The 2014 NAB Challenge

[Whispering_Jack 31,308]

Freo getting a bath in the early stages against Wet Toast. 31-zip in the first.

Sylvia just had his first touch in a purple jumper. A kick to no-one.

A trick he learned at Melbourne.

[P-man 13,367]

A trick he learned at Melbourne.

Haha exactly,

[Ted Lasso 19,572]

Sylvia's one touch compared to Bernie's 32 I think we did alright

[rjay 25,362]

Looks like Col's taken the Melbourne game to Freo...they can have it.

[Demon Head 299]

Sadly, he was blowing heavily when he came off. He's clearly unfit and shouldn't have played.

[Whispering_Jack 31,308]

The unofficial NAB Challenge ladder and we're still in the top 4:

Hawthorn 1 - - 154 23 669.6 4

West Coast 1 - - 148 64 231.3 4

Adelaide 1 - - 119 59 201.7 4

Melbourne 1 - - 98 84 116.7 4

Carlton 1 - - 100 93 107.5 4

Geelong 1 - - 104 102 102.0 4

Gold Coast 1 - - 90 89 101.1 4

GWS - - - 0 0 100.0 0

St. Kilda - - - 0 0 100.0 0

Sydney - - - 0 0 100.0 0

Western Bulldogs - - - 0 0 100.0 0

Essendon - 1 - 89 90 98.9 0

Collingwood - 1 -102 104 98.1 0

North Melbourne - 1 - 93 100 93.0 0

Richmond - 1 - 84 98 85.7 0

Port Adelaide - 1 - 59 119 49.6 0

Fremantle - 1 - 64 148 43.2 0

Brisbane - 1 - 23 154 14.9 0

[Sydney Pennski 309]

Tonight's NAB Challenge was a snorefest. They should have called it off when the Cattery was flooded because the spectacle that ensued was a complete bore and the crowd of 45 thought so as well.

[Whispering_Jack 31,308]

Pity the rain didn't come a few hours later. It would have brought an entire new meaning to the concept of flooding in football.

In the aftermath of that game, we have dropped out of the top four on the unofficial NAB Challenge ladder which now reads:

Hawthorn 1 - - 154 23 669.6 4

West Coast 1 - - 148 64 231.3 4

Adelaide 1 - - 119 59 201.7 4

Western Bulldogs 1 - - 67 56 119.6 4

Melbourne 1 - - 98 84 116.7 4

Carlton 1 - - 100 93 107.5 4

Geelong 1 - - 104 102 102.0 4

Gold Coast 1 - - 90 89 101.1 4

GWS - - - 0 0 100.0 0

Sydney - - - 0 0 100.0 0

Essendon - 1 - 89 90 98.9 0

Collingwood - 1 -102 104 98.1 0

North Melbourne - 1 - 93 100 93.0 0

Richmond - 1 - 84 98 85.7 0

St. Kilda - 1 - 56 67 83.6 0

Port Adelaide - 1 - 59 119 49.6 0

Fremantle - 1 - 64 148 43.2 0

Brisbane - 1 - 23 154 14.9 0

[DemonFrog 1,359]

Not to my knowledge.

Just watching Colin Sylvia wearing the number 4 for Fremantle. Tony Shaw calling him the player who could be the X Factor for the Dockers.

Really?

Colin Sylvia, who is this guy?

[RalphiusMaximus 6,111]

For those who are interested, a certain former Demon playing for GWS is up to 12 touches late in the third quarter against the swans. Currently rated 17th best Giant on the ground. Great value there.

[Carrot Top 947]

For those who are interested, a certain former Demon playing for GWS is up to 12 touches late in the third quarter against the swans. Currently rated 17th best Giant on the ground. Great value there.

Yeah, but nine of those touches were him checking that his wallet was still in place.

[The Third Eye 288]

For those who are interested, a certain former Demon playing for GWS is up to 12 touches late in the third quarter against the swans. Currently rated 17th best Giant on the ground.

Are you sure there was a former Demon playing for GWS? I thought Junior McDonald retired last year

[Gorgoroth 13,190]

He still can't kick very good, his hands in close are great. He is pretty much a million dollar Cross who at the moment gets less of it.

