Something i'm always interested to hear is how much do people want to games in the NAB cup.

the thing i like about bailey is i dont think he will be so concerned with the result as much as the process.....getting better and better individually and as a team...every game. if this process results in us winning this preseason monkey cup, then great, but if it doesnt, its all about getting better anyway!

Why is it when you blood youngsters you have no intent to win?

I dont think this is automatically the case. Two years we tried draft pick # 66 Clint Batram in a run with role and what a revelation he was.

The Pre Season cup lends itself to experimentation due to the rule changes that are not applicable to the main season like:

1. Number and use of interchanges

2. Nine point goals

3. Boundary throw ins inside the ground playing area; and

4. Carlton actually tries to win a game and does not tank for a priority pick.

I'd usually vote for 'blood the youngsters' but given that we have a new coach with a new game plan, I don't believe that we have the luxury of resting our senior players, because quite frankly, they should all be put on notice that nobody is guaranteed a spot for round 1.

From our draftees and rookies, i'd imagine that Maric and Valenti are the most likely to see game time in the NAB cup.

Under Bailey's regime they are one of the same.

This football club will play to win by those who put their hands up to be counted.

Maybe he will play some of our newly drafted recruits but it won't be to blood them, it will be to win.

I hope we are in it to win it. Our club needs some sort of sucess. There is no reason why winning could not be part of the team's development.

I'd usually vote for 'blood the youngsters' but given that we have a new coach with a new game plan, I don't believe that we have the luxury of resting our senior players, because quite frankly, they should all be put on notice that nobody is guaranteed a spot for round 1.

We dont have the luxury because we have so few senior players left with a large proportion of our list U23/U24. It would not surprise me if they rested Neitz for the pre season cup again.

Rhino... I didn't recognise you...

And you're right. Even if you select a 22 (or is it 24? or 26?) with your most experienced players, you'll still end up with players like CJ, Buckley, maybe one or two of the first-year players in the side. Then consider we have 4 matches to blood these guys. I reckon almost about EVERYONE will get a go... particularly considering we have all these brand new rookies at the club. No more 2nd yearers like Neaves/Hughes/Hayes to worry about.

Rhino... I didn't recognise you...

And you're right. Even if you select a 22 (or is it 24? or 26?) with your most experienced players, you'll still end up with players like CJ, Buckley, maybe one or two of the first-year players in the side. Then consider we have 4 matches to blood these guys. I reckon almost about EVERYONE will get a go... particularly considering we have all these brand new rookies at the club. No more 2nd yearers like Neaves/Hughes/Hayes to worry about.

With so many new players including Meesen, rookies might struggle for a real run this year.

I'd like us to blood youngsters and win.

Something i'm always interested to hear is how much do people want to games in the NAB cup.

They don't have to be mutually exclusive!

But for the sake of arguement, than develop...let the new kids see just how quick and hard the game is...and who knows, like Bartram's first year, they may just be up to it already B)

Rivers and Bartram are two that have benefitted from a run in the NAB, or was that Wizard, cup that set up their seasons. I would like to see a couple of fresh faces in each match that we play.

Carlton always try to win the pre-season competition because there is no befefit in tanking.

I'd like us to blood youngsters and win.

and no injuries.

and no injuries.

That's not something we have control over.

Whilst i voted youngsters over win, i would have liked a third option of "play youngsters and middle tear players in a view to win as many as possible"

That's not something we have control over.

That's not entirely true.

I would like to see our senior players played on a rotational basis in the pre-season games, be it the NAB competition or regional games. This will ensure that all senior players get to have a game under their belt, but are less exposed to injuries.

Players like Neitz, White and Robbo don't necessarily need the experience of playing in the pre-season, and if they get injured we're well and truly stuffed.

dont be surprise to see aussie, valenti, morton and maric be given a shot at the nab.. exciting times!

How about blood youngsters with intent to win?

That's not entirely true.

I would like to see our senior players played on a rotational basis in the pre-season games, be it the NAB competition or regional games. This will ensure that all senior players get to have a game under their belt, but are less exposed to injuries.

Players like Neitz, White and Robbo don't necessarily need the experience of playing in the pre-season, and if they get injured we're well and truly stuffed.

I know where Nasher is going with this.

Last season we had no control over the injuries that occurred during the year which occurred during the course of play.

There will be a number of strategies that can be undertaken to seek to mitigate the risk of injury. But this cant protect against the injuries that can and will happen. I hope in the future science would provide better means of preparation and rehabilitation to reduce the impact of these unavoidable injuries.

FWIW, we rested Neitz from the PSC and Robbo got lighter duties and both went down with injuries last year at critical times for extended periods

Under Bailey's regime they are one of the same.

This football club will play to win by those who put their hands up to be counted.

Maybe he will play some of our newly drafted recruits but it won't be to blood them, it will be to win.

well put nothing else to add

I know where Nasher is going with this.

Last season we had no control over the injuries that occurred during the year which occurred during the course of play.

There will be a number of strategies that can be undertaken to seek to mitigate the risk of injury. But this cant protect against the injuries that can and will happen. I hope in the future science would provide better means of preparation and rehabilitation to reduce the impact of these unavoidable injuries.

FWIW, we rested Neitz from the PSC and Robbo got lighter duties and both went down with injuries last year at critical times for extended periods

Obviously we cannot control injuries, but we can reduce the risk of them occuring.

There is nothing more frustrating than a player suffering a long term injury in a meaningless pre-season game. That was my point.

I think proving ourselves competitive against some top-notch sides will be a boost of confidence for a young and restructured side, for a new coach and for some very tired and impatient supporters. However, playing a side that has come off the biggest grand final victory ever at a venue where we have a despicable record is taking it too far. I just hope the lads don't get completely smashed and demoralised before the season even begins!

I would like to see this in the paper the next day:

Best players: Moloney, Neitz, Rivers, Meeson, Bruce, Bartram, Morton, Sylvia, Miller

Obviously we cannot control injuries, but we can reduce the risk of them occuring.

There is nothing more frustrating than a player suffering a long term injury in a meaningless pre-season game. That was my point.

How could we have reduced the risk of the injuries that occurred last year? Do a collective Yze? Injuries that are due to muscle weakness or exert can be mitigated through body development or exercise programs. Injuries arising out match play contact cannot be reasonably reduced by such strategies and whether you do or do not incur such injuries can be good/poor fortune.

I accept your frustration but players will need to play pre season games and last year has shown that hiding them from PSC games does not reliably reduce the risk.

Here's to a fit 2008.

im of the opinion that we play kids who need a go, middle tier players who are playing for a round one spot, and senior players who need a practice match under their belt for fitness reasons (rivers, bartram, moloney are key examples because they didnt play much last year). if we win round one and two maybe we start to take a different approach to win the money.

That's not entirely true.

I would like to see our senior players played on a rotational basis in the pre-season games, be it the NAB competition or regional games. This will ensure that all senior players get to have a game under their belt, but are less exposed to injuries.

Players like Neitz, White and Robbo don't necessarily need the experience of playing in the pre-season, and if they get injured we're well and truly stuffed.

It is entirely true. If you take out Neitz, White or Robbo you've gotta replace them. As long as there's twenty-whatever players playing, the risk of one of those players copping an injury is constant, for all intents and purposes, no matter who the players playing are. The only way you can reduce the risk is by either not playing the games at all (not an options), or asking the players to go at half effort (also not an option).

I also think that there's a limit as to how much you wrap your senior players in cotton wool. Not playing Neitz (for example) at all in the NAB cup or the practice matches is all well and good, but then he won't be match fit come Round 1.