The 2013 NAB Cup continues this afternoon when GWS Giants, Carlton and reigning AFL premiers Sydney Swans clash in Western Sydney, marking the return of master coach Michael Malthouse. We’ll have live scores from 4.40pm AEDT and blog from 6.50pm AEDT.
Considering the circumstances in which the three-time premiership coach left Collingwood, it came as a surprise to virtually nobody that Malthouse would return to the coaching hot seat in 2013.
Already the AFL world has its focus squarely upon Sunday April 7, when Malthouse will lead Carlton against arch-rival Collingwood, where he coached for over a decade.
But before that, the Blues head north to Sydney to meet the Giants and Swans in their first competitive hit-out of the season in the NAB Cup, where Malthouse will be pitted first-up against another of the game’s legends Kevin Sheedy.
As the Giants’ inaugural coach Sheedy has fulfilled his off-field role in spruiking the AFL in rugby league heartland, but he must now begin to get results on the field.
Sheedy serves his final year of a three-year contract before handing the reins to Leon Cameron is 2014, and he’ll be hoping to see the Giants improve on their 2012 win-loss record of 2-20.
The Giants will this afternoon unveil their prized number one pick of the 2012 AFL draft, 18-year-old midfielder Lachie Whitfield, as well as fellow draftees Jono O’Rourke and Lachie Plowman.
Skipper Callan Ward will miss the game due to injury, as will Chad Cornes and Dom Tyson, but the Giants are expected to name a strong 22 in an attempt to get 2013 underway with a winning start.
Fresh off the triumph of the 2012 AFL Grand Final win over Hawthorn, the Swans are expected to take longer to get in their stride in 2013 due to a later pre-season than most.
An AFL suspension rules Kurt Tippett out of the game, Shane Mumford is still several weeks away due to injury, and John Longmire has named eight draftees for this afternoon.
Dean Towers, Harry Marsh, Tim Membrey and Matthew Dick are all named to make their AFL debut, but attention will be focused on two particular young players.
Brandon Jack and Xavier Richards, brothers of stars Kieran and Ted respectively, will start alongside their older siblings, who have also been named to play.
Both the Giants and Blues come into 2013 with something to prove after disappointing 2012 seasons, and with a longer pre-season should provide a strong contest for the Swans this afternoon.
We’ll have live scores from first bounce at 4.40pm AEDT before covering all the action from the Giants-Swans derby at 6.50pm AEDT.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Of course pre-season form can be deceptive and doesn't mean all that much. Sydney won't be slashing their wrists over their performance - they've never really done well in the NAB Cup, but it doesn't hurt them when the real stuff starts. But for GWS, it was important that they make a statement that they won't be easy pickings this year. They were unlucky to lose to Carlton, and then did it easily against Sydney; so I thought they achieved that. At this stage of the club's development, every win is to be celebrated - and the first win against the Swans is one to remember. Was an enjoyable evening, although I have no voice and am as wet as a drowned rat.
Chad Bennett
Editor
That will be it for NAB Cup action for the evening, and for the round. We revert back to regular NAB Cup fixtures next weekend, beginning with Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn at Etihad on Friday night. Thanks for reading, enjoy what is left of the weekend.
