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
Is This The Direction The NAB Cup Should Take?
There has been plenty of talk about the NAB Cup this year and whether or not it is necassary and given the amount of ACL injuries we have seen during this years’ pre season games you can understand why some AFL Coaches, in particular Dean Laidley, are questioning the length of the NAB Cup and NAB Challenge series. I personally think the NAB Cup may be a waste of time given that Clubs are not really interested in playing their stars in fear of them injuring themselves for the start of the season proper, therefore the hunger to win games is not paramount.
On the other side of the equation. We have Mark Williams coach of Port Adelaide Power who in an interview for The Advertiser has said that he think the competition is “fantastic”. He has also taken a bit of a dig at other clubs saying “At our club, as our young guys would know, anyone who is ready and willing, we’ll play them during the season but a lot of clubs only play them this time of the year.” which I read as that he thinks that other clubs are not willing to give the young players on their list as much opportunity as the he does. Read more
2008 AFL NAB Cup Semi Final Game 2
Hawthorn vs Adelaide
Adelaide have been going along quite nicely and look to be ahead of most in their preparations for the 2008 AFL Season. Neil Craig looks to have changed his game style and they are now playing a free flowing style of game which is certainly a lot better to watch. The new look Adelaide midfield also looks good and with my man James Porplyzia relishing the opportunity of spending some more time in the middle and racking up the touches. Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod are comfortable down forward and as we saw last week McLeod is simply brilliant in creating opportunities in the forward 50. The word out of Adelaide is that they will be more intense this week and are looking to exert some more pressure on the opposition. Something that Craig said he was impressed with from the Dockers last week. Another good test for the young ruckman this week and also for Brad Moran who is tipped to play on Hawthorn Superstar Buddy Franklin. Nathan Bassett, The Bird Man Brett Burton and Rob Shirley look set to return for the Crows but Bassett may mind himself playing forward instead of back as Craig looks to find more avenues to goal. I have been impressed with the Crows game style and skill level in the first too hit outs and I am sure they will be out to grab a Grand Final berth. Read more
2008 AFL NAB Cup Semi Final Preview
Essendon vs St Kilda
The Bombers have been playing some impressive footy during the first 2 games of the NAB Cup against the Brisbane Lions and last week against the Western Bulldogs but can they continue their 
momentum? The Bomber youngsters have been brilliant and are the reason the Bombers are where they are at the moment. They will have to again stand up against a powerful St Kilda lineup as Matthew Lloyd (hamstring), Adam McPhee, Dustin Fletcher, Andrew Lovett and Jason Winderlich are still not available to play. What has impressed me the most about the Bombers is their speed and inclination to put pressure on the opposition causing that important “percieved pressure” and making them think that they are about to get tackled and therefore rushing their possession.
Bombers Young Midfield
Houli, Dyson, McVeigh, Davey, Reimers have been fantastic rotating through the middle for the Bombers but the first 2 will be rested this week and others will need step up against the quality of Dal Santo, Montagna, Clarke, Hayes and the like. Brent Stanton has also been included this week for his first outing in the Number 5 Jumper and should add some more dash and skill through the middle, and maybe a Monfries, Hocking or Reimers will be given more time in the guts. The free flowing game plan of Matthew Knights is very exiting to watch but they need to be careful not to overuse the handball like we saw with Port Adelaide in the opening round. The Bombers have been doing this very well and not hand balling for the sake of hand balling but linking up and running forward with advantageous handball instead. Gardiner and King have both been named for the Saints so it will be a good test for David Hille and Jason Laycock. Reiwoldt has also been named and it will be great to see the youngsters in Ryder or even Demspey line up on him to see where they are at. Read more
4 Players to Watch in the NAB Cup Semi Final’s
1. Jason Porplyzia (Adelaide)
I am officially on this guys bandwagon !. He has been has had the dreaded word “potential” written all over him since arriving at 
the Crows and it looks as if this year might just be his breakthrough year. He has started like a house on fire and already has his fans. Club legend Andrew Jarman has already labelled him as favourite for the Club Best and Fairest (i know we are still in February, but he is fairly outspoken). And according to the Crows website someone has backed him in for the Brownlow. Porplyzia is looking the goods though and he is spending more time in the midfield now with Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod up forward and is relishing the opportunity. He has great skills and just knows where to go to get the footy. Watch him this week, especially against the quality mid fielders of the Hawks.
2. Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)
Another indigenous little fella showing that he has got some flair and speed to burn. He was impressive last week, especially in the first half and looks to a player that may not get a ton of the footy but will be a flashy type player until he works on his fitness to be able to run through the midfield. As with the likes of Jetta and Davey from the Bombers he has the uncanny knack of sneaking up on players from behind with his electrifying pace and making the tackle. But if he doesn’t make the tackle the pressure or percieved pressure he can create can cause some dangerous turnovers for the opposition. This is something we are seeing a lot of during the NAB Cup. If he can bob up for a couple of goals in the process then Alistair Clarkson will be more than happy. Read more
That’s a Wrap - NAB Cup Round 2
Essendon vs Western Bulldogs
Well Round 2 of the 2008 NAB Cup saw some better footy being played and the Bombers kicked it off on Friday Night with an impressive display 
against the Doggies. Their pace and willingness to use that pace to tackle, harrass and chase from behind was the highlight. For Bomber fans it will be easy to get carried away with that performance but you only need to remember back to Carlton’s impressive performances in the NAB Cup compared to the season proper to realise it is only early days. The Bombers have certainly found the pace they were looking for and Ricky Dyson looks set for big things in 2008 racking up 30 touches. Bachar Houli looked great and his silky skills were evidant again. Laycock was good in the ruck giving David Hille a bit more time in the forward half and he looked like he could be a good option as a tall leading forward. The Bombers quick movement and their use of advantageous handballs was good to watch, but can they continue that against the Saints Next Week? Matthew Knights might have put a few of his knockers to rest with what looks to be a very exciting game style which the players have faith in and a following his instructions to the letter. Read more
2008 NAB CUP Round 2 Preview - Game 4
Adelaide v Fremantle - AAMI Stadium, 4.40pm
Well Adelaide were the pick of the sides along with Geelong in Round 1 of the NAB Cup. They look a bit more advanced in their progress than other 
clubs and displayed a good skill level which was a rare sight. Admitadly the Pies were not ready to play in Dubai but nevertheless the Crows looked the goods. With their midfield of James Porplysia, Chris Knights, and Scott Thompson looking fantastic and getting plenty of the ball it enable Neil Craig to restructure his forward line, which is now without Scott Welsh, and we saw Skipper Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod spending a lot more time there and let me tell you they both looked quite comfortable as leading forwards. Many had thought that when Rhett Biglands went down that they would be in trouble in the ruck department but it looks as if the youngsters in Kurt Tippett and Ivan Maric may just be able to fill the void. It will be interesting to see if their young bodies can continue the battering as the year progresses. The other one to impress in Round 1 was James Seller, he was very good in the Crows Forward line and lead strongly and looks to have a good set of hands. He will be keen to back up that performance with another good one. Read more
2008 NAB Cup Round 2 Preview - Game 3
Carlton vs Hawthorn - Saturday Telstra Dome, 7.10pm
Another interesting game is this one. Arch Rivals and a battle to see who has the better young brigade. The young Blues were impressive last week 
but will be without Brad Fisher and Jason Saddington. Ex Lion Richard Hadley looks like he may make an appearance. The Blues will be looking to improve in the stoppages around the ground as Brett Ratten has indicated that is an area they need to improve on. Mark Murphy will be determined to improve on last weeks ordinary start and is a key at these stoppages. Nick Stevens will again captain the Blues as Chris Judd is still a few weeks away. Look for a blinder from him after the disappointment of being overlooked as skipper. Darren Pfeiffer is another one that needs to back up last weeks great performance and will Brendan Fevola turn up in those Orange Boots again?
