Final scores from the Goldfields @choppers The Prospectors had a really good week leading into the byes, getting a comfortable win, and putting up a really good score (which has probably cost us a spot or two in the draft order). The injury to Hunter Clark was the big disappointment of the match, scoring a solitary point, but a ready replacement in Josh Worrell (100 points in the magoos) is raring to go! The Barcrawlers had a very average week, scoring pretty-much bang-on what their YTD projection said they would. There's something to say about being average, and this week its a matter of "that's not enough". As an aside to thinking about averages, just remember as you drive around that statistically every second car you come across is being controlled by a below average driver. The Prospector defence was a really strong unit, lead by J Sicily on a huge 172 points, but unfortunately hampered by H Clark (1) and his knee. D Heppell (85) and J Worrell (100) are waiting to step up and take his place for the few weeks after the bye. The Barcrawler defence was very solid, with J Dawson (120) and ex-Prospector L Duggan (117) being the best performers in the entire side, showing just how much of the ball was spent in the visitors back half. The Coolgardie mids were another solid unit, with J Aish (109) and J Short (103) topping the ton. The Banchang mids were a very hit-and-miss affair, seeing H Greenwood (116) stand up and be counted, while G Hewett (22) was out for the count, and the coach will be happy that the byes are here now and he won't miss any real footy. The rucks was all about the Big O, scoring a 36 point tap-contest win over the visiting J Finlayson. The home-town forwards had a huge amount of the ball, but still struggled to score any better than average, and its something the coach is getting really worried about. The visiting forwards made the most of their limited chances, with T Sparrow (109) raising the cricket bat and kissing his helmet, until his teammates pointed out he brought the wrong equipment to the field. The interchange was a case in consistency, with a pair of 90's for the Prospectors, and a pair of 50's for the Barcrawlers. In the end it was a win across each line of the field for the home side, and a solid 226 overall win. We're in the byes and mid season trading and drafting for the next few weeks. Giving all coaches time to consolidate and tinker, and hopefully come out stronger in the back half of the season, or set themselves up for a solid run into 2024 and 2025. The votes: 3 - J Sicily, Coolgardie, 172 points 2 - J Dawson, Banchang, 120 points 1 - L Duggan, Ex-Coolgardie, 117 points
At 1/9th time in the Golfields @wrightbrendan and its almost all over with the visitors showing that they've turned up to play, while the locals have tentatively turned up...
Full time at the Sandpit and @fresh 's visiting Crocs 1205/15/80 have run away, 284 point winners over a lacklustre Sandgropers 921/15/61 Match report to follow
Full time in the Goldfields, and it was a bit of a walk-over in the end @wrightbrendan Basically, 14 of your blokes flogged 15 of my blokes, and my two MSD picks combined for 29 points and an injury...
Duggan scores 116 Eden 1077 DEF: Ellis 57, L. Baker 50, Broad 118, D Williams 110 (Murray) MID: Amon 62, Acres 119, Pendles 75, Crisp 96 (Gardner) RUC: Briggs 89 FWD: Dixon 58, Close 55, KKP 69, Chandler 40 (Hill) IC: Payne 6, Murphy 73 (Spargo) Banchang 1124 DEF: Collins 65, Farrell 131, Buckley 96, Duggan 116 MID: Dawson 102, Davies-Uniacke 94, Adams 63, Sparrow 81 RUC: Miller 26 FWD: Elliott 117, Finlayson 65, Neal-Bullen 50 Riccardi 17 I/C: Hewett 19, Langdon 82 (Coleman) While it wasn't a win, a good close game with a full side is an improvement on earlier this year. The MSD #1 Pick put in a strong debut with 110 and Acres (picked in the last MSD) top scored for the Whalers with 119. A bit more tinkering is required now that we have a selection table. 7 under 60. Meanwhile a win keeps Banchang in the hunt for the finals. BAFFU: Farrell 3, Acres 2, Broad 1 Giant Tap: Briggs 89 def Miller 26
The Vikings have run out 200 point winners give or take a few Vikings 1465 Bulls 1265 Match report to follow @bryzza
Blanchetown Bunyips 1,358 def Hughenden Prairie Dogs 1,021 Full of hope following the bye rounds and list restructuring both teams were ready to show what they could do for the final 6 rounds of the 2023 season. It was obvious from the opening bounce the Bunyips had come to play and the smashing started from the centre bounce with ROB (144) easily out rucking the newly recruited Ryan (31) and this where the footy lesson started. Led by an invincible backline of Houston (156), Dale (121) and Atkins (111) the Prairie Dogs forwards were starved of opportunities with only Thilthorpe (87) offering anything for the home side. The midfield was dominated by the Bunyips with Walsh (99) and Daicos (120) getting first use with Keays (124) having a day out in the forward line. There was some resilience shown by Hughenden’s Barrass (105) and Cox (139) but it wasn’t enough to stop the onslaught. Hughenden were not helped with the early loss of Battle (2) to concussion but take nothing away from the Bunyips, they were fully charged following the Byes and showed a sloppy Hughenden how football should be played. Another frustrating loss for Hughenden who will need to bounce back next week against the visiting Cormorants and Blanchetown look to take this form home to take on the visiting Whalers. BAFFU Awards 3 Houston (156) - BBU 2 ROB (144) - BBU 1 Cox (139) - HPD @martyg
Belated update from Mill Park @eagle_eyed Gropers need eramus to score about 280 to get the job done. The locals have cracked some Sparkling Shiraz in advance as the celebrations begin SFB 1274/15/85 SCS 997/14/71
Round 17 - AA vs SB Beware the wounded buffalo. Always a personal motto, life imitated art in round 17 with a perennially dangerous Serengeti team coming to town and giving the Araratians a reality check; whilst hardly comfortable, the visitors toddled off back to Africa with the four points, 53 point winners plus bragging rights plus emotional edge coming into finals. A triumvirate inspired victor you may say; literal, psychological and physical. Armadillo brass is said to be very worried about the scars this defeat may have caused. Trialing a different format of match reports, please see below for new categories: SB Best: May (147), Neale (fuck you EE... i mean 142), Merrett (136), Parish (126), Docherty (EE see previous comment... 112). SB not so best: Josh Kelly (23 with no lube), Bailey Smith (get a haircut 41), Patrick Dangerfield (shadow of former self 79). AA Best: Ryan (168), Stewart (124), Laird (117), Brayshaw (107), Rowell (101) AA not so best: Blakey (neck like a giraffe 41), Snelling (thanks brad scott 44), Soligo (second year blues 40). special dishonourable mentions to Luke Jackson (unicorn with no horn 64) and Adam Treloar (butchered the ball 52). Final score: AA 1302 def by SB 1355