1 Good Point For The Tigers
At least the Tigers had 1 reason to smile after their hit out against the Cats. Mark Coghlan made a good return after his second knee reconstruction. But that was probably the only good news to come out of the game. The Tigers went down by 78 points and from all reports were once again Spiritless. After a shocking first round defeat in the NAB Cup and now this thrashing the Tigers and coach Terry Wallace are in grave danger one thinks for the 2008 season.
Mind you some how Wallace thinks there is no reason for concern? C’MON Terry who are you trying to kid here? He reckons the Tigers’ pre-season has not been that bad and was confident his side will be ready for the start of the 2008 AFL Premiership Season. Spare Me !
“The result on the scoreboard didn’t really matter and what we need to do is fine-tune,”
Fair enough it was a practise game but fine-tune? More like and extreme makeover!.
Sorry Tiger Fans you are in for a long year. I think Terry is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.
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Judd Makes His Return
The moment had finally arrived and didn’t the Carlton fans flock to MC Labour Park to witness the superstar make his long awaited debut in the navy blue albeit in a practice game. And wouldn’t you know it he has a perfect record a skipper: 1 from 1. There was a touch over 10,000 people there to watch and you would have thought it was a game for 4 points !!!. Heck even radio station SEN was broadcasting from the ground.
Just a lazy 20 touches for Judd in his first hit out as the blues won by 9 points over the Western Bulldogs while Aker was best for the Doggies. From the highlights that I saw the roar that went up after Judd got his first touch was unbelievable. In his press conference after the game he said his body was fine and he is looking forward to Round 1. Stock standard answers really what more would you expect I guess.
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AFL NAB Cup 2008 Grand Final Preview
Well after what seems to be a long time coming the NAB Cup Grand Final is actually here. The NAB Cup has been battered from pillar to post over the last 4 weeks, but for the 2 teams competing this week, Adelaide Crows and St Kilda it is game on as both teams go head to head for the title of NAB Cup Winners, or as Aker would say “Mickey Mouse Winners”.
Both teams have been in good form during the opening rounds of the 2008 NAB Cup with Adelaide probably 
being the standouts for me. Neil Craig has given the players a new lease on life with a new and exciting game style which now shy’s away from the defensive style we have seen over the years. The Crows are now running and carrying the footy and with the likes of James Porplyzia and Scott Thompson killing em in the midfield there are great signs ahead for the Crows. The Saints on the other hand, while still winning have probably been a bit scratchy from their lofty standards and haven’t had their best team on the park yet and still won’t this week. It is pretty ominous for other sides that the Saints are still winning while there is a lot of improvement to come. Read more
AFL Football Short Passes - Things You May Have Missed
Just a quick post on what has been happening around the traps over the last few days.
Chris Judd Named to Play First Game
The NAB Cup Challenge Squads have been released for this weekend and all eyes were on the Carlton squad that was named and we saw the one and only C Judd there. He looks set to take on the Western Bulldogs on Friday at MC Labour Park and is expected to play a half. Get down and get a glimpse Blues Fans. If anyone makes the trip place a comment on this post and let us know how he looked.
Tigers Aiming For the Finals
Yes that is right, Kayne Pettifer (who is on my list of most irritating AFL Players) told Melbourne Radio Station SEN that the Tigers are aiming for the final 8 ! “Our goal is to make the finals and that is what we are striving for this year,” he also said that it is an even competition and anyone can beat anyone on any given day (enough any’s in there for you). Correct they can but just not the Tigers. Read more
Go Forward, Just Don’t Kick a Goal!
Are the AFL that blind to the fact that clubs DO NOT WANT TO PLAY in the NAB Cup. Why are they taking this issue this seriously considering they turned a blind eye to the Carlton Football Club last year when they were quite obviously tanking in the latter part of the year so they could secure the Number 1 Draft Pick.
There is no doubt there is some personal issues here between Roos and the AFL and now Roos finds himself facing a $100,000 fine or even suspension. I wouldn’t put it past the AFL to do the latter but they won’t. The Swans are well known for not giving a **it about the NAB Cup and as a result were the least favorite with the bookmakers before the start.
The AFL really needs to make some changes if they are going to protect the reputation of the NAB Cup as they want to. The increase in prize money this year has made no impact what so ever. Maybe there needs to be a bigger carrot dangled like a priority draft pick for the winner?. The investigation into Roos’s comments is set to be concluded by the end of the week and apparently up 9 witnesses will be contacted to give their accounts of what happened.
Maybe next time Roos just needs to be a bit more aware of who is around when making these type of comments. There is growing momentum to abandon the NAB Cup and maybe just maybe this may open the eyes of the AFL and force them into making some sort of decision regarding the pre season competition.
AFL 2008 NAB Cup Semi Final Review
Essendon vs St Kilda
Well Friday night saw what was probably the best standard of football so far in the NAB Cup as St Kilda snatched a 3 point victory over a gallant Essendon side. A last minute free kick to Saints youngster David Armitage in front of goal gave the Saints victory. Armitage was outstanding I thought for the Saints 
and has really put his hand up for Round 1 for the Saints. He was likened to a young Luke Ball by commentators on Friday Night and looks to be a star in the making. Another youngster that impressed was Clinton Jones, not sure if it his blond hair that makes him stand out but he was magnificent for the Saints through the middle of the ground. These 2 youngsters are quality players and should fit in nicely into the midfield. The Saints work in front of the packs, especially in the forward half was great they continually got front and center and smashed the Bombers in that area. As they did at stoppages and it was largely due to big man Steven King who dominated the Ruck. The fact that the Bombers were without Dyson and Houli didn’t help them. The Saints are hell bent on using the corridor at all times and protected that area well forcing Essendon wide a lot of the time. Adam Schneider showed some good signs in his first game and proved that he will be a valuable inclusion in 2008. Reiwoldt also made his return and did show glimpses of his brilliance and as he said was planned, he only played the first 3 quarters before icing up. They looked good the Saints and given the fact they were also missing a few automatic inclusions look set to be a force this year. Read more
The Sydney Swans - A Supporters View
A Sydney Swans supporter could be pardoned for thinking this pre-season is purely a carbon copy of all other pre-seasons in the Paul Roos era. The low-scoring, two-point loss to the Hawks in Round 1 would be all the proof you need to confirm it. However, something exciting and unusual is going on in the Harbour city this summer: The Swans are fit, firing and if early form is anything to go on – the Swans are in with a chance to win a few early games (for a change).
Everyone knows the coach has his stock-standard responses to the media and the fans have the choice to believe it or not. At the start of the pre-season, Paul Roos told us that due to the uncharacteristic early exit to season 07, the team had progressed further along the preparation time-line and are in good shape for the 2008 season. To most Swans fans this was the case of “nothing we haven’t heard before” and most of us thought we’d rather believe it when we saw it than take his word for it. Read more
