Round by Round Banter for 2018

Smugglers (somehow) by around 25.

Final scores and match report to come.

Edit: Final scores CIS 1158 - EW 1132

@HOLKY

 

In an entertaining 2nd half of football, the 12 1/2 players from Nuytsland have managed to hold off the fast finishing 14 1/2 Barcrawlers, to record a win 1129-1109 (subject to clarification).
Nuytsland's Shuey 129 and Grundy 99 jumped out early after oranges to take control, while Adams 107 tried to stem the flow for Banchang. Not to be left out, Heeney 113 up forward, and Rampe 115 down back, really put the foot down and Higgins 109,Sinclair 86, and Newman(oop) 28, had no answer to the onslaught. Things didn't look too good for the locals and while Langdon 99 and Gray 63 tried hard, they weren't able to overcome the deficit and Banchang finished up going down by 20.

BOG.
3. Mitchell (NV) 159
2. Shuey (NV) 129
1. Rampe (NV) 115

BIG TAP.
Grundy (NV) 99 def Sinclair (BB) 86

Next round Banchang travels to King Island while Nuytsland is at home to Christmas Island.

@bryzza

 

Flabbergasted I won, finally the rest stood up and did not leave it for the few. Cheers for the updates.

 

An injury to Ryder before half time ended the contest with @wrightbrendan breathing life back into the Buffaloes season with a 60 odd point win at the Sandpit. Match report to follow.

 

A ding dong battle at the Terrordome sees the home side (the 8th placed Blowflys) outlast the visitors (the 6th placed Panthers) to narrowly get over the line in a veritable shootout 1352 v 1336!

Match report to follow...

@TigersTooTough

 

@JPK
Looks like Kayne Turner's 0 has caused a minor scoring issue in my match against Groote.
It appears that because of this 0 the forward emergency score (Hannan's 51) has come onto the field so Groote's total score should be 1229.
Not a big deal but just want to raise it in case it causes ladder issues at the end of the season.

 

Gisborne Grenades 1176 defeated King Island Monarchs 1076

It was a match in which neither team really seemed to get going, and while it threatened to be close it never really lived up to expectations. Perhaps the crowd will go home unhappy, especially given the number of late outs and management afflicting their favourite home team players leaving only 14 on the ground.

In the end, King Island lacked the top end firepower to contend with the Grenades. Only Jack Macrae, the man who has carried King Island thus far, managed above 100 with 131. On closer examination of the Monarchs, their LLLLL formline is probably due to Macrae's absence, and Naitanui's injury is not going to help their cause. While Gisborne didn't have any extraordinarily high scores, they can take heart from the fact that 5 players managed to ton up. The most pleasing would have to be Billings, whose recent form gives hope for the future or even a late finals push this year.

12 Monarchs players scored below their average, showing that when this team fires they can absolutely rule just about any opposition. Unfortunately, the Naitanui injury means the King of King Island will be little use in the latter stages of the season. The train has well and truly been derailed, and whilst King Island may be able to scrounge a win against the similarly placed Barcrawlers, Serengeti and Southern Cross in the final two rounds could mean that the Monarchs only win a singular match, if that, in their final 8 games of the home and away season. @Tylo will probably be left scratching his head and wondering what could have been with a win over the Grenades, but it looks like that is what the season will end up as - a bunch of "could haves" and "almosts"

BAFFU
3. Macrae 131
2. Billings 125
1. Brayshaw 116

Big Tap
Witts 64 defeated Naitanui 42

 

Cow Bay 1,154 def by Groote Eylandt 1,229

Although the Crocs pulled off a fluke win this time last year, the Groote Eylandt coach took no chances this year to make sure that he took home the 4 points and keep within reach of the top 4. The end result was a 75 point win to the visitors.

Groote started strongly, with Stanley (104) and Cripps (156) combining well to drive the ball out of the centre square. Zorko (99) and Phillips (88) didn't have to put in too much effort as a result. Hawkins (112) and Riewoldt (80) were the main beneficiaries of the centre clearances, strong support was provided by Lewis (95) off the bench as well as Lloyd (96) and Houli (86) from the back half.

