I reckon its about time we had a real crack at winning the NAb cup. It would be agreat way to launch the clubs 150th year and shut a few critics up. I know it doesnt mean alot in the overall scheme of things, but it would be a great way to start a new era.

Thoughts?

Partly agree.

A NAB Cup flag would hopefully get a couple of thousand memberships and some confidence within the group after a pathetic 2007.

On the other hand you only have to look at the example of Carlton's glory....

Having said that I'm looking forward to going down to Skilled to watch us against Geelong after a long summer waiting for some footy!

As far as membership interest goes it does some good.

However since Carlton last won the competition in my estimation it has rendered the Cup as irrelavent as the current WWE tag team titles (for those who follow wrestling).

Maybe its time then we made it a relevant thing to win. Go against the trend.

I guess im just sick of us being a fairly irrelevant force in AFL, this might just be a small step to bigger things..

It's very true that the preseason cup has been soiled a little by Carltons two wins, particularly the second.

Still, a little bit of it's credibility has been restored by Geelong's clean sweep this year.

I think the Demons have a responsiblity to win the Nab cup and then finish top four, just to help it's reputation.

More seriously, a win over the reigning premiers, at their home ground, would be a very positive way to come out for our first competitive hit. It's also a possibility when you consider that Geelong will be exhausted from all their partying and we'll all be fresh as daisies given our exceptionally short injury list.

Short injury list?

When the hell did that happen?

I'm also keen for a first up win because we'd be playing up here in merry Canberra in round two. I get emotional about Demon pre-season games up here because it was the first time Aaron Davey ran out in Melbourne colours; and at such a small stadium where you can practially touch the players from the stands, the evidence was pretty clear that the hype had reality behind it.

I'd love to see another first game like that.

we'll all be fresh as daisies given our exceptionally short injury list.

Short injury list?

God I hope it stays that way!!

I was thinking about this the other day. Under Daniher they handled it as a year-by-year prospect. It depends on where your list is at, how many pre-season injuries there are, what the pre-season fitness is like, the age of your list with particular focus on the important members of your team and elongating their year... what the finances are like, memberships, what off-field misdemeanours have cropped up...

If the club is DESPERATE for money, memberships, exposure, experience in a young list and most importantly if they're not within striking distance of a flag with their list, then absolutely... as it happens, we are that team.

The only downsides would be:

- Injuries to guys like Neita, either now or later in the year when his old legs start letting him down.

- NAB cup glory only gets part-time fans excited, and if it doesn't translate into real H&A success or finals success it's more or less irrelevant.

- The team tires quicker. If we DO have a shot later in the year, I'd be worried about the young guys holding up their form, particularly in finals.

I hope DB takes the well worn path of keeping the under-done and older guys out until round 2 should we make it, which is more likely to be televised. I also hope he doesn't mess around with injuries like Bartram's last season.

If the club is DESPERATE for money, memberships, exposure, experience in a young list and most importantly if they're not within striking distance of a flag with their list, then absolutely... as it happens, we are that team.

I would be very surprised if the footy department agreed with your assessment there DD.

Its a fine line between going hard at it and focusing on rnd 1. I think its worth a shot, the coaches might have other thought though!!

I remember we went with a very young team full of speedy rookies a while ago, to play the Doggies in Darwin. Worked a treat, gave some seniors a rest and got us a win.

I think there are enough credible players on our list, plus the eight or nine new players (counting rookies) who will be coming in, to put a serious team in for Preseason Round 1 without damaging season-long fitness.

Top of the list of Pre-season inclusions would be Miller, Newton, CJ, Frawley, Holland, Buckley, Bode, Garland, Dunn, Yze, Sylvia and all three of Jamar, Meeson and PJ. All of these players are in a position where they need to demonstrate their performance, and you wouldn't automatically book them in for all 22 home-away games at the moment.

We'd probably also want to get some game time into Rivers, Whelan, Bartram, Petterd and fingers crossed Moloney.

And We'll be wanting to try out the new guys, so theres a few more.

F: PJ Newton Yze

HF: Dunn Miller Bode

M: Buckley CJ Petterd

HB: Whelan Rivers Bartram

B: Frawley Holland Garland

On: Jamar Moloney Sylvia

Int: pick 4, 14, Warnock, Meeson

Basically, we're looking at a reserves side plus returns from injury. Interesting that it is very tall.

All of Neitz, Robertson, White, Bruce, Green, Carroll, Davey, Bell, Bate, Jones, Mclean, McDonald and Wheatley have missed out.

Obviously, based on warm-up matches, training performance and so on you drop a bunch of players from that line up and bring in a few more experienced/obvious performers, with Bruce being a recommendation (needs confidence) and probably Wheatley to replace on of the less mobile talls.

It'd be an interesting experiment to see how our rucks go without White, too.

The NAB cup will be the ultimate challenge for Dean Bailey and co. as they have been preaching the under 23 philosphosy so the NAB cup will show what potential we have there and how much we have steped up in that area.

