NAB Cup

[DudleyDocker]

Surprise, surprise the Eagles are taking the round robin game against us for granted. Do we think we can win this one or will it just be used as a chance to give the new guys a run and see how the game plan is progressing? Personally I'd love to see us perform well and start creating a winning culture. And shut the Eagles supporters up for a bit - how I miss 2010!

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

Eagles be damned. I just wanna see how we're structured and our effectiveness. Last year we were spanked by well organised sides in the eagles and hawks and it flagged from the start how our season would unravel.

 

[DudleyDocker]

Agreed, I am looking forward to seeing some of the new kids and also seeing how Lyon's approach differs from Harvey's. Does anyone know how the draw is done for these round robins? It seems the eagles have the first and last games again which allows them to play extra substitutes - would have been nice to see that rotated this year.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

I can't wait to see our new guys too. Don't cae too much for the result, just want to see us working towards a plan that will be effective come round 1 onwards.

I think Eagles can have up to 30 players on the list, were we can only play 26. I could be wrong thats just from memory.

Anyone who is keen to catch up for a drink before the game would be great. I usually head to the IrishClub before hand with my mates. Always open to another location.

 

[Arcassius]

It's cool - they're just readying the excuses for when we thrash them

 

[theGav56]

Everyone wants to win, but for us it has to be about structures, gameplan and the young players.

 

[Arcassius]

It's not really a high expectation is it - simply just wanting the guys to look like they are playing off the same page and things to make more 'sense'

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Eagles be damned. I just wanna see how we're structured and our effectiveness. Last year we were spanked by well organised sides in the eagles and hawks and it flagged from the start how our season would unravel.

The only interest for me last year was to watch Tendai play and that was great.

The huge disappointment was our super coach playing a 6'10" bloke as a rover.

This year I have resolved , whatever Ross thinks is best for our preparation, is totally acceptable to me.

I can't wait to see a game plan unfold for Freo. It's been a long time coming.
On top of all that I think any game plan for us will be enough to get the chocolates and advance. I would rather see us developing the game plan at grounds on which we will play throughout the year than some far flung locations where injuries can be a bigger risk.

 

[Rob]

Given our pre-season has already been mapped it makes it even less desirable to win.

All about getting matches into players that need them and getting the structures right. Winning would be nice, but it's not the end of the world if we don't.

 

[Dockernut]

Anyone got a line on the details of the intraclub match?

 

[superman_kon]

Im personally looking forward to the derby game and 2012 as a whole with WA becoming a powerhouse in the comp! as a side note neale will be on my radar when watching the freo games.

 

[Uncle blue]

Almost every comment posted on here apart from one or two have stated how winning would be nice but is not necessary... What?
Pre-season game or not I think it's time winning became your #1 priority Freo.
Converting Goal opportunities wins games! How the Dockers structure up or how they enforce their game plan on another team means nothing if goals can't be converted.
You need that key FF player and I think you have a few of them up your sleeves.

 

[tacopavlich]

Almost every comment posted on here apart from one or two have stated how winning would be nice but is not necessary... What?
Pre-season game or not I think it's time winning became your #1 priority Freo.
Converting Goal opportunities wins games! How the Dockers structure up or how they enforce their game plan on another team means nothing if goals can't be converted.
You need that key FF player and I think you have a few of them up your sleeves.

Meh, I would argue a NAB loss is more valuable than a win.

by losing it gives us a good insight to see how we can improve and better prepare ourselves for the real season, where as winning could just be put down to the opposition's heart not realy being in it.

 

[bruzaar62]

Almost every comment posted on here apart from one or two have stated how winning would be nice but is not necessary... What?
Pre-season game or not I think it's time winning became your #1 priority Freo.
Converting Goal opportunities wins games! How the Dockers structure up or how they enforce their game plan on another team means nothing if goals can't be converted.
You need that key FF player and I think you have a few of them up your sleeves.

Uncle are you sure you barrack for the blues?? I see you on Freo boards quite a lot and other forums generally supporting Freo......maybe we are your fav WA team !! Dont think you can take to much out of the first round of NAB ,with the 20min halves its like comparing 20/20 with test cricket.
Be good to see how the boys structure up and how some of the newbies perform against real opposition,and of course it would be nice to kick the eagles butts...but not the end of the world if we dont.
Getting game time into the majority of the squad would be the priority ,I would imagine

 

[bruzaar62]

Im personally looking forward to the derby game and 2012 as a whole with WA becoming a powerhouse in the comp! as a side note neale will be on my radar when watching the freo games.