Lycett (72) battled hard but in familiar scenes this year just didn't deliver. Hopper (72) was the best in the middle for the Crocs but the effects of a long season and having lost Libba, Acres and Blakely to injury has started to take its toll. McGrath (99) and Witherden (94) battled hard to keep the goals at bay while Taranto (112) was best for the home side. Jack Martin (97) provided great support but too much was left to too few. In pleasing signs, MSD draftee O'Riordon pressed him claims for a starting position for next week.

The win ensured Groote remained in 5th place and in touch with the top 4, whereas Cow Bay remain in 16th and entrenched in the bottom 4.

BAFFU
3 Cripps, Groote, 156
2/1 Hawkins, Groote, 112
Taranto, Cow Bay, 112

Big Tap
Stanley (104) def Lycett (72)

Next week Groote Eylandt head back on the ferry to host the Grenades at home while the Crocs will travel to Pearcedale.

 

Match report from Pakenham

In a ring stinger of a game, the visiting team Hughenden have done enough to hold on for a win.
It was an enthralling match as both teams fought hard, some very respectable scoring done by both clubs with only a few letting their respective teams down.
The Prairie Dogs had Oliver 136, Shiels 136, Langford 121, Ward 117 and Shiel 103 all dominating the scores with others doing there bit, a couple of big games from Girro 86 and Cox 87 the lesser lights secured the win in the last, a great effort.
The home team did well enough with Hogan 123, Buddy 109, Sinclair 107 and Gaff 101 being the stars, some good avg scores from others helped keep it interesting, unfortunately Sidebum got the wobbles and could only post a miserable 48. Possibly the reason we lost

Final scores Hughenden 1280 defeat Pakenham 1246

Best on 3.Shiels 2. Oliver. 1. Hogan

Big tap Bellchambers 92 defeats Hoskin-Elliot 20

 

Round 17 - Korumburra Blowflys (8th) defeated Pearcedale Panthers (6th) by 25 points (1352 - 1327)

The sea was angry that day, my friends... as the Panther convoy headed around Western Port Bay, along the South Gippsland Hwy, on their way to Korumburra's Terrordome to take on the mighty Blowflys.

Both sides knew the importance of this "8 point" game with such a tightly positioned ORFFU ladder at this stage of the season. The result of this one would play a big part in both sides finals aspirations and both sides definitely brought the MF ruckus!

After an early hold up with the visitors unable to exit their change rooms due to an unfortunate door "issue", Pearcedale took to the field a little rattled and the home side took advantage jumping out to an early lead. Apparently a wise man once said, in the universe there are things known, and things unknown, and in between there are doors...

Hemmingway, Seinfeld, Willliam Blake, Wu-Tang! Enough already...

The sublime ruckwork of the Todd (123) Goldstein was on display from the get go, giving his midfielders first use at most contests and winning the Giant Tap honours on the day over the Nank (95).

What shaped up to be a tough battle in the midfield began that way with the visitors Mundy (130) Parker (105) and Hunter (91) the standouts. There was plenty of carnage in this hardly fought contest and the Panthers main man in the middle, JPK was cleaned up early by a rampaging Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. He got up with a very sore back, taking no further part in the game.That left the in form Jack Redden (154) to dominate the in and under stuff reproducing last weeks monsterous numbers in another BOG performance.

Ablett (113) did his usual solid things all around the ground and Blowflys Captain Rory Sloane (127) was dominant through the midfield and working forward from the wings, kicking a big 50m sausage to break open what was a tightly fought contest all day and give the Flys what proved to be an unassailable lead late in the piece.

The Panthers defence were huge all day with Howe (118) intercepting plenty of Blowfly forward thrusts while sitting on heads. Savage (97) was clinical as the teams "quarterback" while Shaw (113) got plenty of cheap ones and rebounded strongly.

The Blowflys defense took a beating this week with the in form Hodge a precautionary late out and Jimmy Webster spending a large chunk of the game on the bench getting friendly with a big old bag of ice.

With the undefeated Armadillos heading to the Terrordome next, the medical staff will need to work some magic this week to have the side at full strength.

Meanwhile the Panthers will look to bounce back at home as they welcome the Crocs.


