AFL makes its 2013 debut tonight with the opening of the NAB Cup as Collingwood, Essendon and Western Bulldogs go head-to-head in the preseason three-team game format. We’ll have live scores from 6.45pm AEDT and live blog from 7.50pm AEDT.
Another long off-season has been and gone and footy-starved fans get their first opportunity tonight to judge the fruits of what they hope will have been a prosperous summer training regime.
With the AFL season proper still a little over a month away, coaches will be reticent to show their hand too early in the piece and we should expect to see plenty of young players given an opportunity in the coming weeks.
After three months of a physically demanding preseason, players will be itching to finally get into a game situation and hoping to pick up some early season form.
In the opening two weeks of the NAB Cup, three teams will contest three 40-minute matches (two each team) and the festivities will kick off tonight between Essendon and Western Bulldogs in the opening match.
It’s been a shocking 10 days for the Essendon Football Club and in particular coach James Hird but tonight the club finally get to put off-field turmoil to one side and get back to what they know.
Former number-one draft pick Brendon Goddard will make his debut in Essendon colours after making the move from Moorabbin over the summer, while the Bombers also hand debuts to four of their six acquisitions from the 2012 AFL Draft.
Father-son pick Joe Daniher will not be part of that group of debutants, while reigning Brownlow Medallist Jobe Watson (quad) and David Zaharakis (groin) will also be absent.
After finishing 15th with a record of 5-17 in 2012, Western Bulldogs will be hoping to use tonight as a chance to get into a winning habit from the outset.
Coach Brendan McCartney has named a strong lineup while handing debuts to Nick Lower (Fremantle), Tom Young (Collingwood) and Brett Goodes, brother of Sydney Swans champion Adam, as well as number six draft pick Jackson Macrae.
Tonight will also mark the return of defender Dale Morris, who will play his first game since suffering a horrific broken leg in 2011.
Collingwood, who will take to the field in the second and third matches, have named a side featuring a host of off-season recruits and draft picks after a busy time at the trade table in 2012.
Former Eagles power forward Quentin Lynch will make his debut in the black and white as Nathan Buckley tries to replicate the ‘Leigh Brown effect’ that helped Collingwood to a flag in 2010.
Ben Hudson will play for his fourth AFL club after heading south from Brisbane, premiership player Clinton Young comes in from Hawthorn while Jordan Russell will play after making the switch from arch-rival Carlton.
Kyle Martin, Sam Dwyer and Jack Frost will all make their AFL debuts after being picked up as mature-age rookies from the VFL, and young ruckman Jarrod Witts will also see first-team experience for the Pies.
Dale Thomas and Luke Ball will both be absent from action tonight as they continue injury rehabilitation with a eye toward the AFL season proper.
Results will mean next to nothing for the three coaches tonight, but that’s not to say these matches aren’t important in the lead-in to round one.
All three teams experienced 2012 seasons that fell below expectations, and all three get the opportunity to begin rectifying that tonight. We’ll have live scores from 6.45pm AEDT and live commentary from 7.50pm AEDT.
Scottyballbags
Guest
Boom! Go pies!!!!
Scottyballbags
Guest
Boom! Go pies!!!!
Justin Cinque
Expert
So that's it from me. Join us again on The Roar
Justin Cinque
Expert
So to recap The Dons beat the Dogs by 26 in the opening match of the night. The Pies beat by Dogs by 18 in the night's second match. And Collingwood, seemingly down an out with two minutes left, have defeated Essendon by two points in a thrilling finish in the third match.
Justin Cinque
Expert
FULL TIME Collingwood 1.2.10.31 Essendon 0.4.5.29 Both teams will be happy. Collingwood for their victory and the performances of recruits Lynch and Russell. They will feel like, with better kicking at goal, they would've won easier. Essendon have a lot to be pleased about. Their defence was solid. Hibberd had a good night. The influence of Goddard was obvious. His foot skills sublime and ability to impact I50 also obvious. The Dons looked to have it in the bag, yet somehow they've thrown it away. It won't hurt too much, but they'll be wondering how they let it slip from their grasp.
