The 2013 NAB Cup comes to the Riverina this evening when the GWS Giants play the Brisbane Lions at Robertson Oval in Wagga Wagga. We’ll have live scores and a blog from 7.00pm AEDT.
Both sides gave encouraging performances in their round robin matchups last weekend, with the Giants beating crosstown rivals Sydney and narrowly losing to Carlton, while the Lions comfortably defeated Hawthorn and Gold Coast.
Both teams seem keen to take some of that momentum into round two of the pre-season competition, selecting strong squads for this stage of the pre-season.
For the Giants, Callan Ward comes in for his first showing in 2013, while new recruit Bret Thornton will make his first appearance in the charcoal and orange.
Davis, Cornes, Palmer and Scully are notable absentees, but there’s no shortage of talent in this squad, with Coniglio, Greene, Cameron, Giles, Patton, and Treloar all out there.
For the Lions, Rich, Merrett, Patfull, Raines and McGrath are notable omissions from last week’s squad, while Brown and Black continue to miss.
Pearce Hanley and newly named co-captain Jed Adcock make their first appearances in the pre-season, but the big news is the long awaited return of Matthew Leuenberger, who has been out since round 3 last season.
You’d expect to see him eased into the game, possibly through the forwardline.
At this time of year, the pressure is on the fringe players to stake their claim for a spot in the first 22.
New recruits Gilham and Thornton will be keen to show that they can contribute to the young GWS team in a key defensive role.
Anthony Miles, Adam Tomlinson, Sam Frost and Nathan Wilson will also be eager to build on strong performances last week to push their way into the first twenty-two.
There’ll be plenty of attention on number one draft pick Jonathan Patton, after he booted four goals against Sydney and Carlton.
With the Lions backline missing some talls, there’s every chance he could have another big game and build some confidence heading into the season.
The Lions have a seemingly endless number of young fringe players pushing their case for round one selection; watch for Karnezis, Beams, Lester, Longer, Cornelius and Paparone who are trying to force their way into the first 22.
Also worth noting is the selection of rookie big men Justin Clarke and Sam Michael. Brisbane coach Michael Voss has the opportunity to elevate a rookie listed player before the start of the season and it looks like these two may be competing for that spot.
The biggest hurdle for the Giants to overcome if they’re going to significantly improve in 2013 is the lack of physically mature bodies.
We’ll get a good idea of how much of a problem this will be tonight, when they play a full match for the first time this year.
The Lions are probably missing a bit more out of their best 22 than the Giants, but they have a lot more experience to call upon, and I expect this will tell towards the end of the game.
With Redden, Rockliff, Moloney and Zorko running through the midfield, it’s likely the Lions will have the bulk of possession.
Brisbane seem intent on making a strong push for the NAB Cup this year, and they have the personnel and the motivation to win tonight.
Fletcher
Guest
$150 million down the drain. LOL. LOL. LOL. Can't even find a Western Sydney Wanderers kit on the black market. GWS jerseys however... 4 for $20 at Target. WHO DO WE SING FOR? Hersi 4 PM
TomC
Roar Guru
Sorry Costa. Totally missed this. The GIants website had a live stream. There was a link in the top corner of the page.
kon sakkas
Guest
The Lions had this supporter concerned during todays game against gws.I agree they have a lot of work to do to reach the finals. Kon
TomC
Roar Guru
That's all for me. A very entertaining game of football. Good night.
TomC
Roar Guru
The Giants would be very happy tonight with the games of Treloar, Giles, Ward and Greene, but most particularly Lachie Whitfield. The number one draft pick had seventeen possessions, nine marks and four tackles, and looked very comfortable out there. Smith, Coniglio and Adams also had good hitouts. Another promising thing out of tonight's game were the impressive performances of developing big men Adam Tomlinson and Sam Frost. Very much minor players last season but both were impressive tonight. Tomlinson in particular took some good contested marks, while Frost contributed two valuable goals and helped out in the ruck. Brisbane would be relieved to have escaped the embarassment of a loss to the Giants, which would have seriously stung their efforts to use the NAB Cup to build confidence for the season ahead. Redden, Rockliff and Zorko were good, while Cornelius dominated the forwardline but could have converted better. He finished with five goals. Beams, Karnezis and Lester were decent out of the youngsters,while first round draft pick Sam Docherty was important late. Still, the Lions look like they have a lot of work still to do if they want to play finals in 2013.
Sandy
Guest
Great win after all those misses!!! Thanks again for the updates
TomC
Roar Guru
This turned out to be a very exciting finish. The Lions always looked like they'd run over the Giants near the end, but simply couldn't seem to get that final goal to hit the lead until rookie-listed Sam Michael won a late free kick from right in front. Probably fitting that a game where the umpires insisted on paying anything that could have been a free kick, that a 50/50 decision determined the result. Final score: Brisbane 1.12.19.100 defeated GWS 2.12.7.97 The Lions win, but I don't think they'll feel all that happy about their performance tonight.
TomC
Roar Guru
And that's the siren! The Lions pinch it at the death.
TomC
Roar Guru
Rockliff has been laid out by Greene as the Giants try to win the ball back in the dying minutes. That's a free kick and 50m penalty, and young Tobey might find himself under some scrutiny during the week.
TomC
Roar Guru
Finally the Lions get one! Sam Michael puts it through and its Brisbane by three points!
TomC
Roar Guru
The Lions forwards just cannot negotiate this swirling breeze, and it looks like it might cost them the game. GWS by three points with about five minutes to play.
TomC
Roar Guru
Bewick wins the ball for the Lions in the middle of the ground and runs his full measure. Finds Leuenberger straight infront and he misses too!
Sandy
Guest
Thanks or your great update am sitting on the Gold Coast in pouring rain...Go Lions
TomC
Roar Guru
Hanley sends the Lions forward, and falls to Green at the back, who runs into an open goal...and somehow misses!
TomC
Roar Guru
Green spots up Zorko in the forward pocket. Zorko's on a tight angle, and he pushes it across the face to level the scores.
TomC
Roar Guru
The Lions are peppering the goals, and now Paparone has a chance to pepper them further as he marks twenty metres in front. He converts, which brings the Lions closer. GWS 91 Brisbane 90
TomC
Roar Guru
Treloar and Ward combine to set up Adams, who roosts a long supergoal to put the Giants nine points in front! That could be very important GWS 91 Brisbane 82
TomC
Roar Guru
GWS win the ball out of the middle and kicked the first goal of the final quarter. The Lions respond through Cornelius, as he marks a kick from Sam Michael right in front and puts through his fifth. GWS 82 Lions 81
TomC
Roar Guru
So at thre quarter time its: GWS 1.10.7.76 Brisbane 1.9.12.75 The Lions jumped out of the blocks early in that quarter, with Tom Rockliff instrumental. The Giants recovered to get back in it, but Brisbane blew some good chances and probably should be in front. GWS' stars from the opening half, Treloar, Whitfield and Ward, seem to have gone a bit quiet. Possibly they're being rotated off the bench, but possibly they're running out of legs. Brisbane will need to be more ruthless in front of goal, but it looks like they're finishing stronger.
TomC
Roar Guru
Cameron with a great defensive effort forces a turnover in the Giants' forwardline, but they can't capitalise. Lions take it down the other end and its rushed through for a behind. Which makes it a one point lead to GWS at three quarter time.