BAFFU

3. Jack Redden (KB) 154
2. David Mundy (PEP) 130
1. Rory Sloane (KB) 127

 

Coolgardie Prospectors 1348 Def Blanchetown Bunyips 1043 (14th vs 18th)

In another poor performance from the homeside who were unable to field a full squad again with players missing in the guts and up forward, it was always going to be tough against @JPK and the prospectors.

Whilst the match didn't provide much on the viewing pleasure, it did provide a couple of highlights. New recruit Jack Steele (144) lived up to our hopes in the mids and possibly a shining light in 2019. Whilst the visitors would be happy with the outputs from Daw and Aliir. In the spirit of a competitive match coach @JPK sent Daw over to the Bunyips for the final quarter so the two imports could go head to head. It was Aliir's day to be had though kicking the match winning goal. (makes a lot of sense if you watched Syd V Nth)

Laird continues to show why he is arguably the best Defender in the competition and why he is often in trade discussions with most coaches. O'Meara and Wines in the guts for the visitors exceeded their season averages and repaid their coach after loads of average performances.

The ruck domination over Jacobs continued with big Stef Martin doubling the score 142 to 71. Stef clearly holds the mantle as 3rd best ruck in the competition and is vying for top 1 or 2 in the run home.

In a major blow for the visitors was the broken wrist to Sicily. He was spotted pre game chatting via Skype to Nick Kyrios, not sure if this had anything to do with the injury or not, maybe he was just after some 'flogsperation' from Nick.

BAFFU points - Steele - 3
Martin - 2
Laird - 1

Big Tap - Martin

 

Christmas Island 1158 defeated Eden 1132

The Smugglers have risen to second on the ladder after taking out a hard-fought match against the visiting Whalers.

Poor selection (Menzel) and early injuries (Kreuzer) had the Smugglers struggling early at 385/6. In contrast the Whalers were hot, led by Tom Lynch’s 4 goals and 128 SC. Even Rory Atkins got in on the act, with a goal and 28 possies for 109SC.

This lead to a substantial halftime lead, with the Whalers up by 477/5 (95.4) to 385/6 (64.2).

However, the second half was all Smugglers as they posted 773/9 (85.9) to the visitors 655/10 (65.5).

The comeback was led by the experienced midfielders, with BOG Heppell (129), Dusty (110) and Beams (111) outpointing their M1-3 opponents by 155 points.

There were mixed feelings for the Smugglers’ coach (as a Richmond fan) watching Castagna kick 0.5 (FFS!) and that inaccuracy in front of goal arguably cost the Whalers (and Tigers) the game, given the late injury to superstar Robbie Gray caused things to tighten again in the final term.

Ultimately the Hoff managed to hold off the Mot, and the Smugglers limped, bruised, but not beaten, over the line.

The teams, united in their nautical theming, retired to the Golden Bosun to drink the bar dry of rum.

Next week sees the Smugglers head to Nuytsland in a match that will go a long way to determining the make-up of the top 4. These matches are always highly anticipated, high scoring affairs (2 of the 3 are in the top 11 scoring games in FU history), so the Smugglers’ medical team will be working overtime to get Gray and Kreuzer fit.

Eden are at home against the Parasites, in what is certainly a winnable game for the developing young squad.

BAFFU

3 – Heppell (CIS)

2 – Lynch (EW)

1 – Beams (CIS)


Big Tap

McKernan (72) over Kreuzer (20)

@HOLKY

 

Bahahaha... Yeah Siciliy out will hurt you... but a flog none the less

 

Round 17 Trivia

• Nuytsland's score of 1,130 was the lowest winning score they've had in a match.

• Ararat are on a 14 win streak. Blanchetown an 18 loss streak.
• King Island have had 5 losses in a row, the longest losing streak in their history.

Next week

• Groote will be going for overall win number 60.
• After a couple of weeks, Pearcedale are still waiting to record win number 50. The helium balloons are starting to deflate. They're up against Cow Bay this weekend, a team they have a 4-0 H2H record in their favour.
• Eden vs Pakenham, 4-0.

 

@fresh
Mate, don't ever stop what you're doing........