8 Players To Watch in This Weeks NAB CUP
While we saw some pretty ordinary and scrappy football during Round 1 of NAB Cup action, Round 2 should see the cobwebs dusted off and some better skills being displayed. We did though get to see some youngsters step up to the plate and show us that they are capable of matching with the big boys. Here are 8 Players that I will be keeping a close eye on this week to see how they perform. All of them had impressive starts last week and look to have had a ripping pre season.
1. Bachar Houli (Essendon)
Houli is one of the youngsters at Essendon that has a big opportunity to become a regular in the Bombers side. From all reports he has had a brilliant pre season and judging from what I witnessed in the intra club game a couple of weeks ago he is not afraid to put his head over the pill while he also has great foot skills. Houli was very good last week is Essendon’ s sin against the Lions mainly playing through the middle of the gorund. He gathered 25 touches last week at it will be good to see him match up against the likes of Scott West, Daniel Cross or Matthew Boyd this week.
2. Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs)
I am of the opinion that Adam Cooney struggles with the close attention that he started to recieve last year and needs more consistancy in his 
game. Cooney has also had a great pre season and looks a lot fitter than he was last year. He is a ery importnat player for the Doggies as he is a midfielder that can kick goals. Cooney had a brilliant start to the NAB Cup amasing 26 disposals and Matthew Knights will no doubt have his team watch him very closely this week. I will be interested to see if Cooney can play 2 good ones in a row.
3. Brent Prismall (Geelong)
Well did this guy dominate or what last week. He looks too be in fine form and his body rippling!. Prismall has now doubt used the disappointment of
missing the Geelong Premiership Team last year as a motivation over the summer and has come out with all guns blazing. He has an amazing 35 touches against the Demons last week. Prismall who played the first five games of 2007 and then found himself in the VFL is very determined to cemment a position in the Geelong midfield this year and it will be great to see that happen.
4. Charlie Gardiner (St Kilda)
To be honest I didn’t think this guy could make it. He was disappointing at the Cats when he had his opportunities and I thought the Saints took a huge gamble. Well it may just have payed off!. Gardiner was outstanding last week and maybe the change of scenery and colours has done his football the world of good. He was a great lead up forward for the Saints in the absence of Nick Reiwoldt. Again with Gardiner it will be interesting to see if he can sustain that form and stake his claim for a position in that powerful forward line that the Saints are developing.
5. Beau Muston (Hawthorn)
Muston is yet to play a Senior game for the Hawks looks like he has the fire in the belly this year after a great pre season. I have seen this guy at VFL level and he look a very well balanced and accomplished midfielder. He knows how to get the footy and reads the play very well. He has had a couple of knee injuries that has set him back a bit since being at the Hawks but had some good form in the latter part of the year for Box Hill. He was instrumental for the Hawks in the middle of the ground last week and if he keeps that form up may find himself there come Round 1.
6. Darren Pfeiffer (Carlton)
I know he is wearing the wrong jumper in the picture
What is it with players that are given the flick by a club and then given another sho at it by a different club? It seems to be the kick up the arse 
they need to get their footy careers back on track. Darren Pfeiffer is no exception. He was the standout for the Blues last week in their impressive display against a young Port Adelaide side. He is only 20 years old and was a top round draft pick in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft but failed to impress at Adelaide. He is extremely hard at it and wins his own footy very well. He played on the Half Forward line and rotated through the middle of the ground last week and gathered 18 hard touches and was probably the best for the Blues. Can he continue this week?
7. Kurt Tippett (Adelaide)
Everyone, including me, thought the Crows big men were in strife this year but I reckon they have unearthed a potential gun in Kurt Tippet. This guy has got an enormous leap and going on the game in Dubai he will be taking a lot of the rucking duties this year. He had the better of Josh Fraser and Chris Bryan in Dubai and needs to continue to stand up for the Crows. It will be interesting to see whether his young body stands up to the battering he will recieve in the Ruck.
8. Rhys Palmer (Fremantle)
This kid from East Fremantle looked the goods last week and collected 14 disposals and a goal from limited game int he Derby against the Eagles. He has big wraps on him and the coaching staff at the Dockers expect big things from him. He as pick Number 7 in the National Draft. He is an onballer who loves to kick goals which are very important. Palmer averaged 32 disposals and three goals per game in the NAB AFL U18 Carnival last year and certainly showed on the weekend he is not afraid to mix it with the big boys. He does look set for a big future at Fremantle.
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