Noarlunga game - 08 pre-season

[rogernumber10]

Noarlunga will host an AFL pre-season trial game over the weekend of March 7-8. Teams obviously won't be determined until after the first weekend of the NAB cup, once it's known who is knocked out. The other pre-season games in SA for either Port or the Crows will be at AAMI Stadium.

[Dogwatcher]

Ahhhh the country game....

[smac]

So we can now officially call Noarlunga a country venue for SANFL games?

[Rik E Boy]

Seriously the NAB's gotta go. The pre-season competition is an anachronism in the current game. The clubs are still going to play an internal trial and an external trial anyway so let's piss off this competition that provides a lukewarm start to the football season. A lukewarm start to the year that takes place while the NRL has already started playing its real rounds. The AFL is giving the NRL this free kick every season.

We should extend the draw by an extra four rounds to assist with the equalisation of the draw and at the same time deservedly knock Rugby League on its arse every March. The money that is awarded as prizemoney should be pumped into grassroots football and extra bums on seats during real football rounds in March is the the reward for the highest level of the game.

Not exactly rocket surgery is it my friends?

regards,

REB

[Dirko]

I agree REB, but whilst there are naming rights for a mikey mouse competition there will always be one...
Can't see NAB pumping in the prizemoney for the NAB into grassroots footy somehow...

[Rik E Boy]

Crap. You could sell 'naming rights' to nearly any round of the regular season to generate the same source of income.

regards,

REB

[Dirko]

Crap. You could sell 'naming rights' to nearly any round of the regular season to generate the same source of income.

regards,

REB

That's correct still doesn't mean the money from any sponsor is going to go to grassroots though.
If you did have naming rights for a round how would Geelong, Carlton, & North Melbourne feel in playing in the "Toyota Round" ?
My point was that NAB get a hell of a lot of publicity for a pre season comp. If a company is going to throw that much money around the
AFL will always listen too them. You get more publicty over a span of 4 - 6 odd weeks for the NAB cup, then what you'd get for the
NAB round...The almighty dollar is too strong.

[rogernumber10]

So we can now officially call Noarlunga a country venue for SANFL games?

Pretty much anything outside of Norwood is rural at best.

[Rushby Hinds]

First time ever, an AFL game in Adelaide that you can catch the train too!

[Dirko]

I'd assume it's Souths Oval, and not the Cockledivers ?

[rogernumber10]

Seriously the NAB's gotta go. The pre-season competition is an anachronism in the current game. The clubs are still going to play an internal trial and an external trial anyway so let's piss off this competition that provides a lukewarm start to the football season. A lukewarm start to the year that takes place while the NRL has already started playing its real rounds. The AFL is giving the NRL this free kick every season.

We should extend the draw by an extra four rounds to assist with the equalisation of the draw and at the same time deservedly knock Rugby League on its arse every March. The money that is awarded as prizemoney should be pumped into grassroots football and extra bums on seats during real football rounds in March is the the reward for the highest level of the game.

Not exactly rocket surgery is it my friends?

regards,

REB

I'll give you the boring straight bat answer:
Yes, the extra cash from an extra sponsor partner is important. Very important.
It enables those clubs down the bottom end who take it very seriously (whomever they may be in a particular year) to sell a bit of hope to supporters with a good start.
It actually enables clubs to experiment against other teams because rookie list players are allowed to play here, when otherwise not allowed to play. Thing all those names like Marty Clarke etc who all come off rookie lists every year.
Different rules can be tried and tested. (I'm talking the serious ones here that work and do get introduced, such as ruck rule to reduce injuries, mark inside goal square and no angle etc; not the sponsor ones such as 9pt goals, which are basically a point of difference).
It enables the AFL to play games at venues like Cairns, Darwin, Canberra etc who don't normally host games. When these venues are guaranteed a couple of games, state and local govts kick money into things like lights facilities etc to lure the AFL games and that benefits the local comps who use these venues 26 weeks a year, compared to the AFL's 1-2 games.
It enables the AFL to force clubs (they certainly don't go willingly) to play at venues next year like Noarlunga, Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury, Narrandera etc for practice games. Those places certainly never get to see these clubs otherwise, and they usually end up as autograph signing sessions. Those venues too all get upgraded, usually with their surface, which benefits the local area associations who use them as showpiece grounds.
AFL isn't allowed to play any earlier than March, for its regular season competition, because Vic govt legislation doesn't allow access to the MCG, and cricket also has date rights over the Gabba, MCG, SCG etc for Feb and March. Most footy clubs in Victoria are actually prohibited from using ovals if a cricket club is there, until a set date of the year.

Plus, until this year, Geelong's pre-season win at AAMI in 06 over the Cats was all I had to hold onto in terms of an actual cup.

[mal]

Will there be enough room on the mounds to park the cars ?

[mighty_tiger_79]

I'd assume it's Souths Oval, and not the Cockledivers ?

im assuming it could be the Shoes oval...................

an AFL game at carlunga, will they have the cars parked around the ground????????

[Booney]

NAB get plenty of exposure from their Auskick involvment too.

The clubs would not like the loss of it,as Rog said,the time to experiment is then,not in Rounds 1-4.

[Dutchy]

Seriously the NAB's gotta go.

[Wedgie]

Which Noarlunga?
Noarlunga Downs or the Noarlunga Oval at Old Noarlunga which has been around for 100 years.
Hopefully its played at the real Noarlunga Oval where the Shoeboys play, great spot!

[mighty_tiger_79]

Which Noarlunga?
Noarlunga Downs or the Noarlunga Oval at Old Noarlunga which has been around for 100 years.
Hopefully its played at the real Noarlunga Oval where the Shoeboys play, great spot!

this is the question that we need answered

the good thing about where the Shoes play is the pub just next door

[Dutchy]

No doubt it is Hickinbottom Oval, main factor would be no cricket pitch and dont they play soccer there over summer? therefore they keep the oval in good nick....

[rogernumber10]

Port will play Fremantle in this match. Adelaide will either play in the the NAB Cup Grand final (most likely as the host if they win this weekend because of the goals rule)or play their final match away against West Coast at Subiaco

[Broadie]

The details have been finalised and Hickinbotham Oval will be hosting the Port Adelaide v Fremantle match on Saturday March 8. The match will kick off at 2:10PM, with a curtain raiser of Willunga v Morphett Vale (the premiers from the GSFL and SFL).

Don't forget that the day has been designated as a fundraising appeal for the people of Kangaroo Island due to the devastating bushfires they suffered in December last year. Gold coin donation accepted - notes preferred!