The Atoms have qualified for their first ever ORFFF Grand Final and will host the Noahs who are familiar to the big dance having defeated the Dropbears to win the 2016 title in the ORFFF’s first ever Grand Final. @Brett Sanders , @That KI Guy ----------------------------------- Finals Results so far 2018 QF1 Neptune Island Noahs 1292 lost to Maralinga Atoms 1459 2018 QF2 Rutherglen Fugitives 1369 defeated Useless Loop Virgins 1247 2018 EF1 Black Swamp 29ers 1254 lost to Jan Juc Ducks 1337 2018 EF2 Walpole Woylies 1332 lost to Mt Thirsty Boozers 1372 2018 SF1 Neptune Island Noahs 1444 defeated Jan Juc Ducks 1350 2018 SF2 Useless Loop Virgins 1194 defeated Mt Thirsty Boozers 1171 2018 PF1 Maralinga Atoms 1395 defeated Useless Loop Virgins 1157 2018 PF2 Rutherglen Fugitives 1265 lost to Neptune Island Noahs 1449 ---------------------------------------- Previous Grand Finals 2016 GF Drouin Dropbears 1265 lost to Neptune Island Noahs 1467 Tons – Dropbears 4 (P Dangerfield 131, S Docherty 110, M Duncan 105, S Savage 104) vs Noahs 6 (S Ross 138, J Johannisen 130, J Howe 130, Gawn 111, Zaharakis 106, J Lyons 104) Seb Ross Medallist – Seb Ross (Neptune Island) 138 2017 GF Mt Thirsty Boozers 1396 defeated Drouin Dropbears 1277 Tons – Boozers 6 (L Franklin 183, P Ryder 122, T Mitchell 111, J Elliot 107, J Billings 104, J Sinclair 101) vs Dropbears 3 (P Dangerfield 163, L Shuey 125, M Duncan 125) Seb Ross Medallist – Lance Franklin (Mt Thirsty) 183
Previous H2H matches in a nutshell Rd 4 2016 Maralinga Atoms 1083 (playing with 14 men) defeated by Neptune Island Noahs 1407 http://tooserious.net/forum/tsLeagueMatchday.php?leagueId=14&round=4&year=2016 Tons – Atoms 2 (S Coniglio 126, N Roo 102) vs Noahs 6 (R Sloane 137, D Zaharkais 129, D Rich 114, R Bastinac 106, M Gawn 105, D Tyson 103) The matchup summed up the season as the Noahs went 4-0 enroute to a 13-2 regular season and victory in the 2016 Grand Final while the Atoms under the giuidance of @DamoH were rock bottom at 0-4 before recovering to finish 6-9 in 11th position. Rd 6 2017 Neptune Island Noahs 1288 defeated Maralinga Atoms 1232 http://tooserious.net/forum/tsLeagueMatchday.php?leagueId=14&round=6&year=2017 Tons – Noahs 3 (R Sloane 140, N Roo 113, S Ross 105) vs Atoms 2 (Wingard 127, McEvoy 125) The Noahs won their 2nd straight matchup with Maralinga by 56 points with turncoat N Roo tonninfg up for the Noahs whlel Rory Sloane bettered his previous effort of 137 with 140 to be best afield . The Noahs 6-0 start was indicating their credentials for back to back before the 2nd season went downhill fast as they finished 10-5 (5th) and saw their season finished in the 2nd week of finals with a loss to the Ducks. Meanwhile @Brett Sanders had taken the helm of the Atoms and after falling to 2-4 they again finished strongly before finishing 8-7 in 9th position.
Rd 13 (AFL 17) 2018 - Maralinga Atoms 1388 drew with Neptune Island Noahs 1388 http://tooserious.net/forum/tsLeagueMatchday.php?leagueId=14&round=17 Tons – Atoms 5 (J Redden 154, T Goldstein 123, D Martin 110, T Kelly 107, C Wingard 105) vs Noahs 7 (Laird 133, M Gawn 131, R Sloane 127, T Lynch Adel 127, J Howe 118, D Smith 104, A Gaff 101) The ORFFF's 2nd ever draw saw Wingard became the first Atoms player to ton up twice against the Noahs while Sloane made it 3 from 3 and Gawn 2 from 3 in H2H matches in a high calibre contest. The draw secured the Noahs top 4 spot with 2 rounds to go and firmed their chances of finishing top 2. For the home side the bittersweet result saw them qualify for the finals for the first time but fall 1 .5 games behind 4th spot with 2 to play. 2018 QF1 Neptune Island Noahs 1292 lost to Maralinga Atoms 1459 http://tooserious.net/forum/tsLeagueMatchday.php?leagueId=14&round=20 Tons – Noahs 5 (S Ross 158, A Gaff 123, Gawn 112, R Sloane 111, Hunter 108) vs Atoms 7 (S Coniglio 157, J Redden 137, Dunkley 132, Gibbs 118, T Kelly 112, D Martin 111, C Wingard 105, ) The rematch came 3 weeks later - aided by the 29ers finishing 0-3 in the final 3 weeks - as Sloane made it 4 from 4 and Gawn 3 from 3 (missing in 2017 due to injury) while Ross’s 158 is the highest of any player in this H2H matchup and his 2nd ton vs Maralinga. Gaff notched back to back tons against the Atoms but copped a lengthy suspension, for the victors Wingard made it 3 straight against the Noahs while Redden went large for the 2nd time against @That KI Guy's side as did Coniglio, Kelly and Dusty as the Atoms midfield sharked Gawn's taps and ran amok.
