2011 NAB Cup Round Robin Monstrosity

[JACKATTACK 17]

From the AFL website:

The teams that top their pools will automatically gain a place in the second round, while the two best-performing runners-up will also progress as wildcards.

Which basically means that the AFL have found a way to make sure GC make it into the next round, even if they can't get over Sydney they will surely be a monty for the wildcard given that GWS will be completeley uncompetative.

[Guest Thomo]

Edited to reflect my prediction.

Unbelievable!

What are this weekends loto numbers?

[old55 23,860]

If each of the 3 "halves" is a match in itself as appears likely then (ignoring draws - extra time?) there's only 2 possible outcomes for a group in terms of wins: 2-1-0 or 1-1-1. I guess percentage will separate the latter outcome and percentage will decide the 2 wildcards into the next round.

[old55 23,860]

At least it gives us extra practise at AAMI.

Agree that can't be a bad thing - we are abnormally sh!t there and need to fix it!

[titan_uranus 25,252]

I love this bit:

"With the Magpies, Blues and Tigers drawn together in pool two."

Like the AFL drew the teams out of a hat.

Totally rigged. GC should get in as one of the two 'wild cards' as they will thrash GWS.

[praha 11,267]

I love how three finalists and the 2008 and 2009 Premiers are on Fox, whereas the likes of Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast, GWS, West Coast, Brisbane and Richmond are all on free-to-air...

[Sir Why You Little 37,450]

Adelaide and Port in our group IN ADELAIDE !

Excellent news. The Sooner the MFC learn to win interstate, and Particularly at that Cow Paddock AAMI Stadium the better.

Good sides win regardless of where they play.

Poor sides lose away from Home, and always come up with poor excuses.

Go Demons-Blitz 'em over there and then come home B)

[Jaded No More 68,976]

Nice dream - until the alarm went off!

I call [censored].

FFS, I hate the AFL!

[Reality Bus 17]

Does this mean that the rumour of us going to Adelaide in round 1 of the premiership season is also likely to be BS? I guess we'll find out Friday!

[darkhorse72 1,943]

So are we on free to air on the Friday night? It would make sense really..otherwise what a crap place to play.

[ox_5 163]

So are we on free to air on the Friday night? It would make sense really..otherwise what a crap place to play.

Nope, Foxtel.

[Matt Demon 1,597]

i dont reckon melbourne have played a preseason game in melbourne for at least 4 years now, what a bloody joke!!!

I think the last one was against Hawthorn at the dome? Could have been 2007?

[45HG 1,559]

I've found my post from pre season this year - and I've edited it to reflect this years draw.

This is the past 8 years. I've included this year's home/away games as one game - for obvious reasons.

It gets a little confusing with teams playing where - but I've included games where teams have played "basically" home games (Brisbane at the Gold Coast, Sydney at Blacktown, Hawthorn at York Park - because of their desire to play many more games there - as home games or away games played at home.)

Adelaide - 5 home games, 2 away games and 1 away game played at home 6-2

Brisbane - 2 home games, 1 home game played away, 4 away games and 1 away game played at home 3-5

Carlton - 5 home games, 3 away games 5-3

Collingwood - 3 home games, 1 home game played away, 3 away games and 1 away game played at home 4-4

Essendon - 1 home game, 2 home games played away, 2 away games and 3 away games played at home 4-4

Fremantle - 6 homes games, 1 away game and 1 away game played at home 7-1

Geelong - 5 home games, 2 away games and 1 away game played at home 6-2

Hawthorn - 6 home games, 1 away game and 1 away game played at home 7-1

Melbourne - 1 home game and 7 away games 1-7

North Melbourne - 4 home games played away, 2 away games and 2 away games played at home 2-6

Port Adelaide - 3 home games, 1 home game played away, 1 away game and 3 away games played at home 6-2

Richmond - 1 home game, 3 away games and 4 away games played at home 5-3

St Kilda - 3 home games, 1 home game played away, 2 away games and 2 away games played at home 5-3

Sydney - 3 home game, 2 away, 3 away game played at home 6-2

West Coast - 5 home games and 3 away games played at home 8-0

Western Bulldogs - 4 home games, 1 away game and 3 home games played away 4-4

Now the stats can be seen a few ways - Dogs' games in Darwin could possibly be called home games along with early St Kilda games in Tassie as well as North/Melbourne games in Canberra but I felt there was not enough footy played generally at these grounds and they were so far from their home that it should be classified as away.

Some analysis:

Western Australian teams have played 1 away game between them.

North have not had a home game in Melbourne but have played 2 all up.

It's a pretty rough guide - don't take it 100% as gospel, but it certainly shows that we have been absolutely shafted.

