In years gone by, the AFL pre-season tournament provided teams with an incentive to win games with silverware and prizemoney on offer for the victors. Whilst everyone would admit winning premierships in March is far from a priority, some clubs took the competition more seriously than others.
Without a title up for grabs in the moderately new pre-season format, Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade admits the NAB Challenge series is a platform to prepare your side in the best possible manner for the impending home and away season. Preparation is paramount, wins are an afterthought.
Night premierships may not be a thing of the past for too long with the proposition of a twilight Grand Final on AFL House’s agenda. But, for now, results may be subject to which players each club rolls out in each fixture, and for how long.
“It’s interesting to see that most teams have gone public as saying they’ll give the younger players a bit more of a go in the first round (of the NAB Challenge series),” Eade told Melbourne radio station’s 3AW 693 Sports Today program.
“Because there’s no silverware attached to it, I don’t think every team’s out to win three out of three. It’s more about preparation for the first game (of the home and away season).
“I think probably in our case, and probably teams that are trying to boost membership, maybe results could do. But every result there's going to be reasons why (you win or lose) depending on where the oppositions at, where you’re at in your preparations.”
VIDEO: Take a look at the journey of our draftees since they arrived at the club last November.
One of the great beneficiaries of the pre-season competition are the untried group of players who are yet to play senior football or yet to play on a regular basis. This group of players may include recent draftees or individuals who have crafted strong summers on the track.
Eade forecasted an inexperienced SUNS outfit to make the trip north for Sunday’s fixture against Geelong in Townsville. But, come the second week of the NAB Challenge series, a more seasoned Gold Coast line up is destined to take on Greater Western Sydney.
“Certainly the first game we’ll be a little bit undermanned, there’s quite a few players that will be available NAB Two, NAB Three,” Eade said.
“But that’s okay, we’ve got quite a few players, younger players who haven’t played much footy at AFL level, so we’ll be able to give them an opportunity to stake their claim for round one.”
