ORFFA 2021 semi finals review

Discussion in 'ORFFA' started by dmandrews, Aug 17, 2021.

  1. dmandrews

    dmandrews Well-Known Member

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    Semi finals in the battle for the ORFFA premiership

    Foul Bay Chickens 1324 lost to Venus Bay Vultures 1469

    The ORFFA’s two original bays - Foul Bay and Venus Bay have been two of the most successful clubs in the history of the league and finished first and second respectively at the end of the 2021 home and away season. @ChiefRussell ’s Chickens are the only club to finish in the top eight in all ten ORFFA seasons, including eight top four finishes and five minor premierships. Foul Bay won the first two premierships in 2012 and 2013 to be the equal record holders for most ORFFA premierships won along with the Larrikin Lagoon Lefties. @Fitzy 's Vultures were a slower burn and didn’t record their first top eight finish until the ORFFA’s fourth season 2015, since then they have developed into a powerhouse, finishing in the top eight in all seven seasons from 2015 to 2021, joining Foul Bay as the only two clubs to achieve this feat. The Chickens and Vultures played each other in a final for the first time in the 2019 Grand Final with the Vultures recording a 1382 to 1234 victory. Vultures midfielder Luke Parker scored a team-high 141 points and finished runner-up in the medal for best afield behind Chickens forward Patrick Dangerfield with 156 points.

    Two integral members of Venus Bay’s forward line in Toby Greene and Lance Franklin missed the 2021 semi final due to suspension and injury respectively and were replaced in the side by Kosi Pickett and Jesse Hogan. The Vulture’s depth was further tested when midfielder Jaeger O’Meara was a late withdrawal due to knee soreness and was replaced by Angus Brayshaw. Foul Bay had a more settled line-up and the support of a passionate home crowd.

    Not much separated Foul Bay and Venus Bay during the first half of the 2021 semi final, however due to friendly fire Chickens midfielder Tim Kelly suffered a knee injury late in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game. In the first half of the third quarter the Vultures opened up a buffer and looked to have Foul Bay at arms-length. Led by Patrick Dangerfield Foul Bay fought back against the odds to hit the lead at the start of the final quarter. Venus Bay quickly responded with a goal of their own to regain the lead and the lack of rotations caught up with Foul Bay in the last quarter. Venus Bay led by midfielder Luke Parker controlled the last 10 minutes of the game and recorded a 155 point victory to progress to their second consecutive ORFFA Grand Final.

    The Foul Bay forward line was impressive with a trio registering tons, Patrick Dangerfield (169) in a best afield performance again, Tom Hawkins (109) and Will Snelling (103). The quartet of Chickens forwards outscored the Venus Bay defense in a high scoring battle 441-392. Although Foul Bay didn’t win any other line battles two midfielders in Tom Liberatore (132) and Joel Selwood (100) reached triple figures. Foul Bay’s number one forward Jack Ziebell (60) being well held and the injury to Tim Kelly (12) were critical factors in the Chickens being defeated.

    The Vultures delivered a clinical all-round team performance with four of the five lines averaging at least 98 points per player, the forward line was the only exception. Nine Venus Bay players scored tons and another two players registered 90’s. The only three Vultures that scored less than 65 were Pickett, Hogan and Brayshaw who had all been brought into the side as cover for unavailable automatic selections. Venus Bay’s number one midfielder Luke Parker with a team-high 148 points, sole ruckman Oscar McInerney (131) and number one defender Jack Crisp (124) all racked up 120+ scores. This trio were ably supported by midfield duo Andrew Gaff (116), Elliot Yeo (101), forward pair Bailey Dale (108) and Joe Daniher (103) along with both players who started on the interchange – Brayden Fiorini (119) and Shaun Higgins (109).


    Gundagai Grasshoppers 1248 lost to Cradle Mountain Devils 1418

    During the first five seasons of the ORFFA the Gundagai Grasshoppers and Cradle Mountain Devils only registered two top eight finishes between them, the Hoppers in 2012 and the Devils in 2014. It has been a stark contrast in the last five seasons, with both sides finishing in the top eight in all five seasons from 2017 to 2021. @snoz ‘s Hoppers are the only team that has finished in the top four at the end of the past five home and away seasons and won the 2020 ORFFA premiership in convincing fashion. 2021 was the Devils third consecutive top four finish at the end of a home and away season, however they have fallen just short of reaching the summit, losing their only Grand Final appearance in 2018 to the Marble Bar Misfits. During the 2021 ORFFA home and away season Gundagai were the number one ranked team for scoring with 1,346 points per game, just ahead of Cradle Mountain with 1,340 points per game.