Week 4 ORFFF Finals Fixture (AFL Round 23) - as always first named is the home side Grand Final – Maralinga Atoms (10-4-1 5th) vs Neptune Island Noahs (13-1-1 1st) The Atoms improvement in 2018 has seen them beat the best and earn their spot in the big dance, while the Noahs overcame an unexpected blip in the first week of finals to win their next 2 in impressive fashion despite a defensive crisis that may have toppled a lesser team. The sides have each had a light week on the track and enjoyed the traditional Thursday afternoon Grand Final parade and associated events. With all accommodation within 100km fully booked and a nationwide shortage of Hazmat suits declared the atmosphere will no doubt reach fever pitch as teams are announced and the first players run out in the next 24 hours. The 2018 Minor premiers are 6-2 all time in finals and host an Atoms side who have won 2 out of 2 finals this season having failed to make the top 8 in 2016 and 2017. The bottom line is that no team flukes their way to a 42-10-1 record in ORFFF footy and despite @That KI Guy's readiness to claim the underdog tag the Noah's premiership experience from 2016 sees them start as slight favorites for mine against the red hot Atoms side playing on their home patch and playing with the swagger of a team ready to swoop for this season's flag.
6 players to watch – Maralinga Wingard – there is no bigger ORFFF stage than a match against the Noahs and Wingard has 3 consecutive tons against the best in the biz, with a Friday night match against the Bombers the Atoms have high hopes that Chad gets their Grand Final off to a fast start with another triple figure score despite him wearing the colours of the arch rivals to coach @Brett Sanders AFL side the Crows. Dusty – another key player early in the contest @Brett Sanders will be hoping that Dusty brings his 2017 AFL Grand Final to the 2018 ORFFF equivalent as Dusty takes on the young Bulldogs in the AFL in an early Saturday clash Big Boy - is returning from injury but is vital to the Atoms (and Hawks) chances this weekend. In the AFL McEvoy takes on Sinclair who leaks SC points in a key Saturday night clash and The Atoms need him to go large to nullify the Beard as best as possible. Redden – Another poor season would have had Atoms management questioning the former Lions future however coach @Brett Sanders has shown faith and been rewarded big time as the experienced Redden has returned to his best in 2018 and has lifted in the earlier clashes against the Noahs. Playing at 1.10pm on Sunday against his old AFL side Redden will look to boost the Atoms through the important middle and late stages of the contest. Coniglio – the talented but injury plagued Giant should be 1st or 2nd in his sides B&F and will no doubt be keen to lead by example to give his side a further boost on Sunday as his AFL side face the Demons at 3.20pm.. Goldy - forms part 2 of the Atoms Twin Towers taking on the Noahs Beard and will be required to bring his best form in order to give the home side their best chance of winning the taps and clearances late in the contest, He runs out against the Saints in the late Sunday AFl game and a head to head clash with the inexperienced Lewis Pierce wil be giving @That KI Guy nightmares if it is late and close. Apologies to recruit of the year Tim Kelly (pick 8), the emerging superstar Josh Dunkley and 7 others.
6 players to watch – Neptune Island Dev Smith – The Ex Giant has been handy for the Bombers and will no doubt literally be the one Bombers player that died in the wool Port Adelaide supporter @That KI Guy will be wanting to tackle like a demon, win a stack of the pill and hit the scoreboard in a large Port Adelaide victory on Friday night. Sloane – The Sloane Ranger has given Atoms players, coaches and supporters nightmares after all 4 previous matches and @Brett Sanders will be on the phone to Bolts this week as he needs the Blues to put an Ed Curnow hard tag on him on Saturday night or the Atoms hopes could take a nosedive pronto. TT Lynch – the Crows forwards appear posied to feast if their side can bury the wooden spooners and with their side out of finals contention KI Guy wil surely be barracking (quietly) for a big bag by the other Tom Lynch. Laird – the Noahs coaches Fruit Tingle obsession is curious indeed but eyebrows were raised across the comp when the blockbuster Laird/Greenwood for SPP/Finlayson trade went down at midseason to firmly tie his side’s 2018 flag hopes to the fortunes to the team from West Lakes. Gawn – the Noahs brainstrust stunned me when they plucked him early in the 2016 inaugural draft but their dynasty in the making owes a lot to that choice as Gawn stands head and shoulders above all rucks not named Grundy this season and when fit over the past 3 years with apologies to 2016 Goldstein. 320pm Sunday is late on but the Noahs know their main man will bring his A Game when the stakes are the highest. Ross – the only player in this game who is able to win a medal named in his own honour is the Saints dynamo who went large in 2016 and could do again with no Ben Jaocobs in the North Melbourne lineup and the Roos season officially over for 2018 after this 440pm Sunday match. Apologies to the remainder of the young Noahs squad who appear to be a strong chance to take the spoils for the second time in 3 years.
