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?
anon
Guest
Coaches are under no obligation to play their best players AT ALL. If these guys are so precious play your 23rd to 44th best players on your list.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
You really want to risk hurting the guys you will be relying on during the season? I think not.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
38 degree heat is indeed a problem - especially considering some of the venues they held the matches in. After all, there will be no 38 degree heat with extra drinks breaks and shortened quarters in the season proper.....
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
Extending the season to make a 'fairer' draw or to ensure more quality football for the supporters I would definitely get behind! Training is immensely sophisticated these days - I think it's enough to eliminate official trial games. If clubs felt the need to organise their own, I would say by all means go ahead, but scheduling these matches as a 'must'? I can't agree with it.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
I dare say that team-mates will push each other harder - if you're competing for a spot on a list, or trying to break into the starting 22, you'll go hell for leather. Playing against another side when you don't care who wins? I say less motivation is there!
Samantha
Roar Rookie
You made my point. Clubs are going to go harder against an opposition side (even in a meaningless pre-season game) than they will against team mates. If you think the NAB games are lacking, go watch a few intra-club games and you'll really notice the lack of tackling, pressure and putting bodies on the line. Teams need those steps up in conditions to be ready for round 1 (and even then round one will look sloppy skill wise compared to a few rounds into the season.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
AFL clubs have 44 players on their lists - plenty for a 22 vs. 22 match! Wrangle in some VFL players, and you've effectively got as strong a line-up on the field as many AFL clubs field in the pre-season 'challenge'. All the matches are really for is getting kilometres in the legs of players and working on conditioning and the new rotation system. No club is going to go all-out in the pre-season - hence why the Hawks lost by 10 goals and Eagles lost by 100 points.
mds1970
Roar Guru
It was interesting that when Hardwick asked for the game to be called early and was refused, the reason given was because of the broadcasters. With $2.5b put in, they're going to want to maximise their content. If the NAB Challenge was to go, what would take its place? Maybe adding two rounds to the season and starting earlier, as I wrote about in a column on here a couple of days ago. Maybe something else. Or would each club have a couple of intra-clubs televised? To cut the trial games, the AFL and the clubs would have to be sure they could do all their preparations in-house without needing to play trials against each other. Training is very sophisticated these days - not only are there intra-clubs, but match simulation drills during training. But is it good enough to eliminate the need for trial games against other clubs?
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
The endless tinkering with the pre-season is what drives me mad - rule changes, game format changes, venue changes. You name it, the AFL will mess with it!
mds1970
Roar Guru
On that note, it was rather odd scheduling that in the early weeks of the NAB Challenge, that they were playing games at 1-2pm on Saturdays and Sundays but the games were all over by 7pm.
Vig
Guest
Needs to be a night series. Yes, I get the tv rights aspect, but playing games in 38 degrees heat is ridiculous and making it exclusively a night series might allow a different marketing angle? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Intra-clubs only? No thanks. Players need to play against opponents not being coached the exact same way they are and running the same structures and plays. You can't play your best 22 against the rest of your list because it wouldn't be much of a match so you end up 'picking sides' and team mates who should be learning how to play with each other are instead on opposite sides. Intra-clubs will only get you so far.
Fish
Guest
I agree what AFL team did Mark Evans ever coach? Oops I can't remember . Who can blame Dimma from protecting his players the Tigers are like any other team they want 100% their best and fittest players ready for round 1.