    The 2021 semi final was the first finals encounter between the Hoppers and Devils. Gundagai’s number one defender Callum Mills and number one forward Tom McDonald were on the sidelines due to an Achilles and back injury respectively. Mills has averaged 114 points per game in 2021 to be the number two ranked defender in the ORFFA. Just before the game Grasshoppers captain Patrick Cripps was a late withdrawal due to a quad injury and was replaced by first-year player Duke Newcombe. The only player missing from the Devils best 15 for the semi final was captain Scott Pendlebury with a broken leg.

    In the middle of the ground both sides averaged just shy of 100 points per player in the 2021 semi final with the Grasshoppers four starting midfielders and ruckman accumulating 499 points to their Devils counterparts 494.

    Cradle Mountain made a fast start to open up a lead in the first quarter and this margin remained steady for most of the game before the Devils extended their lead over the undermanned Grasshoppers in time on of the fourth quarter to record a 170 point victory.

    The loss of Mills in particular was telling for the Hoppers whose four-player defensive line tallied 266 points including two sub 65 scores. Gundagai forward Jake Stringer (150) kicked five goals in a best afield performance and was joined in triple figures by midfielders Taylor Adams (116) and Hugh McCluggage (113). Three Hoppers scored 90’s – defender Jordan Dawson (99) midfielder Clayton Oliver (93) and late inclusion Duke Newcombe (94) from the interchange. Injuries to several of Gundagai’s key players unsettled their structure and meant that the Hoppers didn’t have the artillery to match CMD. With heavy-hitters Mills, McDonald and Cripps missing, five Hoppers scored less than 65 points - the players filling the D3, D4, F3, F4 and Int 1 positions.

    The visiting Cradle Mountain Devils delivered an even team performance, with the aforementioned midfield and ruck being well supported by the defense, forward and interchange lines who each averaged more than 85 points per player led by the two-player interchange scoring 207 points. None of the Devils 15 player team scored less than 65 points, however a factor in achieving this was having a healthy list which meant that their depth wasn’t tested. Seven Devils reached triple figures including all three players in the semi final that were recruited in the inaugural ORFFA Draft in 2012 – Jack Redden with a team-high 125, Dayne Zorko (117) and Dyson Heppell (110). Other CMD players to score tons were 2021 pre-season trade acquisition Harry Cunningham (111) in the D4 position and three players drafted with Round 1 PSD picks from 2013 to 2016 - Nick Vlastuin (118), Jacob Hopper (114) and Jack Steele (100).


    Zac Dawson Cup semi finals

    Charlies Opening Spelunkers 1294 defeated Nowhere Else Wanderers 1206

    @DaveH ’s 13.5 man Nowhere Else Wanderers outfit battled bravely against Zac Dawson Cup top seed’s Charlies Opening Spelunkers who had the full complement of 15 players. Ultimately @Bandit ‘s Spelunkers were able to utilise their numerical advantage and record a 1294 to 1206 win led by ruck Sean Darcy (150) and Bailey Fritsch (134) with a seven goal bag including five in the last quarter. Usual Spelunkers suspects Zerrett (107) the Bont (114) and Shorty (126) all reached triple figures. Second year forward Luke Jackson (90) continued his impressive finish to the season.

    Four Wanderers registered 120+ scores - midfielders Jarryd Lyons (152) and Paul Seedsman (122), defender Aliir Aliir (137) and forward Nick Hind (132). Forward Dan McStay (101) also registered a ton to help the undermanned Nowhere Else team score 1204 despite having an out of position ruck and only one player on the bench.

    Wagga Wagga Wombats 1157 lost to Waikikamoocow Incorrigibles 1202

    In an even contest @graeme ’s Cows were propelled to a 45 point victory over the Wombats by the only four players in the game to score at least 110 points, experienced duo Sam Menegola (145) and Tom Mitchell (117) were joined in this category by defender/midfielder Daniel Howe (129) and forward/midfielder Zac Bailey (110). Another pair of Waikikamoocow veterans played valuable supporting roles with defender Jeremey McGovern (91) and midfielder Brad Crouch (92) both scoring 90’s.

