Your Picks for the NAB Cup Opener

[mo64 5,874]

Here is the side I would like to see in the NAB cup.

B: Bell, Frawley, Whelan

HB: Davey, Rivers, Grimes

C: Morton, Buckley, Moloney

HF: Green, Miller, Bate

F: Weetra, Newton, Yze

R: Meeson, Jones, Sylvia

Inter: Woenamirri, White, Bode, Valenti, Martin, Yze.

Backline reasons!

I want Frawley on who im assuming will be Hawkins.

Rivers on Mooney.

I want Davey to be coached by Bailey to be the next Burgoyne, streaming off half back flank. Grimes is gonna be great for us, I feel he will be this years Petterd.

Midfield reasons!

I rate Buckley HIGHLY.

I say throw a fitter Sylvia and Meeson in there. Lets see what they can bring early. Please be good Meeson. Morton playing a Cameron Bruce role.

Forward line Reasons!

I wanna see what a energised Miller can do at CHF.

Throw Newton at FF, continue to develop him as the future FF, don't take him up the ground.

Give Weetra a run and see what he can produce.

Another observation!

I have very high hopes for Woenamirri so bring him on fresh and see him run down everyone (the next Byron.... the good bits about him).

I wanna see what Yze can deliver very early.

Demons32, I suggest that you should take into account the fitness levels of the players before you name them in your NAB Cup team. Whelan, Rivers and Grimes definitely won't play NAB Cup.

[Demons 32 235]

Demons32, I suggest that you should take into account the fitness levels of the players before you name them in your NAB Cup team. Whelan, Rivers and Grimes definitely won't play NAB Cup.

I suggest you learn how to reply without the attitude.

And read the first line of my post instead of just the team.

Says who I would like to see play, not who is gonna be in the team. Even if everyone was healthy, that's my team.

[JACKATTACK 17]

I'd have Cheney ahead of Grimes.

...and I say that without any attitude.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,842]

Not one team contains Robbo.

I'm 99.999999% sure he'll be lining up in the goal square next to Juice and possibly Neitz.

[Demons 32 235]

Not one team contains Robbo.

I'm 99.999999% sure he'll be lining up in the goal square next to Juice and possibly Neitz.

I think we would all rather that in the season but the nab cup is different, try out our future team.

[Demons 32 235]

I'd have Cheney ahead of Grimes.

...and I say that without any attitude.

Why do you think our pick 14 won't be better?

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Not one team contains Robbo.

I'm 99.999999% sure he'll be lining up in the goal square next to Juice and possibly Neitz.

Good point, it's hard to leave him out!

It's a bewildering response from people.....

Possibly because Robbo "lost something" in the eyes of supporters when he got a little too friendly with the Bulldogs during trade week - I'd suggest it's an emotional response more than it being based on his playing ability. A subtle questioning of his loyalty to the club perhaps?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Not one team contains Robbo.

I'm 99.999999% sure he'll be lining up in the goal square next to Juice and possibly Neitz.

Mo64 had him in. Its an odd omission. If anyone is fighting for his position this year, its Robbo. No guarantees for leaders. He needs to play and perform as much as anyone.

Why do you think our pick 14 won't be better?

How do you know he will?

They are both young green players who both have the opportunity to impress. Draft positioning means little once you get into action.

I think we would all rather that in the season but the nab cup is different, try out our future team.

...with old veterans Whelan and Yze included (in two positions! )

[jacey 333]

Good point, it's hard to leave him out!

It's a bewildering response from people.....

Possibly because Robbo "lost something" in the eyes of supporters when he got a little too friendly with the Bulldogs during trade week - I'd suggest it's an emotional response more than it being based on his playing ability. A subtle questioning of his loyalty to the club perhaps?

It's because its preseason. Everyone's looking to the youngsters.

Robbo's a proven entity so we all want to see the youngsters strut their stuff and show they have improved.

I'm optimistic about this year.

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

It's because its preseason. Everyone's looking to the youngsters.

Robbo's a proven entity so we all want to see the youngsters strut their stuff and show they have improved.

I'm optimistic about this year.

True - Robbo is a proven commodity, you no what you are going to get.

Does this also imply that people think the Dee's are not going to compete seriously for the NAB Cup? In that "lets play the youngsters"

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Does this also imply that people think the Dee's are not going to compete seriously for the NAB Cup? In that "lets play the youngsters"

No. It indicates more that supporters dont understand the proper purpose of the pre season cup beyond playing youngsters often at the illogical omission of more capable senior players.

MFC have alot to play for this pre season - new coach, new game plan, 11 new faces on the list with a number of key senior players working their way back to full fitness after injury.

However, the contrived games rules of the NAB Cup diminishes it as being a perfect warm up for the real games.

After a side finishes 14th I would not think any senior player like Robbo is a proven commodity. Its fair assessment of you know what you get with Robbo that MFC sought value for him in the market. He has had two ordinary inconsistent years and at 28 needs to be able to compete at the top level consistently not just in the easy games.

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

No. It indicates more that supporters dont understand the proper purpose of the pre season cup beyond playing youngsters often at the illogical omission of more capable senior players.

