Miller's Guide: NAB Challenge
With the start of the NAB Challenge little more than 24 hours away, Dale Miller breaks down the players, tactics and position changes to watch out for at every AFL club this pre-season.
ADELAIDE
The game plan: Under sacked coach Brenton Sanderson, Adelaide had a shocking ability to leak goals in a hurry. Expect a greater emphasis on defensive pressure under new coach Phil Walsh.
Taylor Walker: Appointed the club’s new captain last month. Walsh clearly rates Walker’s leadership credentials. It will be worth watching how Walker takes on the mantle early and what impact he can have in 2015 with his knee reconstruction now well behind him.
BRISBANE
Gun midfield: On paper, Brisbane now boast one of the best midfields in the league. The club will roll out Dayne Beams, Allen Christensen and Mitch Robinson during the pre-season to complement the likes of Tom Rockliff and Jack Redden. The pre-season matches should give a good gauge on just how much the Lions can improve this year. Don’t be surprised to see them belt St Kilda first up.
Daniel Rich: The West Aussie has recovered from last year’s knee reconstruction. Rich has put his hand up to play in as many pre-season matches as possible. Knee reconstructions are always tricky things to return from, so keep an eye on whether it has any impact on Rich’s game.
Pearce Hanley: Hanley won’t appear in any of the club’s NAB Challenge matches. The vice-captain will miss up to three months following hip surgery in a major blow for Brisbane.
CARLTON
WA draftees: Carlton surprised many by selecting Swan Districts midfielder Blaine Boekhorst with pick No.19 in last year’s national draft. A mature-age midfielder, the high selection has put pressure on Boekhorst to hit the ground running and show he has not been overrated. Expect both the 21-year-old and fellow WA draftee Clem Smith to be rolled out against West Coast in Mandurah on Friday night.
Chris Judd: Carlton will be very conservative with the dual Brownlow medallist. Judd won’t make the trip west to face the Eagles and could be restricted to just one NAB Challenge match to limit the risk of injury.
A new-look forward line: With Jarrad Waite and Jeff Garlett gone, Carlton have a massive hole to fill in their goal kicking stocks. Matthew Watson made an encouraging start in kicking six goals in an intraclub match on the weekend, but will face a tougher challenge against the likes of Eric Mackenzie and Will Schofield this week. All eyes will be on what impact former Dog Liam Jones can have as a secondary marking target.
Dane Swan has had a strong pre-season for Collingwood. Pic: Getty Images
COLLINGWOOD
Dane Swan: The Brownlow medallist was crocked last season and his form subsequently suffered. But 21 disposals and five clearances in Collingwood’s intraclub match last Thursday night showed the prolific ball winner has had a great pre-season and is ready to return as a force in the competition. The NAB Challenge should give a guide on whether AFL fantasy addicts need to snap up the high-scoring Swan again this year.
Ben Reid: The swingman is one of Collingwood’s most important players, but expect Reid to be kept in cotton wool over the NAB Challenge competition. Reid’s training was scaled back after he suffered a calf injury in December and he has since travelled to Germany for expert advice on his rehabilitation. He is unlikely to play in round one, let alone any pre-season matches.
ESSENDON
The line-up: With up to half the squad sitting out due to the pending ASADA court ruling, the biggest question is just who will play for Essendon during the NAB Challenge. Former St Kilda midfielder Clint Jones and de-listed Melbourne duo James Magner and Mitch Clisby are among those top-up players who will have a run for the Bombers.
Joe Daniher’s kicking technique: Club legend Matthew Lloyd has spent time during the pre-season working with the key forward on his goal-kicking technique. Daniher’s return in front of the sticks was 28.20 last season. The NAB Challenge should show whether the extra training has made any difference.
Fremantle will be desperate to have Michael Johnson back to full fitness. Pic: Steve Ferrier/WA News
FREMANTLE
Tall timber: Fremantle will wheel out a taller forward line as a trial during the NAB Challenge. Expect Matt Taberner, Matthew Pavlich and Michael Apeness to all play in attack. Chris Mayne will be prominent in defence as coach Ross Lyon aims to make use of his marking ability and defensive pressure down back.