[Ted Lasso 19,572]

Haha glad we aren't paying him 1.2 million or whatever he is on to be average, wouldn't get a run in our midfield these days

[Whispering_Jack 31,308]

Those who have watched the nightly Foxtel telecasts of the NAB Challenge might have picked up on the fact that the "competition" is running for 18 consecutive evenings which puts us right in the middle of the series at this point in time. But what have we learned from all of this and is all of the euphoria and optimism about Melbourne's outing against Richmond last Friday night justified?

I think it's unwise to draw too much from the nine results to date. We've seen a number of clubs whose lists are at different stages and levels of fitness and coaches with different agendas, many not keen to show their hands this early in the season. Players are being kept in cotton wool, many have come out underdone and different teams have different motivations as to game outcomes in early to mid February.

It's been like that for many years with some clubs indifferent to winning while others are for various reasons desperate to impress their memberships and the public. Melbourne was clearly more motivated for a win than a Richmond last week and I doubt that many of the week's losers will be too worried at this stage, not even Freo and Brisbane who were thrashed but can point to the number of key players missing from their lineups (although there would be a concern with the Lions' lack of endeavour on the night).

As we look to the next round, this is how the first nine games have panned out (unofficial) ladder wise:

Hawthorn 1 - - 154 23 669.6 4

West Coast 1 - - 148 64 231.3 4

Adelaide 1 - - 119 59 201.7 4

Sydney 1 - - 115 75 153.3 4

Western Bulldogs 1 - - 67 56 119.6 4

Melbourne 1 - - 98 84 116.7 4

Carlton 1 - - 100 93 107.5 4

Geelong 1 - - 104 102 102.0 4

Gold Coast 1 - - 90 89 101.1 4

Essendon - 1 - 89 90 98.9 0

Collingwood - 1 -102 104 98.1 0

North Melbourne - 1 - 93 100 93.0 0

Richmond - 1 - 84 98 85.7 0

St. Kilda - 1 - 56 67 83.6 0

GWS Giants - 1 - 75 115 65.2 0

Port Adelaide - 1 - 59 119 49.6 0

Fremantle - 1 - 64 148 43.2 0

Brisbane - 1 - 23 154 14.9 0

[Dees2014 2,377]

Those who have watched the nightly Foxtel telecasts of the NAB Challenge might have picked up on the fact that the "competition" is running for 18 consecutive evenings which puts us right in the middle of the series at this point in time. But what have we learned from all of this and is all of the euphoria and optimism about Melbourne's outing against Richmond last Friday night justified?

I think it's unwise to draw too much from the nine results to date. We've seen a number of clubs whose lists are at different stages and levels of fitness and coaches with different agendas, many not keen to show their hands this early in the season. Players are being kept in cotton wool, many have come out underdone and different teams have different motivations as to game outcomes in early to mid February.

It's been like that for many years with some clubs indifferent to winning while others are for various reasons desperate to impress their memberships and the public. Melbourne was clearly more motivated for a win than a Richmond last week and I doubt that many of the week's losers will be too worried at this stage, not even Freo and Brisbane who were thrashed but can point to the number of key players missing from their lineups (although there would be a concern with the Lions' lack of endeavour on the night).

As we look to the next round, this is how the first nine games have panned out (unofficial) ladder wise:

Hawthorn 1 - - 154 23 669.6 4

West Coast 1 - - 148 64 231.3 4

Adelaide 1 - - 119 59 201.7 4

Sydney 1 - - 115 75 153.3 4

Western Bulldogs 1 - - 67 56 119.6 4

Melbourne 1 - - 98 84 116.7 4

Carlton 1 - - 100 93 107.5 4

Geelong 1 - - 104 102 102.0 4

Gold Coast 1 - - 90 89 101.1 4

Essendon - 1 - 89 90 98.9 0

Collingwood - 1 -102 104 98.1 0

North Melbourne - 1 - 93 100 93.0 0

Richmond - 1 - 84 98 85.7 0

St. Kilda - 1 - 56 67 83.6 0

GWS Giants - 1 - 75 115 65.2 0

Port Adelaide - 1 - 59 119 49.6 0

Fremantle - 1 - 64 148 43.2 0

Brisbane - 1 - 23 154 14.9 0

WJ, Strangely enough, if you swap West Coast with Geelong, and Fremantle with Adelaide, I wouldn't be surprised it that is fairly close to the end of year ladder. We shall see !