    @Lenny120 ‘s Wombats were brought unstuck at the bottom of the team sheet with the last four players appearing in the F3, F4 and the interchange positions only scoring 228 points between them. Led by Jordan Ridley (108) and Isacc Cumming (105) Wagga Wagga’s defensive line won the battle with the Cows forwards 351-299. The only other Wombat to reach triple figures was midfielder Ed Langdon (109) who was joined in WWW’s best players by forward Connor Rozee (96) and midfielder David Swallow (85).

    Scratch match

    Whitsunday Warriors 1057 defeated Birdsville Battlers 783

    The Whitsunday Warriors hosted @JC 's Birdsville Battlers in a scratch match. The Warriors had 13.5 players compared to only 10.5 for the Battlers and at home Whitsunday played controlled tempo football to maintain possession and tire the Battlers out.

    @TerryinBangkok ’s Warriors never looked threatened and recorded a 274 point victory. Ten Whitsunday Warriors scored 70+ led by midfielders Travis Boak (106), and Ollie Wines (105), key forward Jeremy Cameron (105) and forward/midfielder Isaac Smith (102).

    Battlers key position players, forward Matt Taberner (106) and defender Luke Ryan (103) were the only duo to reach triple figures. In the Birdsville midfield too much was left to Adam Cera (93) with fellow starting midfielders Lachie Hunter (54), Bailey Smith (44) and Dom Sheed (49) all living up to the team name and recording sub 55 scores.

    Upcoming 2021 ORFFA Grand Final

    Throughout the 2021 ORFFA season all 18 clubs experienced COVID-19 related issues that impacted the scheduling of games and naming of teams. Despite these complications the ORFFA has been able to hold a complete 2021 season and are down to the last two teams standing – The Venus Bay Vultures and Cradle Mountain Devils who will play for the 2021 ORFFA Premiership Cup on the weekend.

    The Vultures and Devils will be playing a final against each other for the third consecutive season. After going through the 2018 home and away season undefeated Venus Bay were on track for a perfect season until they were upset by seventh placed Cradle Mountain in a quarter final 1219-1434. A year later the tables were turned when the Devils finished second at the end of the 2019 home and away season and were upset by fifth placed Vultures in a semi final in a brutal demolition 1149 to 1510.

    The stakes are even higher for Vultures vs Devils finals episode three in the 2021 Grand Final with Venus Bay attempting to become just the second team in ORFFA history to win consecutive Grand Finals and Cradle Mountain attempting to win their first premiership.

    Other games on the final weekend of ORFFA football for 2021 are the Charlies Opening Spelunkers and Waikikamoocow Incorrigibles battling it out for the Zac Dawson Cup and a scratch match between the Gundagai Grasshoppers and the Gariwerd Cockatoos.
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2021
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  2. anthak

    anthak Moderator Staff Member

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    Epic as usual DMA!
    Where do you find all the results of past matches between teams? It adds so much to the reviews/previews.

    Like this for instance:
    This recent history sets up a fantastic grand final!
     
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  3. TheTassieHawk

    TheTassieHawk SC fanatic Staff Member

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  4. Fitzy

    Fitzy Well-Known Member

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    Great write up as per @dmandrews and good luck this week! I'm sure it'll be a great matchup!

    Also unlucky @ChiefRussell , dominant force not just this year but since day 1 of the ORFFA and I'm sure Foul Bay will be giving it a red hot go next year as well.
     
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  5. Bandit

    Bandit Moderator Staff Member

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    Love the write up Dean... the Spelunkers & Cows just support acts to the big dance.

    Good luck @dmandrews & @Fitzy
     
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  6. snoz

    snoz Moderator

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    Another fantastic & insightful write up @dmandrews - thank you & good luck to yourself and @Fitzy this weekend !!!
     
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  7. JC

    JC Well-Known Member

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    Thanks @dmandrews for another great review. Good luck to both you and @Fitzy in the final.
     
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  8. ChiefRussell

    ChiefRussell Well-Known Member

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    ;);)
    Nah, we’ll start the re-build next year so will definitely drop down the ladder a bit ;)

    Too good for me @Fitzy. The form of the Chooks died away once the injuries hit, don’t quite have the depth of the other sides up the top. Had a good run of it early in the season so was able to build a buffer early on, particularly as I played most of the top sides early on. Spluttered to the line in the end, was lucky to win a final and was definitely not confident.

    Best of luck to both you and @dmandrews this week. Hope it is a shootout.
     

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