In a strange case of home-ground weariness, the Armadillos have folded like North Melbourne playing Sydney, going down to the Parasites 1168 to 1044. The Ararat lads have fed back, via players association president F. Wit, that they may stage a sit down protest should the league schedule them for 3 home games in a row in future seasons. While the administration is quietly unimpressed with the threat to revolt, they have publicly stood firm behind the playing group and announced they will back any decision made in the best interests of player welfare. With only one score in triple figures the fatigue was really on show for the Armadillos; a forward line that combined for in excess of 400 points last week could only muster a collective 248 at the weekend. Edwards was brave in his first game back from injury with 81 and Parish tried hard all day to no avail. Pakenham didnt set the world on fire with their performance as they managed to 'win ugly'. "Doesnt matter how you get em, we'll take the W" was heard being uttered by many a supporter. Gaff led the way in the midfield with 121 and Goddard held his own, scoring 97. An even performance for the Parasites who surely look forward to keeping the streak alive against King Island next week.
Round 8 - Korumburra Blowflys 1354 defeated King Island Monarchs 1082 The Blowflys (10th) welcomed the Monarchs (5th) to the Terrordome this week and gave them an old fashioned hiding to the tune of 272 points! It was a case of wrong place, wrong time for the Monarchs, coming to town 3 players light and running into an angry Blowfly outfit desperate to get back on the winners list. Like most games of football, it all started in the middle with Big Todd Goldstein (107) who seems to be getting his head around the new ruck landscape taking down another big tap over Zac Smith (84). His deft taps were regularly sharked by a shorthanded Monarchs midfield though with Marc Murphy (108) Priddis (106) and Boak (95) winning the majority of the tough stuff in the middle. Menegola (95) was a lone hand in and under for the Flys, while Hartung (102) ran all day, linking up and providing ample supply to a previously starving KB forward line. Hodge (110) was again strong across half back ably assisted by gun rebounder Docherty (132). Young Jayden Hunt (56) had the tough task of minding Eddie Betts (56) and managed to keep him quiet for a resultant draw in output before getting KO'd in a bizarre incident - he slipped on a big puddle of Sauce near the canteen after flying out of the changerooms ready to attack the second half and manged to hit his head on a nearby box of frozen chiko rolls. Unfortunate to say the least. The genius move from the coach to swing Walters (137) through the midfield worked a treat. His skills had previously been wasted most of the year, sitting in a forward pocket with little supply. This week he had plenty of it and helped turn a previously impotent forward line into a well oiled machine. Puopolo (99) and Stevie J (105) joined the party, even McVeigh kicked a couple while resting up forward on 1 leg! Rance (106) stood tall in defense for King Island. Broadbent (95) did a job on Cockatoo and provided rebound, but the tide of inside 50 entries from the home side was relentless and overwhelming in the end. The Monarchs gun forward line was inefficient when the ball did get down there - through no fault of Macrae's (105) tireless work around the ground. JJK (102) the main culprit with the yips in front of goal - kicking like a drunken mule for a return of 3.8! He left what could of been a monstrous score begging out on the hallowed turf of the Terrordome. Looking forward to next week, the Blowflys will be underdogs again when they travel all the way to Serengeti to take on a red hot Buffalos side while the Monarchs head to Pakenham to play out a big "8 point game" against the Parasites. BAFFU 3 - Michael Walters (KB) 139 2 - Sam Docherty (KB) 132 1 - Luke Hodge (KB) 110
Southern Cross defeated Christmas Island 1317-1085 Both Christmas Island’s woes at home and Southern Cross’ relentless march up the ladder both continued in Round 8, with the Gropers running out comfortable 232 point winners at Flying Fish Cove Park. The Smugglers started well, with captain Hurn’s precision kicking out of the backline setting up some early scoring raids which saw Christmas Island at front at 1/3 time 398-353. However, Southern Cross took complete control of the match from that point – with Hurley and Hibberd showing that whatever the older H could do, they could do better, especially Hurley who put in a BOG with 27 possies, 8 marks and 8 rebound 50s. Points were almost literally shared across the centre of the ground, with the Smugglers midfield and Ruck division outpointing their Groper opponents by 2. Martin and Heppell both hit the ton for the home team, while EE would have disappointed with the output of Duncan and Fyfe, who were both down on their lofty standards. However, the Gropers forward line more than covered for this decrease in output, winning the game by outscoring the Smuggler 306-148. The fact that Dan Menzel top-scored with 55 shows how easily the Southern Cross defence dominated the make-shift Xmas Island forward line. The result has the Gropers firmly ensconced in the top 8 and this week they are back home against the duck-breaking Hughenden. The Smugglers are up against it again this week, facing the double challenge of trying to win at home, and also the (equal) table-topping Armadillos. BAFFU 3 – Hurley (SCS) 2 – Hurn (CIS) 1 – Ryder (SCS) @eagle_eyed
