Thrilled about winning the first two games of the NAB cup and the way that we have introduced new players into our team and continue the development of first year players from last year.
I know good form and confidence helps generally going into the real season but really the main prize is the first game against the Tigers on April 1 and whilst to go further in the NAB Cup would be good hopefully we are well and truly focussed on round 1 against the Tigers which is a very winnable game .To be heretical would it be better for the preparation for round 1 if we played well next week and lost .Would we be fresher and with our feet firmly planted on the ground if we travelled to Subiaco did well and perhaps got beaten and then went into the main season with a few more gentle practice matches.Do we after 2 interstate matches need a breather before the main season particularly after playing at AURORA and Subiaco(assuming Freo win)
I KNOW IT IS A DIFFERENT TEAM IN 2007 but as everyone knows after the win in 2005 in the NAB cup we played very ordinary in the first round and lost to the kangaroos by 20 points -the side then was more one dimensional ie whitnall and fev dominated comedy cup but we really need to win the first real game.

Early in final Q looks more likely we'll be playing the Roos.

I'm inclined to agree with you Frank.

An honourable loss (is that possible against North?? ), out of the headlines, a couple of weeks off to focus for Round 1.

I think we could do without all the hype of a GF, and the possibility we get ahead of ourselves.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

I don't agree with you there.
We have to be in it to win it.
Rather than getting ahead of ourselves, I think that it would be a case of rebuilding lost confidence.
Braddles, Ratts and Sticks are all experienced enough to make sure that they don't get too carried away by it all.

we'll still have over 2 weeks to freshen up for round 1 if we make it to the grand final, i think that's plenty of time and is worth it if it means young players are going to be more prepared for the season by gaining more experience playing in front of a big crowd and a live tv audience where the opposition is also playing to win.

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

If you lose you still have to play NAB challenge matches; games filled with young blokes and hacks busting their arses to earn a spot in the 22. The cameras might not be on but the tackles are just as hard. All players need match fitness as a way to cap off preseasons, so why not have it in an environment that earns us members and the chance to win some prize money.

We may have won the comp in 05 and finished it off with a spoon but we also got flogged by PA in 06 and followed suit, the only difference was about 4000 members.

We're going into the regular season with a lot of changes to the list and the group needs some time to gel if we're going to hit Richmond at our best. Guys like Cloke and Ackland showed a bit on Saturday but in the cold light of day they got trounced by Simon Taylor - a bloke who isn't a certainty to be in Hawthorn's best 22. They need chances to play against proper rucks, not skinny 18 year olds or VFL hacks, so if North are taking it seriously then it's a good chance to go up against players they'll need to beat when the season starts.