Preview AFL NAB Challenge match 1 - Geelong v Collingwood, Simonds Stadium, 7:10PM Wednesday 12 February

[Partridge]

There was a reason we give this bloke a 3 year contract.
The mark from the kick in Taylor and Lonergan never got near it.

That's great, but it's also 2 years ago. Just hope he continues to train well through the pre-season and we'll see if that player is still around.

 

[you pick one]

That's great, but it's also 2 years ago. Just hope he continues to train well through the pre-season and we'll see if that player is still around.

I have a feeling it will be to late anyway,I'm not bullish about our flag chances this year or next,but never say never I guess,Dawson has got to be the future now I hope he hold up,Hamish could help there by lightening Daws work load over 2014/15.

 

[strauchnyy]

Rather than post my NAB Challenge team, I have made a list of the specific players I will be most interested in watching.

McIntosh
Probably the most interesting prospect for mine, I want to see if he comes into round 1 in any sort of form and how it changes our midfield dynamic. I am one of the few here that believe a fit and firing McIntosh can possibly be one of if not our most important players in 2014.

Simpson
For similar reasons above, and maybe because we were so farking sh*t in the ruck last year, I want to see how a fit Simpson with a full preseason under his belt goes, and how it changes our mid dynamic.

Smedts
I found myself replaying parts of the training footage because someone caught my attention for how well they moved in congestion, turns out it was Smedts. For obvious reasons Billie has a bit to prove this year and from all the youngsters on our list (maybe besides motlop and caddy), has the highest ceiling. This kid could become elite and consequently want to see how he goes in the NAB Challenge games.

Murdoch
Unlike many on these boards, I have been somewhat unmoved by Murdoch's 2013. I know he has kicked a few goals but nothing that made me really get off my seat from individual brilliance. I know he is quick but I have never seen him run for more than 15m and really take on the opposition, I don't think he has that agility to go with his speed that can see him dance out of trouble. I note Jordan has put on some size so maybe that will give him some more confidence. Like Smedts, I feel that Murdoch could really have a high ceiling and for these reasons I want (and hope) to see him really lift and actually become a damaging player.

Varcoe
I rate varcoe, and think Meto can really spit some absolute rubbish on these boards. 2011 Varcoe is one of our most damaging and best players and I believe Trav can recapture that form. All he needs is confidence. It has been made public how well Trav has trained and I am eager to see if he has regained his confidence to reach his best again.

Duncan & Christensen
Both Duncan and Christensen are in the same bracket, in that they have shown some and just need to take that extra step. I note that Mitch has been doing extra training and appears to be hell bent on having a great year, which is awesome to hear. I want to see if they can really become centre square specialists, not just during NAB Challenge but for 2014 and beyond.

Kersten
Very curious to see how he goes while in a team that somewhat resembles our 22. Could really do a Selwood and come from nowhere to be a really good 3rd tall helping Hawkins & Vardy.

Vardy
I cannot wait to see how Vardy pays alongside Hawkins. If they work well together, we have an unbelievable duo power forward attack that will be the envy of the comp. If it does't, then that does put us back a bit.

Thurlow
Thurlow has put on a lot of size over summer, and I think he will fill out into a lean massive unit, kind of like Boris. I want to see how much this improves Thurlow's game and if he will be able to take big strides in 2014.

Caddy
Caddy really is a big white hope for us. We have not had access to top midfield talent and Caddy is a very rare commodity. I want to see if he has improved his game to really be a full time centre mid that can really mix it with the big boys.

Kolo, Toohey, Jansen & Lang (if fit)
In accordance with every year, I am always eager to see how the new draftees play. I am most interested in Lang, who really was an out of nowhere pick for us and want him to show something that gets my attention.. kind of like a 'ooo ahhhh yes wells got it right again' kind of moment.

