NAB Cup Round 1
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:43 amNow i know 1 game has already passed and Rog has placed the sides up but i thought i would give you my NAB cup tips as well as give a thread for discussion of all the games. (Maybe excluding the Port one)
Saints Vs Richmond- I dont expect the Saints to take this to seriously while i think Richmond will. We are unlikey to see the likes of Riewoldt, Hayes, Ball, Gram and co while Richmond will field a pretty good side. Look for Jordy McMahon to continue his good form. Tambling and co have been working hard over pre season and will be interesting to see Mitch Morton at his new club.
Richmond just over St Kilda.
WB Vs Kangaroos- Played up in Darwin with terrible conditions on the cards. The WB have played here every year for the last 4 years so will have a home ground advantage. Both sides will field pretty good sided with Corey Jones and Smith the injury worries for the Roos. The Dogs have been in Darwin longer and i expect them to adjust better. Watch for the the return of Nathan Thompson and the trimmer fitter Adam Cooney.
Bulldogs by about 5 goals over the Roos.
Geelong Vs Melbourne- First hit out for the Cats since that brilliant day late in September. Both sides will field some what depleted sides with Geelong having no Scarlett, Chapman or Egan while Melbourne will be without Bruce, Neitz, Mclean, Rivers and Carroll among others. While Geelong may be prone to be a slow start to the season it wont in this game. Watch for Tom Hawkins to claim his spot in the side with the departure of Nathan Ablett and also i look forward to watching some of Melbournes draftees especially Cale Morton and Adam Maric.
Geelong comfortably
Port Vs Carlton- Both sides will be without key players, Carlton will be missing Judd, Fev, hadley and Walker while Port will be missing Cornes, Wilson, Lade and Peter Burgoyne. Played at Aami gives Port the distinct advantage and they will utilise that and win comfortably IMO. Watch the new version of Marc Murphy, fitter bigger and faster. Will have a big year with the inclusions of Judd and Stevens. Also look for the first game of much hyped Matthew Kreuzer. Looking forward to watching the younger brigade of Port with the likes of Carlile and co pressing for selection early in the season.
Port by 4 goals
Essendon Vs Brisbane- It is always hard to get a reading on sides before the season starts and this is no different. Injuries have been good to the Brisbane backline and midfield but their forward line will be a makeshift one this weekend with no Brown, Bradshaw or Clark. Essendon will be without Lucas, Lloyd, McVeigh, Fletcher and other senior players. Brisbane performed well in the NAB cup last year and i expect them to do the same this year even without Brown. Watch for the battle of the future superstars of the competition at opposite ends of the ground between Gumbleton and the big Burger from Brisbane. Also watch hoe Travis Johnstone fits in in a very good midfield.
Brisbane by 6 goals
WCE Vs Freo- The first local Deby for the year and still expect a few scuffles here and there. Freo will have a real crack at the NAB cup this year IMO and so they should. They will field a near full strength side against WCE come sunday in scorching conditions while WCE will field a much younger side with the likes of Cox and Kerr not playing. Expect WCE to tinker with their set up quite a bit and also watch Sandilands dominate with no Cox. Cant see WCE getting close to be honest. Watch for Priddis and Rosa to spend a lot of time in the middle and also keep your eye out for WCE new forward set up including the likes of Chad Jones and Josh Kennedy. The only doubt is if Freo have failed to recover as well as expected from the Sh Africa trip but should not be a concern.
Fremantle Easily
Sydney Vs Hawthorn- Sydney tend to use this format to blood new players and experiment with their game plan and i dont think this year will be any different. Hawthorns squad is looking fit and well but some players will rested including new recruit Stuart Dew. Hawthorn have a very good record in Tassy so expect them to win this game easily especially with most of the Swans match winners being rested. Look for Martin Mattner to impress on debut while it will be interesting to see how the Hawks forward line adapts to Mark Williams being back.
