The Best For the NAB Cup Are The Worst From 2006
If your team finished in the finals last season it is already out of the 2007 NAB Cup. West Coast and Sydney were in the 2006 AFL Grand Final, but didn't get past round 1 of the NAB Cup. The Crows, Dockers, Saints, Magpies, Demons and Bulldogs also played in the real September action last year but are all eliminated from this year's NAB Cup. Three of the bottom four teams from last season are alive in the NAB Cup, as well as the winner of the 2006 NAB Cup who finished in 10th spot for the regular season.
It is guaranteed, either the 16th or the 14th team from last season's standings will be playing in the NAB Cup grand final. The Blues or the Roos will be in the grand final. They will play either Brisbane, who finished in 13th spot last season, or Geelong. If Cornes had won the game in Darwin and put the Power into the next round, the semi-finals of the NAB Cup would have been contested by four of the bottom five teams from 2006.
There has to be a reason for this, possibly injuries, more time training, more incentive to win, or a lack of importance for the teams who know they can win when its needed.
Brisbane is the exception for this, but Carlton, the Kangaroos and Geelong have not had many injuries over preseason. If the Lions can put together a win streak with victories over two top 8 teams from last season without Brown and Bradshaw, they should be able to play a lot better compared to last season when they are at full strength.
Everyone knows the Kangaroos have been preparing for 2007 before the games in 2006 were over. They shut down a couple of veterans, made sure everyone was going to be ready for 2007. So far it has worked for them, but if it continues to work for the regular season then they should be congratulated.
Up until a few weeks ago Carlton would have really needed the money from winning the preseason. They probably still have to find money to purchase snacks and drinks for the enormous board they elected, and transporting the team's leadership group could also be pricey, but their new guy in charge has bigger pockets than VFL Park used to. The Kangaroos would be happy to bring in a bit more money, and Geelong and Brisbane wouldn't say no to it either. There is a greater importance on securing the prize money for these teams than if the Crows or Eagles were still playing in the NAB Cup.
There are other incentives, and for the Kangaroos they are getting the media time that they often miss out on. Being on TV every week, and winning, is a good way of promoting their upcoming regular season games on the Gold Coast. They need members and the best advertisement for that is to win games with exciting players.
While some of these proposed reasons make sense, at least for picking a team and how much the stars play, it is not the way to get the best out of the players. Competition for spots is what these bottom teams from last season have. Wojcinksi put in a great effort as a small defender, and when Geelong played again they got the same from David Johnson. The Kangaroos have a few open spots in their forward line, it seemed that Aaron Edwards was a chance after his game against Collingwood but then Leigh Brown had a huge game against the Dockers.
High draft picks can also help a team improve, and that is happening with some of the teams here. Selwood has been one of Geelong's best players and the Kangaroos have gotten plenty of goals from Thomas and Hansen. Gibbs had some solid games but nothing huge yet, while the Lions have been winning despite missing their big pick, Matthew Leuenberger.
After a few more games there will be a coach who is being applauded for lifting his team off the bottom half of the standings from last season and taking them to the preseason trophy. While this is important, what will be remembered is if the team can continue with that form during the real season and make sure they don't replicate the previous two winners of the preseason tournament who failed when the games really mattered.
It is guaranteed, either the 16th or the 14th team from last season's standings will be playing in the NAB Cup grand final. The Blues or the Roos will be in the grand final. They will play either Brisbane, who finished in 13th spot last season, or Geelong. If Cornes had won the game in Darwin and put the Power into the next round, the semi-finals of the NAB Cup would have been contested by four of the bottom five teams from 2006.
There has to be a reason for this, possibly injuries, more time training, more incentive to win, or a lack of importance for the teams who know they can win when its needed.
Brisbane is the exception for this, but Carlton, the Kangaroos and Geelong have not had many injuries over preseason. If the Lions can put together a win streak with victories over two top 8 teams from last season without Brown and Bradshaw, they should be able to play a lot better compared to last season when they are at full strength.
Everyone knows the Kangaroos have been preparing for 2007 before the games in 2006 were over. They shut down a couple of veterans, made sure everyone was going to be ready for 2007. So far it has worked for them, but if it continues to work for the regular season then they should be congratulated.
Up until a few weeks ago Carlton would have really needed the money from winning the preseason. They probably still have to find money to purchase snacks and drinks for the enormous board they elected, and transporting the team's leadership group could also be pricey, but their new guy in charge has bigger pockets than VFL Park used to. The Kangaroos would be happy to bring in a bit more money, and Geelong and Brisbane wouldn't say no to it either. There is a greater importance on securing the prize money for these teams than if the Crows or Eagles were still playing in the NAB Cup.
There are other incentives, and for the Kangaroos they are getting the media time that they often miss out on. Being on TV every week, and winning, is a good way of promoting their upcoming regular season games on the Gold Coast. They need members and the best advertisement for that is to win games with exciting players.
While some of these proposed reasons make sense, at least for picking a team and how much the stars play, it is not the way to get the best out of the players. Competition for spots is what these bottom teams from last season have. Wojcinksi put in a great effort as a small defender, and when Geelong played again they got the same from David Johnson. The Kangaroos have a few open spots in their forward line, it seemed that Aaron Edwards was a chance after his game against Collingwood but then Leigh Brown had a huge game against the Dockers.
High draft picks can also help a team improve, and that is happening with some of the teams here. Selwood has been one of Geelong's best players and the Kangaroos have gotten plenty of goals from Thomas and Hansen. Gibbs had some solid games but nothing huge yet, while the Lions have been winning despite missing their big pick, Matthew Leuenberger.
After a few more games there will be a coach who is being applauded for lifting his team off the bottom half of the standings from last season and taking them to the preseason trophy. While this is important, what will be remembered is if the team can continue with that form during the real season and make sure they don't replicate the previous two winners of the preseason tournament who failed when the games really mattered.
