You may have missed it (I certainly had better things on) but last week Richmond lost to Port Adelaide in the NAB Challenge. So far, so normal.
Well, except, after losing Shane Edwards, Reece Conca, Jacob Townsend, and Shaun Grigg during the course of the game the Tigers decided they’d had enough.
So, they played with just 15 players for a period in the last quarter. Apparently the big wigs (read: Mark Evans, AFL Football Operations Manager) weren’t pleased. Richmond were effectively adopting an approach along the lines of ‘this is a glorified practice match, seriously, why would we risk anyone else when Round 1 actually matters instead of this nonsense?’
Although he’s stressing that he hadn’t demanded a ‘please explain’ from the club, he is looking forward to the response from Richmond football boss Daniel Richardson.
Oh Lordy. An explanation? That you’re looking forward to? Yes, they did try to have the match called off early despite having enough fit players to go on. But, this query was knocked back and the game carried on. Yes, in a way they were slightly making a mockery of very slight competitive pretense that the NAB Challenge holds.
As does flippin’ everyone. Blokes who won’t play a game for the season will have a run.
Defenders will play forward, midfielders will play off a half-back flank, new structures will be tried out, and rotation schedules will be meddled with. I dare say Hardwick should’ve just argued they were testing out just how competitive 15 on 18 could be. After all, the Hawks could do that against half the competition and still win.
Remember when Carlton won the pre-season cup twice, and finished 16th and 15th those seasons? You aren’t going to tell me that the rest of the competition were going hell for leather are you?
I prefer the way cricketers do it.
In a warm-up match for the upcoming World T20 (y’know, the global tournament involving 18 countries?) England played a Mumbai XI. Containing four of their own players. Adil Rashid, James Vince, Jos Buttler and David Willey all added another club to their ‘played for’ list by donning the Mumbai colours.
Willey than earned lifelong bragging and sledging rights by taking a hat-trick against his teammates. Hard-fought country versus country matches can go shove it. That is how you prepare for one of just two global cricketing trophies available.
Because what did the NAB Challenge prove? Really? That Fremantle are good? Duh. That Essendon will be bad? Double duh. That you can play footy in a lot of places in Australia? Check. Tick off Wangaratta, Beaconsfield, Joondalup, Wagga Wagga, Craigieburn and Shepparton from your ‘must play footy at’ bucket list.
Pre-season cup/challenge? Can’t we just enjoy some intra-clubs and everyone can relax?
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