my bad, I should have read the whole rule! It's really only going to stop people running the ball out or misdirected kicks then.

So we're playing Richmond and Carlton on the same day? How long are the matches and the breaks inbetween the matches?

I think it's 2 x 20 min halves (or quarters) with a 5min break between the two then a 20min break between the games. So Pies will play 20min, (5min break), 20, (20), 20, (5), 20.

 

[TradeDraft]

Oh yeah, I forgot to highlight this, but here is the worst rule change/trial in the history of our game;



Really? Do we have to trial a soccer rule? (Do you have to handball the ball back in?). I don't get it, why trial a rule that no club would except in the home and away season?

Another way the AFL is trying to screw around with the game

That game is find how it is

 

[HFF]

Just pick the players that are fit and right to go.

Get game time into as many players as possible whilst exposing some untried youngsters to senior footy i.e. J Thomas and Rounds.

Obviously, any players in any form of doubt or carrying any niggles i.e. Didak or Macaffer should not feature.

 

[Bay Pie]

I only want us to do well enough to play on decent grounds to avoid any possible injuries from poor grounds.

 

[mattys123]

I only want us to do well enough to play on decent grounds to avoid any possible injuries from poor grounds.

The AFLPA's increase in power in the game has changed this is a little bit in recent seasons.

Simply put, even Nab Challenge grounds need to be close enough to AFL standard, so I don't care if we get knocked out first round or not.

In fact I'd prefer it, because if we get knocked out, we go back to "home and away" rules, with the sub introduced and then we are able to play real practice games, without AFL interference in regards to rules.

There's a such a huge gap this year between round 1 of the NAB Cup and round 1 of the season (Weekend of Feb the 12th through to Weekend of March 25th) that to be able to do your "own thing" might be an actual advantage.

 

[Pissi123]

I would like to see Fasolo trialled in at least one of the matches. Looks like he has the body to play AFL already (played senior footy already). Also wouldn't mind seeing Leon in the backline, and I think that there is a huge chance we'll see it after he was taking the kick-ins at last Fridays intraclub. This new 3 team round-robin is going to bring a better feel to the NAB cup I feel. Can't wait!

 

[cobbly]

Can someone explain how they work out who goes through to the next round? What if each team wins 1 game each?

 

[mattys123]

Can someone explain how they work out who goes through to the next round? What if each team wins 1 game each?

I'm guessing it's as simple as a "mini ladder" for each group, where if each team wins one game, then percentage will come into it, and the team with the highest percentage after the 3 games goes through.

Note that there are 6 groups, and 8 quarter finalists, meaning the 2 "best losers" also go through to the quarter final round, and that would most likely be determined by placing the 12 first round "losers" into a ladder also, and the top 2 would then join the 6 "winners".

Complicated, yes, but only to those who don't understand our percentage system anyway.

 

[Harry O]

Week 1 NAB Cup is very meh for me this year because of the new last touch out of bounds free kick rule. Happy to watch the games post week 1 where the rules will be closer to proper season reality. For that reason, not fussed if we get knocked out week 1.
Would like to see Fasalo, Keefe, Rounds and Young trialled.