And justifying the concessions that GWS are getting because they are so bloody awful in those games.

How can anyone argue with them getting those concessions when the alternative is perpetual ineptitude, until the club folds..?

Yeah, I like conspiracy theories.

It's been a big week for conspiracy theories with some mongrel from the Maritime Workers Union going on about 9/11 being an American plot against its own citizens so FWIW, here's my conspiracy theory.

GWS will field a team of rookie listers, Israel Folau, hacks and pimply faced 17 year olds coached by a showman who is out of touch with the modern game. They will be decimated by both the Swans and the Suns by a large margin. Irrespective of the result of the Swans v Suns game, that should be enough to ensure that two clubs from this pool of three progress to the next round, one as winner of the pool and the other other as one of the two best performed runners up. In other words, the grouping virtually assures the Suns of some initial short term success in the AFL competition, which is exactly what the AFL wants.

Nice try but if it was a true conspiracy you would have told us the game was really being played at some back lot behind Movie World instead of Blacktown Olympic Park.

this style of game may suit us itb will call for fast attacking sides as you need to score quickly as you only play for 20 minutes defensive sides will have no hope of progressing through but we will need to start fast something we have had trouble with in past

Woo... a NAB Cup game in MELBOURNE!

Should be a bit of fun for us footy losers who go into major withdrawals in the off season.

Edited October 23, 201014 yr by Jaded

Woo... a NAB Cup game in MELBOURNE!

Should be a bit of fun for us footy losers who go into major withdrawals in the off season.

Seating arrangements are going to be interesting with three clubs at the same venue. Whose cheersquads sit behind the goals?

Melbourne playing on a Sunday...no, must be wrong.

(We seem to draw Hawthorn often in Round 1 - NAB cup round 1 especially. That's at least 4 times that I can remember straight off the top of my head in the last 7 years)

Another 8 years ago in 2002.

pies get the dud deal haha playing both Wa teams at the ground formally known as Subiaco

McChins will probably somehow use it as a reason to claim they should play their last 10 rounds of the H&A season at the G.

Yep. This will make the AFL feel at ease knowing the Pies have something like 17 games at the G. Not that they really give it any thought.

I like this concept. After all, nobody really cares about NAB Cup, but seeing the team play 2 games in an afternoon before potentially moving on to the next stage of the comp should make for a pretty enjoyable afternoon. Why not??

Woo... a NAB Cup game in MELBOURNE!

Should be a bit of fun for us footy losers who go into major withdrawals in the off season.

Book early - Hawthorn and Essadon hate each other and it will be Tird's first outing - big crowd expected.

I like this concept. After all, nobody really cares about NAB Cup, but seeing the team play 2 games in an afternoon before potentially moving on to the next stage of the comp should make for a pretty enjoyable afternoon. Why not??

Book early - Hawthorn and Essadon hate each other and it will be Tird's first outing - big crowd expected.

I think the new concept will drive up crowds, definitely. Sage advice regarding booking early.

Let's not forget it is absolutely paramount that our club gets off to a flyer in this series re: membership because it's dependant upon the future of our grand club and reaching 35,000 members ! The Fremantle NAB Cup game in early 2010, was a good example of that - a poor showing severely impacted our "momentum"

I think the new concept will drive up crowds, definitely. Sage advice regarding booking early.

Let's not forget it is absolutely paramount that our club gets off to a flyer in this series re: membership because it's dependant upon the future of our grand club and reaching 35,000 members ! The Fremantle NAB Cup game in early 2010, was a good example of that - a poor showing severely impacted our "momentum"

Agree totally, as I said before our first NAB match last year- it was going to be imperative to get off to a good start- we didn't,we played poorly in the whole NAB cup series and got belted by the Hawks first round -we really need to get of well in 2011- just don't know how the game in Shanghai will affect our plan of a flying start will go.

I feel the momentum will help prepare them.

Agree totally, as I said before our first NAB match last year- it was going to be imperative to get off to a good start- we didn't,we played poorly in the whole NAB cup series and got belted by the Hawks first round -we really need to get of well in 2011- just don't know how the game in Shanghai will affect our plan of a flying start will go.

I feel the momentum will help prepare them.

Um...I gotcha (it was tongue in cheek...)

And the game in Shanghai will be a distant memory come Jan/Feb and won't affect a thing.

PS. I'm not wishing our club doesn't get off on the right foot for the start of the 2011 season. In fact, I really hope we do prepare well, I'm sure we will.

Adelaide and Port in our group IN ADELAIDE !

Woo... a NAB Cup game in MELBOURNE!

Should be a bit of fun for us footy losers who go into major withdrawals in the off season.

Unfortunately no. Starting off in Adelaide.

While I hate the thought of playing there, winning a game or 2 at AAMI even in the pre season may help the psyche and set the tone for a decade of dominance at that cesspool.

Unfortunately no. Starting off in Adelaide.

While I hate the thought of playing there, winning a game or 2 at AAMI even in the pre season may help the psyche and set the tone for a decade of dominance at that cesspool.

Given where it is, and that Bailey seems to have exactly 0 interest in NAB cups I wouldn't hold your breath.

Adelaide and Port in our group IN ADELAIDE !

Aaaah What?!!! Where did you read this?

Jesus I hate this friggin competition. Shunt the smaller clubs off to interstate games, so the big clubs can play in Melbourne... The rich get richer.

This is the second season in a row.

Aaaah What?!!! Where did you read this?

Jesus I hate this friggin competition. Shunt the smaller clubs off to interstate games, so the big clubs can play in Melbourne... The rich get richer.

This is the second season in a row.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/104572/default.aspx

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

Imagine that - a fixture in Melbourne!

Much better than the usual programme we get from the AFL.

Nice dream - until the alarm went off!

I think the AFL misunderstood us when we requested a Friday night game....

Shafted yet again. The only difference this time is that it will be on commercial tv and it is the NAB cup opener so it will gain some exposure.

Given where it is, and that Bailey seems to have exactly 0 interest in NAB cups I wouldn't hold your breath.

Agree with you Jacka.

If Bailey has little interest in the NAB cup he has my vote.

Mid Feb in Adelaide it could be 40.

This competition is too early, too hot and too hard!

We Will see how keen Bailey is when we send over a team with only 10 of our best 22.

Wait for Spencer as first ruck, no Scully, Trengove Green Davies or anyone older than 23 for that manner.

If we get past the first round I will be very surprised

and to be honest I don't care much I want us playing well in September not February.

Shortened versions of each game (20 min each, or maybe 20 min halves? I can't remember).

Eg. Haw v Mel

Mel v Ess

Ess v Haw

Not sure how it progresses from there. Assuming 1 team goes through, you are left with a pool of 6 after the round robin games.

It's NAB cup,therefore I don't care. As long as nobody gets injured, like Jurrah, Sylvia or Morton did this year, I'm happy.

That is just stupid! Seriously stupid.

Shafted yet again. The only difference this time is that it will be on commercial tv and it is the NAB cup opener so it will gain some exposure.

It's actually on Fox.

And FWIW, I like the new format of the competition and I suspect the clubs will, too. They have undoubtedly had considerable input into this decision and the new structure allows them much more flexibility in how much game time each individual player has in the pre-season.

Edited October 26, 201014 yr by MikeyJ

At least it gives us extra practise at AAMI.

Who gives a [censored] really