Chad Bennett
Editor
FULL TIME GWS Giants 0.7.10.52 Sydney Swans 1.3.1.28 Supergoals GWS Giants: Nil Sydney Swans: White Goals GWS Giants: Patton 2, Greene 2, Cameron, Ugle, Whiley Sydney Swans: Lamb, Towers, O'Keefe Nice win there for the Giants in difficult conditions. They've done well and will take confidence from beating the Swans, though the Swans will not be concerned in the slightest about the result. Pleasing signs from Patton and Cameron up forward for the Giants, and Tom Scully was a noticeable presence in the middle. Do we learn much from the game? More than likely not, but the Giants might just be a little more competitive this season, as young bodies and minds begin to mature.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 0:33 GWS Giants 0.7.10.52 Sydney Swans 1.3.1.28 Sam Naismith picks up a 50m penalty from the centre bounce after copping round around the head, and from the free he kicks the goal from 35m to seal the result for the Giants. 15 touches for Naismith during this game, not a bad return at all in these conditions.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 0:46 GWS Giants 0.6.10.46 Sydney Swans 1.3.1.28 Consecutive goals for the Swans to close out this contest, this time it is the diminutive Jed Lamb who slots from a set shot on a reasonable angle. Puts a touch of respectability onto the scoreline for the Swans, not that they would really mind either way.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 1:46 GWS Giants 0.6.10.46 Sydney Swans 1.2.1.22 Dean Towers gets the Swans' first of the half, and only their second goal of the contest. Nice finish from Towers, though.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 2:50 GWS Giants 0.6.10.46 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Moore charges toward the 50 and unleashes the supergoal attempt, but his shot is a tired one and it barely reaches the goalsquare, and Sydney diffuse the situation easily.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 4:00 GWS Giants 0.6.10.46 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Still all GWS, the Swans running that one through for a behind. They'll take plenty of confidence out of this, will the Giants.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 5:20 GWS Giants 0.6.9.45 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Patton with one over the shoulder at goal, but this one is hooked wide and through for a behind. Just over five on the clock, and the Giants lead their city rivals by nearly five goals.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 7:00 GWS Giants 0.6.8.44 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Makes no mistake, and Patton has his second of the night. Great signs.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 7:20 GWS Giants 0.5.8.38 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Another mark for the Giants inside 50, Patton this time. Will have a set shot from 30m out in front.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 9:20 GWS Giants 0.5.8.38 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 It's getting late in the game and fatigue has well and truly set in, but the physicality of a few of the Giants players is very encouraging. Looks like it has been a long off-season in the gym, and it should lead to a more competitive team in the season proper.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 11:20 GWS Giants 0.5.8.38 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Nice stuff through the middle from the Giants, a quick interchange of handballs leading to an inside 50, but Patton is behind his man and can't mark. Looks like he is going to create plenty of problems for defenders this season, does Patton.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 12:20 GWS Giants 0.5.8.38 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Things are really beginning to flatten out. Neither side really has enough run to break through the middle of the ground, and we are seeing a lot of kicking long to contests.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 14:00 GWS Giants 0.5.8.38 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Giants pressure the Swans into a turnover inside their defensive 50, Scully picks up the loose ball and handballs to Toby Greene, who strolls around and rolls the footy through the middle for a goal.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 15:20 GWS Giants 0.4.8.32 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Pretty scrappy stuff here, but that is to be expected in the first competitive hit-out of the year, particularly as the ball gets slipperier as the game goes on. Neither side are really able to get clean hands on the ball.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 17:20 GWS Giants 0.4.8.32 Sydney Swans 1.1.1.16 Shot at goal from Lamb for the Swans is offline to the right. Sydney picking up a few more touches so far this term.
Chad Bennett
Editor
SECOND HALF – 18:20 GWS Giants 0.4.8.32 Sydney Swans 1.1.0.15 Giants pick up where they left off in the second half as the drizzle continues to fall over the ground. Sydney really are struggling to get anything going at the moment.
Chad Bennett
Editor
Teams back out for the second half, about to get underway. Can the Giants hold on for a victory over Sydney?
Chad Bennett
Editor
HALFTIME GWS Giants 0.4.7.31 Sydney Swans 1.1.0.15 Supergoals GWS Giants: Nil Sydney Swans: White GWS Giants: Cameron, Patton, Whiley, Ugle Sydney Swans: O'Keefe It might only be a NAB Cup match but here is a chance for the Giants to notch up their first competitive victory over the Swans. They go into the break with a 16-point lead which could have been more, had the Giants been able to execute better. Sydney once again started sluggish, and will need to come out with the same effort they showed in the second period against Carlton if they are to make a game of this.