With Drouin and Walpole both eliminated we will be seeing a 3rd different grand final host in as many seasons. Injuries appear to be affecting most teams, so AFL team selection may be telling. This week's penultimate matches are being hosted by Maralinga and Rutherglen @Brett Sanders @YAD69 @tyze1 @That KI Guy Preliminary Final 1 - Maralinga Atoms (3-1-1 W/L and 1386 ppg average over their last 5 matches) vs Useless Loop Virgins (4-1 and 1242 ppg) Previous clashes - Rd 9 2016 - Useless Loop Virgins 1427 defeated Maralinga Atoms 1327 - Rd 1 2017 - Maralinga Atoms 1254 defeated by Useless Loop Virgins 1428 - Rd 9 2018 - Maralinga Atoms 1224 defeated by Useless Loop Virgins 1269 Useless Loop relied on smothering defence as they ended the Boozers title defence with a hard fought semi final victory last start. Maralinga’s last match saw them blitz the red hot favourite home side and post an imposing 1450 plus total in their first ever final. As stated last week Useless Loop are no strangers to finals on the road with this match being their 6th final out of 7 away from home, they also boast an unblemished record against the hosts (including a tight matchup in Round 9) and will be aiming to make it 4 from 4 at the close of this contest. The Atoms will look to continue their dominant late season form under the pressure of sudden death finals football and will need to afford the Virgins due respect in this vital clash. Preliminary Final 2 - Rutherglen Fugitives (4-1 and 1342 ppg) vs Neptune Island Noahs (3-1-1 and 1351 ppg) Previous clashes – excluding Rd 8, 2018 when the Noahs dispatched the Fugs by 150 points in a 2018 ORFF* Champions League Playoff match - Rd 13 2016 - Neptune Island Noahs 1378 defeated by Rutherglen Fugitives 1563 – the equal 2nd highest score in ORFFF history - Rd 11 2017 - Rutherglen Fugitives 1266 defeated by Neptune Island Noahs 1289 - Rd 14 2018 - Neptune Island Noahs 1383 defeated Rutherglen Fugitives 1237 The 2016 premiers and 2018 minor premiers hit top form last week with a 1444 to 1350 win over the Ducks and were hardly shabby the preceding week against the Atoms. Rutherglen easily accounted for Useless Loop 1369 to 1247 a fortnight ago to notch their first finals win and earn hosting rights for the second preliminary final. These 2 sides matched up 4 weeks ago with the Noahs accounting for the Fugitives by 146 points to take a 2-1 H2H lead in ORFFF footy. The finals experience boasted by the Noahs may well make a difference if it is late and close however the Fugitives will be a strong chance if they get first use of the pill and get their running game going. ---- Hopefully the 4 coaches can provide some pre, during and post match banter and it would be great to see regular score updates through the early stages of each contest - best of luck all.
Early selection news from the Vineyard sees Trent Cotchin likely to miss with question marks remaining over veteran Goddard's availability. Shiel looks set to return after missing the qualifying final. Full selection to follow this evening @That KI Guy
Thanks for the preview @TheTassieHawk Looking like carnage on both sides of the fence @tyze1 With Talia, Hunt and Howe all confirmed out, the Noahs are praying for a minor miracle in the form of Cumming or Smith to fill our defence. Likely to be going in with 14.5 this week and the 0.5 prospects are pretty meh. Speculation over Greenwood too. #imtheunderdog
Noahs looking to book a seat at the Big Dance Def - Laird, Haynes, Morrison, Cumming (Florent) Mid - Ross, Sidey Hunter, Tyson (Ahern) Ruck - Gawn Fwd - Lynch, Hewett, Smith, Thomas (Taylor) IC - Sloane, Greenwood (Turner) Now lets have a good clean fight with no late outs (except for GWS to give Cumming a shot). C'mon @tyze1 , Bring it!
GWS have enough outs tyvm, members have been asked to pack their boots and socks when coming to the game in case they are needed on field.
Prelim Final Fugitives Team v Neptune Island @That KI Guy In: Shiel, Wood Out: Cotchin, Simpkin D - Harbrow, Hodge, Salem, Macmillan (Bonner) M - Shiel, Cunnington, Pendlebury, Macrae (Sheed) R - Martin F - Gunston, Parish, Wood, Langford (Simpkin) I - Rampe, Goddard (Watts)
Useless Loop Virgins DEF: Kade Simpson, Shannon Hurn, Steven May, Thomas Cole MID: Lachie Neale, Jared Polec, Tom Phillips, Isaac Smith RUC: Liam Ryan (oop) {Aaron Naughton (oop) FWD: Robbie Gray, David Mundy, Mark Hutchings, Josh Schache INT: James Worpel, Brennan Cox @Brett Sanders here are the Virgin's ready to be sacrificed and slaughtered by the A Bomb
Maralinga Atoms preliminary final team. DEF - M Hibberd, P Davis, T Stewart, R Burton (M Williams) MID - D Martin, B Gibbs, S Coniglio, J Redden (S Burgoyne) RUCK - T Goldstein (C Pedderson) FWD - , J Waite, C Wingard, J Dunkley, W Milera (J Roughead) INT - B McEvoy, J Berry Good luck @YAD69 may the best team win!!!
Fugitives holding sway on Saturday evening as we brace for a Neptune Island comeback! RGF 908 / 10 NIN 666 / 8 @That KI Guy
Ugh that’s some head start to reel in. Boys are primed to tear this apart on Sunday. All eyes on the Beard!
The Atoms are on 671/8 83.9 to the Virgins on 733/9 81.4 Has Coach @Brett Sanders made the biggest blunder of the year with Kelly & Burgoyne not selected to take the field? Super Sunday will be interesting indeed!
Atoms are on 981/11 89.2 to the Virgins on 1,155/15 77 @Brett Sanders The home side is in the box seat with 4 to come unless something disastrous occurs!
The Atoms go BANG and explode with 1,390/15 92.7 to the Virgins on 1,155/15 77.0 Well done @Brett Sanders
In scenes synonymous with Sydney’s successful Olympic bid announcement, The Noahs faithful have descended into hysteria as their side storms into the Grannie! Trailing the dominant Fugs halfway through the third, Mr Hunter and the Bearded Giant entered the fray and set about dismantling the vineyard. Fruit tingles were then added to the tasty sundae as Laird and his cohorts junked it up to seal the deal. Noahs 1449 def Fugs 1265 A tough slog by the Fugs @tyze1 and definitely gave us a shake. A host of Sunday sub pars have rained on the parade. Now time to split some Atoms!
Thanks @YAD69 great match up. Congrats on another great season, I'm sure you'll be back next year stronger than ever!!