The first round of the NAB Cup continues tonight at Metricon Stadium with its tri-series lightning format involving the Suns, Demons and Lions. We will bring you live scores and commentary starting from 7.00 pm AEDT.
Gold Coast Suns
This time last year the Suns made their first appearance as an AFL team, having spent the previous two seasons in lower leagues.
They made a surprisingly good debut in the NAB Cup winning both games, one of which was against the newly formed GWS who were making up the numbers with a group of 17 and 18 year olds.
With two full pre-seasons under their belts, they’ll go into tonight’s games with some confidence that they can repeat the dose.
One of the players we are expecting some improvement from is league convert Karmichael Hunt, who has just been promoted to the leadership group and has signed a two year extension to his contract.
The whisper is that the hard work he has put in the last two years is about to pay off. If we see him start in the middle, we’ll learn a fair bit about how far Hunt has come, especially with his aerobic capacity, his reading of the game and his capacity to use his strength in the clinches.
Jaeger O’Meara, who has just celebrated his 18th birthday, has been granted permission to play tonight.
He is too young to play this season in the AFL proper, having come across to the Suns via a trade deal with GWS, who were able to nominate up to four 17 year olds pre-draft for trade purposes. We get a glimpse tonight of what the fuss was all about.
Another one to watch is last year’s number one draft pick, David Swallow. His debut year lived up to expectations, being able to play immediately as an 18 year old.
He will be looking to step up again and help Ablett out more in midfield.
The Suns have a few of their young guns missing tonight, all recovering from pre-season injuries, including Josh Caddy, Josh Toy, Sam Day and Trent McKenzie.
Melbourne Demons
The Demons are out to show their improvement under new coach Mark Neeld, who is likely to introduce a few tricks which he learned during his time at the Pies.
New recruit Mitch Clark gets a chance to impress against his old club, the Lions. A move forward would see the Demons with a two-pronged attack also including Jack Watts, who showed real improvement last season.
Newly appointed captain, Jack Trengrove, becomes the youngest ever AFL captain, adding a bit of pressure to a youngster who has already shown plenty, but who is still learning the game.
The Demons are missing two ruckmen: Max Gawn and Jake Spencer, so much will rest with Mark Jamar in carrying the ruck load.
Brisbane Lions
After having his face re-arranged last season not once, but twice, key forward and skipper, Jonathon Brown, will be looking forward to making a rare NAB Cup appearance.
With Mitch Clark now playing with Melbourne, coach Michael Voss will be sifting through the youngsters to see who can partner Brown this season.
Former bulldog ruckman, Ben Hudson, will debut for the club tonight, supporting Matthew Leuenberger. Billy Longer will also get a run in the ruck at some point tonight.
Daniel Rich is one of the more significant absentees for the Lions tonight, meaning Simon Black will be one of the very few experienced midfielders in the team, and Michael Voss will be rotating a few draftees through the middle to give them a taste of it.
Prediction: As mentioned earlier, I think the signs are good for a Suns double victory tonight.
Go cats
Guest
Great call thanks cattery.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
That's it for me tonight, thanks for joining me, have a good evening.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
FT Lions 2.6 (18) GC 2.4 (16) for the 4th time out of the last 5 games, every team gets a win, and this was a good effort by the Lions, they were challenged by the suns in that second half, but managed to hang onto the lead that they had set up in that first half by being first to the footy and penetrating deep into the fwd 50. Conditions weren't good tonight, so the quality wasn't there for much of the night, but two blokes stood out for the suns, 18 yo O'Meara, who will only be allowed to play AFL proper next season, and the mature draftee from Tassie, Hall.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
45 sec to go Lions 2.6 GC 2.4 long snap from Green, another point for the lions, 2 pts the difference, Suns need to go coast to coast here to win it, they've got the free in the middle, lions wanted it more, they clear, they should be able to hold on now
The Cattery
Roar Guru
1 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 2.4 lions holding onto the point, suns had had enough possession last few minutes to get in front, but couldn't manage it, chance now for lions to lock it in, and try to close the game, good strong mark to Jeremy Taylor for the suns
The Cattery
Roar Guru
2 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 2.4 Longer has been rucking for the lions, up against Gorringe, good contest from the two young ruckmen poor effort then from Dixon, should have taken the ball in the hands, dropped it stone cold
The Cattery
Roar Guru
3 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 2.4 Another free to Patrick, this time a bit closer, but on the angle, the free was 50/50, across the face, no score, he should have at least tied it up
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Roar Guru
5 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 2.4 a touch of class from O'Meara then - suns fans will be looking forward to next year - he has just made the marking contest, spoiled, and with bodies hitting the ground all round him, he has landed on his feet taken the ball in the same motion - and he was off!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
6 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 2.4 Lions will start to tire now, having played a second consecutive game, suns appear to be finishing the stronger, although most of their senior players are off (well, what senior players they have)
The Cattery
Roar Guru
7 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 2.4 Patrick very lucky, good pick up, got past one tackler, but the next got him from behind, he was caught red hot, but tackler got into his back, so free from around 45m, just misses, point the difference
The Cattery
Roar Guru
8 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 2.3 Brown goes forward straight after the ball up, good pressure by suns in the fwd line, out on the full, a reprieve for the lions, but it's forced forward again, good zone set up by suns, Hall involved again, Gorringe with long host, rushed over for a point
The Cattery
Roar Guru
9 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 2.1 Bennell crumbs it from the boundary throw in, quick snap - and goals! very nice finish
The Cattery
Roar Guru
10 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 1.1 It's Hall again, tries to wriggle away, gets legged - he might be close to leading possession getter for the night!
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Roar Guru
12 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 1.1 It's a 10 pt lead to the lions now, plenty of time for the suns to get back into it, but they're not really looking like it, and once again, it's a horrible kick inside defensive 50 for the suns, setting themselves up, good fwd line pressure from lions
The Cattery
Roar Guru
13 min to go Lions 2.5 GC 1.1 It's the lions now with the set shot from around 45m, and he gets it! It was Harwood.
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Roar Guru
16 min to go Lions 1.4 GC 1.1 Another good possession to Hall, so he has definitely been a a positive for the suns tonight
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Roar Guru
18 min to go Lions 1.4 GC 1.1 Lions manage to clear and mvoe the footy along the boundary line, very tight opening to game
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Roar Guru
19 min to go Lions 1.4 GC 1.1 Hall with the free on edge of 50m, won't make the difference, out for throw in in suns fwd pocket, near side Brown doing some bullocking work in defence
The Cattery
Roar Guru
HT Lions 1.4 GC 1.1 Very similar to the Lions' first game, they've had most of the fwd 50s, but only have a very small lead, now that the rain has stopped, we might be in for a very good 2nd half. Hunt has been subbed off, he had a good 1st half, probably did better than what he did first game, but there was one point where he was struggling to chase down a lions runner, so I'd think he was pretty much spent now.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
1 min to go Lions 1.4 GC 1.1 lions trying to trap it around the 50, but very clean hands from Swallow then, clears to centre-wing, lions have the wall up, horrible pass from Patrick, marked by lions inside 50 for a freebie - but only a point