The final of the 2008 NAB Cup will be most remembered for the intense heat. With the temperature still in the high
30s when the match started, and with a limited interchange rule restricting use of the interchange bench, the
conditions were unpleasant for players to attempt to maintain a running game. The breaks were extended, with St
Kilda taking the unusual step of moving into the changerooms at three-quarter time; but there was no escaping
the fact the sweltering conditions affected the conditioning of the players.
Adelaide made the early front-running, but were unable to exert any scoreboard pressure; leading by just six
points at the first change. And when, against the run of play, Nick Riewoldt scored the first goal of the second
term, the match was back on level terms. The contest continued to see-saw, with a super-goal to Adam
Schneider during time-on giving the Saints a half-time lead.
Another super-goal to the Saints during the third term saw them maintain their advantage, and a run of goals in
quick succession, twice to Milne and then another from Koschitzke ensured the Saints would be holding the
silverware, despite a late surge by Adelaide that finished with Brett Burton kicking truly after the siren.
But this was St Kilda's night, with a welcome addition to their trophy cabinet and a boost of optimism coming to
Moorabbin for the season ahead.
In weekend trial matches, Carlton won a hard-fought 9-point match over the Western Bulldogs, while Collingwood
took out an 18-point win over a determined Hawthorn lineup. Geelong were untroubled by Richmond at Skilled
Stadium, but it was far closer at Subiaco with West Coast just falling over the line against Essendon by 6 points.
Brisbane had a 10-point win over Sydney in a scrappy match at Manuka; while the Kangaroos were comfortable
victors over Melbourne and Port Adelaide were similarly impressive in accounting for Fremantle.
NAB CUP : Final
Saturday 8th March
St Kilda 0.0.4 1.2.5 2.4.7 2.7.9 (69)
Adelaide 0.1.4 0.2.9 0.6.10 0.9.10 (64)
Nine Point Goals : St Kilda - A Schnieder J Gram
Goals : St Kilda - S Milne 3 N Riewoldt 2 J Koschitzke X Clarke. Adelaide - K Tippett 4 B Burton 2 R Douglas S
Goodwin N van Berlo.
Best : St Kilda - J Gram A Schneider S Milne R Harvey L Ball S King L Hayes. Adelaide - G Johncock K Tippett N
van Berlo B Rutten J Porplyzia B Symes.
Michael Tuck medallist - J Gram (St Kilda)
Umpires - M Vozzo D Margetts B Rosebury.
Crowd - 26,823 at AAMI Stadium.
Trial Matches
Friday 7th March
Carlton 3.5 6.7 10.11 13.15 (93)
Western Bulldogs 5.1 9.4 11.7 12.12 (84)
Goals : Carlton - B Fevola 4 J Edwards 3 J Russell C Judd S Browne A Hartlett C Cloke R Houlihan. Bulldogs - S
Welsh 3 B Johnson 2 J Hill 2 S Minson 2 R Griggen S Higgins J Akermanis.
Best : Carlton - M Murphy B Fevola J Waite M Kreuzer C Judd A Carrazzo. Bulldogs - J Akermanis B Johnson S
Higgins M Boyd A Cooney S West.
Reports : Carlton - M Murphy making forceful front-on contact to M Hahn.
Umpires - S Ryan S Stewart S Wenn H Kennedy.
Crowd - 10,137 at Princes Park.
ROUND 1 MATCHES (Michael Shillito's tips in bold - Season to date 0/0): Thursday 20th March Carlton v Richmond (MCG, 6:10pm) Port Adelaide v Geelong (AAMI Stadium, 8:40pm) Saturday 22nd Match Collingwood v Fremantle (MCG, 2:10pm) St Kilda v Sydney (Telstra Dome, 7:10pm) West Coast v Brisbane (Subiaco Oval, 7:40pm) Sunday 23rd March Western Bulldogs v Adelaide (Telstra Dome, 1:10pm) Hawthorn v Melbourne (MCG, 2:10pm) Monday 24th March Kangaroos v Essendon (Telstra Dome, 2:10pm)
All times shown are Sydney time.
