St Kilda 2008 NAB Cup Champions
After a summer that saw some high profile people of the AFL knock the crap out of the NAB Cup as a competition, the last 3 weeks have seen 
some excellent footy being played and it paints the picture for an interest 2008 AFL Season. Last night was no exception. Adelaide were favourties and being at AAMI Stadium most peopl thought they would come away with the win. No one told the youngsters of the St Kilda Football Club that and they were simply awesome.
What I thought was a great sign for the Saints was the fact the their big name players didn’t have much of an impact, Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Ball, Hayes, Dal Santo didn’t effect the outcome of the game. It was the next tier of players that I thought stood up and won the game for the Saints. Both Clarke’s, Gram, Armittage, Jones, Geary, Schneider, Gardiner, Montagna and veteran Robert Harvey were all great for.them. No matter what anyone says about Robert Harvey he is certainly in St Kilda’s best 22 with out a doubt and he showed that last night in trying conditions is ability to do that gut busting running is outstanding and he is the master of the 20m kick into the forward 50!.
Jason Gram playing across half back didn’t look like he had a man and he racked up touches at will and the Saints seem to have been instructed to give the ball to him at all times and ended up with 33 touches and the Michael Tuck Medal for best afield.
The Crows although disappointed at the loss have had a great pre season and their supporters have a lot to look forward to. In the opening Rounds it was Sellar who looked impressive up forward but last night Kurt Tippet was brilliant in the forward 50 for the Crows. After Rhett Biglands went donw with another knee injury many thought Tippet would be a key man in the ruck, but last night he showed that he can mix it with the best kicking 4 goals and looking very lively up forward. Simon Goodwin is a star and looks great as a lead up forward, he is a hard leader and his ability to mark the footy in his hands while leading at full tilt is amazing. Moran was physical in the ruck and looks like he could hold down that position and Scott Thomspon was probably the best for the Crows. Their midfield was down a bit on what they have been in recent weeks and is an area that they need to win more than they lose if they are to make the eight this year. There is certainly some good sign there for the Crows and provided they can stick to their newish game plan of moving the footy quickly and run with the ball then they should be in for a positive year.
Bring on Round 1.
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