Won't be risking too much of my betting Bank on the NAB CUP.
All matches early in this series are played by teams with different objectives.Some go out with winning game plans.Some use it as a trial.Some for fitness testing.
And this is the key to making money from the series.
Sort out the teams that will be trying hard to win,and the teams that can still win without really trying.
I still remember the difference in the CUP presentation acceptance last year to Carlton and that of St.Kilda the year before.
Also reminds me of the acceptance of Ben Cousins Brownlow Award.
It is great to be humble when you win,but when the world acknowledges your achievement,it is time to appreciate what the public are saying.

Here are my Ratings for the commencement of the year.
They are based on the finish last year without modifications regarding team list changes.
They are the Scores I would expect the teams to score at a Neutral venue with the Average team list lining up.
Comments made regarding the Premiership.

ST.KILDA . 124 Blew their chance,twice.Downhill from here
ADELAIDE . 123 Overall a powerful Club.Will be up there again
SYDNEY . . 115 Enjoyed their spoils.Could easily do it again
WEST COAST 110 Hope they not too depressed.Will again be the yardstick
GEELONG .. 105 So close last year.Will improve further
PORT POWER 98 Don't know what went wrong.Will win again
BULLDOGS . 97 Excitement package.Finals action coming up
FREMANTLE . 91 All interstaters have won.Surely must be getting close

BRISBANE . 89 No Finals again
ESSENDON . 88 Just missed again
KANGAROOS . 87 Will be playing Finals this year
MELBOURNE . 83 Proud Club.Shame they gonna miss out
RICHMOND . 83 Frustrating for everyone.Will miss again,JUST
HAWTHORN . 72 No Finals yet
COLLINGWOOD 66 2nd last.Ain't it GREAT?
CARLTON . . 61 Another Spoon?

Is that a typo next to the Kangaroos??? You have them rated 11th, but you say they'll be playing finals this year. Or have I misread the way you're doing things?

Interesting comments on NAB cup ... who do u like? and who do u think will be trying and who wont ??

IMO melbourne based clubs need the $$$ more so maybe thats a pointer

Hi Sportz!
You read right!
Remember last year you had a lowish rating for Brisbane?
And you turned out correct in your assessment?
Well my ratings are based on exactly the day after the 2005 Grand Final.
But my comments are after all the ins and outs of the drafting system.
Actually...7th and 8th position is on the line with the Kangaroos,Bulldogs and Fremantle having the opportunity.

Here is a 2nd thought on the Ratings including what I have learnt up to this stage.

ADELAIDE . 118 Overall a powerful Club.Will be up there again
SYDNEY . . 115 Enjoyed their spoils.Could easily do it again
ST.KILDA . 113 Blew their chance,twice.Downhill from here
WEST COAST 112 Hope they not too depressed.Will again be the yardstick
PORT POWER 108 Don't know what went wrong.Will win again
GEELONG .. 107 So close last year.Will improve further
BULLDOGS . 98 Excitement package.Finals action coming up
KANGAROOS . 93 Will be playing Finals this year

FREMANTLE . 92 All interstaters have won.Surely must be getting close
RICHMOND . 88 Frustrating for everyone.Will miss again,JUST
MELBOURNE . 86 Proud Club.Shame they gonna miss out
BRISBANE . 85 No Finals again
ESSENDON . 84 Just missed again
HAWTHORN . 72 No Finals yet
COLLINGWOOD 66 2nd last.Ain't it GREAT?
CARLTON . . 61 Another Spoon?

NAB CUP TIPS - Best to Worst

PORT POWER . Usually do well in this Event
GEELONG . Will give a good sight
BULLDOGS . Will give a great run for your money
WEST COAST . BIG concern about their away form
RICHMOND . Just when you thought they were going somewhere
KANGAROOS . Does anyone really care?
ST.KILDA . Don't need it and won't win it with that attitude
BRISBANE . Should win the 1st game

ESSENDON . Kevin Sheedy the Experimenter
MELBOURNE . Long way from the snowfields to Darwin
SYDNEY . A team that don't need it
ADELAIDE . Will lose to PORT
FREMANTLE . Against the Eagles?...No way
HAWTHORN . Those Brereton days are only a dream
COLLINGWOOD . At least they have lots of money
CARLTON . Is it really Jack's fault?

ADELAIDE. WILL LOSE TO PORT......

Dont think so champ!!!!
Ive got 500 on with a mate, cant believe he was stupid enough to give me even money. Port desperately need a couple of midfielders that get stuck in and win the ball. Downhill slide until then me thinks.

__________________
get in the Q

brisbane will do better this year as will collingwood,both in the lower part of the eight

I can understand why you hope Brisbane improves, but why would you wish improvement to Collingwood?

YEAH. When I dared to suggest that they were on the slide and may even miss out on the 8???

There were only two teams that I got badly wrong last year and they were Port and Carlton.

Anyway, I'm going to wait a while before I sort anything out for this year. After what happened with Carlton, I'm going to treat the pre-season form very carefully!!!

These are the Scores I predict for the Nab 1st Round.
They are using my Ratings from last year and include an adjustment for improvement or decline due to team list changes.

Brisbane 85 Essendon 84 - 1
Bulldogs 98 Melbourne 86 - 13
Sydney 115 Kangaroos 93 - 22
Richmond 88 Hawthorn 72 - 14
Geelong 107 Carlton 61 - 46
Adelaide 118 Port Power 108 - 10
St.Kilda 113 Collingwood 66 - 47
West Coast 112 Fremantle 92 - 20

They need to be altered for the fact that it is the NAB CUP, 1st Round and
some teams desire to win...and others not as much.

Essendon - Sheedy mucks about too much minus 10
Sydney - Lack of desire to win NAB CUP minus 14
Geelong - Early favourites in markets plus 9
St.Kilda - I'm sure Thomas gonna test out some plans minus 14
West Coast - In it to win it plus 8

And then there is the ground advantage

Essendon minus 15
Melbourne minus 10
Richmond plus 6
Geelong plus 12
St.Kilda plus 14

Brisbane Essendon - 26
Bulldogs Melbourne - 23
Sydney Kangaroos - 8
Richmond Hawthorn - 20
Geelong Carlton - 67
Adelaide Port Power - 10
St.Kilda Collingwood - 47
West Coast Fremantle - 28

And of course these have not taken who's playing into consideration.
Another Factor I will consider is the Weather,Rain,Wind and Temperature.
Will be waiting till Match day before placing any bets.
I've decided this year to go straight out and with the points start.
No more taking minus points.Teams are out there to win,not necessarily by a big margin.