NAB Challenge begins this week, get the low down on every team and who’s ready to fireHerald-Sun
February 22, 2015WE look at every club ahead of the NAB Challenge.
RICHMONDNEW FACESA star of the VFL last year, mature-age recruit Kane Lambert has been the standout of the Tigers’ new draftees and will get a big chance to secure a rookie upgrade in the next month. Line-breaking defender Connor Menadue has not missed a beat and second-year classy ball-user Ben Lennon will reveal a bulked-up frame in the NAB series. Powerful key forward Reece McKenzie already has an imposing frame and will be fun to watch for Tigers’ fans in the summer series.
STRATEGY“We don’t want to denigrate the NAB Challenge, but it’s more about the process and preparing the team and individuals as well as possible for the first block of the season.” GM football Dan Richardson.
NOT YETLike most sides, the Tigers will likely rest a lot of their big names in the first NAB game against Western Bulldogs. Ivan Maric, Troy Chaplin, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio could all be spared in the first hit-out as the Tigers build towards the Round 1 blockbuster against Carlton and focus on making a stronger start to the season than last year.
WESTERN BULLDOGSNEW FACESThe club’s big off-season recruit Tom Boyd will be the one to watch, while former Cat Joel Hamling will also be in the frame for the NAB Challenge. Of the club’s draftees, 168cm Caleb Daniel, taken at pick No.46, has impressed on the track and is the most likely to feature in the pre-season matches.
STRATEGY“Our focus over the NAB Challenge series is to build on a quality pre-season, field a strong team every week, while ensuring we have our best possible team ready for Round 1 against West Coast. It also provides our players with opportunities to continue to adapt to Luke’s game plan,” Dogs general manager of football Graham Lowe said
NOT YETFather-son recruit Zaine Cordy will miss the start of the regular season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction last month. Clay Smith is still recovering from an ACL last season and will also miss the early rounds. Forward Stewart Crameri will sit out the first two rounds of the NAB Challenge while the AFL’s Anti-Doping Tribunal deliberates on any possible suspensions of those involved in the Bombers’ 2012 supplements program.
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