Melbourne has had the fewest matches in their home city of any team.

[darkhorse72 1,943]

those are pretty damning stats...the west coast/freo game skew it as they often play each other first up.

Maybe next year!!

Would have preferred to go up to NSW if we had to travel.

[DeezMan 4]

Not only do we have to play against BOTH the Adelaide sides in Adelaide... but we have to play 2 games IN A ROW!!

1. Melb v Adel

2. Melb v Port

3. Adel v Port

Thank God it's only the NAB Cup, folks. Let's not get our panties in a bunch!!

If anything... it'll be great for the young boys to practice playing some footy interstate - it's not for Premiership Points

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Yeah, the 1st and 2nd game thing I reckon is the ugliest out of the three options. But then, you could mount a case for all the options available being bad/good.

[Summer Blease 0]

I love this bit:

"With the Magpies, Blues and Tigers drawn together in pool two."

Like the AFL drew the teams out of a hat.

Totally rigged. GC should get in as one of the two 'wild cards' as they will thrash GWS.

Hahahah yes.. it was a "draw".. totally random and decided by fate. Somehow I don't think there were government officials on hand to witness the legitimacy of this lottery.

I think this is good for us. It's a win/not lose situation- ie if we win, we can break a hoodoo, if we lose- it's only the NAB cup.

Hahah I find the Hawks being extradited to Subi funny for some reason..

[Reality Bus 17]

My case for the good is that 2 short games back to back is close to match scenario as possible. My case for the bad is that Adelaide can get freaking hot in summer. Ice vest up!

[darkhorse72 1,943]

ames back to back is better. It has been raised the 50 minute gap would lead to soft tissue injuries...hence the AFl is letting clubs pretty much put in two sides.

[H_T 3,049]

My case for the good is that 2 short games back to back is close to match scenario as possible. My case for the bad is that Adelaide can get freaking hot in summer. Ice vest up!

Being at night will help.

It's hard enough putting up with Power supporters, but Power and Crow supporters on the one evening ! FMD.

Unsure on the concept, but I think it will bring in much more fans with the level of interest up, which is a win for the AFL.

Playing back-to-back (ie. first two games) is more help than a hindrance, because: -

1/ According to experts in the medical field - "Perhaps" less chance of soft tissue injuries.

2/ Dees fans get to leave well and truly before the night is over and can leave in peace.

[daisycutter 30,004]

Being at night will help.

It's hard enough putting up with Power supporters, but Power and Crow supporters on the one evening ! FMD.

Unsure on the concept, but I think it will bring in much more fans with the level of interest up, which is a win for the AFL.

Playing back-to-back (ie. first two games) is more help than a hindrance, because: -

1/ According to experts in the medical field - "Perhaps" less chance of soft tissue injuries.

2/ Dees fans get to leave well and truly before the night is over and can leave in peace.

3/ Dees will have plenty of extra vocal supporters - Power fans when playing Crows and then vice-a-versa

[mordja 187]

Yeah, the 1st and 2nd game thing I reckon is the ugliest out of the three options. But then, you could mount a case for all the options available being bad/good.

Disagree, Playing 1st & 2nd is the worst option as you are playing back to back against fresh teams, playing 2nd & 3rd is the second least preferable option(as you play a team that has already played in both instances, thus it is better than 1st&2nd even if you are playing back to back), playing 1st & 3rd is the best option as you have a break between games.

Our option is obviously the worst.

[DeeVine 0]

Hopefully with the increase in the squad sizes for this round it will keep teams fresher than normal and allow us to see a few more faces

[Pates 9,697]

Our option is obviously the worst.

Our option and "draw" is clearly the worst. I know it's NAB cup but FFS is it really impossible to give us just one year where our first game is in Melbourne? And how can they see any fairness in putting us at an interstate venue with BOTH home teams?

I already disliked the new NAB cup format, this just adds more hatred to it. If we manage to pinch a win somewhere in there, it will do great things for our confidence, but i won't hold my breath.

[ox_5 163]

I disagree, I think playing consecutive games is the best option. But everybody will have different opinions. But if I was a player, I would want to play the first 2 games.

I feel this for a few reasons...

- It is the closest you can get to playing a real 4 quarter game available in this scenario

- You don't need to warm up, play 2 quarters, stay warm while another game is being played, then play again. The biggest issue would be players cooling down between the 2 games and having to warm up again. I see that as a recipe for soft tissue injury if not done correctly.

- We play our 2 games, then get to get the hell out of Adelaide. We dont need to stick around waiting and wasting time.

- In game 2 players will already be warm and in the swing of things - so should be able to get a jump on the opposition looking to find their groove.

Thats just my opinion. If I was a player I would want the above scenario.