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Crackers' Call: NAB Cup fans miss out

02/12/2012 11:25:39 PM

One of the joys of life is sitting back with a couple of cans of beer and watching the NAB Cup.

Not much hangs on it, no one can remember who wins it but you do look for the young players coming through to find out who can play a bit.

There's only one problem, I haven't got Foxtel so come Friday night when it starts I'll be sitting there with my stubby looking at a blank screen.

Does it mean we've all got to go out and pay for Foxtel?

What about the family man who is trying to brainwash his kids to barrack for his club but can't afford it?

How many will turn up on Friday night to the games is anybody's guess.

With the cricket being so boring lately and overpublicised, I'm looking forward to having a gander at a few likely players coming through.

Sure clubs don't put much store in the NAB Cup.

When I was working down at Geelong a few years ago I said to Bomber Thompson 'let's win a couple of games and then tamper with the side and move on', getting ready for the season proper.

People may not remember who wins the competition but it can establish a player for the season.

Dyson Heppell played every NAB Cup game and then every game of the regular season and Essendon supporters were talking about him straight after the pre-season.

It's a chance for clubs to showcase their young players and maybe drive their membership.

But for the people who have only got free-to-air TV, it's a blank screen.

So forget about the kids' lunches and buying some cans, go and sign up for Foxtel.

I've seen Majak Daw play a few good games and I've seen him play some ordinary games and he's a long way off being a No.1 star ruckman for North.

I was even there the day that he was racially vilified, it was not a nice day for footy that day.

But judging by the overreaction of my colleagues in the media and the beat up that resulted, it must have been a very slow news week.

On the front page of the Herald Sun he had no top on.

So the kid went out and told a lie, I don't think there'd be a footballer going around that hadn't told a lie about missing training.

By the way it was reported he looked like he was wanted for war crimes.

I know people are hungry for news of their footballers and with new technology these days such as Facebook and Twitter and of course video cameras on your phone, nothing is private anymore.

But young Majak Daw didn't need what was served up to him last week, it was a disgrace.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
Comments
Posted by 40 Degrees S at
13/02/2012 04:30 PM
Wouldn't have reckoned you'd've been short of a bob or three for pay-TV, Mr Keenan. Are you trying to gull us into praising you for making a virtue out of stubbornness?
Posted by trent coops at
15/02/2012 10:24 AM
Is this 1995. Don't be so tight! I bet the average man in the street can still afford a slab or two plus his darts. One channel just for footy is unreal mate. Get onto it! Bet Sam K has it!
Posted by Velocitor at
15/02/2012 12:32 PM
It is a damn disgrace that the AFL and broadcasters chose to show the NAB cup on Pay TV only so only the rich can afford to watch it. Us lower income earners who have families and mortgages etc to look after 1st and cant afford Pay TV miss out. All beacause of those money hungry people in Melbourne wanted a few extra $$$$ in their pocket. So much for looking after the fans.
Posted by Stephen at
16/02/2012 05:39 PM
Crakers couldn't of said this better, personally didn't know i had to go out and buy foxtel not that i can afford it, to watch Nab cup lets face it's always been on tv even if some of the matches where replays now we get nothing, Demetriou needs to go he's costing clubs membership not putting it out there in the majority of public not doing the game any favours at all just hes fat pocket.
Posted by Col Mahon at
17/02/2012 10:05 PM
Im with Peter.I'm a fitzroy man...And the real grass roots people are still getting cheated...Shame Shame Shame
Posted by trent coops at
18/02/2012 01:18 PM
how good is it having the one channel dedicated to footy. love it!