NAB Cup Fixture

[Brettmcg 24]

Week 2: Fremantle vs. Melbourne @ Subiaco 17:40

Pretty bland and boring really.

[mikeod 21]

Gotta be honest - can't really work out how Fremantle get a game at home, when everyone else has to wander around the country!

Still, Melbourne normally play Subiaco relatively well - would be good to kick off the year with a win - even if only NAB Cup.

[Demonland 73,139]

According to this article we don't play at all and Adelaide plays two matches.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tab...73/default.aspx

[45HG 1,559]

Given that it doesn't seem as though the AFL will not schedule nab cup matches at Casey, is it possible we've asked to play at a tough venue first up with the option of playing where we want if we lose?

It's gone beyond a joke really

[JACKATTACK 17]

The previous year's premiers one year and this time to Subiaco, I was hoping for a bit of an easier one this year. NAB cup doesn't mean much but I still hate being knocked out in the first week.

Tough draw for us, Geelong have it easy.

Edited October 26, 2009 by JACKATTACK

[Pates 9,660]

The only positive i can say is that at least we're not playing the reigning premier on their turf like the last couple of years. Hopefully we can get a win on the board and get a NAB game in Melbourne for the first time in ages!

[45HG 1,559]

Hopefully we can get a win on the board and get a NAB game in Melbourne for the first time in ages!

3 years.

And if Roughead had've been done for in the back like he should have it'd be the second year in a row.

[Jaded No More 68,972]

Playing Freo is HARDLY a tough draw.

Yes playing in Subiaco is not ideal, but I'd rather play at a real AFL ground than have to travel to some hole where we're unlikely to gain any valuable experience.

Pretty happy with that to be honest. We might even win!

[drdrake 3,186]

That's OK, at least if we win or lose we will be playing in Melbourne the next week. I would say if we lose we might play at Casey.

[JACKATTACK 17]

Geelong will play their first game against last year's 13th best team, then play either the 14th or 16th best team in the second round. And both games at their home ground (Etihad).

That would be like us playing North at the MCG then following that up at the MCG with either Richmond or Freo.

We have little chance of winning at SUbi, and even less chance of backing it up against Geelong at Etihad.

[45HG 1,559]

Yes playing in Subiaco is not ideal, but I'd rather play at a real AFL ground than have to travel to some hole where we're unlikely to gain any valuable experience.

Don't really think this makes much sense, given most first round NAB cup matches are played at AFL venues.

2009 - Tassie - AFL ground

2008 - Skilled - AFL ground

2007 - Etihad - AFL ground

2006 - Darwin - AFL ground

2005 - Cairns - Non-AFL ground

2004 - Manuka - AFL ground

2003 - Telstra Dome (?) - AFL ground

That's as far back as wikipedia/google/my vage memory go. Indeed, you could say that NAB cup has given us a good chance to gain experience at grounds we seldom play on.

From this aspect, I am glad we are playing at Subi because we do not play well there (losing 10 of our last 11).

My biggest gripe is that we have had ONE home match since '03 - 1 out of 6 matches (now one out of 7) is a disgrace. Even in that match, we played a fellow Victorian team (before they moved to Tassie).

Edited October 27, 2009 by 45hotgod16

[Nasher 33,617]

Geelong will play their first game against last year's 13th best team, then play either the 14th or 16th best team in the second round. And both games at their home ground (Etihad).

That would be like us playing North at the MCG then following that up at the MCG with either Richmond or Freo.

We have little chance of winning at SUbi, and even less chance of backing it up against Geelong at Etihad.

We're talking Freo here.

Freo. The side who we were within 2 points of a record breaking come-from-behind win of in 2008.

Freo. The side who we rolled by 10 goals at the end of 2009 at the tail of a demoralising year in which we were dead last, and they were second-last.

Freo. The side who managed to kick a paltry 1.7.13 in a match this year.

Freo. The AFL's running gag.

If it were at the MCG then I'd put it down as the easiest draw that was humanly possible. Being at Subi only takes the edge off it, but it doesn't make it a doomsday task IMO. I'm still expecting that we give them a run for their money.

[Jaded No More 68,972]

Don't really think this makes much sense, given most first round NAB cup matches are played at AFL venues.

2009 - Tassie - AFL ground

2008 - Skilled - AFL ground

2007 - Etihad - AFL ground

2006 - Darwin - AFL ground

2005 - Cairns - Non-AFL ground

2004 - Manuka - AFL ground

2003 - Telstra Dome (?) - AFL ground

That's as far back as wikipedia/google/my vage memory go. Indeed, you could say that NAB cup has given us a good chance to gain experience at grounds we seldom play on.

From this aspect, I am glad we are playing at Subi because we do not play well there (losing 10 of our last 11).

Tassie, Darwin, Cairns, Manuka?

How often do we play those grounds?

Subiaco is a real AFL venue where we play at least once a year. Given how [censored] our interstate record is, I'm happy to travel there and give our young team the opportunity to experience that arena.

Obviously playing at Etihad against Richmond would have been better, but we just finished last and are known for pulling small crowds, so lets not get too greedy.

Plus at least we're playing a team we can beat!

[45HG 1,559]

Manuka we have been playing at once a year, Darwin we will be playing at almost once a year, we're due for a match in Tassie - thus a game at one of these grounds would give us valuable experience before playing an AFL match.

As I have said, I'm not being greedy, but I don't think asking for more than 1 out of 7 home matches wouldn't be too much to ask.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,938]

If we win, we'll play Geelong or North at Etihad on the following Sunday evening.

Can't really see the downside in playing Freo. We're playing a team in our class (as opposed to Cats and Hawks) and we'll get a game in Melbourne week 2, whether it be a NAB Cup or practice match.

I think it's far more important to get a game in Melbourne in round 1 of the season proper than NAB Cup.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Bring-Back-Powell

[darkhorse72 1,925]

Suits me, I get to see the boys live Hopefully with all our new picks in action.

[Whispering_Jack 30,603]

Can't complain about Freo although I hope at some stage during the remainder of my lifetime, I can get to see the Demons play an opening game of the NAB Cup Campaign live in Melbourne.

[45HG 1,559]

As mentioned before, it did happen two years ago Jack.

[Steamin Demon 392]

Sunday arvo for a change, What a suprise !!

[Carn dees 108]

I would love to win the NAB cup.

Confidence for the actual season and if we win there a decent money prise isnt there.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Carn dees

[H_T 3,049]

According to this article we don't play at all and Adelaide plays two matches.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tab...73/default.aspx

Bit of a slip up. Is it just me, or does our team cop these stuff ups by journalists more than other AFL sides of late ?

If it were at the MCG then I'd put it down as the easiest draw that was humanly possible. Being at Subi only takes the edge off it, but it doesn't make it a doomsday task IMO. I'm still expecting that we give them a run for their money.

I'm expecting a win at Subi. Anyone else ?

[Little Goffy 14,639]

On the plus side...

The 'new era' squad gets to start it's season with a road trip together, have a good shot a coming away with a win, and return the next week to play a nothing-to-lose game against the reigning premiers.

It'll be a lesson in recovery and travel discipline, a bonding experience, a confidence builder and an eye-opener all in one.

Basically, our kids will have had a look at a couple of the major challenges of AFL (travel and Geelong) right from the start, and will then have a couple more NAB/Practice matches to think about it, work on it and be ready for round one.

What else can we ask for from the preseason cup?