NAB Cup expectations ?

[The Great One 99 125]

When I see the selected team I'll be able to set my expectations.

If we go in with an experimental team I will set my expectations accordingly. Likewise if we go in with nearly a full strength team, I'll be expecting to win at least one of the two games.

I agree. I will wait to see the selections first. My assumption though is that we should have a fairly strong team with prob a few missing for precautions. This will no doubt be the same for both SA sides. So I will hope for a good performance from the up and comers, and hope to win at least one.

Couple of Q's.

Can we select a different side ( make a few changes) for the second game?

What happens if 3 sides win? Is it %, or highest score?

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Honestly, I don't think we'll win either game. We have to play the first two without a break and therefore unfairly advantaged in my opinion. It's stupid that we're in Adelaide and we're the team that has to play two in a row! And secondly, it's horrible that its the first match and the game isn't on free to air, but I guess ill just listen on the radio. And it's fair to expect a very young team to run out for us.

[dee-luded 2,958]

I believe we need to do well in the opening match of the NAB cup,or I'm at least hopeful we do well. I think,if we can do well, then we will have the momentum, media press etc.. saying we have arrived.With Jimma putting 40,000 out there as a membership drive and 23,829 as at todays count(via the MFC WEBSITE) then we will need all the help we can from the players playing very well. I think we play a strong team and give our very best.I have no doubt the club wants success now both on and off the field and to start well will assist.

totally agree with everything you've said there John.

We're goin' all out to climb that bloody ladder, so must have winning form to build momentum.

A strong team is a requirement for that.

When I see the selected team I'll be able to set my expectations.

If we go in with an experimental team I will set my expectations accordingly. Likewise if we go in with nearly a full strength team, I'll be expecting to win at least one of the two games.

I hope we'll see a very strong promising side take the field 'Jaded'. I'm sure we will.

And I do think we'll see some little experiments as well, positional wise.

[Pipefitter 2,024]

Until proven otherwise we can't win at this ground.

Don't really mind getting bundled out first round. I love the opportunity to see the dees play practice matches at suburban venues.

[bing181 8,179]

For mine, no real expectations, and suspect we may well be cleaned up like Free did to us last year.

We have so many young(er) players, and they could well take some time to get up to speed - and that even includes some of our "stars" such as Grimes. Not forgetting, the likes of Jurrah, Bennel, Jones even Green, have yet to play in any kind of competitive match this year, they're bound to be rusty.

Whatever happens, will be good to get some kind of game time into an extended list, and hope to see the likes of Strauss, Maric, Jetta, Spencer etc. get a run.

[old dee 22,946]

Until proven otherwise we can't win at this ground.

Don't really mind getting bundled out first round. I love the opportunity to see the dees play practice matches at suburban venues.

Gee pipef I doubt we can win over there however I sure as hell want to win.

I prefer us in the second round than playing on some poor ground up the country where I won't see a thing.

For me there would be no better start to the season than a Nab grand final.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

OK folks here's the awful, awful stats. 15 consecutive losses at AAMI, 11 of them by over 40 points and 6 of them by over 70!!!

2010 21 AAMI Melbourne 2.6 5.10 8.11 11.17 (83) Port Adel 3.2 8.2 15.6 17.10 (112) Lost -29

2010 13 AAMI Melbourne 1.3 3.5 8.6 11.7 (73) Adelaide 4.6 9.10 10.19 16.21 (117) Lost -44

2009 3 AAMI Melbourne 2.1 4.4 7.5 14.6 (90) Port Adel 3.3 10.5 16.12 22.15 (147) Lost -57

2008 21 AAMI Melbourne 1.0 2.4 4.8 7.9 (51) Port Adel 6.6 9.10 10.17 18.21 (129) Lost -78

2008 8 AAMI Melbourne 4.4 6.5 7.7 11.8 (74) Adelaide 8.1 12.6 15.15 22.18 (150) Lost -76

2007 17 AAMI Melbourne 2.3 6.6 7.7 11.8 (74) Port Adel 8.3 11.6 19.10 25.13 (163) Lost -89

2006 22 AAMI Melbourne 4.3 9.3 13.6 14.10 (94) Adelaide 7.3 12.8 17.10 23.14 (152) Lost -58

2005 19 AAMI Melbourne 2.1 5.1 7.2 7.4 (46) Adelaide 2.4 6.10 8.15 13.22 (100) Lost -54

2005 15 AAMI Melbourne 1.1 3.5 5.7 11.9 (75) Port Adel 4.4 11.9 17.13 20.17 (137) Lost -62

2004 19 AAMI Melbourne 1.6 3.9 4.14 6.16 (52) Port Adel 5.2 7.7 11.12 18.17 (125) Lost -73

2004 14 AAMI Melbourne 2.5 5.8 8.10 10.13 (73) Adelaide 7.1 13.7 16.10 22.13 (145) Lost -72

2003 20 AAMI Melbourne 2.0 6.5 10.6 15.8 (98) Port Adel 6.2 10.3 14.6 17.10 (112) Lost -14

2003 12 AAMI Melbourne 1.1 3.2 7.5 10.5 (65) Adelaide 6.2 9.7 15.10 21.12 (138) Lost -73

2002 17 AAMI Melbourne 3.2 9.4 11.6 17.10 (112) Port Adel 6.4 12.7 14.10 17.14 (116) Lost -4

2001 9 AAMI Melbourne 1.4 2.8 6.8 9.14 (68) Port Adel 4.1 6.7 11.8 13.10 (88) Lost -20

[old dee 22,946]

OK folks here's the awful, awful stats. 15 consecutive losses at AAMI, 11 of them by over 40 points and 6 of them by over 70!!!

