The NAB Cup is no more. The pre season competition that we've had in one form or another since the 70s has now fallen out of favour and been replaced by the NAB Challenge for which there is no winner but rather a series of random matches played on a daily basis over 18 consecutive days with every game televised by Fox Footy Channel.

The competition kicks off on Wednesday night with Collingwood paying a rare visit to Simonds Stadium and Melbourne is up on Friday night against Richmond at Etihad Stadium. Our second game is against Geelong at picturesque TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs on Friday, 28 February.

For us, these games are followed by a practice match against Hawthorn at Casey Fields on Saturday, 8 March (not televised).

I think this programme is a good lead up to the season. We take on the teams that finished 5th, 3rd and first after last year's home and away season so it's going to be a tough baptism of fire for Paul Roos and his new look Demons. We all know that the result doesn't count for anything but, after our last few years, we need to show something and we don't want confidence-sapping floggings.

With three games and most players probably getting only two out of the three to impress, the competition's on for places in the team for the opening game against St. Kilda.

Footy's back!

General admission = $18.00 (adult) or Reserved seating = $28.00 (adult) plus a handling fee of up to $9.50 per order and a payment processing fee of up to 2.3% may apply.

If it's a meaningless competition with no prize for the winner, why are they slugging the punters who want to go to the games with their families?

General admission = $18.00 (adult) or Reserved seating = $28.00 (adult) plus a handling fee of up to $9.50 per order and a payment processing fee of up to 2.3% may apply.

If it's a meaningless competition with no prize for the winner, why are they slugging the punters who want to go to the games with their families?

It is an absolute joke that they charge basically the same as a normal game - in previous years members haven't even got in on membership cards is it the same this year?

if we win only one out of these three then it bodes well for our opening match against St Kilda (who have been getting an inordinate amount of press these last two days)!

if we win only one out of these three then it bodes well for our opening match against St Kilda (who have been getting an inordinate amount of press these last two days)!

Thought we have got a fair bit of press as well in the same two days.

Thought we have got a fair bit of press as well in the same two days.

We certainly did on Saturday after Friday's session and Roos interview but they did not talk us up as much as St Kilda with Billings and Dunstan.

$18 for a meaningless game is reeeeeeetaaaarded!

I was thinking of going assuming it would cost $10 to get in, but nearly $20 for the first hit out when I have it on foxtel...

The AFL are complete idiots, charge $10 and they would get triple the amount of people there than they will for $18.

Free for AFL Members!

I will be there.

Edited February 9, 201411 yr by demoniac

Free for AFL Members!

I will be there.

So will I but it is pathetic that members who pay anywhere from about $200-$800 dont get access to these Mickey Mouse games. A farce.

Well... If it's such a mickey mouse game, would anyone care about missing it..?

Just playing devil's advocate.

Obviously not the best way for the AFL to get half-decent crowds at these matches, though.

Well... If it's such a mickey mouse game, would anyone care about missing it..?

Just playing devil's advocate.

Obviously not the best way for the AFL to get half-decent crowds at these matches, though.

No one will really care that much but when you see the dedication some people have to the club (even attending pre-season training and writing up detailed reports) of course people will want to go and watch the first hitout in months, especially with a new coach, new players and this will be the last time most have the chance to watch us play a game against a "real" opponent live until round 1.

It is a Mickey Mouse game and most won't be to fussed if they can't attend but for those who want to go, or who at least pay up their yearly membership fee, it is pathetic that they have to fork out another $18 per person (plus booking fee) on top of that just for a GA ticket (even more for reserved seat)!

would have thought after last years debacle,drugs scandal,finals revamp

the AFL could have opened the season with some sort of gift

still somebody gets paid 200k a year to come up with these ideas and gate charges

so what should we know?

would have thought after last years debacle,drugs scandal,finals revamp

the AFL could have opened the season with some sort of gift

still somebody gets paid 200k a year to come up with these ideas and gate charges

so what should we know?

You can be quite humorous at times jazza!

You can be quite humorous at times jazza!

and an all round good bloke on mondays.

just thought it was time to get lots of families to the game

the AFL needs a good story right now

and an all round good bloke on mondays.

just thought it was time to get lots of families to the game

the AFL needs a good story right now

Good stories usually run a bad second to money around the AFL

Clark. Hogan & Dawes not playing on friday. Reported today.

Full Price admission to practise games=greed

The Supergoal is back!

Thank goodness for that!

The Supergoal is back!

Thank goodness for that!

With our forward line tomorrow night we will probably be trying to kick them from beyond 50 WJ

Could be our secret tactic!

If they turn up to play tomorrow night they'll be stuffed by the time Richmond arrive on Friday night

If they turn up to play tomorrow night they'll be stuffed by the time Richmond arrive on Friday night

We need the start WJ.

Sorry was getting my days mixed up.

For those lamenting our selection of Salem over Freeman...

Freeman has just had an encounter with a sniper.

Pinged a hammy badly at full stretch.

Not that it's any indication of how he'll perform over a 10 year period, but if people are going to talk about Wines over Toumpas, or recruiting players ready to go, we're working on the same plane.

If they turn up to play tomorrow night they'll be stuffed by the time Richmond arrive on Friday night

Might actually be a few goals in front, though ...

I watched tonight's game and it was of quite a good standard for a first hit out although by the end there were mistakes due to players tiring.

I loved the finish because it really demonstrated why its a better game than the soccer where you get bored watching the grass grow.

I watched tonight's game and it was of quite a good standard for a first hit out although by the end there were mistakes due to players tiring.

I loved the finish because it really demonstrated why its a better game than the soccer where you get bored watching the grass grow.

Must admit I got a bit bored by the end with nothing hanging on the result.

...but it is good to watch a bit of footy and Stevie J always keeps me entertained. Can't say the commentary has improved any though.

Must admit I got a bit bored by the end with nothing hanging on the result.

...but it is good to watch a bit of footy and Stevie J always keeps me entertained. Can't say the commentary has improved any though.

How can the commentary improve when Dwayne Pipe is one of them?