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Who cares about the NAB Challenge?

Roar Rookie
25th February, 2015
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Roar Rookie
25th February, 2015
7

It’s February yet again, and while the A-League and the cricket seasons continue, the AFL NAB Challenge begins. In a period of an Australian-hosted Cricket World Cup, how many people actually care about the NAB Challenge?

Collingwood and Hawthorn will kick things off on Thursday with games being played periodically until March 22. With most games being held at boutique venues such as Whitten Oval or Morwell, it makes it hard for followers to expect their teams to take it seriously.

Coaches pick their rookies and young players, giving them game time in these practice matches so they can gain vital experience that most won’t get when Round 1 starts. As a fan there is nothing better than watching a first year player catch your eye during a NAB Challenge game, willing them to be selected throughout the season.

For someone that lives in Melbourne, I won’t be venturing out to venues such as Shepparton or Morwell, however those close to these country towns will be able to see their stars that they very rarely get to see up close. This is a great initiative, however we know that sides won’t be at full strength, stars such as Nat Fyfe and Marc Murphy won’t be available for most of the NAB Challenge.

Another reason for the NAB Challenge is to cater for those fantasy nuffies. A chance to stake out those valuable rookies than can separate you from the top of the league or not making the top eight. Players such as Dillon Viojo Rainbow or Jesse Hogan are important for fantasy players out there. Without the NAB Challenge, we wouldn’t be able to separate one rookie from the other, so expect plenty of people to show a keen interest in the stats from the first few rounds.

However, how do the players get motivated to play these games? With no finals or ladder, in reality there is nothing to play for. But the NAB challenge will give coaches vital feedback from clubs testing their game plans, and youngsters will have a chance to perform and push their case for selection. Following on from a heavy pre-season, most clubs will be able to finally put a team on paper and play against opposition other than themselves.

The pre-season cup causes about as much conversation as who should be the current prime minister. Every footy fan has a different opinion. Calls to bring back State of Origin, make it a knockout format, or to not bother at all are just some responses by footy fans.

In 2015, with the Cricket World Cup full steam ahead, it will be hard for the AFL to justify the use of the NAB Challenge, however the pre-season comp is here to stay. Coaches and players can gain something out of the four-week competition that they can’t get at training.

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As I’ve outlined, the NAB Challenge can be good for numerous reasons and we all have differing opinions on it, but no matter who you talk to, there is always one person that mentions the two words the AFL don’t want to hear – who cares.

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