Carlton and Brisbane both come into this game with the same credentials.....
Round 1 of the NAB cup Carlton played Essendon and everyone said "Essendon should win",they didn't,Carlton played a stronger side,and it showed in the end with a hard fought win.....
It was somewhat unexpected,but a win none the less.....
Brisbane played Saint Kilda and were expected to lose....
They won,
Round 2 Carlton travelled to Tassie to meet the Hawks who were touted as "taking the NAB cup seriously and will be hard to topple at Aurora".....
Carlton won,the doubters will say Carlton won because of the umpires and Fev's staging,think what you please,Carlton won a game they were expected to lose.....
Brisbane travelled again to play the Western Bulldogs who are expected to be in the eight this year,and easily account for the Lions who struggled last year and were widely regarded to "not do much in season 2007"....
Brisbane won.....
Round 3 and Carlton once again travelled to meet the Roos on the Gold Coast in a game that the Roos were "heavily favoured to win.....easily"....
The Blues staged a remarkable comeback and played some slick football to win rather convincingly ( a nine goal turnaround in a quater and a half of football is no mean feat),once again Carlton won a game they were expected to lose.(that's three in a row now)...
Brisbane again had to travel to play the highly fancied Cats,and once again beat the odds to win......
This game will be closer than many expect....
IMHO regardless of who wins the pre season premiership on Saturday,you can safetly assume that both sides will be in for a much improved season 2007,rest assured that both these teams are better than Essendon,Hawthorn and the Kangaroos....
Collingwood,Richmond,Melbourne and Port Adelaide would do well to pay both teams the utmost of respect when playing against us this year,they are all beatable....
This, coulped with a couple of upset wins against some more fancied opposition could well see both of this years NAB cup finalists sneak into the eight.....