Nathan MottonNAB Cup is a farce
February 20th 2008 10:38
When will the AFL hierarchy stop calling the pre-season competition the (insert sponsor here) cup and start calling it what it really is, the practice cup?
For years now the AFL has tried to promote it as some kind of necessary competition, for fans to assess new drafts and for the league to trial new rules.
But that is exactly why this scribe is so vehemently opposed to the NAB cup.
The constant tinkering with rules makes a mockery out of this supposed 'competition'.
Few clubs are excited by it, and I would argue that the only ones who try to win it are those in most need of financial assistance.
What was the purpose of the opening game of the season?
And why was it held in Dubai?
Sure the AFL makes a nice little paycheck out of it, but how can you possibly justify trying to promote such an Australian game in such a foreign land.
Was it more about the AFL trying to extend it's reach globally, or simply about a sponsor going on a junket, to be seen, and to appear financially engrossed in our national sport.
Every year coaches complain about rule changes, and every year it falls on deaf ears.
This year Geelong coach Mark Thompson voiced his concerns over the latest implementation of penalties for any side that makes more than 16 interchanges a quarter.
"There may be a club that just says, Bugger the rules. If we want to take players off, we'll do it and we'll just sacrifice goals."
"We might be one of those clubs," Thompson said.
This comment followed open skepticism from Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse and Sydney coach Paul Roos.
It's about time the AFL stopped trying to turn everything into a money making exercise, and started swallowing some home truths.
The NAB cup should be abandoned in preference for simply practice games.
There should be no rule changing, as practice games (as the name suggests) should enable coaches and players to practice drills and set pieces of play that are to be implemented in the home-and-away season.
And rather than prancing about overseas like some kind of circus, why not move all the practices games to those areas most crucial to expanding the AFL brand - Queensland and Western Sydney.
For years now the AFL has tried to promote it as some kind of necessary competition, for fans to assess new drafts and for the league to trial new rules.
But that is exactly why this scribe is so vehemently opposed to the NAB cup.
The constant tinkering with rules makes a mockery out of this supposed 'competition'.
Few clubs are excited by it, and I would argue that the only ones who try to win it are those in most need of financial assistance.
And why was it held in Dubai?
Sure the AFL makes a nice little paycheck out of it, but how can you possibly justify trying to promote such an Australian game in such a foreign land.
Was it more about the AFL trying to extend it's reach globally, or simply about a sponsor going on a junket, to be seen, and to appear financially engrossed in our national sport.
Every year coaches complain about rule changes, and every year it falls on deaf ears.
This year Geelong coach Mark Thompson voiced his concerns over the latest implementation of penalties for any side that makes more than 16 interchanges a quarter.
"There may be a club that just says, Bugger the rules. If we want to take players off, we'll do it and we'll just sacrifice goals."
"We might be one of those clubs," Thompson said.
This comment followed open skepticism from Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse and Sydney coach Paul Roos.
It's about time the AFL stopped trying to turn everything into a money making exercise, and started swallowing some home truths.
The NAB cup should be abandoned in preference for simply practice games.
And rather than prancing about overseas like some kind of circus, why not move all the practices games to those areas most crucial to expanding the AFL brand - Queensland and Western Sydney.
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