 

[4quarter_cat]

I just had an idea watching that video, and it goes back to the ottens days. This is not what I'd necessarily like to see, but what do people think of a line-up with Simpson as First Ruck, and the following forwardline (where Simpson changes rotates thru with HMac)

HF Murdoch Hawkins Kersten
FF Christensen H Mac Motlop

Could be a way of picking both players, giving us some serious targets up forward, giving Vardy, the occasional break.
Also has the added advantage of giving both Simpson and H Mac genuine rests forward, without needing to sub them off the ground all the time. They could even share the ruck load 50/50 for all it matters. Or weight the loads according to in game form of both players in each position.

As I say its only an idea, and would really love to know what people think of it. (Could be something we trial during the challenge)

 

[Jon Douglas]

Only if there is no Hawkins available. And even then would prefer Brown Kersten or Walker as a KPF.

Either way we would pretty much stuffed as these are make shift KPF players presently.

 

[Partridge]

Only if there is no Hawkins available. And even then would prefer Brown Kersten or Walker as a KPF.

Either way we would pretty much stuffed as these are make shift KPF players presently.

Yeah. Out of all the tall players on our list, Simpson is probably the last guy I want to see trialled as a key forward, and McIntosh isn't far behind. Mainly because I want them in the ruck as often as possible.

With Hawkins, Vardy, then you'd think Kersten and now seemingly Brown, plus Walker, there is no shortage of tall forwards needing time in those positions through the pre-season. I'd prefer to get match fitness - ruck fitness - into Simpson and McIntosh. That's just my preference though.

 

[Hood007]

I hope Hamling gets some game time. Big year for him.

 

[Partridge]

I hope Hamling gets some game time. Big year for him.

In the pre-season? Certainty. He played last year as well so they'll give him plenty of chances to impress.

 

[4quarter_cat]

Did you guys actually read what I wrote?

Thanks for feedback.

 

[Hood007]

In the pre-season? Certainty. He played last year as well so they'll give him plenty of chances to impress.

Yeah you'd think so...
I just wonder, if he does impress could he overtake Rivers & Brown as that 3rd tall defender?
Would put the club in a great position if he's challenging hard for senior selection...

 

[fpm84]

I'd like to see Caddy, Guthrie, Murdoch, Smedts, Horlin-Smith, Vardy, Brown etc play all the practice games they're fit for. All are competing for spots in the senior side (the top two are locks already IMO).

Senior players that had injury interrupted 2013 seasons like McIntosh, Hawkins, Simpson, Varcoe and Rivers should play a minimum of 2 games. Likewise the likes of Duncan, Christensen, Motlop (if fit) and Hunt - the 'young senior' brigade with 50+ games under their belt.

I don't see the point in playing Bartel, Enright, Johnson, Kelly, Stokes, Mackie, Taylor etc for more than one game. We know what we're going to get from them and should expect them to hit the season proper running.

 

[4quarter_cat]

the disadvantage with our blokes though is neither are as mobile as Roughead for obvious reasons and neither are as good as a Cox or Naitanui (yet) so it shall be interesting to see how it works out in the NAB cup challenge.

Thanks for taking the time to respond Bobby, that is kinda the way I see it too. If we are going to play both Simpson and McIntosh in the same team, surely it will come at the expense of either Vardy or Hawkins (I only say Hawkins because he could be resting on any given week so as to keep him in fine health)

 

[manboob]

I know I sound like a broken record but let's just do the Hawthorn thing and sub one off at 3/4 time.

 

[4quarter_cat]

I hear what you are saying boob, but its a very inelegant solution which leaves us exposed and too tall the whole of the match if someone goes down and we can't use the sub on one of our ruckmen.

 

[Rodriguez Mendoza]

Basically what I'd like to see as the line over the three rounds, haven't really factored in injury or the players level of conditioning. The players that I'm most curious about seeing are Hamling Walker Schroder Horlin Murdoch Caddy and Smedts.