2010 21 AAMI Melbourne 2.6 5.10 8.11 11.17 (83) Port Adel 3.2 8.2 15.6 17.10 (112) Lost -29

2010 13 AAMI Melbourne 1.3 3.5 8.6 11.7 (73) Adelaide 4.6 9.10 10.19 16.21 (117) Lost -44

2009 3 AAMI Melbourne 2.1 4.4 7.5 14.6 (90) Port Adel 3.3 10.5 16.12 22.15 (147) Lost -57

2008 21 AAMI Melbourne 1.0 2.4 4.8 7.9 (51) Port Adel 6.6 9.10 10.17 18.21 (129) Lost -78

2008 8 AAMI Melbourne 4.4 6.5 7.7 11.8 (74) Adelaide 8.1 12.6 15.15 22.18 (150) Lost -76

2007 17 AAMI Melbourne 2.3 6.6 7.7 11.8 (74) Port Adel 8.3 11.6 19.10 25.13 (163) Lost -89

2006 22 AAMI Melbourne 4.3 9.3 13.6 14.10 (94) Adelaide 7.3 12.8 17.10 23.14 (152) Lost -58

2005 19 AAMI Melbourne 2.1 5.1 7.2 7.4 (46) Adelaide 2.4 6.10 8.15 13.22 (100) Lost -54

2005 15 AAMI Melbourne 1.1 3.5 5.7 11.9 (75) Port Adel 4.4 11.9 17.13 20.17 (137) Lost -62

2004 19 AAMI Melbourne 1.6 3.9 4.14 6.16 (52) Port Adel 5.2 7.7 11.12 18.17 (125) Lost -73

2004 14 AAMI Melbourne 2.5 5.8 8.10 10.13 (73) Adelaide 7.1 13.7 16.10 22.13 (145) Lost -72

2003 20 AAMI Melbourne 2.0 6.5 10.6 15.8 (98) Port Adel 6.2 10.3 14.6 17.10 (112) Lost -14

2003 12 AAMI Melbourne 1.1 3.2 7.5 10.5 (65) Adelaide 6.2 9.7 15.10 21.12 (138) Lost -73

2002 17 AAMI Melbourne 3.2 9.4 11.6 17.10 (112) Port Adel 6.4 12.7 14.10 17.14 (116) Lost -4

2001 9 AAMI Melbourne 1.4 2.8 6.8 9.14 (68) Port Adel 4.1 6.7 11.8 13.10 (88) Lost -20

Oh Please B&C I knew we went poorly in SA but the above is a nightmare of tragic proportions.

Now I really am frightened to turn on the TV on Friday night!

[Longsufferingnomore 1,484]

Betfair has us third with Adelaide favourites and then Port then us. Good grief

[old dee 22,946]

Betfair has us third with Adelaide favourites and then Port then us. Good grief

Unfortunately these guys seem to get it right most of the time.

However I have decided to be positive.

They are going to do their shirts on Friday night.

Look out here come the Dees.

( I hope )

[BAMF 3,787]

NAB Cup is meh.

I hope we don't suck.

But getting ready for Sydney is what this time of the year is about.

+1

[Disco Demons 92]

expectations would be green,davey, rivers, maloney to play well...jamar to win the ruck. i'm expecting a first year player to show something. watts, trengove, grimes and scully to put on a good show.

if our backs are against the wall i want to see some signs that the boys will fight it out! able to hold onto a lead. i think our list is ready to have some expectations that they will put up a fight and won't be walked over.

slyvia should be best on ground for melb...

Edited February 7, 2011 by disco_demon

[Dreamin' Demon 10]

And secondly, it's horrible that its the first match and the game isn't on free to air, but I guess ill just listen on the radio.

It's Friday night - find a great pub with Foxtel

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,097]

NAB Cup is meh.

I hope we don't suck.

But getting ready for Sydney is what this time of the year is about.

+2

Just happy to see some footy again. Would like to see fringe players like Maric, Jetta, Strauss do some things that make us all realise how difficult a job it will be at team selection every Thursday night

[Je Roos Salem 661]

It's Friday night - find a great pub with Foxtel

Yeah that is an alternative although I'm only 16. The game will certainly be a messy one to watch/listen to anyway

[dee-luded 2,958]

It's Friday night - find a great pub with Foxtel

Bent leigh or Oak leigh. Should do the trick.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Good we play 2 games in adelaide...hopefully gives us at least some game time at our hoodoo ground...and its great that we are first up for the year.....never looked forward to a season so much!!!

