nab Cup

[haloman]

Your not far of the mark there Sydney-Dog. Pre 1991 I followed Geelong and I see some big differences between this current team and the teams of the late 80's, eairly 90's. For starters there doesn't seem to be any real superstars in this Geelong team. Most people would think of this as a disadvantage. I think its helped them slip under the radar a little. Maybe King would be the only bloke in their side who'd make the AFL's top 20 list. But the gap between their best player and their worst player is the smallest of any other side. Geelong are monty's to make the finals this season, Top 4 for sure. Not because they won the who cares cup, but because they are an efficent, well coached, well drilled and hungry footy side. The one thing the Cats will get out of this win is the realisation they can win big games. The rest of the footy world probably didn't give a rats about the pre-season cup, but Geelong and Adelaide sure as hell did. As hard as I barrack for the Crows it was hard not to admire the way they came back after quarter time. I'd be clearing your September Cats fans......... all of it

[sydney-dog]

Haloman - good post

totally agree with your thoughts, it's great to have the superstars in your side but even these champions have bad days, when they do you need to have an even team performance to get you over the line.

I think that winning in Adelaide made the win that much more important, now is the Cats time, they had an amazing draft about four years ago, this core group has now been together for three to four seasons and it's a very even playing group.

In terms of playing list the cats a perrrrrfectly placed, winning last week will give them some extra self belief, but the real hard work starts in just over a week.....

All the best for the season

[Magpiespower]

It's one of the great furphies that the pre-season comp doesn't provide some insight for the coming season.

Since the night series was moved to pre-season in 1987...

The double has been won by Hawthorn (1988?, 1991) and Essendon (1993, 2000.)

Melbourne (1987), Essendon (1990) and the Kangaroos (1998) all made it to grand final day after winning the night premiership.

Only five night premiers have missed the finals in that time - an injury-plagued Essendon in 1994, a young up-and-coming St Kilda in 1996, Carlton in 1997 by half a game, Hawthorn in 1999 and Carlton again in 2005.

Recent night grand finalists have fared pretty well...

2000 Night premiers Essendon: season premiers. Night runner-up Kangaroos: 4th.
2001 Port: 5th (up from 14th the year before.) Brisbane: Premiers.
2002 Port: Minor Premiers. Richmond: 9th.
2003 Adelaide: 5th? Collingwood: Runner-up.
2004 St. Kilda and Geelong: Preliminary Finalists after missing the finals the year before.
2005 Carlton: Wooden-spoon. West Coast: Runner-up.

[Rik E Boy]

One thing that Mappa did not menton in his post is the different way the clubs are starting to approach the pre-season premiership. In the last two seasons most clubs have used the pre-season cup to get some game time into the younger brigade. Carlton was one team that did not do this last season and as a result it pulled off a remarkable triumph in last year's competiton.

In earlier seasons the clubs would rest, say, a Hird or Buckley but generally many league regulars would appear but that just hasn't happened to the same degree in the past two comps. Both Adelaide and Geelong have shown that they will be around the place, not by making the NAB final but by making the final in spite of having many of their best players not suiting up in the competition.

On that basis you would have to be worried about Carlton and Essendon this year. Collingwood showed their best line up can just squeak by a St Kilda outfit missing plenty. The Swans have been written off by many but Roos pre-season coaching record currently stands at 0-13 and again this year he showed the opposition nothing. Freo played many of their good players and came up short but their defence was understrength in the Geelong game, regardless of Vic media reports that the Dockers were at 'full strength'.

For me the big improver will be the Dockers, Port will be the slider and the Bullies are no show for the eight because of their lack of tall timber to haul down a mark. Speed will only get you so far, especially if you are relying on young legs to run out the whole year..the k's have got to be put into the legs first. I reckon West Coast will dip a little this year as well as they just haven't replaced Matera, not because of the off field crap.

regards,

REB

[JK]

Looks like a pretty good assessment ohRikkeursofine!

[sydney-dog]

magpiepower

based on the data you have provided, the Cats chances for season 2006 are

25% chance of winning the premiership
35% chance of making the GF
75% chance of playing finals footy