Derbies should be great this year,I expect both the Eagles and Dockers to be firmly entrenched in the eight.
If you are in Dream team or Supercoach,make sure you throw Neil in as by all training reports he is the most likely for an early season callup​

 

[Uncle blue]

Uncle are you sure you barrack for the blues?? I see you on Freo boards quite a lot and other forums generally supporting Freo......maybe we are your fav WA team !! Dont think you can take to much out of the first round of NAB ,with the 20min halves its like comparing 20/20 with test cricket.
Be good to see how the boys structure up and how some of the newbies perform against real opposition,and of course it would be nice to kick the eagles butts...but not the end of the world if we dont.
Getting game time into the majority of the squad would be the priority ,I would imagine

I have a personal connection with the Freo Dockers, hense the Uncle in my bigfooty member name.

 

[Uncle blue]

I'm also sure any loss means something to the players and coaching staff whilst understanding it is only the NAB cup. No competitive and professional sporting team should ever want to come second.

 

[Belele]

[/B]

I would rather see us developing the game plan at grounds on which we will play throughout the year than some far flung locations where injuries can be a bigger risk.

The following 2weeks of the NAB are already scheduled. We play Tigers at home and then Port at Victor Harbour week 3. I think places in the GF are then determined based on preseason ladder. Stand to be corrected though for the last bit.

 

[bruzaar62]

I'm also sure any loss means something to the players and coaching staff whilst understanding it is only the NAB cup. No competitive and professional sporting team should ever want to come second.

some teams take the pre season more seriously than others,at the end of the day the real stuff starts in March and with the mickey mouse rules of the NAB whilst nice to win isnt the holy grail most clubs are aiming for

 

[Uncle blue]

some teams take the pre season more seriously than others,at the end of the day the real stuff starts in March and with the mickey mouse rules of the NAB whilst nice to win isnt the holy grail most clubs are aiming for

When you have been in the top four or there abouts in consecutive years during an AFL season, by all means experiment, try different things during the NAB cup! Whatever... At the end of the day if your a young talented team (which Freo are)try and win the competition and if your not successful experiment during the NAB cup challenge matches.

 

[free at last]

As other FREO nuts have written, I'm just really focused on how different we structure up compared to when harves was boss.Also no injuries.

Personally, I think we'll win both games.

 

[Frigate]

I like the new format mainly because of starvation from football and the short nature of each match limits injuries. I have always wanted to win the competition before the neighbours up the road although it means basically nothing.

I would like to think that we could play enough youngsters to be competitive in this format. Advantages include playing on decent grounds and potentially less early travel.

From a spectator point of view the teams progressing are telecast on TV also. It seems teams are taking the comp more seriously these days if they happen to get through the first couple of rounds.

I say win the bloody thing.

 

[Nickos66]

I'm not all that fussed about going all out to try and knock off the pre-season premiership. No players do too well playing high intensity footy for 28 games a year. And if that's what we're aiming for - to be there at the pointy end of the season, you don't want to fall 1 or 2 games short due to a war of attrition in your playing stocks.

Try, sure but don't gas yourself out in the preseason comp.

 

[Ghost Pig]

I'm not all that fussed about going all out to try and knock off the pre-season premiership. No players do too well playing high intensity footy for 28 games a year. And if that's what we're aiming for - to be there at the pointy end of the season, you don't want to fall 1 or 2 games short due to a war of attrition in your playing stocks.

Try, sure but don't gas yourself out in the preseason comp.

Amen, Nickos. Give the draftees a run in the strip, ease into the new gameplan and ensure everyone understands the difference between courage and recklessness.

 

[Rob]

I'm also sure any loss means something to the players and coaching staff whilst understanding it is only the NAB cup. No competitive and professional sporting team should ever want to come second.

Absolutely, I play to win in division 3 indoor cricket, and I certainly wouldn't expect any less of professional footballers at the highest level. But that's not the point. The players stick to their structures that the coaching staff believe will give them success in the regular season. You also don't play underdone players, or those that wouldn't benefit from a run, eg someone like Sandi or Pav in the game against Port at Bum**** Idaho Oval. If that costs us a win in the pre-season, then so be it. Ideally it's going to result in winning all games.