Last weekend’s strange football results reflected the duality of the pre-season NAB Cup competition – teams that go into the games to develop new players and those that go all out with their best line-ups to win the pre-season competition. This in many cases produces lop-sided results, not always in character with most teams true potential.
Not withstanding the effort of the finalists in the NAB Cup, the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles who come into tonight’s final both undefeated with emphatic victories over Collingwood and St. Kilda respectively, the remainder of last weeks games left much to be desired and no lasting impression of any sides’ form leading into the season proper.
Big loses to Collingwood, Geelong and Carlton are no indication of what these sides can produce in the real footy season, as was surprise performers Richmond who beat Hawthorn and demolished last year’s premiers Geelong. But they have yet to prove themselves in the home and away competition for many years.
Tonight’s grand final at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide, barring inclement weather, has all the makings of a thriller, with the potential for numerous lead changes during the game. Although the Eagles must travel from the West and are slightly undermanned with the loss of Mark LeCras, they will never-the-less make a real game of it.
The key to the game are the rucks. It will be the Eagles’ finest in Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui at what ever Crows, Tippet and McKernan can come up with to stop their dominance both in the air. If Cox is left to his own devices, freely palming the ball to mid-fielders in Kerr, Gaff, Selwood and Priddis and with Naitanui, Mark Nicoski and Jack Darling providing marking power in the forward line, it could prove all too easy for the Eagles.
Not to be denied, Adelaide’s massive win against Collingwood last week came about because of their desire to win at any cost. Adelaide are now a very quick big-bodied side and are able to run their opposition ragged.
Through the NAB Cup preliminary matches the Crows have relied on their centre corridor players to take the game up to the opposition. Starting from Graham Johncock and Michael Doughty in the back line through to the midfielders led by Nathan Van Berlo, Bernie Vince and Scott Thompson supplying forwards Tippet, Porplyzia and Patrick Dangerfield with the ball, the Crows may catch West Coast with their guard down.
An intriguing game of football is promised between two of the better sides of the AFL’s pre-season competition and is well worth watching for entertainment value alone.
So if you are not going out anywhere this evening tune into Fox HD at 7.30 pm and catch the Crows vs Eagles in the Nab Cup grand final.