Game 1
DEF:
Hamling Rivers Bews
T Hunt Walker Mackie
MId:
Cowan Horlin Murdoch
FWD:
Caddy Vardy Smedts
Burbury Brown McIntosh
FLW:
Simpson Schroder Guthrie
INT:
Blicavs Selwwod Kelly
SUB:
Hartman Toohey Jansen

Game 2
DEF:
Brown Rivers Bews
Bates Taylor Bourke
MId:
Jansen Horlin Murdoch
FWD:
Caddy Walker McCarthy
Burbury Hamling Schroder
FLW:
McIntosh Selwood T Hunt
INT:
Vardy Johnson Kelly
SUB:
Hawkins Stringer Bartel

Game 3
DEF:
Enright Lonergan Mackie
Thurlow Taylor Varcoe
MId:
Caddy Selwood Christensen
FWD:
Smedts Vardy Motlop
Kersten Hawkins Bartel
FLW:
Simpson Kelly Johnson
INT:
Duncan Stokes Guthrie
SUB:
Horlin Schroder McIntosh

 

[Hans_Moleman]

Wouldn't mind seeing Blicavs played on a wing or HB flank. A versatile player like him is most useful in an attacking role there, and we'd be hard pressed to find anything for him to do in the ruck division with all of Vardy/Simpson/McIntosh available (Vardy to do some backup work possibly).

Whilst we're on HMac and Simpson- it's important to strike a balance between adequate match practice and avoiding heavy workloads immediately after a player has returned from LTI. Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if we only saw them in 2/3 of the games (both wouldn't be rested in the same match mind you).

You'd imagine the MC will go with something relatively close to our Round 1 line-up in the first game, experiment with various things in the Darwin game vs. Melbourne, and play as close to a full strength side as possible in the North game. Either that or they evenly rotate senior players between the 1st/3rd games (fielding an inexperienced side in the NT is virtually a no-brainer).

 

[Turbocat]

Hans_Moleman ; welcome I suppose with that user name you be hoping for a big year from Simpson

On work load , I'd agree ..to a point. DS is almost at the stage that he has to play to lock himself in as a#1 choice. Has he ever played enough to breakdown due to wear and tear? And a chance given to another player could be at the cost of your position. I want 18 games from the big boy..min. this year. How that stacks up preseason not sure , but I suspect everyone will want in asap to lock their spot in.

 

[Hans_Moleman]

Hans_Moleman ; welcome I suppose with that user name you be hoping for a big year from Simpson

On work load , I'd agree ..to a point. DS is almost at the stage that he has to play to lock himself in as a#1 choice. Has he ever played enough to breakdown due to wear and tear? And a chance given to another player could be at the cost of your position. I want 18 games from the big boy..min. this year. How that stacks up preseason not sure , but I suspect everyone will want in asap to lock their spot in.

Used to post here under a different username, but cheers for the welcome anyway.

As for how many games DS plays this season, the first 4-5 games will be telling. If he struggles to regain form early on it will be interesting to see whether they persist in trusting him and HMac with the workload or opt with Vardy until his form returns to an optimum level.

Think we'll see a fair bit of rotation happening early on regardless, so we may have to wait until Round 7/8-ish before he (hopefully) becomes a permanent fixture.

 

[GeelongFTW]

21 days left

 

[4quarter_cat]

my appetite is whet!

 

[Partridge]

Wouldn't mind seeing Blicavs played on a wing or HB flank. A versatile player like him is most useful in an attacking role there, and we'd be hard pressed to find anything for him to do in the ruck division with all of Vardy/Simpson/McIntosh available (Vardy to do some backup work possibly).

Do you mean for the pre-season games or season proper? It's going to be difficult for any young player to get a game if there are minimal injuries. The competition for spots if anything is tougher than last year.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Wouldn't mind seeing Blicavs played on a wing or HB flank. A versatile player like him is most useful in an attacking role there, and we'd be hard pressed to find anything for him to do in the ruck division with all of Vardy/Simpson/McIntosh available (Vardy to do some backup work possibly).