Hawthorn by 7 goals.
Saints Vs Richmond- I dont expect the Saints to take this to seriously while i think Richmond will. We are unlikey to see the likes of Riewoldt, Hayes, Ball, Gram and co while Richmond will field a pretty good side. Look for Jordy McMahon to continue his good form. Tambling and co have been working hard over pre season and will be interesting to see Mitch Morton at his new club.
Richmond just over St Kilda.
WB Vs Kangaroos- Played up in Darwin with terrible conditions on the cards. The WB have played here every year for the last 4 years so will have a home ground advantage. Both sides will field pretty good sided with Corey Jones and Smith the injury worries for the Roos. The Dogs have been in Darwin longer and i expect them to adjust better. Watch for the the return of Nathan Thompson and the trimmer fitter Adam Cooney.
Bulldogs by about 5 goals over the Roos.
Geelong Vs Melbourne- First hit out for the Cats since that brilliant day late in September. Both sides will field some what depleted sides with Geelong having no Scarlett, Chapman or Egan while Melbourne will be without Bruce, Neitz, Mclean, Rivers and Carroll among others. While Geelong may be prone to be a slow start to the season it wont in this game. Watch for Tom Hawkins to claim his spot in the side with the departure of Nathan Ablett and also i look forward to watching some of Melbournes draftees especially Cale Morton and Adam Maric.
Geelong comfortably
Port Vs Carlton- Both sides will be without key players, Carlton will be missing Judd, Fev, hadley and Walker while Port will be missing Cornes, Wilson, Lade and Peter Burgoyne. Played at Aami gives Port the distinct advantage and they will utilise that and win comfortably IMO. Watch the new version of Marc Murphy, fitter bigger and faster. Will have a big year with the inclusions of Judd and Stevens. Also look for the first game of much hyped Matthew Kreuzer. Looking forward to watching the younger brigade of Port with the likes of Carlile and co pressing for selection early in the season.
Port by 4 goals
Essendon Vs Brisbane- It is always hard to get a reading on sides before the season starts and this is no different. Injuries have been good to the Brisbane backline and midfield but their forward line will be a makeshift one this weekend with no Brown, Bradshaw or Clark. Essendon will be without Lucas, Lloyd, McVeigh, Fletcher and other senior players. Brisbane performed well in the NAB cup last year and i expect them to do the same this year even without Brown. Watch for the battle of the future superstars of the competition at opposite ends of the ground between Gumbleton and the big Burger from Brisbane. Also watch hoe Travis Johnstone fits in in a very good midfield.
Brisbane by 6 goals
WCE Vs Freo- The first local Deby for the year and still expect a few scuffles here and there. Freo will have a real crack at the NAB cup this year IMO and so they should. They will field a near full strength side against WCE come sunday in scorching conditions while WCE will field a much younger side with the likes of Cox and Kerr not playing. Expect WCE to tinker with their set up quite a bit and also watch Sandilands dominate with no Cox. Cant see WCE getting close to be honest. Watch for Priddis and Rosa to spend a lot of time in the middle and also keep your eye out for WCE new forward set up including the likes of Chad Jones and Josh Kennedy. The only doubt is if Freo have failed to recover as well as expected from the Sh Africa trip but should not be a concern.
Fremantle Easily
Sydney Vs Hawthorn- Sydney tend to use this format to blood new players and experiment with their game plan and i dont think this year will be any different. Hawthorns squad is looking fit and well but some players will rested including new recruit Stuart Dew. Hawthorn have a very good record in Tassy so expect them to win this game easily especially with most of the Swans match winners being rested. Look for Martin Mattner to impress on debut while it will be interesting to see how the Hawks forward line adapts to Mark Williams being back.
Hawthorn by 7 goals.
Couldn't be arsed watching the slug fest in the tropics, or too much of it anyway but it looked like North went in a little top heavy and the Dogs are more advanced in their preparation.