For the Hawks the youngsters Jarryd Morton, Garry Moss, Beau Muston and Tommy Murphy made a good start last week and will be determined to prove to coach Alistair Clarkson that they are worthy of a position in the side. Hawks fans would have been rapt with Mark Williams return and he 
will only get better with each game he plays. The New Dermie “Buddy” Franklin had a game he would want to forget in front of goal finishing with 5 behinds and an out of bounds on the full (thanks Molly) and will be out to reverse that form, look out whoever plays on him, probably Waite you would think. That should be a good tussle. Another highlight will be the midfield battle. The Blues midfield is developing quite nicely with Stevens, Murphy, Scotland and co going head to head with Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell and the like. That is where the game will be won or lost and also whether big Buddy can be held. Grant Birchall is one player the Blues will have to watch, he was outstanding last week and look set for a big 2008.
The Blues are certainly improving, but I think the Hawks will win the midfield battle and come away with the points.
2008 NAB CUP Round 2 Preview - Game 2
St Kilda v Geelong - Manuka Oval Saturday 3.40pm
This should be a cracker! Eventhough the much antisipated bout between Mark Blake and Steven King will not eventuate in this game as King is going to be rested along with veteran Robert Harvey.
. I heard Cameron Mooney suggest he may give King a clip around the ears if King plays, but I guess that will have to wait. The Geelong side were in great form last week demolishing the Demons and there is no sign of the dreaded premiership hangover. The word is that the elder statesmen in Scarlett, Chapman, Ottens, Harley, Johnson and Jimmy Bartel will all be rested and obviously Ablett is out. Max Rooke, Corey Enright, Joel Corey, Joel Selwood and Travis Varcoe have been selected and will have their first hit outs. Brent Prismall was a standout player last week and is another player that was disappointed at missing the Grand Final and has pushed himself to the limit during the summer. Read more
Get rid of the NAB Cup once and for all
The 2008 AFL NAB Cup competition is looking like being an even bigger waste of time than in previous years. As we would all know by now the AFL have decided to trial a new interchange rule, meaning clubs will only bee able to have 16 interchange rotations per quarter and 64 in total, with send offs due to the blood rule being included as a rotation. The backlash from this has been widespread with most clubs and medical experts alike are bemused at the rule and have questioned why there is a need to change it.
Not Prepared to risk players
The fall out of this rule change in particular is that clubs will not be prepared to risk their star players that are coming back from injury or players that need to be eased through the pre season prior to Round 1 because they will not be able to control the amount of game time they play. This has meant that many clubs, some who already don’t take the NAB Cup all that seriously to begin with will be forced to rest their better players and play the younger less experienced ones so they are in tip top shape come Round 1. Carlton, who has won the last 2 NAB Cups have even said that they will not be risking their stars and will not be fielding their best side. If the AFL regard the pre season competition as an important part of AFL Football then they need to pull their heads out of the clouds and work out a way they can resurrect it because it is a shambles at the moment and they may as well abandon it and go straight into the Regional Challenge (practice games).
I read a comment from Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos in regards to the interchange rule where he stated that the AFL had said there was not enough evidence yet to suggest that there is any link between injuries going up an the use of interchange rotations and therefore thought that there would be no change to that rule. So how can they now make the decision to change the rule? Because they are the AFL I guess.
No one takes the NAB Cup seriously do they?
There are a number of clubs that have already stated that they will not be fielding very experienced and strong sides in this years competition and Leigh Matthews has said “No one really takes this seriously do they?” What incentive do clubs have to even consider taking it seriously? Well there is probably only one $$$. The kangaroos have eluded to the fact they will after the prize money in this years NAB Cup “We have always been aware that our performance really indicates our bottom dollar. If we drop off, it does hurt us financially. With most of the other clubs preparing for the NAB Cup the way they are then it opens the door for clubs like the Kangaroos to field a strong team and take the cash, something that we all know the desperately need, and in turn will hopefully improve their membership tally. But the more financially secure clubs don’t really need the cash and therefore have no real incentive.
The time has come to get rid of the NAB Cup unless the AFL can do something so the clubs can both prepare their sides the best way they can for the start of the season and also create a competition that clubs will want to play in. Which they are not doing at the moment. Clubs are better off playing a series of practice matches instead.
Post your comment and let football world know your thoughts on the NAB Cup.
