In just four weeks the wait will be over. Keen followers of the AFL have spent the summer arguing about the usual offseason tripe.
Memberships, attendances, joining in the weekly code war, whether Richmond will make it, how low GWS will go, whether various players are training the house down, or whether Collingwood will get a free ride.
Newspapers carry stories of clubs and players that are ready to go at it like a bull in a china shop as they scramble to find news to appease the football loving public in the off season.
Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We can finally get back to what we want to see – actual football.
So what I hear you say, it’s the preseason, it means nothing to anyone. I say to you, that you are sorely mistaken.
The preseason allows us to see players who wouldn’t necessarily get a game when premiership glory is on the line. It can be invaluable for any club in great need of a great start to the season. You can generate quite a bit of positive flow toward the club with a stirring performance.
This can be particularly useful when looking for members and sponsors. I imagine people who rarely get to see professional sport first hand in smaller cities across the country would be quite fond of the preseason.
Since 1988 the VFL/AFL have conducted a pre-season competition, which has been over the years mainly based on a knockout format.
In 2012 clubs are guaranteed four rounds of pre-season matches all over this fair country. This season takes us to the three way matches seen for the first time in last years NAB Cup, followed by a guaranteed two rounds of regular matches played all over the country.
Say what you like about the NAB Cup and its relevance to the real thing, there’s no doubt that for professional sport locations out in the middle of nowhere, these matches are a godsend.
In 2012 at least, it has the added bonus of sending out the big Victorian teams (Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton in particular) to places that get very few visits from them.
NAB Cup Round 1:
Hawthorn, Richmond and North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium)
GWS, Bulldogs and Collingwood (Blacktown)
WEst Coast, Fremantle and Essendon (Pattersons)
Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney (Etihad Stadium)
Gold Coast, Brisbane and Melbourne (Metricon)
Adelaide, Port and Carlton (Aami)
For those unfamiliar with the triangular format, the competition is basically three matches, one after the other with two short halves and a quick break between matches.
Clubs can completely change squads between matches if necessary. The matches also feature the nine point super goal for goals kicked from further than 50 metres out.
Predicting the NAB Cup winners can be fraught with danger. Some clubs take it seriously, some clubs dont. Some clubs go all out (Port make this promise annually) while others are quite blatant in their belief it’s a practice run (see Paul Roos every year ad nauseum), so I’ve elected to give predictions for the first round only.
Richmond will show up bright eyed and bushy tailed – and will be stomped by Hawthorn. Collingwood will make probably their only trip to Blacktown ever to face GWS. Why Sydney isn’t in this group is beyond me given the AFL have neatly combined all other home state groups.
Perth people will get to see the Bombers on a rare visit out west, where West Coast will comfortably account for all, and Fremantle’s hopes rest on one man – Aaron Sandilands – being fit.
Geelong will dominate its group at Etihad. The close ones will be at Metricon, although I expect Brisbane with Merett and Brown back to lay down the law over a still gathering Gold Coast and Melbourne.
Carlton will head to Adelaide where it should win both matches comfortably.
NAB Cup round two combines the NAB Cup with matches that used to form the NAB Challenge (for eliminated teams).
Previously it was losing sides that competed in matches outside of the major metro areas.
This year matches will be featured at Mandurah, Wangaratta, Alice Springs, as well as a rare AFL match at Bruce Purser Reserve for the Swans. Other matches will be played at traditional season venues at Etihad, Aurora and Metricon.
NAB Cup round three takes matches to Albury, Victor Harbor, and Ballarat as well as the usual AFL venues at Etihad, Simonds, Patersons and Aami.
The Carlton v Brisbane match is listed as TBC for some reason, although I’d suggest its likely to be in Victoria. That said, I’ve also heard that its going to Queensland, I guess time will tell.
Under the new TV deal ALL preseason cup matches are broadcast live on Fox, and will not be shown on FTA for the first time.
The Grand Final will be simulcast on the Seven Network. Note also that local matches which are usually shown in non victorian states on Free to Air do not get the same protection during the NAB Cup.
As a further note, Foxtels Footy Channel launches on February 17th with the triangular games between North, Hawthorn and Richmond. The 2012 AFL Premiership Season begins March 18th, 2012.
Enron
Guest
Mate, good comment. NAB cup should be all about grass roots footy, taking it back to the people, and playing at venues where the locals probably have never seen an AFL side play.. West Coast in Busselton or Bunbury is a great idea... lots of WCE fans down there.. many of whom dont get to see live games... sure the case is the same for all the other venues you mentioned. Reminds me of spring training with the American baseball... you turn up.. buy a hot dog and a beer.. and are standing 2 metres away from some bloke who gets paid 20 million a year to swat a ball... its fantastic fun.. they all sign autographs and T shirts.. chat to the fans...come the regular season that guy will play at Yankee stadium miles away from the fans and will have a personal security detachment..... NAB cup should follow that format.. regional locations, burgers, barbecues, beer .... and the footy is almost an afterthought. :-)
Enron
Guest
Good call.. but I think it would be great to have a round robin format with the top 2 teams from SANFL, WAFL, VFL and a local state team each from QLD, NSW and Tasmania... Actually, why dont we play a state of origin carnival in the pre season?? that would get people fired up wouldnt it??? Vics can have 2 teams, country and metro.. given the Sandropers and Croweaters wouldnt be able to beat a full strength Victorian outfit... ha ha ha :-) Im a Sandgoper myself and recall the floggings we used to get prior to 1977 :-)
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Just a reminder that the Fox Footy station kicks off in exactly 3 weeks (with the start of the NAB Cup).