[DirtyDees DDC 171]

A quote from Matthew Primus on the AFL website - 'Primus said the combination of reduced game time and experimental rules meant the lightning cup-format games on Friday night would be irrelevant to his team’s preparation for round one.'

I'm not too optimistic because of our terrible record there, but as the new coach of Port Adelaide says, it will not have much bearing on our round one match. I am disappointed it won't be shown on 'free-to-air' tv. It's the first competitive match of the year ...where are you channel 7?

I guess i have to ask the dumb question...how do we 'win' on Friday? Do we have to win both matches or is it a cumulative total? What happens if we lead Adelaide by 6 points; then we lose to Port by 6 points, then Adelaide beat Port by 6 points? Is that a 3-way tie? I checked the AFL website and found nothing to explain the finer points of the rules. All it says is 'The six winners from each pool, plus the two sides with the best records among the remaining clubs, will qualify for round two of the competition, allowing for a traditional quarter-final set-up of eight teams, before progressing into semi-finals and a Grand Final.'

There will be a number of sides with just one win. Do we split them by percentage?

[bing181 8,179]

FWIW, for Port:

Lobbe, (shoulder), Jacob Surjan (knee), David Rodan (knee), Hamish Hartlett (hamstring), Jay Schulz (hamstring), Jacobs (glandular fever), Travis Boak (appendix), Jason Davenport (shoulder), Andrew Moore (groin) and Brogan have already been ruled out, while Chad Cornes, Daniel Motlop and impressive draftee Cam O’Shea are confirmed starters.

Adelaide have fewer injuries, but as they are effectively going to be fielding two different teams, there should be a few of their leading lights missing against us.

Bit of a circus, really, the normal NAB and pre-season games will be a bit more relevant to "real" footy. Against that, not a bad idea to start things off a bit easier, it's only early February after all.

[Fork 'em 6,554]

This has been a looong off season and I'm looking forward to seeing how they go .

Haven't been to a pub in years but may have to find me 1 friday night .

I'm not sure this 1st game will have too much of a bearing on memberships but we do have to have a solid start to the season to get to the 40,000 members we're looking for.

I learnt from last year that all won't be lost big picture wise if we don't come out blitzing early .

Just no bad injuries please .

Edited February 7, 2011 by Fork 'em

[beelzebub 22,252]

Nab cup ! Weird untried format ! Expectations ?

None

What I want to see ?

A more than competitive nature. I want to get those cobwebs well and truly blown away. Like to see some semblance of skillful execution. Want us to look and play like a top 8 team. But win at AAMI preseason ? Hmm , not holding breath nor really worried . Thinks it's more of a shakedown series for us before we really come out fair dinkum and firing with ourpreferred line up.

Still what I'd really like to see is any that are given an opportunityto play to sieze the chance and wring it for everything it's worth.

[beelzebub 22,252]

As an addendum it should be noted that not only the Dees but Port as well as the Crows have injuries. Nothing should be considered as forgone !

[The Jacks 0]

Never understood all the talk about the importance of pre-season games and how much so many fans look into these games. They are nothing but preparations for a long season.

I also get annoyed about it all being about round 1. It's about getting ready for the entire season. We'll still be playing in August, and hopefully in September. A win in August will be worth just as much as a win in April. Apparently we were doomed after round 1 last year, but we actually made a fantastic start to the year when looking at the first 5 games. The first month of the home & away season was probably our best month of the year.

As for the upcoming competition, as always, I only have two main hopes: (1) No injuries or anything that will have a negative impact on our preparations for the season ahead; and (2) that we look to be on track to improve from last season.

It's fine if the AFL want to throw some money at the competition (or make money from the competition), but unless we are desparate for that money then I couldn't care less if we win, lose or draw, as long as numbers (1) and (2), above, are happening.

As for the new format... what is the point? Why would teams care about playing a format and with rules that will not be used during the season? They don't, and that makes these games even less significant than they usually are, if that is even possible.

Does anyone have a quick description of the format of the games, competition and the major rule changes/differences?

Also, what does MFCSS, or whatever it is that people keep repeating? I'm assuming it's Melbourne Football Club SXXXXXXXX Syndrome?

Cheers

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

As an addendum it should be noted that not only the Dees but Port as well as the Crows have injuries. Nothing should be considered as forgone !

we have only Frawley, maybe Petterd

[The Jacks 0]

For those unsure why we have a bad record at AAMI... I'd stop trying to be clever and just think about this...

We've been [****]house for quite a few years. We've been [****]house EVERYWHERE for quite a few years. We've been especially [****]house interstate. Adelaide and Port Adelaide have occassionally been finals contenders in the last 10 years or so that we've been losing there. Even when we've been a finals team we haven't been great interstate and relied on a great record (home and away) at the MCG.

In summary, we've lost a lot of games in the last ten years. When we've been bad, we've been really bad interstate. When we've been [****]house we've been even worse interstate. Even when we were pretty good were were pretty bad interstate.

Edited February 8, 2011 by High Tower
WARNING: Keep it clean please.