NAB Cup - Worth repeating?

[CATS2007]

I don't see why not.

Couldn't hurt membership and we have yet to field a full strength side and have looked pretty good in two hit outs so far, so I don't see why we can't. Plus the prize money (and potential $1,000,000 bonus for the double) couldn't hurt either.

Next week we play Brisbane at TD, supposedely. Rumour has it that Matthews has told AFL to STFU by resting Black and Power with no guarantee of Bradshaw or Brown playing. Should be a comfortable win if we treat it like a final and Matthews is true to his word.

On paper we're clearly better then Kangaroos and Carlton, and Freo are yet to prove themselves in any sort of final. At this stage we'd have to be considered favourites and I'm sure that the TAB will back up that theory after tomorrow's game unless Freo post a huge score in a win.

Last season we peaked too early. We know that. But can it be entirely blamed on our pre-season success? It wasn't untill round three when the wheels fell off. A lot of talk out of the club has suggested we're trying to correct that mistake this season. If that's the case and we're playing as well as we are already at this stage of the year then in theory we should have a good year regardless of whether we win the NAB cup or not.

Besides it's pretty hard to watch them play and hope they lose. I've never watched a game I wanted to see us lose, so I don't understand why some people might think winning it would be a bad thing.

 

[CF]

I dont think it is a matter of wanting to lose. It is just that the focus for the club should be getting the players ready for round 1 and so the side selected to play in the pre-season should reflect that. Then it doesn't matter if we lose because we are not focusing on winning the NAB Cup. That's the way I look at it.

Also I don't think we peaked too soon last year. We won the NAB cup and then played two bottom 8 sides which we beat easily. The press got ahead of itself and so did we claiming we must be Premiership favs. Then we played some clubs who were better prepared for our game plan (thanks loris) and our injury/fitness issues began to bite. Last year was just like a snowball effect because off field problems began to surface and team cohesion began to suffer. The Cats had begun to work through it and had a better second half of the year.

The trolls and even most other supporters are going to use last year against us all season. We are going to just have to put up with it. Hopefully things will woprk out for us and we will finish in the 8. Let's hope.

But this all has nothing to do with the NAB Cup, it has to do with winning around 13-17 games in the Home & Away series. The 2 things are different. To win a NAB Cup Premiership you only have to win 4 games and you don't play all the teams do you. So you can get lucky.

To win an AFL Premiership you have to play 22 games to get into a position to qualify for the finals. You have injuries, suspensions, peaks and troughs in form, interstate travel, media hype, and supporter expectations to get through to hopefully make it to the finals. These are not excuses for failure, these are the facts about a professional sporting club. It takes luck and good management to make it all the way.

 

[WE Are Geelong]

If we were to make it through to the final and played either Carlton or North it would mean we could win the NAB Cup and not have played someone/anyone from the 8 of last season.

Wont everyone on BF let us know about that if we do win it under those circumstances.

I just want to see them get ready for round 1 and get a solid start to the season 50% win/loss ratio in the first 6-8 weeks. If we can do that I expect us to get better as the season goes on and make a strong case for the final 8 or even the top 4 if it beckons. I cant see anything that has been negative to our preparation yet so steady as she goes the NAB Cup has been good for us so far. Two good confidence boosting wins in completely different conditions...so we got to see some very different skills sets from the guys. For the young blokes in Darwin it would have been a good experience having big guys jumping into you all game...and seeing how you go.

Personally, I dont think we will run the 4 quarters out next week with a 6 day turn around from a slug fest in Darwin....but going from Matthews' comments Friday night and the fact the Lions have to travel again...it could be a bit of a Claytons' semi.

The focus still has to be round 1 no matter what.

 

[carn_the_cattas]

Keep playing the young guys and if we happen to win then its a bonus.
We should'nt go all out to win it, just keep using it to get match fitness and experience and it may fall into our laps.

I don't care if we win it or not aslong as we play our best footy in September (if we get that far.)

 

[Mooney_d'King]

Yes. Let's get used to a culture of winning.

 

[sarah.13]

What sort of a poll is this? What sort of supporter would vote no?

 

[Catnip]

I'm glad to see that not one Cat fan has said no. If we do NAB it again, outsiders will denigrate the achievement and underestimate us, we won't get ahead of ourselves due to the year of the toilet and we earn some much needed cash.

Unless we suffer a run of injuries there are no negatives.

 

[Kittenish]

Yesh, the NAB Cup is really good. I mean, getting to play the rookies at a near Professional level with not so much pressure as a Season game. That's a positive.

Earning $1,000 dollars cash for other clubs that need it. Definitely getting those guys into footy heaven.

And then earning $500,000 if we win the whole thing just sweetens the deal.