Lachlan
Roar Guru
Ditch the pools system. Have rounds 1 - 4, results recorded on a mini-ladder and Round 5 is dedicated to teams playing for finishing positions. For example Grand final between the team that finished 1st vs team that finished 2nd, to see who wins the NAB Cup, 3rd vs 4th, playing for 3rd spot, 5th playing 6thy for 5th spot, etc.
Lachlan
Roar Guru
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/128204/default.aspx
Lachlan
Roar Guru
Round 4 "Potential Venues: Etihad Stadium, Simonds Stadium, Blacktown International Sportspark, AAMI Stadium, Patersons Stadium, Metricon Stadium, Manuka Oval, VISY Park".
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
4th round matches have yet to be released so theres hope for you yet. Hobart will be lucky to get one with 2 AFL matches there this year and preseason games not in that contract i believe (unlike the hawks deal at aurora)
Lachlan
Roar Guru
Also why this article is as close to an article about the NAB (Regional) Challenge as possible, i think the AFL has gone soft this year, with playing games in rural area's. When the NAB Challenge first begun in 2004, there was a game each at Morwell, Shepparton, Newcastle, Coorparoo, Alice Springs, Kadina, Mandurah. Which all are regionalised and have strong football support, besides Newcastle and Coorparoo, but thats excellent they get to see AFL football. Places such as Albury, Narrandera, Bendigo, Ballarat, Mildura, mt Gambier, Port Lincoln, Albany, Bunbury, Coffs Harbour and Cairns have been used previously in the past, just to name a few. This year, we see, just in the first 2 rounds, 4 games at Etihad stadium, 2 at Paterson's Stadium, 1 at AAMI Stadium and 1 at Metricon Stadium. These places aren't regionalised, they are all world class stadiums in capital cities (except Gold Coast). Why not play the first round of the NAB Cup at World Class facilities, but have the next 3 weeks all at regional venues (with the exception of metricon stadium and blacktown international sportspark, because GWS and GC are still growing their brand). Their a lot of places that were not mentioned before that can play games at: Sunshine Coast Central Queensland Central Coast Wagga Wagga Wollongong Bairnsdale Broken Hill Warrnambool Geraldton Karratha Hobart Devonport This is one thing, i like to look at each year and find out what regional venues AFL is going to be played at, but to see this, this year. Disappointment.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
actually good point forgot about thjat. cheers
The reason the AFL hasn't scheduled GWS and Sydney together is because they are saving that match-up for the standalone Rd 1 fixture to kick of the season. Which will be an embarrassment to all involved (except Sydney, who will gratefully take the 20 goal win).
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Which in turn explains why the State Leagues suffer so much financially. Its not a case of Premier League and Championship, but another couple of Leagues down. Really think that the AFL should try and bolster the second tier and make it more viable...
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Morningside beat the Bears???? That's an amazing bit of trivia. And Freo annihilating the Port Magpies circa 1996 is telling. People seem to forget that it's a massive gap between the very best 2nd tier team and the worst AFL team. Which helps explain why the Suns came out in their very first AFL game last year against Carlton and got walloped by 20 goals, with Carlton barely needing to raise a sweat.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
They've got the Foxtel Cup to cater for that. No AFL club is going to get beaten by a state club these days. Last time I recall it happening was when Morningside beat the Brisbane Bears in a preseason game some years ago. Just before Port entered the AFL, Fremantle played the then premiers here at Football Park and Port never even saw the footy that day - they were annihilated by Freo who were woeful back then I might add - and Port were the SANFL premiers at the time.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I'm not so sure about giving the best clubs from the state leagues a run, they would get belted. However, rep sides with no AFL listed players allowed might just give a few teams bit of a shake, especially as the AFL side would not be picking their best team and the state sides would be playing on the biggest stage many of the playuers would ever get to. A VFL, SANFL and WAFL side would all be competitive, and maybe a combined NEAFL team - I'd like to fit the TSL in there, but its just too far behind those leagues right now.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Hosting Essenscum, ready your scarves and jackets...
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Cattery, That half of footy probably did Geelong good in the long run.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I agree that on that occasion Geelong had to snap out of it, but equally, it was a reminder that young players can't last the distance in that department - admittedly the first round of NAB games are the lightning format, anyway, I'd be very happy if GWS were to catch the pies off guard, but I don't think there'd be long term repercussions.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
If Collingwood take it easy, it could happen. Remember, Gold Coast beat Geelong for contested possessions for a half of footy ...
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Ian it took Geelong's big-bodied 30 year olds to beat the pies in the middle of the park, I don't think GWS' kids are able to do the same just yet.
Lachlan
Roar Guru
The preseason has always been a great way to start the new year. it will always be a part of the fixture. Id like to see the best tams from each state lague possibly included. NAB Cup Round 1: Hawthorn, Richmond and North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium) - Hawthorn should win both games. Richmond and North will be close. GWS, Bulldogs and Collingwood (Blacktown) - Collingwood win both easily. Western Bulldogs will beat GWS easily. WEst Coast, Fremantle and Essendon (Pattersons) - I think all 3 matches could go either way. Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney (Etihad Stadium) - Geelong should win all matches, but if Sydney play their best team, could go either way. St. Kilda may go close. Gold Coast, Brisbane and Melbourne (Metricon) - As well as The Western Australian/Essendon pool, it will be a close one. Adelaide, Port and Carlton (Aami) - Carlton should come out victorious in both matches. Adelaide v Port will be close.