And over to the participating coaches and the ORFFF community for their 10 cents pre, during and post match as the ORFFF 2018 title is determined.
Fantastic write up as usual @TheTassieHawk You put in a phenomenal amount of work in your analysis and write up every week and it definitely does not go unnoticed!!! Good luck to @That KI Guy this week, I hope its a ripping contest. May the best team win!!!
Just went to look at my team then, its still showing all but 3 players as orange or red and seems like its still locked. Is This going to change or have i done something wrong?
Amazing body of work yet again @TheTassieHawk Terrific analysis and GF preview. Noahs rolling into this with a few guns short of a six-pack. Our contentious list management strategy of 2 defenders in / 4 defenders out, is showing all the cracks of Liberal govt party room. Nonetheless our merry band of 14.5 hungry crusaders will suit up and head north into the barren wastelands for this all South Aussie affair. The Atoms have certainly been walking the talk in the last few months and notably had our measure in week one of the finals. Again, our fate will no doubt lie in the ability of one or two of our leaders to step forward and cherry up. Good luck @Brett Sanders lets dance!
Maralinga Atoms Grand 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 FWD - J Waite, C Wingard, J Dunkley, W Milera (J Roughead) INT - B McEvoy, T Kelly (J Berry) The Atoms go into the big dance nearly unchanged from last week. Tim Kelly has earned a call up after his accidental 155 in the VFL. The boys are going to put it all on the line for Jarrod Waites final game after his decision to call it quits during the week. It should be a cracking game! Good luck to the Noahs!!!
Neptune Island Noahs Grand Final line up Def - Laird, Haynes, Morrison, Cumming (Florent oop) Mid - Ross, Sidey, Hunter, Sloane (Tucker) Ruck - Gawn Fwd - Lynch, Smith, Hewett, Thomas (Taylor) IC - Greenwood, Tyson (Menzel) Also largely unchanged. Still no fourth defender but Tucker comes in as an actual mid on the pine. C'mon Smithy, let's crack this wide open tonight! Giddy-up Noahs!!
With both sides named here is the TS leagues snapshot:- Atoms vs Noahs - players in bold played in the 2016 GF Wingard vs Dev Smith T Stewart, T Kelly vs n/a Dusty, Dunkley vs Hunter to end the first quarter n/a vs Sidey, J Thomas and D Tucker (late in for Sloane) Burton, McEvoy vs Morrison, Hewett (Florent oop as Def emg in place of Cumming) Gibbs, Milera vs Laird, Sloane (late out), TT Lynch, Greenwood to end Saturday's matches Redden vs n/a Davis, Hibberd, Coniglio vs Haynes, Gawn, Tyson, Cumming (did not make the 22) Goldy, Waite vs Ross will finish proceedings The Noahs will be aiming to give Seb Ross a 100 point start or more heading into the 440pm Sunday match
RORY SLOANE Late out for the Crows as Rory Sloane is replaced by Ellis-Yolman! Well this is an unfortunate development. Luckily I have the ever reliable Tucker to chip in from the bench. Killing it, with a massive 31 at 3/4 time.
Atoms well and truly blowing this one apart. Atoms 915/9 (101) vs Noahs 987/11 (89) *incl Florent 39 oop A disappointing 40 from some dude pretending to be Sloane. Gonna need the Beard and Sebastian the Ross to rip this apart to have even a glimmer. Well played to date @Brett Sanders, six tons from nine so far is record pace. Hopefully no more curve balls on Sunday.
Well, many grats to @Brett Sanders Atoms had their foot on our throat all the way through the last quarter and didn’t give an inch. My calc has this smashing as: Atoms 1521 vs Noahs 1408 Gotta make your own luck in this caper and we definitely spent all our tickets just to get here. Well done Atoms on a solid season and a resounding GF victory!
Thanks @That KI Guy, great season!!! A couple of big scores in the final! Cant wait to do it all again next year!!!