Might explain it.

Maybe just maybe it means that where getting some depth and players like Setanta, who many of you still don't understand has a long way to go, needs to improve and get better before he gets into the team, even if it is a pre-season cup match! I would rather see Jamison, Hartlett, Edwards, Bower and Austin before Setanta at this stage.

GOOD MOVE RATTS.

We've practically screamed for the club to rest some of our players and play the kids during the NAB Cup, and when it happens people are shocked and wonder if they've been dropped.

Unless our entire selection commitee collectively had a stroke this week there is no chance that players of the ilk of Jason Saddington would be named ahead of him if we were intent on picking our best players. If Setanta is fit and doesn't play in our Round 1 team I'll eat my shoes. He might have a small twing or we may just be giving him a bit of a break while we see what the kids can show us. Who knows? And unless its going to hurt his Round 1 chances who really cares? Certainly not me, and everyone else should feel the exact same way.

You don't rest guys who are learning how to play the game, let alone settle into a permenant position, you rest the players who know their role back to front and will benifit from the reduced workload.

not sure the coach rates carlos which may explain his absence

Austin and Edwards ahead of Setanta!? Good very young players that are hopefully on the rise, but neither would push Setanta out of the best 22 in the season proper.

Please get real everyone, there is no way he'll be left out of the 22 against the Tiges, unless of course he's injured!

Hmmm on the one hand I get to have a lie in on sat morning which is badly needed as opposed to listening to match

On the other hand I hope sticksaftersiren87 is wrong. if he's not thats not good

Why the hell not? If he's had a tough preseason and our fitness staff felt he could do with another week without footy then why wouldn't they rest him. Just because he's irish doesn't mean that he does suffer from fatigue over a long season.

Have heard that some on the match committee think Setanta's development has hit a bit of wall in recent months. May not be in Ratts' best 22.

Don't know if I agree with this, or how they reach that conclusion with no footy played, but I'm just passing on what I've heard (Source rating - 6.5-7.0 out of 10)

No,because The Ansett Cup is a big joke,it really is.The Ansett Cup probably does more damage then good to senior players in my opinion.

There is all this rule changes that have nothing to do with the real season.

The team progressing into the 3rd and final weeks has a big disadvantage playing a game completely different to the season. The the teams that are out are preparing with the normal rules and not confusing the players.They don't have all this no kicking backwards in defence,interchange rules and so on.