Here is part two of my look into the wash up of the AFL pre-season competition, the NAB Challenge.
Richmond
After reaching the finals for the first time in 12 years in 2013, the Tigers got their year off to a poor start courtesy of a 14-point loss to a rejuvenated Melbourne in their first match of the Challenge.
The Tigers were missing some of their most important players in the match against the Dees as they notably recorded fewer possessions and had Chris Newman, who left the field in the third quarter with an injured knee.
His departure from the game resulted in the poor final quarter from Richmond, who on the basis of that loss and some others last season, need to improve some facets of their game if they are to better their elimination final exit from 2013.
However, we got to see a glimpse of their best against Collingwood, registering an impressive 48-point victory anchored by their big three midfielders of Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio.
Fans will be hoping for more of the same from the Tigers this year, as they look to end a 34-year premiership drought dating back to 1980.
GWS Giants
One team that impressed during the NAB Challenge were the GWS Giants, who after putting in a polished display against the Sydney Swans were absolutely devastating against St Kilda in the final game of the Challenge.
The Giants may have been kept on the back foot in their match against the Swans but were far from disgraced, as Jonathon Patton enjoyed a successful comeback from a knee injury which ruined his 2013, and the GWS midfield enjoyed their fair share of the ball.
But it was against the Saints, a side tipped by many to inherit the wooden spoon from the Giants this year, that has fans believing that this is the year the Giants finally start to realise their potential.
After a close first quarter, the Giants unleashed in the second and third quarters to record what is (unofficially) their biggest win in their short existence, in the process racking up a record seven supergoals in the process, believed to be a record.
All-Australian Jeremy Cameron has picked up from where he left off last year, but he won’t be the club’s main source of goals this year, with Jonathon Patton, Tom Boyd and Jonathan Giles also expected to share the main goalkicking duties for the Giants.
Their performance will have their first round opponents, the Sydney Swans, worried come Round 1, following which they will face the Saints again, but this time a more experienced unit than the one they faced on the weekend.
Sydney Swans
The team tipped by many as the challenger to Hawthorn’s premiership crown this year endured somewhat of a mixed NAB Challenge, with a 40-point win over crosstown rivals GWS preceding a disappointing effort against West Coast.
The Swans, as has been customary in their four premiership matches against the Giants, controlled the match from start to finish to record a straight-forward victory, for which Lance Franklin was rested from the match.
His debut against the West Coast Eagles was set to be the biggest debut by any import at the Swans since Tony Lockett arrived in the Harbour City in 1995, but the end result was disappointing as the ex-Hawk went goal-less and kicked only a minor point in the 35-point defeat to their old rivals.
Though there is reason for panic, it’s only a pre-season match and it’s expected Buddy will be back to his best in the early rounds of the season proper. His return to form will be crucial to the Swans’ early-season hopes, with Adam Goodes and Kurt Tippett not expected to face the Giants in Round 1 of the season proper.
Melbourne
After two seasons from hell, Melbourne’s decision to hire Paul Roos to lead its rebuilding phase absolutely paid off with a confidence-boosting win over Richmond and a narrow loss to Geelong in Alice Springs.
Their first (unofficial) victory in the Roos era, the 14-point win over the Tigers, was highlighed by the performance of Jay Kennedy-Harris, who kicked the sealer in the final quarter and showed Dees fans why there is reason to cheer this season.
Against Geelong, a team whose 186-point win over Melbourne in 2011 resulted in the dismissal of Dean Bailey, the Dees were competitive, at one stage leading by one point in the second quarter and keeping their opponents goalless in the final quarter before losing by only 13 points.
Although it’s only the pre-season, Melbourne fans will have reason to believe that the tough times in which two coaches have been sacked and a club legend passed away are set to come to an end.
Paul Roos has warned fans that there is a bumpy road still ahead, but if they can continue their good pre-season form into the opening rounds of the season, then the Dees could turn into the fairytale team of 2014, even if they win only eight or so games for the year.
Western Bulldogs
One team that will be looking to return to the top half of the ladder after a pair of 15th-placings under Brendan McCartney is the Western Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs registered their first win of the Challenge in unconvincing fashion against St Kilda in a match played in driving rain at Simonds Stadium, before being overrun by Fremantle under the roof of Etihad Stadium in their second match.
In both matches, it was their midfield that shared the ball, with Tom Liberatore, the League’s clearance king of 2013, picking up where he left off the previous season with 28 possessions and six tackles.
Their victory over the Saints, the middle patch of their loss to last year’s grand finalists and their strong finish to season 2013 will give fans reason to believe this year, as they look to continue their rebuilding under McCartney.
But there is still a lot of work to do before they take on West Coast in Perth in their season opener in three weeks’ time.
Carlton
Traditionally strong performers in pre-seasons past, Carlton’s pre-season this year was a mixed bag, with a seven-point win over North Melbourne preceding a disappointing 38-point loss in which they gave up the match in the final quarter.
Two of the Blues’ imports from the off-season immediately vindicated Mick Malthouse’s decision to lure them to Visy Park, with Andrejs Everitt kicking three goals against North Melbourne and Dale Thomas impressing in the loss to the Crows.
Their final quarter fadeout in the latter match will give fans reason for concern, and the Blues will have only a practice match against the Western Bulldogs to prepare for the season that lies ahead.
After being given a berth in last year’s finals following Essendon’s ejection from the play-offs as a result of an investigation into their supplements scandal, the pressure will be on Malthouse and the Blues to improve in 2014.
With this season likely to be Chris Judd’s final year, there is the incentive for the Blues to perform well throughout the season, as they seek to end a 19-year premiership drought dating back to 1995.
Port Adelaide
One team that will look to build on its resurgence last year is Port Adelaide, who were disappointing against Adelaide yet were impressive against Essendon in the NAB Challenge.
The Power were never really in the hunt against Adelaide, as at one stage they trailed by 76 points before five goals in the final quarter prevented what could have been a humiliating loss to their cross-town rivals.
It appeared Ken Hinkley’s men would have forgotten to learn their lesson from the Crows loss in the first quarter against Essendon, but five goals from Justin Westhoff and an impressive first outing from Brisbane Lions import Jared Polec helped the side to a morale-boosting 25-point win which will have Hinkley pleased.
The Power will have one last chance to prepare for their season opening showdown against Carlton when it takes on St Kilda, a side tipped by many to struggle this year, in a final practice match next weekend.
Gold Coast Suns
Expectations will be high for the Gold Coast Suns in 2014, with the club coming off its best ever season which netted eight wins and a second Brownlow Medal for Gary Ablett.
The Suns enjoyed a comeback one-point win over Essendon in their first match for the year before being simply outclassed by the Brisbane Lions in the second match; it’s that latter loss which the Suns must avoid many types of if they are to improve on their 14th-place finish from 2013.
Ablett will no doubt be the hunted in 2014, as opposition taggers look to shut him down after the phenomenal season he had while anchoring the Suns’ on-field improvement.
His leadership and continual performances week in, week out will be one of the factors to the Suns further rising up the ladder in 2014.
The reigning Brownlow Medallist played in only the match against Essendon (managing 31 disposals) before being rested from their trip to Townsville, where the Suns were on the wrong end of a 47-point hiding from the Lions.
All the focus will be on the Suns and whether they can continue to rise up the ladder in 2014. We wait to see their progress this season.
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