Friday Night Football is Back !!!
At long last Friday Night Football is back, even if it is just the NAB Cup (check out the NAB Cup
Draw). This Friday will see St Kilda v Richmond at the Telstra Dome at 7:40pm and also Western Bulldogs v Kangaroos at TIO Stadium at 7:40pm.
ST KILDA VS RICHMOND
Broadcast on Channel Seven at 8.30pm (MELB, ADL, PERTH), Live Fox Sport Plus (SYD, BRIS).
You can bet your bottom dollar that the Tigers will be out for a win, while ST Kilda will be missing a few key players and may be just using the game as a building block for Round 1. The Saints look set to play the two 
big fellas in Steven King and Michael Gardiner, it will be good to see Gardiner back out on the park again. The Saints will be looking to improve in that area. The Tigers will be disappointed with the Trent Cochin injury, while the fickle Tiger fans will be exited at the inclusion of Superstar Nathan Brown.
As mentioned The Saints are going to be missing a few including CO-CAPTAIN Nick Reiwoldt who hasn’t come up after his corked thigh resulted in knee tendonitis and will be rested. Others too be ruled out at from the released team will be Steven Baker, Sean Dempster, Andrew McQualter and James Gwilt. They will join Luke Ball, Leigh Fisher, Brendon Goddard, Lenny Hayes and Matt Maguire who will all miss because of injury or limited preparation.
Verdict:
Well the Tigers will be at near full strength and are one of the sides that are taking the NAB Cup seriously, and the Saints no where near full strength and will use this as a stepping stone for Round 1 as Ross Lyons has indicated (as have a majority of other clubs). I reckon the Tigers will want the win more than the Saints and will cause the upset. I don’t think the Saints will be too concerned with a loss whereas the Tigers need an early confidence boost to get their 2008 season off to a good start.
Players to Watch
For the Saints - The Dynamic Duo of Steven King and Michael Gardiner looking to fix St Kilda’s ruck definciency, youngster Jarry Geary looking to impress. The evergreen Robert Harvey who from all reports is extremely fit as usual will again lead the midfield.
Over at Tigerland - Nathan Brown will be out to regain some form early on, while youngsters Travis Casserly Jarrod Sylvester, Tristan Cartiledge and Clayton Collardwill be looking to impress. Big man Troy Simmonds will be tested against the Saints bigmen and that tussle will be one too watch. On a different note will Mathew Richardson continue his good behaviour if the ball is not kicked to him properly? I can’t see that happening.
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No write up of the Dogs vs North Melbourne game? Shame, because it turned out to be a much more exciting game than this one. Although the Dogs were in front for most of the night, it was very intense for a NAB Cup match and the Roos were always threatening.