NAB Cup preview
February 09, 2010
By
Steve Healy
It's almost upon us...
FINALLY, after four and a half months with nothing for fans to enjoy, footy’s appearing above the horizon. Many supporters don’t take the NAB Cup seriously, but I for one do. It means more footy, not as long a wait to see your team play and it also helps communities around Australia like Alice Springs, Yea, Mt Gambier, North Ballarat and Joondalup get a taste of footy in the big league through the NAB Cup challenge. The introduction of Blacktown in West Sydney in the schedule will benefit the AFL; Sydney vs Carlton will be a pivotal event to see how many supporters in the area are attracted to our great game.
The NAB Cup provides young players with an opportunity to shine, and to give coaches an understanding of the players who should and should not be in the senior team during the season. An example of this was Carlton’s Aaron Joseph, who shone in the 2009 competition and didn’t give Gary Ablett any space to work with in the semi final. He went on to play all 23 games of his club’s season. Other youngsters like Daniel Rich, Stephen Hill and Robbie Nahas all gave people a sign of things to come as well, each displaying their own brilliance which they took into the premiership season.
It all looks set to be an exciting competition. Adelaide vs Port Adelaide on the Saturday could see the likes of first-round key forward prospects Daniel Talia and John Butcher go head-to-head for their respective sides, as well as Port’s two other first round picks in Andrew Moore and Jasper Pittard. It seems likely that Adelaide will turn to their youngsters with Van Berlo, Bock, Dangerfield, Porplyzia, Rutten, Symes and Moran all under some sort of injury cloud, with most of the above certain to miss. A bulked-up Taylor Walker looks likely to play. Port, starting a new era, with a new sponsor in My ATM, in a new improved (arguably) jumper, will go in with a healthier list, and it could be the opportunity for them to unveil Jay Nash and Jay Schulz, and a close eye will be kept on elevated rookie Wade Thompson, who proved the goods in last year’s NAB Cup, but struggled in his two regular season games. It’ll be a close one, but Adelaide’s run and long-kicking will see them snatch a victory. Adelaide by 13 points.
The night before, West Coast vs Essendon will open the pre-season assault at Subiaco. The Bombers look fighting fit with the likes of David Hille, Scott Gumbleton and Mark McVeigh all starring. Gumbleton will sit out after suffering a buck spasm at training, Hille won’t play either, as he is not yet 100% fit, nor will Brent Stanton or Michael Hurley. Injuries may constrain the Bombers, with Jason Laycock, Tyson Slattery, David Myers and Bachar Houli all carrying minor injuries. It’s all up to Essendon’s forward line to see if they can kick a winning score. Draftee Jake Melksham, former Hawk Mark Williams and young forward Michael Still will all play. West Coast should use the home ground advantage and beat the Bombers convincingly. West Coast’s intra club match included brilliant performances from Nick Naitanui, Chris Masten, Luke Shuey and Brad Ebert who all look set to play. West Coast coach John Worsfold has said that defenders Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown will be rested against the Bombers, with Will Schofield, Beau Wilkes, Matt Spangher and captain Darren Glass to fill the defensive roles in this Essendon clash. West Coast by 36 points.
On the Saturday night at 7:40, Hawthorn vs Richmond takes place at Aurora Stadium. With Rioli out for the Hawks, the Tigers could swoop with young talents Dustin Martin and Troy Taylor who are likely to play. They will go into the game without Nathan Foley (who re-injured his ankle), but apart from that there are no other serious injury concerns. For the Hawks, Brent Renouf, who is still recovering from severe burns, won’t play, while Franklin, Roughead, Young and Burgoyne are all coming back from injuries, the latter is confirmed to miss but could be back in another one or two weeks. The Hawks will have the class, even without Rioli and will win comfortably. Hawthorn by 28 points.
In just one of the two AFL games held at Manuka in 2010, the Dogs host the Lions in the nation’s capital this Sunday. We should see some good action in Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane –even with recruit Barry Hall (who starred in their intra-club match on Saturday) not playing, along with regulars Akermanis, Johnson, Minson and perhaps Jarrod Harbrow. 18 year-old forward Liam Jones showed a lot in the intra-club match as well, along with other youngsters in Brodie Moles, Jordan Roughead and Jarrad Grant. Matthew Leuenberger will be one who needs to prove whether or not he can cement a spot in the rucking stakes. It has been revealed that Fevola should play for the Lions, but even so the Bulldogs will be too strong over the ground- Western Bulldogs by 23 points.
St Kilda vs Collingwood. The game of the round, and it’ll be hard to pick a winner even though St Kilda will go in favourites. Next Friday night sees the Pies take on the Saints at Etihad, which could see Luke Ball front up against his old side and Darren Jolly looks likely to be rucking for the Pies after his outstanding performance in the club’s intra-club match. Apart from Brad Dick’s shoulder (he will miss a section of the home and away season as well) Collingwood look quite fit, and will give 100% in this game. Brendon Goddard may not play with a collarbone setback, but the Saints look strong as well. Hopefully Irish recruit Tommy Walsh and American Seamus McNamara can take the field, which will be a great story – two foreign recruits at both ends of ground. Expect noise from the Saints fans when Luke Ball (presuming he plays) gets the footy, and expect an upset. Collingwood by three points.
