The 2013 NAB Cup tonight features two clubs who have teased for so long, and another coming off a tough week. It’s week two of the AFL preseason competition as North Melbourne, Melbourne and Richmond do battle at Etihad Stadium. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 6:45pm AEDT.
No doubting that the back end of 2012 was a massive positive for North Melbourne, winning 10 of their last 12 and making the finals for the first time since 2008.
At Richmond, they’ve always promised but have rarely delivered. So it would be wrong of me to say they should be making the eight, no?
Of course they should be there. The ‘rebuilding’ line is now no longer relevant.
Melbourne on the other hand is a team that has had a lot to deal with this week outside of football, with the tanking probe coming to a head. Now, they must focus on the on-field battles that await them.
North Melbourne’s off-season has been a positive one with the odd injury hiccup, but tonight they have named a relatively fit line-up just weeks away from the season getting underway.
We’re expecting to see more of Majak Daw, especially in the pre-season. It could make or break if he plays as back up to Todd Goldstein, or whether that goes to Daniel Currie.
What will be interesting is to see how Brent Harvey goes in the NAB Cup. He won’t be eligible to play in the season-proper until round seven because of suspension in the flimination final loss to West Coast.
Richmond is in a similar boat to North Melbourne – a list that’s been rebuilding for a while, but now must prove they can they deserve to be playing with the big boys.
They’ve made some good acquisitions in the off season with Chris Knights (Adelaide), Aaron Edwards (North Melbourne) and Troy Chaplin (Port Adelaide) making the move.
They’re nice top-ups. But with Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin getting another year under their belt together, this is a team that should be going places.
Melbourne’s 2012 was just plain tough. Hit from pillar to post from the pundits, fans and even from coaching staff.
There was no surprise of the broom going through and getting rid of some players that just rode on the idea of being an AFL player, but not performing as an AFL player should.
So tonight, we should get to see who of this new batch of players is going to step up and uphold the beliefs of the Demons.
The acquisition of Chris Dawes is a big talking point after the trade period, but former Geelong player Shannon Byrnes is one to look out for after a strong pre-season. Jack Viney will hopefully get a run after being selected under the father-son rule in the draft.
Out of the three matches tonight, the most interest will indeed be the Kangaroos and Tigers.
There’s every chance the last spot in the top eight this season could come down to these two sides. So some bragging rights on the line – but it could mean more than just that tonight.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
I won't lie... that was pretty damn awesome!
TC
Guest
The magic door shows his exit plan. Crude, but effective.
Timothy
Guest
Nuff said! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Yx93ypZbzto
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
So North Melbourne join Collingwood as the only two sides with 2 wins from 2 matches. That could change across the weekend with two more sets of matches to finish the 1st round. Tomorrow - Gold Coast, Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions Sunday - Carlton, Sydney and GWS Giants. We'll have more live coverage across the weekend. Thanks for joining me tonight. Your thoughts on tonight's games more than welcome. Twitter - @TheSportsFreak
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
So, recapping the night... FIRST MATCH NM 1.4.5 (38) | MELB 0.5.6 (36) Melbourne with a bit of fight in the second half, but left themselves too much to do in the final stages. SECOND MATCH MELB 0.2.3 (15) | RICH 1.2.9 (30) Richmond the fresher of the two teams with plenty of run. Demons had no puff. Inaccuracy from Tigers a slight worry. FINAL MATCH RICH 0.6.8 (44) | NM 0.7.6 (48) Great battle. Lots of end-to-end play. The first match of the whole NAB Cup (for mine) that felt like a ridgy-didge contest. North had enough left in the tank to run home winners.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Full Time - RICH 0.6.8 (44) | NM 0.7.6 (48) GOALKICKERS (* - Super Goal) RICH – Shane Edwards 2, Jack Riewoldt 2, Brandon Ellis 1, Daniel Jackson 1 NM – Brent Harvey 2, Aaron Black 2, Majak Daw 1, Lindsay Thomas 1, Jack Ziebell 1 PLAYER STATS Andrew Swallow (NM) 13 disposals, 4 contested possessions, 2 marks, 2 clearances, 3 rebound 50’s, 2 tackles Brent Harvey (NM) 11 disposals, 6 contested possessions, 2 goals Jack Ziebell (NM) 10 disposals, 6 contested possessions, 5 clearances, 2 rebound 50’s, 3 inside 50’s TEAM STATS Disposals: RICH 126-124, Clearances: NM 16-7, Inside 50’s: RICH 24-21, Contested Possessions: RICH 54-51, Tackles: Level 19-19, Hitouts: NM 14-7
Brin tomlin
Guest
Come on tigers playing well
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Full Time - RICH 0.6.8 (44) | NM 0.7.6 (48) Great contest for late February. North Melbourne with just a little more juice left at the end, probably because of the break between matches they had. But both sides had a lot to give there. Hopefully for those two teams, they can build on this and press to the top eight in 2013.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Full Time - RICH 0.6.8 (44) | NM 0.7.6 (48) Last throes - Shane Edwards has a blast from 55m out... but he's gone wide for a behind. And there's the SIREN! Kangas win!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 0:40 left - RICH 0.6.7 (43) | NM 0.7.6 (48) Cracking gather from a stoppage from Daniel Wells. Feeds it off to Aaron Black who marks 45m out. Kicks a GOAL!!! They might get home here...
