Round 10 in review Gundagai 1483 d Waikikamoocow 1332 A fun thing that I like to do sometimes is to drop into the ORFFA gameday scoring round-up and really examine the scoring breakdowns of a couple of good teams to see how far my mob are from replicating it. (Well, that’s my idea of fun. But I’ve also led a very different existence as well ... and have no real discernible life outside of typing words and some-such) After looking at the breakdowns of this game, the figure '2025' came to mind immediately. Followed by the word 'maybe'. Two very good teams. Not a lot of weaknesses. Really the difference almost boiled down to a brilliant above average game from Clayton Oliver (178) and an uncharacteristically down day for the usually-reliable Zac Bailey (22). Really, there’s your difference and game margin. Both teams deservedly in the fight for top four spots come season’s end. Wagga Wagga 1065 d Iron Knob 981 The Wombats have squared their season (there is a poo joke there) at 5-5 and now loiter threateningly (not like a wombat) outside the top 8 after a narrow win over the Codpieces. The difference in the game? Numbers - more specifically, the number three (insert Count laugh here). Wagga’s three-player advantage allowed it to continually have a loose player in defence, up forward, and queuing for half-time refreshments. Alliterative shout-outs to Sicily, Swallow and Smith. For Iron Knob, Sinclair, King and Macrae were the standouts. A quick mention for Jake Soligo (96) who appears to be coming along nicely. And sending good vibes that coach churchboy can soon find extra players to man up loose opposition and cut in line in the refreshment queue. In the meantime, MSD Pick #1 awaits. Just don’t take the guy I have my eye on thanks. Foul Bay 1067 d Larrikin Lagoon 892 The Chooks’ old bones now teeter on the inside of the top 8 after getting on the right side of the Lefties. Adam Saad (112) was the only Foul Bay player to crack the ton, while six others scored 80 or more. Coach ChiefRussell is likely to spend the week staging auditions for a Patrick Dangerfield replacement. Brodie (144) and Perryman (138) kept on kepting on (that doesn’t work) for the Lefties, who would perhaps be lamenting a disappointing week in the midfield – Anderson, Simpkin and Billings not able to match it with experienced campaigners Selwood, Kelly and the aforementioned Dangerfield. Hopefully defensive reinforcements arrive soon for coach KI Guy as well. Dunsborough 1228 d Lovely Banks 1167 The upset of the round saw the Beetles battle to their second win for the season, sneaking past a disappointing Lilacs side by 61 points. Standout games from veterans (Coniglio, May) and youngsters (Green, Scott) alike saw Dunsborough rise to the occasion. Special mentions too to Hind, Hoskin-Elliot, Edwards and Ballard. For the Lilacs, all looks great for coach Jen when looking through the defensive and midfield efforts. Parish and Stewart occupied their usual spots at the top of the scoring, while the underrated Cal Wilkie (121) continues arguably a career year in defense. However scrolling down any further reveals a bloodbath of epic proportions in the ruck, up forward and on the bench – with all manner of usually distinguished performers putting in stinkers. Changes may be swung as the Purples look to better consolidate a spot in the eight in coming weeks. Cradle Mountain 1349 d Gariwerd 1111 They sing the songs of praise for that great Tasmanian giant from the highest rooftops of Hobart, Devonport and Launceston. Nank the Tank. Big Toby. Insert another nickname here. Ignore that he spent his younger years in Point Cook. Cradle Mountain’s rucking goliath (135) led from the front in a convincing win over fellow finals aspirant Gariwerd. Rich, Heppell, Redden, Naughton and Gresham tonned up as well. Good scores, good performances. The Cockies have enjoyed a great season, unfortunately this week wasn’t one of the best for coach Ant and the team. Hill, Laird and Guthrie more than pulled their weight, but several below-par performances in defence and up forward dragged the score southward. Still, a 7-3 start and top three spot is nothing to be sneezed at (even in the likely case that you have some version of the flu right now - if you do, gesundheit). Marble Bar 1017 d Nareewillock 823 Despite playing two short and enjoying a 15 from Lachlan Sholl, the Misfits moved to 5-5 on the season with a comfortable victory over whatever resembled a team from Nareewillock. Matty Flynn, Josh Kelly and old man Mundy reached 3 figures. Hopefully Mr Flynn’s performance will continue to see him earn a game alongside fellow big man Braydon Preuss into the future. Ward, Daniel and Treloar