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Collingwood 2.3 6.6 10.10 16.12 (108)
Hawthorn 3.3 6.7 9.9 13.12 (90)
Goals : Collingwood - A Didak 3 A Rocca 3 T Cloke 2 B Reid 2 S Pendlebury 2 L Davis B Holland D
Thomas C Egan. Hawthorn - L Franklin 3 C Rioli 2 J Roughead R Ladson L Hodge B Dowler M Thorp B
McGlynn T Clarke S Dew.
Best : Collingwood - D Swan S Pendlebury, R Shaw, T Cloke, D Thomas, H Shaw. Hawthorn - C Bateman,
G Birchall, L Hodge, T Clarke, B Guerra, R Ladson.
Umpires - S Meredith R Chamberlain C Donlon M James.
Crowd - 9,500 (est) at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton.
Geelong 6.2 14.9 20.9 23.11 (149)
Richmond 3.0 5.1 6.3 12.5 (77)
Goals : Geelong - Mooney 4, Gamble 3, Byrnes 2, Ablett 2, Bartel 2, S Johnson 2, Ling 2, Corey 2, Hawkins,
Wojcinski, Prismall, Blake, Mackie. Richmond - Richardson 3, Morton 2, Deledio 2, Coughlan, Howat,
White, Hughes, Foley
Best : Geelong - Ling, Bartel, Kelly, Mackie, Prismall, Byrnes, S Johnson, Enright. Richmond - King, Tuck.
West Coast 3.1 6.6 11.8 15.10 (100)
Essendon 3.1 7.7 12.8 14.10 (94)
Goals : West Coast - Hansen 5, Hunter 2, Lynch 2, Embley 2, LeCras, Kennedy, Cox, Wirrpunda Essendon
- Stanton 4, Lucas 2, Davey 2, Lovett Murray, Watson, Monfries, Hille, McVeigh, Peverill.
Best : West Coast - Hansen, Cox, Embley, Lynch, Hunter, B.Jones, Graham. Essendon - Stanton, Hille,
Houli, McVeigh, Davey, Monfries
Crowd - 9,312 at Subiaco Oval
Saturday 8th March
Brisbane 3.2 8.4 9.8 14.13 (97)
Sydney 4.3 7.5 9.9 13.9 (87)
Goals : Brisbane - J Charman 3 A Proud 2 R Copeland 2 R Hooper 2 J Brennan A Corrie M Leuenberger D
Bradshaw N Lappin. Sydney - J Moore 3 D Jolly 2 N Davis 2 M O'Loughlin 2 H Grundy K Jack R O'Keefe J
Bolton.
Best : Brisbane - J Charman J Brown A Proud L Power. Sydney - A Goodes K Jack E Barlow M O'Loughlin.
Crowd - 2,264 at Manuka Oval.
Kangaroos 6.4 11.7 18.10 22.13 (145)
Melbourne 6.3 8.4 9.8 14.10 (94)
Goals : Kangaroos - A Edwards 4 H McIntosh 2 L Thomas 2 C Jones 2 N Thompson 2 M Campbell 2 D
Hale 2 D Harris S Grant A Simpson B Ross L Brown B Harvey. Melbourne - R Robertson 4 I Weetra 2 M
Newton 2 S Buckley D Neitz C Sylvia A Davey A Wonaeamirri P Johnson.
Best : Kangaroos - H McIntosh A Edwards A Simpson L Thomas B Harvey A Swallow. Melbourne - N
Jones S Buckley J McDonald A Davey.
Reports - R Robertson (Melbourne) for making forceful front-on contact to A Swallow.
Umpires - S McBurney H Kennedy D Sully.
Crowd - Approx 2,500 at Casey Fields, Melbourne.
Port Adelaide 5.4 8.9 14.13 16.15 (111)
Fremantle 3.3 6.5 6.7 8.7 (55)
Goals : Port Adelaide - W Tredrea 3 D Pearce 3 B Ebert 3 D Motlop 2 R Gray 2 C Kornes S Burgoyne B
Lade. Fremantle - M Pavlich 2 C Tarrant 2 D Solomon B Peake D Headland S McManus.
Best : Port Adelaide - W Tredrea S Salopek D Cassisi D Pearce D Motlop. Fremantle - B Schammer H
Black M Johnson.
Umpires - M Avon G Fila M Stevic.
Crowd - 3,014 at Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga.