Justin Cinque
Expert
FULL TIME Collingwood 1.2.10.31 Essendon 0.4.5.29 A whirlwind end has given Collingwood a remarkable victory. With 90 seconds left, they trailed by 12 points. Somehow Krakouer managed to sneak a goal. The Pies, within 6 with a minute left, went on the attack again. Elliot could've levelled it with a snap that went wide. And then Travis Cloke won a free kick in front of the sticks after being pushed in a marking contest. He goalled - just. His kick was a bit wayward. The Pies led by two with 14 seconds left. The Dons then won the clearance and free kick to Davis on the bell. From 53, he couldn't get the trip. So Collingwood won by two points.
Justin Cinque
Expert
FULL TIME Collingwood 1.2.9.31 Essendon 0.4.5.29 His kick is straight. It lands in the goalsquare. Collingwood WIN. They were gone. Unbelievable conclusion
Justin Cinque
Expert
SIREN GONE Collingwood 1.2.9.31 Essendon 0.4.5.29 Dons win the clearance. FREE TO DAVIS OF ESSENDON AT 52. AFTER THE SIREN FOR NINE TO WIN IT\ UNBELIEVABLE
Justin Cinque
Expert
44 secs to go SECOND HALF Coll 31 Ess 29 FREE TO CLOKE AT 15 METRES. He was pushed out of the marking contest by Hardingham He goals. Pies lead. Not kidding either.
Justin Cinque
Expert
44 secs to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.1.9.24 Essendon 0.4.5.29 Beams won the clearance. Elliot roves. HE CAN SHOOT DOESN:T STEADY. MISSES FROM TEN METRES. He was off balance.
Justin Cinque
Expert
1:14 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.1.8.23 Essendon 0.4.5.29 Krakouer, hardly sighted tonight, has managed to sneak the ball through some legs and snatch the goal. Well it's not over yet. 74 secs left. 6 points in it.
Justin Cinque
Expert
2:29 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.8.17 Essendon 0.4.5.29 2 minutes left. 2 goal game. Ball at HF. Johnson's free. Pies still a chance. Long ball to FF. Free!! Against Cloke! Hands in the back the call. Essendon will win.
Justin Cinque
Expert
2:29 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.8.17 Essendon 0.4.5.29 Pies still pressing. Searching for a goal. Dons win it in defence again. Have pretty much all night. Sidebottom wins a free at 40 for in the back. The Bombers have been dominant in the air I reckon tonight. Sidey lines up and he kicks a bad shank. Missed the lot. Fair dinkum.
Justin Cinque
Expert
4 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.8.17 Essendon 0.4.5.29 He missed. Pies 1.8 - Nothing's changed it seemed.
Justin Cinque
Expert
4 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.7.16 Essendon 0.4.5.29 Cloke lining up from 50 on the boundary. Elliot flew very high. Would've been a February MOTY. Dunstall reckons MOTD (D=decade) if he plucked it. Hudson marks at 48. Must goal here.
Justin Cinque
Expert
7 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.7.16 Essendon 0.4.5.29 Hits the post. Dons by 13. Pies only one goal in this game. Disappointing
Justin Cinque
Expert
7 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.7.16 Essendon 0.4.4.28 Stanton's short pass finds Goddard at 40m. He'll go back. Money's down again. Tough angle this time but he's a good kick. And he...
Justin Cinque
Expert
10 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.7.16 Essendon 0.4.4.28 Yagmoor in defence to O'Brien. He carried it out. Penalised. He's a bit stiff. Goddard flew, no mark. CROWD - close to 30,000 - from Dwayne Russell's mouth.
Justin Cinque
Expert
10 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.7.16 Essendon 0.4.4.28 Hudson breaks from the centre clearance. Bombers under control in defence. I've been impressed by Essendon. Once again, early in the year, they're making some noise.
Justin Cinque
Expert
10 to go SECOND HALF Collingwood 1.0.7.16 Essendon 0.4.4.28 Bombers playing some tempo stuff. Now the money ball. Bellchambers takes the big mark at 53. Shorts it to Goddard. He lines up from 48. My money's down. He should goal. We're in the queue! Goddard goals. Collingwood in a bit of trouble - if that's possible in the NAB Cup.