I think Blicavs' role in the preseason will be very interesting, especially since they'll obviously want an extended look at both McIntosh and Simpson in the preseason games. I hope they give him a run, even if the other two are playing and find another role for him. Even if he needs to take an initial step back (to the VFL) for all but a handful of games in 2014 to learn how to play another position (and how to get 18-20 touches a game), it will make him a much better player in the long-term.

Whilst we're on HMac and Simpson- it's important to strike a balance between adequate match practice and avoiding heavy workloads immediately after a player has returned from LTI. Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if we only saw them in 2/3 of the games (both wouldn't be rested in the same match mind you).

Perfect way to handle it, I would have thought. Since there's no clear #1 in the pecking order at this stage, both are pure ruckmen and both have pretty horrific injury histories in recent times, I think, in a perfect world, where both go through the entire season without any significant injuries, both should aim for about 16 games this year, with a week off pretty regularly throughout the season. Play about 12 games together, and 6/4 with one of the main rucks and Blicavs/Vardy. Horses for courses thing, as I would have thought on some grounds and against some opposition either McIntosh/Simpson and Vardy providing the occasional spell would be more than sufficient.

You'd imagine the MC will go with something relatively close to our Round 1 line-up in the first game, experiment with various things in the Darwin game vs. Melbourne, and play as close to a full strength side as possible in the North game. Either that or they evenly rotate senior players between the 1st/3rd games (fielding an inexperienced side in the NT is virtually a no-brainer).

One thing worth remembering though is that in a lot of cases, the match committee would only be 50/50 on whether specific players (usually the younger ones) will be in the side come Round 1, especially if we have a full squad to pick from in Round 1. Obviously, we don't have the same information as the coaching staff as to which players have been killing it so far, but I'd be very surprised if they'd made a call one way or another at this stage about whether players like Smedts, GHS, Hunt, Thurlow, Stringer, Brown, Murdoch, Schroder and even wildcards like McCarthy and Cowan (and, of course, the 2013 draftees) will be in the Round 1 side. For those players, it probably comes down entirely to their practice match form.

On the other hand, most of the players who can be safely locked in to the side for Round 1 are in their mid-late 20s or early 30s and would be prime candidates to be eased through the practice matches. It it was up to me, I'd have an even spread of the Taylor, Lonergan, Hawkins, Bartel, Mackie, Enright, Selwood, Kelly, Rivers (and I hesitate to put him in here) group across all the games and get as much time into the 'possibles' as I could, to give them the best chance to earn their spot for the Adelaide game.

 

[thegerman]

Will Kersten be fit for the NAB ?
I'm sure Scott said this week he'll be right come Rd 1,but it sounded like he was saying he'll just make it back from recovery.

If Kersten is not fit by round 1, I'd say he won't be playing in the 1's. We won't be running out a player without form or any preseason
for that matter in the first round.

Shame, it's his time now to grab a position as it is there for the taking. Just hope his injury isn't too serious and after a couple of weeks on
the sidelines he will be in with a second round game in the preseason comp.

 

[Partridge]

If Kersten is not fit by round 1, I'd say he won't be playing in the 1's. We won't be running out a player without form or any preseason
for that matter in the first round.

Shame, it's his time now to grab a position as it is there for the taking. Just hope his injury isn't too serious and after a couple of weeks on
the sidelines he will be in with a second round game in the preseason comp.

He's got plenty of time. If it's only a sprained ankle, and even if he missed Round 1, there's no reason he can't force his way in through good VFL form (as he came so close to doing last year). All he needs to do is train well and play well at whatever level and he will get chances.

 

[Hans_Moleman]

Do you mean for the pre-season games or season proper? It's going to be difficult for any young player to get a game if there are minimal injuries. The competition for spots if anything is tougher than last year.

Pre-season. Of course during the H&A season Blicavs (as with every young player) will be one of a number of guys fighting for the last few spots in our best 22, and so everything is up to form, injuries, etc. elsewhere in the team.

The NAB Cup will merely give us a guide to the strengths/weaknesses of players such as him and where they best fit in a tactical sense. In that case I feel he'd offer us much more on a wing/flank than as a part-time ruckman.