I thought I'd start a thread on the decreasing importance of the nab cup.

Looking ahead to the two weekend's games, Essendon V St.Kilda is being telecast on Friday night at 8:30, an hour delayed, which is what you'd expect from channel 7 usually but since they showed Geelong V St.Kilda live it doesn't make sense. Now to Saturday night on channel 7, West Coast V Collingwood is being shown at 10:00! Scandalous! that's an hour and a half delayed, and its in perth! Why even show these games on tv if they are gonna have their pants pulled down? I enjoy watching the nab cup but it seems that the TV stations and the general public doesn't want me to. I was very surprised at the attendances of last weekend's game, on thursday night when i saw the crowd of 13,000 odd i thought "ohh this is just because its thursday". But this was only followed by two dismal attendances in the following nights of games that should've probably taken better public interest.

Are we seeing the death of the NAB cup?

Its got to go. The regular season is punishing enough plus an increase to 24 rounds next season I believe. And not many are going to respect a competition that half the sides don't take seriously.

Edited March 2, 201114 yr by america de cali

I really hope the NAB Cup is scrapped...i prefer just low key games at casey, Before the Huge build up to Round 1.

I like the fact that i do not know the opposition teams that well...The NAB Cup dilutes anticipation.

Look at this years crowds....nobody cares about it apart from injuries.

Is Aturday night definately delayed? I have not seen the schedule, but given that they are a few hours behind it may be live in Eastern states.

Even so, you would think that the game could be played earlier to allow for this.

I'd get more out of watching watching us this Saturday down at Visy park than I did at Jihad stadium last Thursday, My wallet will too !!

As long as the Dees aren't playing on the 24th of March next year (either round one is the week after or we have the day off is fine) I'll be ok. Does anyone know when round one is next year?

Note: I'm well aware it's a Saturday and, well, we don't play on that day - but nonetheless I want to make triply sure.

I really hope the NAB Cup is scrapped...i prefer just low key games at casey, Before the Huge build up to Round 1.

I like the fact that i do not know the opposition teams that well...The NAB Cup dilutes anticipation.

Look at this years crowds....nobody cares about it apart from injuries.

Your spot on WYL. Your in good form. I'm a little disappointed, that I know your in form, prior to the season's start. I hope you've got more surprises, for some of the big fat, rough & tumble herbivors, out of Africa?

I'm also leaning towards there just being a few weeks of practice matches at Casey fields, Visy park etc and giving Etihad and the other main grounds a rest. I'm probably looking forward to Saturday more than last Thursday as well.

Your spot on WYL. Your in good form. I'm a little disappointed, that I know your in form, prior to the season's start. I hope you've got more surprises, for some of the big fat, rough & tumble herbivors, out of Africa?

In the 70's growing up Round one was HUGE...Channel 7 would run a count down on screen.

The papers talked of new recruits that you had "Heard about" but nothing was in stone. Anticipation is a good thing & the AFL should use it better.

Let NAB double the prize money for the finals & the Granny, and also pay incentives to lower teams to keep winning late in the season

I for one never want to see tanking again. Yes we benefitted 2 years ago but in the long term Tanking really sucks.

Considering that you get absolutely bugger all for being a loyal club member it's no surprise the attendances are so bad. Not to mention the fact that most of the games are being played at a soul-less tip like Docklands.

The matches are already a joke with the novelty rules, but to expect people to fork over $20+ (I got my ticket for last week free thank god) when many have already forked out for a membership is rude. What happened to the old 10%/20% off that club members used to get?

Considering that you get absolutely bugger all for being a loyal club member it's no surprise the attendances are so bad. Not to mention the fact that most of the games are being played at a soul-less tip like Docklands.

The matches are already a joke with the novelty rules, but to expect people to fork over $20+ (I got my ticket for last week free thank god) when many have already forked out for a membership is rude. What happened to the old 10%/20% off that club members used to get?

I agree 'Supermercado', about the paying so much for crapp, pre season games... And also agree with your comment about Eddieshat Stadium, being soul-less. and then wyl's comment came to mind about the anticipation... I think Eddieshat stadium, is not totally the soul-less feature, but the anticipation of the game walking through the MCG parkland is missing. Instead we get to walk along a soul-less cattle crush from the station,,, or the soul-less streets of the docklands precinct.

# I wonder If they fix the cattle crush bridge,,, by making more access bridges, with some less concrete jungle type charms of inner city slums, the Winter anticipation would improve.. Also fixing that playing surface would be a major priority. By the by.

Considering that you get absolutely bugger all for being a loyal club member it's no surprise the attendances are so bad. Not to mention the fact that most of the games are being played at a soul-less tip like Docklands.

The matches are already a joke with the novelty rules, but to expect people to fork over $20+ (I got my ticket for last week free thank god) when many have already forked out for a membership is rude. What happened to the old 10%/20% off that club members used to get?

Didn't memberships used to entitle you to one or two NAB Cup fixtures in addition to the Home games on the membership cards ? I'm sure it did, but maybe not the last few years. Before then.

Scrap it. Too many injuries come about playing the NAB cup. Can derail a team before round 1 even comes around.

Scrap it, play 3 scheduled practise matches in the lead up to the season. These can still be televised.

Long, long, long time reader of Demonland. Enjoy ALL of your debates/discussions and opinions and thought i would FINALLY start contributing.

I find that i watch the NAB Demon matches with my hands covering my eyes hoping that none of our boys receive ANY injuries that will hinder them during the REAL season. (Although obviously injuries can still occur in any AFL match whether it be NAB Cup, Practice Match, Inter-club etc.)

I agree that 3 Practice matches should be played in the lead up to the season with fans still obviously being able to attend these games.

This would perhaps lead to even more hype being created for Round 1 as we don't have the televised, promoted NAB matches taking away from the regular AFL Season. Perhaps then even more people would get along to the AFL matches in Round 1?