That’s a Wrap – NAB Cup Round 1
Skill Errors, that probably sums up Round 1 of the NAB Cup for 2008. All games seemed to be riddled with them as you would expect I guess. There is no sign of the “Premiership Hangover” down at the cattery as they began their 2008 campaign in brilliant fashion against the Demons. Brendan Fevola has announced to the footballing public that he thinks the Blues will play finals footy (can you take him seriously when he wears those boots though?), and Richmond looks like they are going to be in real strife in 2008. Let’s have a look back at what transpired over the weekend.
The Doggies in Darwin
The Darwin doggies proved they have had a good pre season with a good win over the Kangaroos, who I thought would be right 
up there to take out the NAB Cup. It was a pretty ordinary game until the last quarter when the game broke open and we saw some free flowing footy. Not all was lost for the Roos with Nathan Thompson getting through the game OK. Finally we saw the doggies tackle well and throw themselves at the pill and I thought Akermanis was good and Adam Cooney looked in great shape racking up 26 touches. On ballers Boyd and West were also outstanding. Ben Hudson was very good in the Ruck and looks set to deliver for the Doggies in an area that they need to improve in. It will be interesting to see if the Dogs can play some consistent footy from here on in. Eade looks like he may be forced to rest a few this week after the conditions may take their toll.
Tigers In Trouble
It started on Friday Night with the Tigers and the Saints as I have already mentioned the Tigers are in trouble, while the Saints looked the goods with a side that was missing at least 10 walk up starts. Richmond’s skill level was just not up the waht it should be and their forward line was dysfunctional. They had to move their best 2 forwards – Brown and Delidio up the ground because the midfield was just not up to it. I know it is early but it is looking like it may be a long year ahead for the Tiger fans. While the Saints were pretty good, the 2 big ruckmen, King and Gardiner were good which now gives them the luxury of being able to play Kosi close to goal. At least 10 too come back in and all is looking pretty good. You can see why they are the most heavily backed side for the flag at the moment.
The Blue Bagger’s Upset Port
With Port Adelaide sporting a new game plan and it’s youngest list on the ground ever, they were upset by an enthusiastic Blues outfit,as highlighted by Brendan Fevola and Mark Murphy’s bright Orange boots. Mark Williams has got the Power hand balling more than kicking and wold have been nightmare for the Power forwards to try and lead too. It’s pains me to say it but Warren Treadea looked in great nick as did Domonic Cassisi. Dean Brogan was great in the ruck and the Power were very good at the stoppages, but their handball at all costs game plan came unstuck. For the Blues, Mark Murphy had an ordinary night and will only get better, Number 1 draft pick Matthew Kruezer got his first taste of the action with a goal with his first kick. Sporting a newly shaved head Ryan Houlihan also showed his silky skills and was one of the Blues best. The Blues fans will be talking it up know about who has the best youngsters with Shaun Hampson, Darren Pfeiffer and Michael Jamison very impressive. Heck even defender Brett Thornton kicked a couple. Things are looking up for the Blues and their fans would have liked what they saw.
Baby Bombers Mark II?
In a game that I was hanging for, The Bomber’s went up against the Lions and everyone expecting them to lose. Similar to St Kilda the Bombers were without 11 walk up starts. But a bit like Carlton the Bombers showed great enthusiasm and there a few youngsters that are very exiting to watch and look set for bigger and better things. My men Courtenay Dempsay and Ricky 
Dyson were pretty good, Dempsey showing some dash from defence and Dyson racking up about 20 odd touches.The Lions played like they hadn’t played a game (which the hadn’t, their intra club match was canceled due to terrential rain), mind you they still had the likes of Lappin and Power roaming the midfield so it was not like they didn’t have some quality players running around. Jarrod Brennan showed glimpses of brilliance (9 pointer on his wrong foot!). Youngster Lachlan Henderson looks like he can play and should take a key role in the forward half. Travis Johnstone looked very good, expecially in the opening quarter and showed why the Lions were so keen to get him, also Albert Proud was hard at it and looks the goods. The Lions, a bit like Collingwood were just not ready to play and will now set their sights on Round 1.