Call me a glory hound but I think it's definitely worth it (espicially to see most of the top 8 get out in round 1 [HAHA! Take that damn prissy Swanettes!]).

 

[Mr Sensitive]

If we do win it, I just hope there aren't any scenes of wild celebrations from the fans the following day at Kardinia Park like last year. It all went to crap when the locals started building bronze statues of the players for winning a glorified practice match.

 

[Ashb23]

Can't believe someone posted no . Anyway, what are the chances that the last 2 winners will meet in the final??? (Now that I've said that, it'll be Bris V Kanga's ).

 

[mckinale]

Can't believe someone posted no . Anyway, what are the chances that the last 2 winners will meet in the final??? (Now that I've said that, it'll be Bris V Kanga's ).

someone who has never posted before, a port adelaide supporter and finrod.

Finrod can you tell us why you think it will be bad?

 

[Partridge]

If we were to make it through to the final and played either Carlton or North it would mean we could win the NAB Cup and not have played someone/anyone from the 8 of last season.

Wont everyone on BF let us know about that if we do win it under those circumstances.

F**k everyone on BigFooty. And all opposition supporters. Why should we care what they think? They can burn in hell. I'll reserve a special insult for any of them for every win we have.

When it comes to footy, I care about Geelong winning - nothing and no one else. We are a very good chance of knocking off Brisbane, they must take it. Take one step closer.

 

[Tristagi]

we should all have a big banner at the grand final
'F****** everyone else on Big Footy'

Its worth it, money, pressure, exp for guys like Selwood and Djerrkera would be priceless!

 

[Ninty]

No. Beth, finrod, PAFC2004, Renegade 4 - 10.26%

Well I am shocked.

I say yes, let's go for it. Geelong Cats, back to back premiers.

 

[Dont you hate pants?]

Experience is worth everything. A NAB grandfinal is more than a simple pre-season game, and is an experience that all the guys should take on board for the season proper, especially the rookies. It may not count for much on paper, but just look to last years GF against adelaide. A high pressure game, we stepped it up when we had to, didnt help us much in '06 but every bit helps. If we can win it without fielding our best side, even better!

 

[chapmanmagic35]

What sort of a poll is this? What sort of supporter would vote no?

Renegade...

 

[cat_fanatic]

There is a plethora of reasons why we should be aiming to win the NAB cup again:

• We couldn’t have an easier run from now on: With Fremantle now out, the only teams left to beat are Brisbane at the Dome and then we are ensured a Vic GF against either Carlton or North Melbourne. It is set up for us to win from now, like it or not.

• The players didn’t fly all the way up to Darwin in monsoonal weather and almost die to be knocked out one week later

• Membership

• $500,000 to the club and $500,000 to the players

• Match time to build fitness for all players

• Gives the rookies/new kids a good run at senior level

• Gives the club and players confidence and will hopefully ensure a successful start to the season (only this time we can’t get ahead of ourselves)

• We have enough talent and depth to field a winning team of players for the remaining two games and still have plenty of guns (fresh or rested at least once) for the season proper: Chapman, Rooke, Milburn, Wojcinski, King, Ottens, Ling, Hawkins (if you will), etc

• The games accommodate a setting that provides enough pressure on the players to test their game plan and structure while if they fail, is not the be all and end all, as at the end of the day; it’s only the pre-season.

 

[SirRooke]

What a stupid question!!!!

We should win everything we attempt. Winning is always worth it!!!!

 

[Partridge]

What a stupid question!!!!

We should win everything we attempt. Winning is always worth it!!!!

The force is strong with this one.

 

[sarah.13]

Renegade...

Do you think he will be upset if &when we win it? I think not.

Shame on you who voted No! All of you..... All of you !!!!

 

[Shell]

Renegade...

Now, now.. thia isn't a "should we renew Bombers contract for another 10 years" poll.

And for the record, I'd love to see us win it, but won't get all cut up if we don't. Round one and beyond is much more important.

 

[Glassjaw]

I'd like to see us win it, but as long as they keep playing the young kids. It's a long season, no need to side a full strength side going hell for leather just yet.

 

[Barrabus]

I'd love to win it again, but if we don't I'm going to start a thread on the main board about how the NAB cup is a worthless comp, and how all the good teams don't play hard, and all the good players are rested, and the winners go badly in the season proper -- just like the rest of the fans whose teams have lost already.

 

[winty]

I noticed in the HUN this morning Sportsbet were offering $16.65 for us to win the NAB Cup/Premiership double.

 

[mckinale]

I noticed in the HUN this morning Sportsbet were offering $16.65 for us to win the NAB Cup/Premiership double.

Thats probably almost the same as us just for the premiership