The NAB Cup - How important is it ?

[southerncross]

We started the our training a few weeks earlier than all of the top 8 sides and we have had a good injury run especially when compared to 12 months ago.

With all that in mind, how hard should we be prepared to have a crack at the NAB cup campaign?

She we go full tilt (well within reason) our should we primarily concentrate on the home and away season and just use the NAB to test out the youngsters and the marginal players.

Let me know what you think

[Mofra]

I think we should aim to win the first two games, simply because you play at better venues when you remain in contention which reduces the chance of injury. Hopefully after the first game the travel load reduces so we can be fresh for round 1.

[hujsh]

I think you almost watch the individuals more than the team during the NAB cup to get an indication at who will do well

[The Coon Dog]

I want us to win something, anything, the NAB Cup will suffice. I'm 43 & haven't seen us win anything, so I'd gratefully accept the NAB Cup.

Also, after the season we had a good NAB Cup might be beneficial as far as membership is concerned.

[LostDoggy]

I think our best available 22 should get a run at some stage during the NAB Cup/Series just to get the rust out.

I would like to see us be competitive during the NAB Cup and atleast make the 3rd round.

[bornadog]

If we win a couple, could help our membership figures, otherwise its just another practise match and a good opportunity to try some youngsters and experiment with positional changes.

[LostDoggy]

It not really that important at all, I believe its a waste of time, time that could be used to extend the season to a reasonable length.
Stupid experimental rules make it even more ridiculous.
About things its good for is the money and a way of attracting members.

[hujsh]

Yeah, i reckon a State of Origin series would be awesome instead of the NAB cup. It could be
VIC VS SA
VIC VS WA
WA VS SA
FINAL (finalists decided by goal difference or something)

The clubs could play the usual scratch matches

[LostDoggy]

State of origin is another waste of time.
Whouldn't it be great preseason say Brad Johnson does his knee playing for the Victoria.
I barrack for the Bulldogs not Victoria.

[LostDoggy]

I'd just love to win something!!

The prize money would also be handy so yes, I think its important and will also help our exposure in regards to membership etc.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Yeah, i reckon a State of Origin series would be awesome instead of the NAB cup. It could be
VIC VS SA
VIC VS WA
WA VS SA
FINAL (finalists decided by goal difference or something)

The clubs could play the usual scratch matches

State of origin is dead, let it go.

I hated it and was always more concerned about our players getting hurt.

I have no interest in barracking for Chris Judd and Jon Brown.

[Dry Rot]

IMHO this year it is more important for us - not winning the final but how we go about playing.

I hear the players are a bit bigger, so let's see them throw their weight around. I want to see us start winning clearnaces with Hudson and see how the Minson as a forward experiment begins to pan out. Also like to see some signs of a varied gameplan and better defence.

All that should win us some games but for me the important bit is how we try to play differently (and better).

[LostDoggy]

I want us to win something, anything, the NAB Cup will suffice. I'm 43 & haven't seen us win anything, so I'd gratefully accept the NAB Cup.

Also, after the season we had a good NAB Cup might be beneficial as far as membership is concerned.

Im with you CD !!!

I just want to win something.....I guess Im not alone in not having ever seen us compete in a GF at any level, let alone win anything.

Would be nice for a change :D

[GVGjr]

I think we should aim to win the first two games, simply because you play at better venues when you remain in contention which reduces the chance of injury. Hopefully after the first game the travel load reduces so we can be fresh for round 1.


I'll go with this. I'd like to win the comp but think its important to at least get a couple of wins out of the competition.

[hujsh]

State of origin is dead, let it go.

I hated it and was always more concerned about our players getting hurt.

I have no interest in barracking for Chris Judd and Jon Brown.

I would just enjoy it. I never saw it before.

[Mantis]

I'll go with this. I'd like to win the comp but think its important to at least get a couple of wins out of the competition.

Our record in the NAB Cup is pretty poor.

I don't think we have made the semi's to often (2 wins to qualify). The only one I can remember is a couple of years back when we were flogged by Carlton.

[LostDoggy]

Ok..... so that's it then. We've decided that we want to win the NAB/Wizard/Escort Cup.

I hope we do. Make some room in the cabinet...

[bornadog]

Stupid experimental rules make it even more ridiculous.
.

Yes forgot about those dumb rule changes

[hujsh]

Yes forgot about those dumb rule changes

I'm happy for them to experiment in the NAB Cup if it means that they don't rush into placing rules into the AFL.
I wonder why they didn't put the hands in the back rule in the NAB Cup first

[BulldogBelle]

The NAB Cup is useful for clubs to try new players and existing ones in different positions in a match like atmosphere and to also rest our older players. It is also good for a Membership sales boost and a couple of wins gets the Members signed up.