MFC have alot to play for this pre season - new coach, new game plan, 11 new faces on the list with a number of key senior players working their way back to full fitness after injury.

However, the contrived games rules of the NAB Cup diminishes it as being a perfect warm up for the real games.

In that case - I'll go and put a wager on us to win it then. Always bet against the ignorance of common man! <_<

Can everyone please wait till tomorrow to follow suit, because I don't want the odds to go up, thanks :D

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

In that case - I'll go and put a wager on us to win it then. Always bet against the ignorance of common man! <_<

Can everyone please wait till tomorrow to follow suit, because I don't want the odds to go up, thanks :D

Back Carlton. They can still tank the main season!

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Back Carlton. They can still tank the main season!

Winner of 2008 NAB Cup mmmm....I like our odds better than Carlton's!

How the heck they can have the Kangas at 8 -1, and the Dee's at 34-1 ....Is beyond me? Where lies the difference?

Hawthorn 6.00

Adelaide 7.00

Geelong 8.00

Kangaroos 8.00

St Kilda 8.00

Fremantle 9.00

Port Adelaide 12.00

Richmond 12.00

Western Bulldogs 13.00

Brisbane 16.00

Carlton 17.00

Essendon 26.00

West Coast 26.00

Melbourne 34.00

Sydney 71.00

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,842]

How the heck they can have the Kangas at 8 -1, and the Dee's at 34-1 ....Is beyond me? Where lies the difference?

I'm fairly sure it has something to do with our round 1 opponent

[The Emblem 1]

Not one team contains Robbo.

I'm 99.999999% sure he'll be lining up in the goal square next to Juice and possibly Neitz.

I guess a lot of us are still concerned about Robbo's knees and the harder February surfaces.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

How the heck they can have the Kangas at 8 -1, and the Dee's at 34-1 ....Is beyond me? Where lies the difference?

Easy.

Kangas finished Top 4 in 2007 and are a known commodity relative to MFC finished 14th with new Coach with heavily turned over list and no track record.

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Easy.

Kangas finished Top 4 in 2007 and are a known commodity relative to MFC finished 14th with new Coach with heavily turned over list and no track record.

Yeah, that's the bookies logic

What about you, do you subscribe to that?

[mo64 5,874]

Easy.

Kangas finished Top 4 in 2007 and are a known commodity relative to MFC finished 14th with new Coach with heavily turned over list and no track record.

Also, we're playing the reigning premier on their own dung heap. We deserve to be at the longest odds.

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Also, we're playing the reigning premier on their own dung heap. We deserve to be at the longest odds.

Who have said that they may not be going full tilt.....??

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Also, we're playing the reigning premier on their own dung heap. We deserve to be at the longest odds.

Also, there is a whole "grey area" this year, with teams talking of tanking games due to the interchange limit.

I would have thought that this presents the best opportunity in years for a club like Melbourne to have a red hot dip at the NAB Cup, simply because the level of effort required to win it this year may not be as demanding as previous years....plenty of incentive there!

There's more to gain for the Demons than there is for Geelong to lose.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Also, there is a whole "grey area" this year, with teams talking of tanking games due to the interchange limit.

I would have thought that this presents the best opportunity in years for a club like Melbourne to have a red hot dip at the NAB Cup, simply because the level of effort required to win it this year may not be as demanding as previous years....plenty of incentive there!

There's more to gain for the Demons than there is for Geelong to lose.

Why wouldn't MFC tank the NAB Cup as much as any other Club? Financial issues aside.

At this point MFC do not provide any reliable form track record and are a complete unknown. Playing at the Cattery is definite advantage to the home team. You've got nothing more than hyperbole!

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Why wouldn't MFC tank the NAB Cup as much as any other Club? Financial issues aside.

At this point MFC do not provide any reliable form track record and are a complete unknown. Playing at the Cattery is definite advantage to the home team. You've got nothing more than hyperbole!

Well that's just it, you can't really put financial issues aside - Winner - $385,00 Runner Up - $176,00

Relatively, it's a far bigger carrot for the Dee's than other well off teams, and you can take that quite literally.

If I was running the club, I would make winning the NAB the top priority this year, and pay little attention to how that may impede the main season (all in the head)

The club needs not only the money, but a chance to foster some winning culture into the club, to give confidence to the young guys, and to boost membership and marketing

That's a fact!

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Well that's just it, you can't really put financial issues aside - Winner - $385,00 Runner Up - $176,00

Relatively, it's a far bigger carrot for the Dee's than other well off teams, and you can take that quite literally.

If I was running the club, I would make winning the NAB the top priority this year, and pay little attention to how that may impede the main season (all in the head)

The club needs not only the money, but a chance to foster some winning culture into the club, to give confidence to the young guys, and to boost membership and marketing

That's a fact!

Its a been a bigger carrot for MFC than other Clubs for many years but alas no cigar.

Given we have a long list of players who are not fit for the pre season, it would be ludicruous to focus resources and player development on the NAB cup at the expense of the home away season.

Carlton has shown the folly of that in past years.

Its a nice to win trophy but not at the sacrifice of more important objectives.

[Nasher 33,616]

Carlton has shown the folly of that in past years.

Winning the NAB Cup didn't seem to hurt Geelong last year.