also scored well. Hopes are high the Misfits will have a fully fit 15 on the park very soon. For the Nuffers, it was interesting to see the coach embody the team name by ordering the team bus to leave with several players yet to board. Even more distressing amidst this Gary Sidebottom-esque nightmare was that it was in fact a Nuffers’ home game and they didn’t even have to board a bus at all. Eventually some players turned up to compete – predictably it was defenders Clark, Richards and Redman that led the scoring, while Serong was more than handy in the midfield. Coach Chris has already earmarked a hopefully-complete team for this week’s match-up at the Dunsborough Dungheap. Venus Bay 1343 d Birdsville 1149 Ten on end for the men from Venus Bay, with the Vultures still perched atop the ORFFA ladder after a good win over the Battlers. Dan ‘No problems here’ Houston top-scored with 139 and allowed this correspondent to set up perhaps the lamest joke in this entire review. The things we do for entertainment. The rest of Fitzy’s team was pretty good too, let’s face it. Even late call-up Greg Clark did his job with a handy 55. Birdsville’s midfield carried the load, battling (OK, so maybe THAT is the lamest joke in this review) hard through the agency of Smith, Kennedy and McDonald. Rucking assistance is definitely required, with Chayce Jones asked to carry an unrealistic burden there at the moment. However Dylan Moore continued his startingly good season with another 100+ score – a pleasant surprise for JC up forward. Charlie’s Opening 1269 d Wineglass Bay 1108 A nice win for the Spelunkers, snapping an extended losing streak on the back of top notch performances from some of the ‘usual suspects’. Bontempelli (130), Darcy (134) and Short (110) and Blakey (105) did what they usually do. Let’s face it, Merrett and Brayshaw were pretty handy too. For the Packers, unfortunately the soldiers keep dropping – short two on the weekend and with Tom Lynch tweaking a hammy after some stellar recent form. That said, even with only 12.5 on the park, Baker and Hewitt were quite brilliant. Darcy Cameron’s 130 may be a career-high too. Let’s hope Braydon Preuss returns to ruck duty very soon, along with the likes of Lachie Ash. Mt Beauty 1283 d Whitsunday 1096 Just quietly, Mt Beauty are coming along nicely right now. Three straight wins, returning players (as well as players still to return) and a near 1300 score. Hopes are high they peak (there’s two awful jokes … firmly in dad joke zone right now) at the right time at the pointy end of the season (another, god help us all). Walsh, Petracca, Butters and Rioli led the way. Geez, Darcy Fort (103) has been pretty handy this season as well. And of course Dusty and Big Maxy can improve on their scores too. The Whitsunday charge was again led by Jarrod Witts – another four votes in the Les W and currently in third place for the ORFFA’s highest individual honour outside of being traded to the Nuffers for a first-round draft pick and a packet of Burger Rings. Wines and Jezza Cameron also cracked three figures. Boak, Smith, Noble, Durdin and Nash also did their bit to try and cover for a midfield doughnut (or Burger Ring). The Warriors are now looking ahead to Round 11 and their match-up with the Packers. Next week Next week’s episode of the ORFFA will centre on plague, pestilence and draft picks. Yes, it is that time of year where spuds are about to be tossed onto the scrapheap and replaced by newer slightly shinier spuds. And while the mid season draft beckons, Round 11 beckons in a more immediate way – and perhaps through the use of a monkey’s paw, who knows – so best of luck to everyone and hope you can notch a win before you trade your spuds for other teams’ spuds prior to drafting spuds.
Great review Chris... Spelunkers fortunate to get the win... normal service will be restored this week Anyone got a forward line going cheap?
Fantastic work chris - especially given what you have to work with . Think you over rate the cows - there is a bit more of a difference than Oliver v Bailey between us and the 'hoppers. But thank you for the kind words.
Love having you back in the review mix Chris. Thanks for jumping in last minute. frothing for the msd so I can place that last piece of the puzzle and draft another fringe defender.
"Verbage" - don't think so; perhaps paean might better describe @chris88 's tribute to round 10 my friend.
Prefer to think of myself as a benevolent pedant. Why should correct use of the English language be difficult?
Have been in the States for 28 years now, it’s obviously affected my use of ‘English’…..which by the way I’m reminded of daily by the Sepo’s that I don’t speak ‘proper’ !!