7:01:06 PM Mon 3 March, 2003
Ashley Browne
afl.com.au
Practice matches, so they say, are a bit like dancing with your sister.
There may be something on the line, but usually it is not the result. It is all about the process, the game-plan and the other intangibles that are unclear to all but the trained footy eye.
But there are a few games this weekend in the nattily-named Wizard Regional Challenge Series that might be just a bit more serious than others that have preceded it.
Let’s not kid ourselves. Until four premiership points are up for grabs, nothing that takes place on the field over the next two weekends in the challenge series really, but when you see hated rivals Carlton and Richmond drawn to play at Optus Oval, the heart starts beating just that bit harder.
Visions of the cricket-like scores in the 1972 grand final, Laurie Fowler decking John Nicholls, the ‘Giesch’ knocking the Blues out of the finals in ‘97’, the MCG scoreboard catching fire in 1999 and last year’s one-point thriller can’t help but flash through your mind. The venom the Tiger faithful save for Carlton has to been heard to be believed.
It is quite important for the Tigers. They were woeful in the Wizard Home Loans Cup against Melbourne and the team that went to Geraldton was basically an under 23 team. Joel Bowden must still be wondering what it is he did wrong to be made to play, when virtually every other senior player of note was excused from this most arduous of trips.
Now comes the clash against Carlton. Matthew Richardson, Greg Stafford, Duncan Kellaway, Justin Blumfield, Wayne Campbell, David Rodan, Andrew Krakouer and Kane Johnson are among those who could be back.
Campbell hasn’t played yet and needs the run. Matthew Richardson played against Melbourne, but needs more work before round one. Blumfield and Johnson need more game time in the yellow and black with round one fast approaching.
And Danny Frawley needs a win. All the theory, all the miles and all the training pounded into his team over summer counts for nought if there are no wins on the scoreboard at the end of the day.
And don’t discount the Blues’ motivation. Yes, they had a win over Sydney at Coffs Harbour on the weekend, but the Swans team was so young that they hung around and played the Auskick game at half-time. Richmond will provide a far more searching workout for the Blues as Denis Pagan moves closer to settling his squad for round one.
Ashley Browne
afl.com.au
Practice matches, so they say, are a bit like dancing with your sister.
There may be something on the line, but usually it is not the result. It is all about the process, the game-plan and the other intangibles that are unclear to all but the trained footy eye.
But there are a few games this weekend in the nattily-named Wizard Regional Challenge Series that might be just a bit more serious than others that have preceded it.
Let’s not kid ourselves. Until four premiership points are up for grabs, nothing that takes place on the field over the next two weekends in the challenge series really, but when you see hated rivals Carlton and Richmond drawn to play at Optus Oval, the heart starts beating just that bit harder.
Visions of the cricket-like scores in the 1972 grand final, Laurie Fowler decking John Nicholls, the ‘Giesch’ knocking the Blues out of the finals in ‘97’, the MCG scoreboard catching fire in 1999 and last year’s one-point thriller can’t help but flash through your mind. The venom the Tiger faithful save for Carlton has to been heard to be believed.
It is quite important for the Tigers. They were woeful in the Wizard Home Loans Cup against Melbourne and the team that went to Geraldton was basically an under 23 team. Joel Bowden must still be wondering what it is he did wrong to be made to play, when virtually every other senior player of note was excused from this most arduous of trips.
Now comes the clash against Carlton. Matthew Richardson, Greg Stafford, Duncan Kellaway, Justin Blumfield, Wayne Campbell, David Rodan, Andrew Krakouer and Kane Johnson are among those who could be back.
Campbell hasn’t played yet and needs the run. Matthew Richardson played against Melbourne, but needs more work before round one. Blumfield and Johnson need more game time in the yellow and black with round one fast approaching.
And Danny Frawley needs a win. All the theory, all the miles and all the training pounded into his team over summer counts for nought if there are no wins on the scoreboard at the end of the day.
And don’t discount the Blues’ motivation. Yes, they had a win over Sydney at Coffs Harbour on the weekend, but the Swans team was so young that they hung around and played the Auskick game at half-time. Richmond will provide a far more searching workout for the Blues as Denis Pagan moves closer to settling his squad for round one.
