After a long off-season, footy is back with a Thursday night blockbuster in Tasmania. Aurora Stadium hosts the first NAB Challenge match, with defending champions Hawthorn Hawks taking on Collingwood Magpies. Join The Roar for all the live action from 7:00pm (AEST).
Launceston is a second home for the Hawks, who have been playing several home games a year in the Apple Isle for many years. With the team riding high on the back of successive premierships, and a strong local involvement, there’ll be plenty of brown and gold in the crowd.
But it’ll be far from exclusive. Collingwood have supporters everywhere, and this is a rare opportunity for Tasmanian Magpie fans to see their team live.
There’s been no resting on their laurels for Alistair Clarkson’s men. Aggressive at trade time, the Hawks landed the services of experienced defender James Frawley through free agency, Jono O’Rourke was traded in from GWS Giants and Daniel Howe, Teia Miles and Marc Pittonet joined the Hawks in the draft.
Brad Sewell hung up the boots after last season, but he’s the only major loss for a team that looks a strong chance of pulling off the first premiership three-peat since the Brisbane Lions over a decade ago.
For Collingwood, the challenge this year will be to bounce back and return to finals action after missing out last year.
Always active during the trade period, the Magpies were worked hard at the trade table when Dayne Beams requested a move to Queensland, while the outspoken Heritier Lumumba was off-loaded to Melbourne.
But the Magpies bolstered their list, bringing in Levi Greenwood from North Melbourne, Travis Varcoe from Geelong and Jack Crisp from Brisbane. The trading also landed the Magpies the fifth pick in the draft, which was used to secure the services of Jordan de Gooy. Brayden Maynard and Matthew Goodyear also joined the Magpies in the draft.
With only three pre-season games for each club, game time is a balancing act between giving players time to press a claim for senior selection, while fine-tuning the strongest possible team for the premiership season opening. Expect to see plenty of rotations, and some new faces for each club.
In pre-season games, we’re watching out for new recruits to see what they’ve got to offer. We’re also getting used to the sight of some players in new jumpers, and seeing if the exciting young talent picked up in last year’s draft can impress.
Although some players who can expect to be regulars in the senior team when the premiership season starts will be rested, there’s still likely to be plenty of quality players on the park. For Hawthorn, that means premiership superstars strutting their stuff on the Tasmanian stage.
Who wins and loses may not be of utmost importance, but psychologically there could be a boost, something that can be imposed when the two sides meet again later in the year.
But for supporters of both sides, and the many neutrals who will tune in and follow this blog, it’s great to have the footy back!
Join us here on The Roar from 7pm and leave your thoughts, observations and cyber-barracking in the comments as we celebrate the first match of 2015.
marc russell
Guest
Go pies
Penster
Guest
2013 was when we lost every NAB match and won the big prize.
Penster
Guest
He looks a bit like Ferris Bueller.
Don Freo
Guest
Bit of a worry for opposition players, Hawthorn having a bloke called Sicily. Hope he doesn't make his opponent look like he's wearing concrete shoes.
Penster
Guest
Ah yes, had a few brews on board last night watching that. Log off then open the bottle. But I stand by my comment about the sunset. Got to get some playing time into those guys, I saw some good signs from Anderson, Sicily. Was disappointed in Litherland, have rated him highly in the past. Langford, Big Boy, Mitchell looking good.
andyl12
Guest
I see Don. Your view about the NAB cup is that it matters if you want it to matter. That's the talk I would expect from someone who doesn't matter to anyone else. What's the dole cheque being spent on this week?
Don Freo
Guest
Oh...you lost a good sleep in. I answered your question in response to Matt's article about whether anyone cares about the NAB Cup. Thankyou for caring about my opinion.
andyl12
Guest
It was 8:42AM Melbourne time. It's like that every day Don- us Melburnians are already hard at work while Perthites are still dreaming of the day Freo actually win a flag. Tell me Don, does last night's game matter or not?
Don Freo
Guest
Andyl lost sleep. He posted at 5.42 am!!!
Don Freo
Guest
Already posted that one.
mds1970
Roar Guru
I don't think Hawthorn would lose any sleep over the result. They had plenty of top names out and were playing two short. And Jed Anderson was certainly a positive for them after not playing senior footy last year. But there's no doubt it's a confidence booster for Collingwood. They've got some good prospects - De Goey looked good, and Corey Gault really put his hand up last night.
andyl12
Guest
No Penster, last year we were the best team of the NAB Challenge. And people told me it didn't matter. Well, now I"m waiting for those same people to admit that last night's game doesn't matter. Don Freo being one of them.
Bob GOOCH
Guest
Collingwood supporters lining up for grand final tickets in their away guernseys - a site to behold.
Penster
Guest
Hawks lost every single NAB Cup game last year. Plus playing without subs. Great to have the footy back and how about that sunset in Launie!
Josh
Expert
Footy's back!! Jed Anderson looking very good.
Frank R
Roar Rookie
See you in September Don - if you actually make it.
Don Freo
Guest
That's no less diminished than Freo in last year's finals series. Hawks are on the slide. Too many players unfit.
ian hunt
Guest
Great effort boys , it's a good start GO PIES
brian
Guest
We were missing hodge, roughead, Lewis, Gibson, hill, Rioli, puopolo, lake, hale, Burgoyne, o'rourke, birchall, suckling and smith. That's 14 out our notional best 22. I think that's a bit more then "a few". not diminishing Collingwood. They got match practice too but results wise these games are truly meaningless.
Don Freo
Guest
Oh dear Andyl12...Too much reliance on the old players.