At some point in their lives, every young footballer dreams of playing AFL under the bright lights on a Friday night.
And while this Friday’s clash against Adelaide isn’t for premiership points, ruckman Tom Nicholls is excited about getting back onto Metricon Stadium for the SUNS’ first home game in over six months.
“It’ll be good,” Nicholls told SUNS TV on Tuesday.
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“First Friday night game for me for a while, NAB Cup Essendon I think was our last one.
“But yeah it’ll be awesome to get back and play on the home ground and get used to that feeling and hopefully have another win.”
The first two NAB Challenge games saw no time-on/off in the first 15 minutes of each quarter unless a goal was scored, however for the final round the rules revert back to standard 20-minute quarters plus normal time-on/off scenarios.
Each team’s interchange bench is also reduced from eight players to six with a new cap of 90 rotations per team.
It means the focus on fitness will be paramount with clubs looking to finalise their game plans, rotations strategy and structures leading into the season proper.
READ: SUNS headed for gripping NAB3 match
“I think it’s the first NAB Cup game which is AFL standard time in terms of quarters and duration so yeah that (fitness) will be a good one and just continuing to build that chemistry which we’ve been working on throughout the pre-season with the boys,” Nicholls said.
“Getting our ball movement right, defensive structures and setting the culture for the season ahead.”