Connor Blakely: Last year’s No.34 draft pick may have the Dockers second selection, but Blakely has been the standout youngster on the track this pre-season. Similar to David Mundy in his movement, Blakely looks a gun in the making and has been matched up against Nat Fyfe at training. Expect the Swan Districts product to be thrown onto the ball early and show some class.
Michael Johnson: The 2013 All-Australian has said he will play in two NAB Challenge matches. After completing a half in Saturday’s intraclub match at Fremantle Oval, that claim now looks likely. His movement (or lack of) coming back from major back surgery will be one to look out for. Fremantle need him fit and firing to challenge this year.
GEELONG
Mitch Clark: A major punt for Geelong during trade week, Clark will be wheeled out for his first appearance against Gold Coast in Townsville on Sunday. Coach Chris Scott has said the big man will play less than a half, but it will be an early taster for Cats fans.
Nakia Cockatoo: Scott looked like the cat who got the cream when Cockatoo fell to Geelong at pick No.10 in last year’s national draft. The Northern Territory midfielder will be a definite starter in the NAB Challenge and will add some much-needed pace to Geelong’s midfield, particularly given the loss of Allen Christensen and Travis Varcoe.
GOLD COAST
Jack Martin: Everyone, including triple premiership player Shaun Burgoyne, was raving about Martin after his performance in Friday night’s All-Stars match in Perth. Martin looms as the big improver at Gold Coast this season. Expect him to play forward, but also spend time pushing into the midfield. One to watch out for.
Gary Ablett: How many pre-season games will the little champ play and will he be the same player with his reconstructed shoulder? New coach Rodney Eade has said the league’s million-dollar man has taken his fitness to “another level” during this pre-season, but the proof will be in the pudding.
GWS
Ryan Griffen: The former Western Bulldogs captain was traded to GWS in a flurry of controversy in October. He has a point to prove at his new club, so expect Griffen to make an early statement during the NAB Challenge competition.
It’s all about defence: Coach Leon Cameron was unhappy with the team allowing a glut of opposition inside-50 entries last season. The Giants conceded more inside-50s than any other team in 2014. Expect a greater emphasis on defence and accountability, particularly with the added experience of former Lion Joel Patfull down back.
There will be plenty of interest around where Hawthorn utilise Cyril Rioli. Pic: Getty Images
HAWTHORN
Roll out the youngsters: Inexperience will be the mantra for Hawthorn early in the NAB Challenge. Expect Daniel Howe, Teia Miles, Dallas Willsmore, James Sicily, Marc Pittonet and WA’s Jermaine Miller-Lewis to all get game time, starting with tomorrow night’s opener against Collingwood. Coach Alastair Clarkson has said the bulk of the senior group won’t play until closer to round one.
Cyril Rioli: The genius forward made the trip to WA for last week’s AFL Players’ Association indigenous camp, but did not play for the All-Stars in Friday’s match. Hawthorn have every reason to use him solely as a forward after his persistent hamstring problems in recent seasons. All eyes will be on whether Clarkson continues to take the gamble by injecting Rioli into the midfield.
MELBOURNE
A forward line: Melbourne’s attack was makeshift at best during 2015 – and somehow they managed to pull off four wins for the year. Add Jesse Hogan, Chris Dawes and Jeff Garlett to the mix during the NAB Challenge and the Demons should become far more potent. Hogan kicked three goals in an intraclub match last Thursday and has the potential to light up the pre-season competition. The trick will be not getting carried away with expectations – just yet.
Heritier Lumumba: Melbourne hasn’t messed around with welcoming the former Collingwood premiership player into the fold, naming him in the club’s leadership group earlier this month. Lumumba is 28 and will be one of the Demons most senior players. On-field leadership is needed from him early to set the tone for the season.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Aaron Black: The key forward had a dog of a match in last year’s preliminary final defeat to Sydney, labelling it the “worst game” of his career. The performance equated to just two disposals, which included one clanger. With North having gambled on free agent Jarrad Waite to bolster their forward line, Black needs to send an early message to show he is still a key component of the club’s forward line going forward. Expect a big NAB Challenge showing from him.
Shaun Higgins: One of the many experienced players to exit Whitten Oval at the end of last year, Higgins could be a genuine X-factor for North this year if he can stay fit and injury free. If he gets through the NAB Challenge unscathed, expect him to play round one.
