It is every players dream to play at least one game of AFL football. The NAB Cup is a stepping stone that brings players tantalisingly close to fulfilling that dream.
The games are played at AFL venues, are screened on TV, have big crowds and fill up countless space in newspapers as the experts assess the respective performances of the clubs and players.
But it isn’t an AFL game! For 28 Geelong players, the NAB Cup, or its name of the day, it is the closest they have come to running out with the Cats in an AFL game. They are in a twilight zone of having experienced a taste of the AFL life without actually making their debut.
Six newcomers ran out on Sunday against North Melbourne to join the list - Tom Allwright, Mitch Duncan, Taylor Hunt, Steve Motlop, James Podsiadly and Dawson Simpson. They will have further opportunities to push for a spot in AFL competition.
Some, like Sam Hunt, Joel Reynolds and Jason Davenport, have played at AFL level with other clubs.
But for 15 others, like David Ugrinic, Nick Batchelor and Liam Bedford, it is as close as they have come to realizing their dreams.
Players that have played NAB Cup but not AFL with Geelong
Tom Allwright (2010: 1 game, 0 goals), Nick Batchelor (2006: 1, 0), Liam Bedford (2008: 1,0), Ricky Clingan (1983: 1, 0), Leigh Crichton (1983: 1, 1), *Jason Davenport (2008: 2,2), Stewart Devlin (1991: 1,0), Mitch Duncan (2010: 1, 2), *Len Gandini (1986: 1,0), Neil Gibson (1977-78, 81: 3,0), Todd Grima (2007: 1,0), *Sam Hunt (2007: 3,0), Taylor Hunt (2010: 1, 0), *Russell Jeffrey (1986: 1,0), *Gary Keane (1990: 1,0), Paul Luttrell (1961: 2,0), Dan McKenna (2009: 4,0), Matthew McMurray (1993: 1,0), Ken Middleton (1960: 1,0), *David Mitchell (1985: 1,0), Brodie Moles (2009: 2,0), Steve Motlop (2010: 1,0), James Podsiadly (2010: 1,1), *Joel Reynolds (2007: 1,1), Denis Ryan (1991: 1,0), Dawson Simpson (2010: 1,0), Scott Simpson (2008-09): 4, 2), David Ugrinic (1998: 1,0)
* indicates played senior AFL football at another club.