No Premiership Hangover for The Cats
The Cats got their 2008 campaign off to a flyer belting Melbourne by 71 points. The first 20 minutes were brilliant for the Cats and they were 5 goals up in that space of time. It was a tough ask for the Demons, the Cats were brilliant, their game style was great to watch, quick ball movement high possession rate. Last year’s top draft pick in Harry Taylor looked like he will be a player of the future and 
the disappointment of not playing in last years Grand Final has motivated Brent Prismall over the summer as he was the Cats best and certainly doesn’t want to miss again. Bad news though as Gary Ablett injured his calf and will miss a few weeks. For the Dees there were some good signs as Nathan Jone’s stocks continue to rise and was excellent as were youngsters Steve Valenti and Simon Buckley. As I have said before the Dees might find it hard this year and I just don’t see them having enough goal scoring power or class through the middle of the ground. I wonder if they saw Travis Johnstone’s display for the Lions. They will now take on Richmond next week in a praccy game. At least one of them will win.
Hawks Hang On
In another scrappy pre-season opener, the Hawks hung on to defeat the Swans 3.2.13 (52) to 0.7.8 (50) even though the Haws failed to kick a goal in the final term. News got worse for the Swans as Nick Malcheski looks set to miss the entire season with an ACL injury. Malcheski turned to avoid a tackle as his knee buckled. With Barry Hall, Craig Bolton, Peter Everitt, Nic Fosdike, Darren Jolly, Tadhg Kennelly, Michael O’Loughlin, Leo Barry, Brett Kirk and Adam Goodes all missing from the side the Swans would be fairly happy with the performance considering the Hawks were only missing rent Croad, Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis and Campbell Brown from their best 22. The Swans look to have found a couple of quality defenders in Peter Faulks and Heath Grundy did well against the Hawks’ big forwards Tim Boyle and Lance Franklin. Both forwards were kept goal less. For the Hawks Xavier Ellis, Beau Muston and Grant Birchall look to have had a great pre season and played well, and the Hawks would have been happy with the performance of Mark Williams who got through the game unscathed.
Fremantle Get Home in the Derby
Well keeping up with the other games there were skill errors galore during the first half of this game. David Mundy showing he has a huge and accurate kick sending home 2 SUPER GOALS and Des Headland being allowed free reign across the half forward line he amassed 13 touches in the first half as the Dockers were too good for the undermanned Eagles running away with a 44 point win. The Dockers were at near full strength whil the Eagles were missing Daniel Kerr, Dean Cox, Michael Braun, Tyson Stenglein, Andrew Embley and Adam Hunter. For the Dockers Des Headland was outstanding with 21 touches along with Josh Carr (21 touches also). The big man Aaron Sandilands was domminant in the ruck, racking up 28 hit-outs to Mark Seaby’s nine. The Eagles didn’t have many winners on the ground and their big forwards didn’t get an opportunity to stake a claim Jamie McNamara and Scott Selwood impressed in patches and Seaby had a good second half but that was about. Fremantle will be sweating on midfielder Paul Hasleby who left the ground on a stretcher after twisting his knee.
Don’t miss any of the action this season, SUBSCRIBE to our Weekly AFL Football Newsletter “The Inner Sanctum”. Join before the end of February for your chance to Win the $100 SportsAcumen Betting Card.
Comments
4 Responses to “That’s a Wrap – NAB Cup Round 1”
Leave a Reply
[...] vs Brisbane The Baby Bombers Mark II showed some DT potential with Angus Monfries (86), Jay Nash (82) and Bachar Houli (79) playing in [...]
Baby Bombers Mark II – I like that!! Bring it on!!
I think you missed Ladson, Guerra, Jacobs, and Benny “Lepper” McGlynn who would all be in the Hawks best side if fit and it must be remembered the players that retired at the end of last year. The Swans played outstanding, the hawks were scratchy at best and their goal kicking wasn’t good (if they kicked straight, they would have won by 5 goals). The Hawks had a young side as well and I said it last year and they proved me wrong somewhat, but this year the hawks could struggle more then most if they have injures as they have some quality youngsters but they are inexperienced! This and the next NAB game will be extremely important! Hopefully a couple of those defenders return this week because I love Cliton Young to death, in fact he may be the newest player to be most underrated in the League, but he ain’t no defender!
JMTC
Molly
[...] Nick Malceski went down in a pre-season game against Hawthorne, everyone thought that his season had finished even before it had started. [...]