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 1:40 left - RICH 0.6.7 (43) | NM 0.6.6 (42) Brent Harvey handballs down the middle of the ground to Drew Petrie. Then finds Jack Ziebell... he's got space... unloads for goal... MISSED!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 2:00 left - RICH 0.6.7 (43) | NM 0.6.5 (41) Nick Vlaustin hands off to Shane Tuck. Then kicks into the forward line... Ball spills to Matt White... snaps, but skews off the boot for a behind.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 3:20 left - RICH 0.6.6 (42) | NM 0.6.5 (41) Closing stages. Fair to say there's a bit on the line here. As I said in the preview, these two sides will be pressing for top eight spots this year and they want to prove that to the other team! Up forward for North Melbourne... Luke McGuane's gone a little too fierce at the footy and gets Jack Ziebell high. Free kick from 45m out - GOAL!!!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 5:40 left - RICH 0.6.6 (42) | NM 0.5.5 (35) Good pluck from Luke McGuane at centre wing. To Dustin Martin, then passes off to Brandon Ellis on the run at half forward. Shoots on goal... misses as well!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 6:40 left - RICH 0.6.5 (41) | NM 0.5.5 (35) Quick handball from Brent Harvey as he finds Andrew Swallow with a mountain of space. Kicks inside 50 - Thomas spills the mark!!!! Oh come on! Thankfully, the Kangas with a second chance a few seconds later and it's marked by Swallow again - this time inside 50. Kicks from 45m out - nope... behind!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 8:00 left - RICH 0.6.5 (41) | NM 0.5.4 (34) Brent Harvey with a turnover across half back... but he's put a couple of his team mates under some duress. Richmond now forward again through Matt Dea... then Matty White. Long ball inside 50 - Luke McGuane fumbles out of bounds - ball in. Kangas clear...
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 10:14 left - RICH 0.6.5 (41) | NM 0.5.4 (34) Drew Petrie with a strong grab on centre wing. Kicks long towards Robbie Tarrant, got hit solidly and on the ground for a while. Richmond clear. Now a free kick at centre wing to North Melbourne... but a 50m penalty to Aaron Mullett! He's decided he wants to kick for a SUPER GOAL.... Going, going... HIT THE POST!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 12:30 left - RICH 0.6.5 (41) | NM 0.5.3 (33) Shane Edwards with a booming kick towards the goal line. Dustin Martin has to try to beat 3 defenders and it's forced over the line for a rushed behind
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 13:40 left - RICH 0.6.4 (40) | NM 0.5.3 (33) I don't know about this "last touched" rule for out of bounds. Will Sierakowski gets forced out of bounds in his turning circle. Gives it back to the boundary umpire... but the field up says it's a free kick to Richmond, so that makes it a 50m penalty. That rule doesn't suit AFL! Daniel Jackson with the resultant free kick - GOAL!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2nd Half - 16:40 left - RICH 0.5.4 (34) | NM 0.5.3 (33) Turnover from the Kangas as Tyrone Vickery sets up a team mate near the middle - that's Brandon Ellis. Unloads from 49m out - GOAL! Great kick and now the Tigers back in front