PLAYBILL
NAB Challenge
Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide
Sunday 16 February
Richmond Oval
First bounce 4:10pm (SA)
Broadcast: FOX Footy, FIVEaa
Hashtags: #pafclive #nabchallenge
?
TIME MACHINE
NAB Cup Round 1, 2013. Port Adelaide lost to the Crows in a modified, two-half game in the 2013 NAB Cup. It was tough going in hot temperatures after the Power easily accounted for St Kilda in the match prior.
Result: Port Adelaide 0.4.3 (27) defeated by Adelaide Crows 0.6.7 (43) at Football Park.
YOUNG BLOODS
This is the first opportunity for Port Adelaide’s young bloods to strut their stuff in front of a national televised audience. Both Ken Hinkley and his opposite number will likely use the first NAB Challenge encounter to trial a range of talented mid-tier players with a view to using them throughout the year ahead. Untested players like Tom Clurey, Ben Newton, Mason Shaw, Jarman Impey, Karl Amon and Daniel Flynn have been impressive for the Power this pre-season to name but a few, so should any of the untried lot get the opportunity against the Crows at Richmond, they’ll be keen to impress.
RULEBOOK
There will be several rule changes to the NAB Challenge as is pre-season tradition. Variations to the Laws of the Game for the NAB Challenge only include:
- Six interchange players and two substitute players
- Substitute players can be reset at half time
- Nine-point ‘super goals’ for goals kicked from outside the 50-metre arc
New rules for the 2014 AFL Premiership Season will also be in force during the NAB Challenge, including:
- Ability for umpires to cite or report players for rough conduct in the event of a head clash in the act of bumping
- Adjudging a player to have had prior opportunity to dispose of the ball if he drives his head into a stationary or near-stationary player. If tackled legally he will be required to dispose of the ball legally or be penalised for holding the ball.
- Umpires will call ‘play on’ where a player ducks into a tackle which causes high contact to occur.
- Penalties for forceful conduct below the knees or conduct in a manner likely to cause injury, even if contact does not occur.
- New penalties relating to marking infringements and player passivity in the protected area.
- Allowing teams to immediately rectify minor interchange infringements without penalty, such as making a plater to return to the interchange box where he interchanges early or from outside the interchange box.
- One runner per team only
- Pink vests for medical staff and players.
FINAL SAY
Yes, it’s just a NAB Challenge match, but the Power and Crows will be keen to draw blood early. But teams will also take the rare opportunity to trial new strategies and players without four points on the line. It will be an excellent opportunity to see Port Adelaide’s promising talents in action after a long and hard pre-season and with a game each week until the start of the premiership season, this is the first real chance to see the Power’s summer campaign put into practice.
