ORFFA Finals - Teams and Banter

All the best @graeme . I'm not optimistic, though, as the Battlers limped home this season. I was hoping to console myself with an early draft selection but then I remembered I traded my 2027 1st rounder during this year's PSD.

No wonder I have Infantino levels of support out Birdsville way these days.

 

Unofficial progress score
Cradle Mountain Devils 895/12 Average 74.6
Lead
Wineglass Bay Packers 480/7 Average 68.6

The predicted maximum temperature for the Devils home final against the Packers was 8 degrees. Conditions have not been conducive to free-flowing football with rain falling for most of the game so far. Both teams have played in a more defensive manner than usual, partly due to the conditions and partly due to being wary of the opposition’s strengths. The Devils led by 44 points at quarter time 258 to 214. The Packers were the better side in the second quarter and a Seth Campbell goal in time-on put the Packers in front. Campbell (87) is one of three Packers player to score 85+ to date along with forward/midfielder Tom Sparrow (92) and defender Andrew McGrath (89) after starting on the interchange.

The player scores for the Devils have been very different to the projected scores with multiple players scoring roughly half their season average. On the flipside the Cradle Mountain duo to reach triple figures – defender Nick Vlastuin (114) from the int 2 position and forward Shaun Mannagh (104) both average sub 75 to rank outside CMD’s top 14 in the 2026 season. Two Devils that average 90+ both scored 92, defender Dayne Zorko and Devils captain, ruck Toby Nankervis after starting on the interchange.

The three Devils to play on Sunday with season average in brackets are:
R Marshall (90), D Wilson (86), T Greene (82) = 258/3 Average 86.0

The eight Packers to play on Sunday with season average in brackets are:
Lachie Ash (103), John Noble (101), Bodhi Uwland (99), Josh Daicos (94), George Hewett (99), Darcy Cameron (92), Xavier O'Halloran (62), Sam Taylor (65) = 715/8 Average 89.4

Five of the eight Packers that average 90+ including all four defenders will take the field on Sunday. Whilst @Tracey ’s Wineglass Bay Packers are behind on average player score 68.6 to 74.6 at the end of Saturday night they are well placed to overtake Cradle Mountain on Sunday. If the 11 remaining players to take the field perform to their season average the Packers will defeat the Devils by 42 points, 1,195 to 1,153.

Some low scoring records for a Devils final are in danger. The Devils playing in their 20th final are on track for a sub 1,200 finals score for only the third time. In the previous 19 Devils finals the winning team has scored 1,300+. The lowest winning score in a final the Devils have played in is 1,306 by the Spelunkers in the most recent final, the 2025 Grand Final. The Devils lowest score in a finals victory is 1,316 on the road in the first week of the 2023 finals against the Foul Bay Chickens. Cradle Mountain's lowest finals score is exactly 200 points less, 1,116 on the road against the same opponent, the Chickens in the Devils first ever final in 2014.

 

Update on the Battlers hosting the cows after the Saturday games.

The Battlers are 539/6 = 89.8 while the cows sit at 1096/13 = 84.3. It's the classic SC question: do you want points on the board or scores yet to come? Well, which one would you prefer? Time for a decision.

The match up has been influenced by Bailey Smith's 161 for JC's team; which (almost) means 16 players against 14.5 (no playing R). So, advantage to JC if you chose potential or advantage to graeme if you chose points on the board. An interesting afternoon in store.

Other than Smith the best of the Battlers to date has been Harris Andrews (90), the other four all scoring in the 70s. For the cows Matt Johnson posted a 118 and Josh Treacy's 104. However, five scores in the 50s indicate the feast or famine nature of the kiwi visitors.

All to play for, time to be a bit more optimistic @JC ?

 

Unofficial final score

Cradle Mountain Devils 1,155/15 Average 77
Lost to
Wineglass Bay Packers 1,230/15 Average 82

The lead alternated at the end of each quarter in an all Apple-Isle clash. The Wineglass Bay defenders were the barometer for their team, after being down on their usual output early they significantly improved as the game progressed and were in total control in the last quarter. The Packers took the lead for good midway through the last quarter and went on to by 75 points which equates to an average of five points per player. Packers ruck Darcy Cameron was best afield with 129 points.

Congratulations on Wineglass Bay's finals victory @Tracey, good luck for the rest of the finals.

Cradle Mountain Devils

Def: D Zorko 92, R Laird 74,J Battle 62,J Lever 37 (S Banks) 265/4
Mid: J Steele 78, D Wilson 82, T Greene 90,E Langdon 41 (T Sonsie) 291/4
Ruc: T English 65
Fwd: R Marshall 88, P Wright 63, D Byrne-Jones 72, S Mannagh 104 (L Schultz) 327/4
Inter: T Nankervis 92, N Vlastuin 115 (A Naughton) 207/2
1,155/15 Average 77

Wineglass Bay Packers

DEFENDERS
Lachie Ash 74, John Noble 83, Bodhi Uwland 110, Josh Daicos 117 - Liam Baker 384/4

MIDFIELDERS
George Hewett 119, Ryley Sanders 74, James Worpel 74, Xavier O'Halloran 77 - Samuel Cumming 344/4

RUCKS
Darcy Cameron 129

FORWARDS
Tom Sparrow 93, Jacob van Rooyen 32, Seth Campbell 87, Cooper Trembath 31 - Leonardo Lombard 243/4

INTERCHANGE
Andrew McGrath 89, Sam Taylor 41 - Ben Keays* 130/2

1,230/15 Average 82

 

Congratulations @JC . The Battlers 1239 defeated the (brave?) cows 1209. These were the two highest scores posted in the first round of the Zac.

The Sunday games confirmed that in this case it was better to chase than have (insufficient) points on the board. Simplistically, Bailey Smith's 161 for Birdsville and the lack of a playing ruck at Waikick could be seen as the difference. However, your greater depth (with a couple of exceptions, notable TdeK with 23) meant a series of 70s while my guys posted 50s. Oh well, another year next year.

Best of luck in the semifinals JC.