If I was to wrap up the first round of the NAB pre-season competition I would say two words “Injuries and interchange”.
Big names have already been cursed with injury with Malceski and Hasleby going down with knees and Lloyd, Gumbleton and Kerr with hamstrings. A big debate this week will be whether the limited number of interchanges has anything to do with this. Its crazy to expect players to play with limited interchanges in the middle of summer.
NAB pre season form is hard to judge for several reasons like Brisbane missed their intra-club practice matches due to rain and hence were really rusty against Essendon. Other teams like West Coast, Port Adelaide and Collingwood would rather use the pre season to play their kids than worry about winning games (and loosing key players to injury).
Fremantle, Carlton, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda and even Essendon are all desperate to try and win and success for their fans.
Any early predictions?
After one round some predictions for the year are:
- St Kilda now have a ruck division which will give Harvey and co first hands to the ball since 2000.
- Essendon have a forward line to trouble most teams and now have pace.
- Geelong are easily the best team.
- Hawthorn are the real deal and will only get better.
- West Coast will still struggle up forward and
- Fremantle will be a team to watch.
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