Sydney vs Carlton is again, another close game. And an important game, for the AFL, being a fixture in Blacktown. Jarrad Waite will not play for the Blues, despite recovering well from his knee reconstruction. It will be interesting to see what role Lachie Henderson plays, along with Marc Murphy who is expected to play more as a forward. Hopefully number 12 draft pick Kane Lucas can show something for the sake of Blues fans. Without Fevola on the field, as well as bad boys Ryan Houlihan, Eddie Betts and Andrew Walker, it will be interesting to see how things pan out for the Blues. The Swans, who don’t have many injury setbacks, and it will be interesting to see if they unveil traded players Daniel Bradshaw, Josh Kennedy, Ben McGlynn and Shane Mumford for the match. Young forward Lewis Johnston, who’s had a terrible run with injuries, looks likely to be in the side. So too does Lewis Jetta, who can hopefully show some of the dazzling skills that he possesses. The big question is: Can Sydney win their first pre-season game under Paul Roos? Yes. Sydney by 11 points.
Back at Etihad Stadium, the Roos are taking on the Cats in a twilight fixture. Geelong vs North Melbourne looks like a blow-out on paper, but if the Roos find a way to stop Geelong’s stars then they might have a chance. Players like Paul Chapman, Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood are likely to run amok in a one-sided affair. To counter-attack, the Roos hopefully will have their stars in the side, the Petrie’s, the Harvey’s, the Swallow’s and the McIntosh’s. Draft pick Ryan Bastinac looks certain to play, No 5 pick Ben Cunnington is a 50/50. Unfortunately for all supporter, Majak Daw seems to be a while away yet. The boys from Kardinia will look to unveil 28-year-old rookie James Podsiadly, who has been on Collingwood’s and Essendon’s lists years ago, but in the middle he starred in the VFL, kicking goal after goal in an illustrious career with Geelong (VFL team), Werribee and Williamstown. With the absence of Matthew Stokes in the Cats’ line up, it could be the chance for fourth-year Nathan Djekkura to step up to the table, who has just played two AFL games (both last year) in his career. He will definitely play in the NAB Cup. I can’t see North getting anywhere near this powerhouse Geelong team. Geelong by 75 points.
Now for the last game. Fremantle vs Melbourne will struggle to attract 10,000 supporters to Subiaco for this Sunday night clash, but I’ll certainly be attracted to it via radio. Win or loss, I’ll get to see the Dees play the next week (at Visy Park against Essendon/West Coast if they lose), but that’s another story. The Dees: Will Jack Trengrove play, will Tom Scully play? Who knows, we’ll have to find out when the team sheets come out. The Dees have had an interrupted pre-season in the ruck department, with Jake Spencer, Mark Jamar, Paul Johnson, John Meesen and newcomer Max Gawn all suffering some sort of injury, leaving Stefan Martin as the lone ruckman. Jack Watts and Cale Morton have both put on a good amount of muscle, and neither of them are under any injury threat. Fremantle, on the other hand, should play No 4 draft pick Anthony Morabito, along with Nathan Fyfe and Jesse Crichton. Rhys Palmer, who is still suffering from a knee injury, won’t play. Freo have high hopes for Des Headland this year, hopefully he can kick a fair few goals. My prediction: (not being biased) Melbourne by six points.
That’s the reports for the first round games, but now I’m going to predict how the rest of the competition will pan out:
Round two:
West Coast vs Adelaide (Subiaco): Adelaide by 10 points
Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs (Etihad Stadium): Western Bulldogs by 26 points
Collingwood vs Sydney (Etihad Stadium): Collingwood by 54 points
Geelong vs Melbourne (Etihad Stadium): Geelong by 61 points
Round three:
Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs (AAMI Stadium): Adelaide by 1 point
Collingwood vs Geelong (Etihad Stadium): Collingwood by 16 points
Grand Final:
Adelaide vs Collingwood (uncertain venue): Adelaide by 5 points
Michael Tuck Medal: Bernie Vince (21k, 16hb, 6m, 1ho, ff3, fa1, g2, b1)
Hopefully it will be a memorable NAB Cup, one for the ages. If the Crows win their second trophy as predicted, that will be a great result for them and hopefully bring them a premiership in season 2010. I love the NAB Cup, and I’m sure the majority of other footy fans do as well. I really hope it stays when our beloved competition has another two teams.
• Robert Murphy of the Western Bulldogs and Jarrad Waite of Carlton hold the 2010 NAB Cup at AFL House, Melbourne. Photo by Michael Willson. The Slattery Media Group
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