Round 9 preview - Coolgardie v @choppers Banchang The Barcrawlers from Banchang are heading to the goldfields of WA for a matchup against the Coolgardie Prospectors - well atleast some of them are coming, while the rest appear to be taking an extra week off. It what is an absolute PR disaster for the league, the overseas junket and subsequent bye has resulted in both sides being able to field only half-arsed teams this week, with Banchang especially hit hard with the added injuries and blokes who prefer to ply their trade in the magoos rather than stepping up to take on the big time! The Barcrawlers will have only 9 fit and eager players fronting up, which is seriously unfortunate for the coach and all the fans. The Prospectors have been able to name a complete 15, although a couple of boys will be lining up in unfamiliar territory (assuming they actually turn up on the day). Planning to stem the bleeding before it even begins, coach Choppers has named a full strength defensive unit, and even brought an extra defender with him to substitute on when the backline in-veritably get tired. They're also coming in with first-choice ruckman, Sinclair, but that's where the joy ends for the visitors. A pair of mids and only one forward mean that Banchang will be behind the proverbial 8-ball from the beginning, a severely unfortunate situation. For the home side, a complete and generally first-choice backline is a good place to start. The mids see captain JPK fronting up, but his support is a promising Clarke, a veteran who has put his (injured) had up for selection anywhere on the field, and another defender who has run through the middle, just not enough. Another defender has been named as emergency, but everyone thinks that coach JPK is just playing funny-buggers with this call. The big Mummy is named in the ruck, and will have a ding-dong showing against Sinclair. The forward line looks potent, with some great potential from all of Redpath, Wright, Fantasia, and Watts (or the potential for absolute disaster, you never know who will turn up on the day), with another funny-buggers move by the coach, naming another emergency for no good reason! Coming off the interchange will be everyone's favourite non-competitor in this years Big Tap award, and yet another defender, illustrating the defensive mindset that both coaches are taking into the game. Full* Teams: Coolgardie Def: J Macmillan, T Barrass, C Hooker, J Smith Mid: JP Kennedy, R Clarke, D Petrie (OOP), J Ramsay (OOP) - A Aliir (OOP) Ruc: S Mumford Fwd: J Redpath, M Wright, O Fantasia, J Watts - C Brown Int: S Martin, M Baguley Banchang DEF: M.Suckling, M.Adams, N.Newman, Z.Tuohy MID: T.Adams, E.Langdon RUC: C.Sinclair FWD: S.Higgins I/C: G.Ibbotson It should be an easy win for the home side, but that has been said before, and paper doesn't play football. *Term used loosely!
With only 9 players available to make the trip, we were able to access Business Class travel for our flight to Perth, while only requiring a mini-van for the final overland journey to Coolgardie. It also enabled the players to all stay in the one hotel, instead of being spread out between the only hotel, motel and camping ground. Late News: Langdon is extremely doubtful to take his place as he's suffering knee trouble.....
1/8th of the way through the game in Coolgardie, and its the Barcrawlers @choppers who have come to play early, bringing the mantra that "a quick game is a good game". Coolgardie: 38 / 1 / 38 Banchang: 257 / 3 / 85.7 Redpath has been the sole Prospector to take the field, performing well below what he did last week. Tuohy is leading by example for the visitors, with 116 points to his name, while Adams (78) and Suckling (63) have been serviceable. There's still a lot of footy to come in this one.
Captain Dangerfield is willing his undermanned side into this contest as they lead @Mick and his visiting Blowflys late in the first quarter; 3/304/101 v 3/236/79
It's 1/9th time at the Sandpit and the hometown Sandgropers 264/2/132 have bolted out of the blocks against @Batfink's visiting Prairie Dogs 0/0/0. With the late news that Devon Smith will be out for a while Duncan 131 & Wallis 133 have taken it upon themselves to pick up the slack. If the other twelve and a half players can show the same level of commitment Southern Cross may just break through for their first ever win against Hughenden.
If Matt Kennedy isn't a late in for me I'll be copping Cockatoo's hamstrung 14 which would even up the contest. Danger! Had him VC in SC though so not too upset about that monsterous game