The AFL is back for 2012 with the start of the pre-season NAB Cup. Although a trophy shouldn’t be allowed for this nuff nuff competition it still allows the AFL to experiment with new rules, allows games to be played in country towns, and gives players some much needed game time before the regular season gets underway.

In 2012 there will be four rounds of pre-season matches. As seen in last years competition the first round will involve matches with three teams per game, split over two weeks. The following weeks will see regular matches played across the country. We’ll preview those games at the completion of the Round 1 NAB Cup 2012 fixtures.

Clubs can completely change squads between matches if necessary so it’s a good time to send youth onto the paddock and develop some depth within the club. Matches also include the super goal which is awarded for goals kicked outside the 50, worth a whopping 9 points.

Predicting NAB Cup winners is worse than throwing cash at numbers on the roulette table. Some clubs take it seriously, some clubs don’t and others aren’t sure what they’re doing.  Despite the obvious pitfalls of tipping winners I’ve tried to provide a few certainties…. which will probably turn into a dogs breakfast.

NAB Cup 2012 Fixtures – Round 1:

Week 1:

Hawthorn, Richmond and North Melbourne
Etihad Stadium, Friday Feb 17, 6.45pm

Richmond should be keen for a solid start to the season however North Melbourne and Hawthorn should dominate in these early encounters.

Match 1
Richmond – 0.6.5.41
North Melbourne – 0.7.2.44

Match 2
North Melbourne – 0.4.4.28
Hawthorn – 1.6.8.53

Match 3
Hawthorn – 0.5.7.37
Richmond – 0.6.4.40

GWS, Bulldogs and Collingwood
Blacktown Int’l Sports Park, Saturday Feb 18, 7.15pm

For some reason Sydney isn’t playing in Blacktown despite the AFL trying to group state teams. In any case Collingwood and the Bulldogs will put out second string teams and will get dusted by GWS.  First and last win by GWS all season.

Match 1
GWS – 1.3.3.30
Western Bulldogs – 0.5.5.35

Match 2
Western Bulldogs – 0.3.1.19
Collingwood – 0.4.2.26

Match 3
Collingwood – 0.5.5.35
GWS – 0.5.2.32

West Coast, Fremantle and Essendon
Pattersons Stadium, Sunday Feb 19, 1.45pm (AEDST) 

Essendon is flying west for a pasting. Despite a few potential injuries West Coast looks too strong for everyone and Fremantle should be a clear second.

Match 1
West Coast - 0.9.3.57
Essendon – 0.5.6.36

Match 2
Essendon - 0.3.2.20
Fremantle – 1.7.5.56

Match 3
Fremantle - 0.1.4.10
West Coast – 0.4.6.30

Week 2:

Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney
Etihad Stadium, Friday Feb 24, 6.40pm

Pre-season or not, Geelong will dominate this group. Sydney still reminds me of Paul Roos who put more thought into his son’s under 10 games than a pre-season fixture.

Match 1
St Kilda – 0.4.5.29
Sydney – 0.9.5.59

Match 2
Sydney – 0.2.1.13
Geelong – 0.4.5.29

Match 3
St Kilda – 1.3.9.36
Geelong – 1.0.6.15

Gold Coast, Brisbane and Melbourne
Metricon Stadium, Saturday Feb 25, 7.10pm (AEDST)   

This is one of the closest groups. Gold Coast should want a few wins on the board to generate momentum while Brisbane have Merett and Brown back on the paddock. Melbourne need a few more weeks to generate a solid side so it will be one of the Queensland teams to top the group.

Match 1
Gold Coast – 0.4.2.26
Melbourne – 0.3.5.23

Match 2
Melbourne – 0.2.1.13
Brisbane – 0.1.4.10

Match 3
Brisbane – 0.2.6.18
Gold Coast – 0.2.4.16

Adelaide, Port Adelaide and Carlton
AAMI Stadium, Sunday Feb 26, 2.40pm

Carlton should take care of the South Australian teams.  Port should take this competition slightly more seriously than its state colleague so I suspect Adelaide will be the biggest loser in this group.

Match 1
Port Adelaide – 0.6.10.46
Carlton – 1.5.1.40

Match 2
Carlton – 0.5.4.34
Adelaide – 1.5.4.43

Match 3 -
Adelaide – 0.2.6.18
Port Adelaide – 0.2.5.17

NAB Cup 2012 – sportsbanter.com.au Tip – Carlton @ $7.50

NAB Cup 2012 Odds – Outright Winner

Collingwood – $3.30
Geelong – $4.75
Hawthorn – $5.75
Carlton – $7.50
West Coast  – $14.00
St Kilda – $17.00
Fremantle – $19.00
Essendon – $26.00
Adelaide – $31.00
North Melbourne – $31.00
Sydney – $31.00
Western Bulldogs – $34.00
Melbourne – $67.00
Richmond – $81.00
Brisbane – $161.00
Gold Coast – $126.00
Port Adelaide – $161.00
GWS – $301.00