I just want the guys to put in a few good games and show some promise for the season proper and to not get any major injuries in the off season - winning a NAB Cup is not high on my radar, it doesn't really mean much to me. I would prefer to win the one that matters that last day in September.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Our record in the NAB Cup is pretty poor.

I don't think we have made the semi's to often (2 wins to qualify). The only one I can remember is a couple of years back when we were flogged by Carlton.

In some ways that was a very good build up - even if the result against Carlton was ugly at the time.

We won two games and got plenty of exposure, but we did not let it take our eye of team development or the selection of the side. I remember that Tom Williams came into the squad for that semi final against Carlton and got plenty of ground time across half back. If we'd been playing solely to win the game it wouldn't have happened but we kept our eye on the fact there is no point playing your best footy in the preseason.

In the 2008 preseason:

1) I want to see us play with an improved defensive intensity.
2) I want to see us continue to blood our youngsters in the preseason.
3) I dont care at all if we dont play pretty, goal scoring footy in the preseason.

[Mantis]

In the 2008 preseason:

1) I want to see us play with an improved defensive intensity.
2) I want to see us continue to blood our youngsters in the preseason.
3) I dont care at all if we dont play pretty, goal scoring footy in the preseason.

Would have to agree with that remembering results aren't so important, but more the change of style that is exhibited, hopefully.

Point no.2 is extremely important as the sooner we start to see our young, talented players in the senior team the quicker they develop and they quicker they start to have an influence in improving the teams performance.

[LostDoggy]

The only things i want to see in the NAB are.

Everitt have a stint up forward.
Shaggy have a stint up forward/wing.
Lynch to play
Stack to play
Griffen play in the midfield.
Higgins play in the midfield.

[The Underdog]

Here's a different spin on it.
The winner got $220,000 last year. That's an amount of money that makes a difference to a team in our situation.
Not to mention the potential membership implications

[LostDoggy]

Here's a different spin on it.
The winner got $220,000 last year. That's an amount of money that makes a difference to a team in our situation.
Not to mention the potential membership implications

Another different spin-playing in stupid locations with stupid rules may not be the best preparation for season ahead. Eg Carlton and Geelong of late.

[The Underdog]

Another different spin-playing in stupid locations with stupid rules may not be the best preparation for season ahead. Eg Carlton and Geelong of late.

I admit the rules are daft, but do you really think they make that much difference once the real stuff begins? I don't think any team hits round one refusing to kick backwards or refusing to rush a behind and it's not like you can't practice the fundamentals of your game plan in the NAB Cup as well as you can in a practice match. It's not like they're playing with a round ball or something.
As for stupid locations, well there equally a chance of playing a practice match in the country as a NAB cup game in Perth, so I don't think that's really a pertinent point.

[DOG GOD]

I just wanna see HARDNESS, INTENSITY, APPLICATION and anything else that was lacking in 2007.

I'd be happy getting to the third round, and seeing o'shea and stack get some game time.

[LostDoggy]

It's a very long season. Why would we go hard at it so early for games that don't count? Player management for the season is everything these days. Also, I suggest we concentrate on the main season because, regardless of what happens in NAB cup, all hell will break loose if we start this season poorly. The first half dozen games are vital to Rocket's future, I would have thought. I want the players cherry ripe for key games during the year, and as has been said before, playing with intensity and purpose all year.

[The Underdog]

It's a very long season. Why would we go hard at it so early for games that don't count? Player management for the season is everything these days. Also, I suggest we concentrate on the main season because, regardless of what happens in NAB cup, all hell will break loose if we start this season poorly. The first half dozen games are vital to Rocket's future, I would have thought. I want the players cherry ripe for key games during the year, and as has been said before, playing with intensity and purpose all year.

I'm not saying it should be the be all and end all or even a focus on winning the comp. In the context of the season it's not important, however it can have a positive spin off by starting off the year winning games, building membership and putting some money in the bank. I don't think they'll risk players or do anything silly to win it, but just like in the real season, winning is better than losing and for a side that finished off last year the way it did I don't think a good showing in the NAB would be such a bad thing. We should be reasonably advanced on a fitness side of things which may be about the most important factor in a good pre-season showing.

[LostDoggy]

I want us to win something, anything, the NAB Cup will suffice. I'm 43 & haven't seen us win anything, so I'd gratefully accept the NAB Cup.

Also, after the season we had a good NAB Cup might be beneficial as far as membership is concerned.

I'm a bit this way myself but I do understand that there is a bigger picture as well. It would b a huge boost for the membership drive.