[Machsy 2,858]

Geelong won't finish top 2.

Bottom half of the 8. At best.

[old dee 24,028]

WJ, Strangely enough, if you swap West Coast with Geelong, and Fremantle with Adelaide, I wouldn't be surprised it that is fairly close to the end of year ladder. We shall see !

Not sure what you had for breakfast Dees2014 but the MFC sixth!

Not even in my dreams.

[Whispering_Jack 31,308]

Not sure what you had for breakfast Dees2014 but the MFC sixth!

Not even in my dreams.

So top four is out of the question?

[old dee 24,028]

So top four is out of the question?

Not sure if you expect an answer WJ

But seeing as how I am typing

YEP!

[DeeSpencer 26,539]

10 Things I think I know from the NAB Challenge so far:

1. Melbourne can't possibly be as bad as last year.

2. Neither can GWS.

3. If Hawthorn are to have a premiership hangover it won't be at the start of the year.

4. Brisbane have very little depth. If they have a long injury list including a number of their better players they will be bottom 4.

5. The phrase "absence makes the heart grow fonder" does not apply to Fox Footy commentators.

6. Games of footy without a whole bunch of new rules are good.

7. So are supergoals, preseason is probably their home but they are fun.

8. I expect a much closer comp and some real battles to get in the 8 this year.

9. 18 games in 18 days with every team getting on TV is a great thing for equality and exposure.

10. A game every day isn't. Mondays and Tuesdays could be days without footy with double headers on the weekends instead. I watched patches of the early ones and all of the Melbourne game but couldn't get through more than 5 minutes here and there of the last few games.

[old dee 24,028]

Looks like the Hawks will be a cut above most again.

No buddy and they are still walloping everyone in sight.

Certainly fixing up the Roos tonight.

Not looking forward to the practise match in three weeks time.

I fear they will bring us back to earth and remind us how the the good teams Play.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,460]

Looks like the Hawks will be a cut above most again.

No buddy and they are still walloping everyone in sight.

Certainly fixing up the Roos tonight.

Not looking forward to the practise match in three weeks time.

I fear they will bring us back to earth and remind us how the the good teams Play.

Let's see how they go against Freo again this year, got a sneaking suspicion they won't get over them as easy as they did on GF day. Swans should give it another shake as well and Collingwood won't be too far off if Buckley can get them playing as a team. I wouldn't write off Geelong either.

[Whispering_Jack 31,308]

Only Einstein or my old maths teacher could explain the unusual phenomenon that occurred tonight.

No, it wasn't a lunar eclipse - it was that Hawthorn thrashed North but both sides percentages tumbled. The Hawks dropped by more than 300% but they still hold top spot. North tumbled down the unofficial NAB Challenge ladder*:

Hawthorn 2 - - 272 76 357.9 8

West Coast 1 - - 148 64 231.3 4

Adelaide 1 - - 119 59 201.7 4

Sydney 1 - - 115 75 153.3 4

Western Bulldogs 1 - - 67 56 119.6 4

Melbourne 1 - - 98 84 116.7 4

Carlton 1 - - 100 93 107.5 4

Geelong 1 - - 104 102 102.0 4

Gold Coast 1 - - 90 89 101.1 4

Essendon - 1 - 89 90 98.9 0

Collingwood - 1 -102 104 98.1 0

Richmond - 1 - 84 98 85.7 0

St. Kilda - 1 - 56 67 83.6 0

North Melbourne - 2 - 146 218 67.0 0

GWS Giants - 1 - 75 115 65.2 0

Port Adelaide - 1 - 59 119 49.6 0

Fremantle - 1 - 64 148 43.2 0

Brisbane - 1 - 23 154 14.9 0

* exclusive to Demonland

[DeeSpencer 26,539]

Only Einstein or my old maths teacher could explain the unusual phenomenon that occurred tonight.

No, it wasn't a lunar eclipse - it was that Hawthorn thrashed North but both sides percentages tumbled. The Hawks dropped by more than 300% but they still hold top spot. North tumbled down the unofficial NAB Challenge ladder*:

Reminds me of some of our losses over the last couple of years. I'm pretty sure a few times we've had percentage boosting losses. Hawthorn tonight experienced the percentage eroding win.