PORT ADELAIDE
Patrick Ryder and Angus Monfries: Two players you won’t be seeing during the NAB Challenge. Like much of Essendon’s squad, the former Bombers pair will be sitting out the pre-season competition while the ASADA ruling is still pending.
The running game: Port Adelaide have set new standards across the league in the past two seasons with their high-octane running game under fitness guru Darren Burgess. The question will not be so much whether the Power’s fitness standards have reached new heights, but whether opposition sides can go with them in the pace department. NAB Challenge matches should give an early gauge.
Richmond are nervous at the prospect of losing their main defender Alex Rance. Pic: AFL Media
RICHMOND
Youth: Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has said he will be taking a virtual under-23s team into their opening NAB Challenge match against the Western Bulldogs this Saturday. That means Tigers fans getting a first sighter of Connor Menadue, Nathan Drummond, Daniel Butler, Reece McKenzie, Jason Castagna and Jayden Short.
Alex Rance’s future: The Tigers could give an early indication on just how concerned they are about the potential of losing Alex Rance at the end of the year. The key defender is coming out of contract and will have no shortage of suitors, including Fremantle. If Richmond trial other players as their No.1 defenders, it will show just how worried they are about Rance staying in the yellow and black.
ST KILDA
Patrick McCartin: St Kilda initially flagged their No.1 draft pick wasn’t expected to play a significant amount of senior football this year. That could all change if he delivers several big performances in the NAB Challenge. McCartin kicked a goal in playing a half of football during Saturday’s intraclub match. Expect him to be trialled as a deep forward, akin to retired Saint Justin Koschitzke, during pre-season matches.
Sam Fisher: The veteran Saints defender is fit again after a horror 2014 season where he managed just seven matches due to injury. His presence during the NAB Challenge should make an immediate difference.
SYDNEY
Nick Malceski’s replacement: Lewis Jetta has been training with the club’s defenders during the pre-season. Expect the fleet-footed West Aussie to be given first crack at replacing Nick Malceski as the team’s premier running back. Sydney will also persist with Gary Rohan, although they will be mindful of his poor grand final performance in the same role.
The hunger: Plenty of Sydney’s senior players were left deeply embarrassed by their showing in last year’s grand final against Hawthorn. The Swans have traditionally been slow starters, suffering a shock loss to cross-town rivals GWS last season. But given their horror showing on the game’s biggest stage, the team should be up and about early. A big win over the Giants in their final pre-season game on March 22 would not surprise.
Jeremy McGovern will take over the No.20 guernsey from retired Eagles legend Dean Cox. Pic: Megan Powell/WA News
WEST COAST
The forward line: With Jack Darling expected to miss the early rounds as he continues to recover from foot stress fractures, watch out for Jeremy McGovern to be used more regularly as a permanent forward. McGovern looked at home across the final month-and-a-half of last season as a key defender, but coach Adam Simpson has flagged using him more in attack during Darling’s absence. West Coast’s new swingman booted a goal and clunked several strong marks as the team’s dominant forward against the Indigenous All-Stars on Friday.
Bigger bodies: Simpson has spoken about wanting to turn some of his players from boys into men this season. A more-muscled Chris Masten, Dom Sheed and Brad Sheppard will spend plenty of time on the ball during the NAB Challenge. Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy have also added bulk in the club’s forward line.
Ruck shootout: Nic Naitanui is a lock after his best pre-season in four years. But who will partner him this season? Scott Lycett is expected to be given first run at the position, but don’t rule Callum Sinclair out of the equation. Sinclair was the dominant big man in Friday night’s win over the All-Stars, overshadowing Lycett. A good NAB Challenge campaign could see him push up the pecking order.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Tom Boyd: When you trade your captain out for a second-year forward, who then signs a $7 million, seven-year deal, it tends to get noticed. The Western Bulldogs have been selling the message that Tom Boyd is not the messiah. But regardless the former No.1 draft pick will be under pressure early to show why the club moved heaven and earth to get him. Boyd needs a good start to 2015 to win over fans. He has already dropped 3-4kg over the pre-season to improve his mobility and could be used in the ruck.
Jordan Roughead: A surprise selection as the club’s vice-captain for 2015, Roughead will be the club’s key defender for 2015. He has a chance to prove he deserves the leadership nod starting in the NAB Challenge.