In terms of membership the longer you last in the NAB cup the higher chance you are of getting memberships as you get more games shown.

CARN THE DEMONS IN 2008 AND BEYOND!!

The NAB cup will be the ultimate challenge for Dean Bailey and co. as they have been preaching the under 23 philosphosy so the NAB cup will show what potential we have there and how much we have steped up in that area.

In terms of membership the longer you last in the NAB cup the higher chance you are of getting memberships as you get more games shown.

CARN THE DEMONS IN 2008 AND BEYOND!!

The Nab Cup hasn't been much help to its recent winners. Carlton have won two of the last three and proceeded to finish last and second last respectively (BTW there should be a law against getting a priority pick if you win the Nab Cup because that's already four wins just for starters) and Geelong won the other one and finished tenth. I agree that we go with our younger players in the Nab Cup however, we shouldn't go out and develop a losing mentality from the outset either.

I would be very surprised if the footy department agreed with your assessment there DD.

Why? All but the "within striking distance of a flag" part is fact... We do need cash, memberships, experience etc etc etc. At the end of 2002 the footy department decided we didn't have the list to make a flag, so that shows it does happen. The list is a good one, just very young. Nothing wrong with that. So why not get a bit of th competitive juices flowing? Teams like Sydney time themselves for a flag tilt, we are not in their position.

Why? All but the "within striking distance of a flag" part is fact... We do need cash, memberships, experience etc etc etc. At the end of 2002 the footy department decided we didn't have the list to make a flag, so that shows it does happen. The list is a good one, just very young. Nothing wrong with that. So why not get a bit of th competitive juices flowing? Teams like Sydney time themselves for a flag tilt, we are not in their position.

The part that I disagreed with is the part you glossed over.

If you're referring to the "in striking distance of a flag" part, then I'll ask again. Why?

The Swans did it with great effect, you could argue West Coast did too. Good coaches, PREMIERSHIP winning coaches go on the record as saying they don't take the pre-season comp seriously in an attempt to prolong the years of their older players.

Unless I'm mistaken... In which case: What did I gloss over?

One of the great things about winning the pre-season cup is that it gives clubs who may not be in the main race to establish a winning culture. Gibbs and Murphy have already tasted success.....have Brock and Jones?

There is absolutely nothing like winning SOMETHING. There are no positives to finishing 2nd,3rd....

When was our last success of any form? Yes you have to go back to the late 80's, which also coincided with a couple of serious cracks at the main event. The young players from then learnt something about winning, the feeling and the work required. It almost translated into the big prize.

Finally, isn't it strange how one of the clubs who compete in the pre-season GF seem to finish in the end of year GF as well?

And for our club the supporters would relish some show of positive hope at an early stage in the season, following the debacle of 2007 ( not to mention the financial stimulus )

One thing is for sure...North Melbourne will be going full tilt at it in 2008.

lets move on about nab cup the game is full of crap rules are different etc.... i hate it!!!!

I thought we have alsways played a strong team in the nab cup in recent years and we have been knocked out by better teams.....

It def creates interst in membership if you win the NAB but history does suggest it doent do alot for performance in the season proper....

Play the kids and dont play bloked like Neitx, Moloney, Rivers, Robbo and co unless they are 110% fit.....

Partly agree.

A NAB Cup flag would hopefully get a couple of thousand memberships and some confidence within the group after a pathetic 2007.

On the other hand you only have to look at the example of Carlton's glory....

Having said that I'm looking forward to going down to Skilled to watch us against Geelong after a long summer waiting for some footy!

Didnt geelong win the NAB cup last year?

Didnt geelong win the NAB cup last year?

Which year are you talking about?

Geelong won the NAB Cup in 2006 and they proceeded to finish 10th.

The last team to win the NAB Cup and then go on to play finals in the same year was St Kilda of 2004.

Neitz, Robertson, White, Bruce, Green, Carroll, Davey, Bell, Bate, Jones, Mclean, McDonald and Wheatley have missed out.

Out of that list I'd play:

Bruce - needs to re-gain from in order to take that step up to elite

Carroll - He is basically our only real legit full-back option (along with Holland) so needs the practice

Davey - Indifferent 2007 so needs to get out on the park early

Jones & Bate - Too young to be rested

Wheatley - Defender or winger? We will find out his best position in the pre-season games.

Which year are you talking about?

Geelong won the NAB Cup in 2006 and they proceeded to finish 10th.

The last team to win the NAB Cup and then go on to play finals in the same year was St Kilda of 2004.

Sorry, i thought geelong won everything this year. They obviously didnt.

i'd love a fairly young melbourne team to take glory this year in the NAB cup (dare i say it, probably in the new alternative strip) because it would be good for us to regain confidence under the list and the coaching staff...bigger crowds, members? rest the oldies but still go full steam ahead