Mole Creek Glow-Worms (13-2, 1st, 21277 points scored) vs Neptune Island Noahs (11-4, 4th, 20052) - a rematch of the 2022 Grand Final, Mole Creek have won 6 straight finals in going back to back while the Noahs have a record second to none and will be keen to spring an upset against the three-peat seeking Glowies Walpole Woylies (13-2, 2nd, 20635) vs Maralinga Atoms (12-3, 3rd, 19793) - the 2 sides battled out a thriller in the 2019 Preliminary final with the Woylies sneaking home 1405 - 1395 on the Atoms home turf en route to securing the 2019 premiership the week after. Walpole have won 12 straight games - will trying for 13 prove unlucky ? Drouin Dropbears (10-5, 5th, 19453) vs Jan Juc Ducks (6-9, 8th, 18192) - the 2 sides previously met in the 2017 Prelim final (Drouin 1304 def Jan Juc 1226) and 6 years on the 2023 sides are very different personnel wise http://tooserious.net/forum/tsLeagueMatchday.php?leagueId=14&round=22&year=2017 Drouin have won 8 straight while Jan Juc's players have been off the boil over the last 6 rounds but have they been tapering to peak for finals as they prepare to break the drought? Useless Loop Virgins (10-5, 6th, 19302) vs Nangkita Bucks (7-8, 7th, 19263) - a first time finals matchup with the Virgins paradoxically the far more experienced of the 2 sides in the finals furnace.
I reckon that 2017 squad could give my selected squad today a run for their money that's for sure! I still have 14.5 available and am embracing the underdog status
Wow so glad I’m not playing finals this season. Sad when Acres is the only player averaging above 80 in my squad that’s actually playing this week. Good luck to those still alive
Still no Oliver and a slight downturn in form for the Woylies, but let's see what this week has in store.
Mole Creek enter the round in patchy form and missing players, but hope their experience can help them lift in chasing a third straight title. DEF: Saad, Rioli, Atkins, Short (Williams) MID: Laird, Kelly, Petracca, McCluggage (Perryman) RUC: Reeves FWD: Greene, Curnow, Heeney, Rayner (Hayward) INT: Dangerfield, Pendlebury (Henry)
Noahs in GF replay Def - Newman, Dawson, Duncan, Brayshaw (Clark) Mid - Libba, Parker, Warner, Viney (Gresham) Ruck - Gawn Fwd- Moore, Zork, Daniher, Flanders (Henry) IC - Drew, Gaff (Tucker)
Drop Bears Sheezel, Darcy Moore, Florent, Naicos (Balta) NWM, Andy Brayshaw, Shai Bolton, Rozee (Fahey) Luke Jackson Zac Bailey, Jack Higgins, Lachy Schultz, Mitch Lewis (Jack Graham) Stocker, Bruhn (Harry Cunningham)
Finals Week 1 - Useless Loop Virgins Def: Steven May, Josh Battle, Brennan Cox, James Sicily (IQ) Mid: Lachie Neale, Ben Hobbs, James Worpel, Steele Sidebottom Ruck: Rhys Stanley (JVR*) Fwd: Errol Gulden, Aaron Naughton, Zak Butters, Liam Baker (Anthony Caminiti) Int: Isaac Smith, Rory Atkins (Dan Mc Stay)
The Virgin's are on 170/2 85 to the Bucks @Dale Dulvesteyn on 243/3 81.0 Big hit for the Bucks with an injured Hopper.
Final siren Glow worms got the full black cat treatment but get a second crack. Noahs 1548 def Glowhards 1205
@stowie @thokash any unofficial scores in your 2 matches or do we wait until lockout lifts to find out ?
Oof tough weekend, well played to the Noahs @That KI Guy and it looks like mouthguards will be in at training this week.
A quick look through this morning and based on the teams above - Drouin may have held on by 21 points in a very low scoring matchup, 1133 to 1112.
No way surely it wasn't that close, especially with a Jackson 170? If it was actually 20 points I'd be pretty mad with team selection with literally the 1 decision I actually had (and a stupid late-in/sub gamble) Best of luck to all the remaining finalists though!
The Bucks and Ducks bow out of the finals after defeats to the Virgins and Dropbears in two tight and cagey Elimination Finals. Thanks to @thokash and @Dale Duivesteyn for their efforts this season. The Woylies and Noahs have earned a week off and home prelim finals in dispatching the Atoms and Glow-Worms in convincing fashion. This leaves the Glowies vs their great rivals the Dropbears with the winner to take on Walpole and the Atoms hosting the Virgins with the winner to take on Neptune Island.