Barring any last minute changing of minds before 7:30... here is the Vic/Tas team for the State of Origin Series Defenders: Sam Docherty (VBV), Michael Hurley (CMD), Kade Simpson (NN), Alex Rance (DGD) Mids: Rory Sloane (WGP), Scott Pendlebury (CMD), Marcus Bontempelli (COS), Dustin MARTIN (MBU) Ruck: Matthew Kreuzer (VBV) Forwards: Mitch WALLIS (GC), Elliot Yeo (VBV), Toby Nankervis (CMD), Isaac Heeney (LBL) Bench: Brad Ebert (NN), Dayne Zorko (CMD)
The votes are even so we fall back to averages... Merrett in for Ebert Defenders: Sam Docherty (VBV), Michael Hurley (CMD), Kade Simpson (NN), Alex Rance (DGD) Mids: Rory Sloane (WGP), Scott Pendlebury (CMD), Marcus Bontempelli (COS), Dustin MARTIN (MBU) Ruck: Matthew Kreuzer (VBV) Forwards: Mitch WALLIS (GC), Elliot Yeo (VBV), Toby Nankervis (CMD), Isaac Heeney (LBL) Bench: Zach Merrett (COS), Dayne Zorko (CMD)
After I got home I saw the conversation from @Bandit and cast my vote for Z Merrett at around 7 pm. I was confident Merrett was more likely to score 120+. Lost the battle tonight with Ebert scoring 144, hopefully Merrett can repay the faith and lift the bar even higher. One thing is for certain Merrett's performance in SOO is going to get the full attention of the Vic/Tas match committee.
Which club is hosting the State of origin game? My suggestion is the reigning premiers, the Larrikin Lagoon Lefties. After seeing so much quality football in 2015 & 2016 it would be good to ensure that the Lefties supporters get to see at least one shoot-out in 2017. I am going to make a post on the weekend regarding the Victorian/Tasmanian SOO team and would like to at least mention where the game is being played.
Given the Stench were the winners last year Dean, that seems fair. Maybe going forward the team that finishes highest on the ladder at seasons end from the winning division can host the game the following season.
which team has more left footers playing? It would be a distinct advantage on that ground. I wish we hadve known before lockout!
The Best's consensus decision to bring Joel Selwood in rather than risk Rocky seems to have been correct (126 at 3/4 time).
In the end I decided to write a State of Origin article covering both teams – The Others and Victoria/Tasmania. Below is the ORFFA Record article published in the 2017 State of Origin edition. Let me know if there were any mistakes in how any of the 30 SOO players were recruited, and if you know, please provide details of how Others defender Tom McDonald was recruited. ORFFA 2017 State of Origin The cream of the ORFFA crop have assembled at Larrikin Lagoon for the second annual State of Origin match between The Others/Rest/Stench/Best and Victoria/Tasmania. The first edition set an ORFFA aggregate scoring record with The Others/Rest/Stench/Best defeating Victoria/Tasmania by 40 points, 1811 to 1771. Of the 30 players that took part in the 2016 game just under half, 13 have been selected again in 2017, comprised of five for The Others and eight for Vic/Tas. Despite their underdog tag the Vic/Tas team have the number 1 ranked player for all three four player lines, being Sam Docherty in defense, Rory Sloane in the midfield and Mitch Wallis in the forward line. The Others have the number 1 ranked ruckman in Shane Mumford. Both states have opted for similar structures with two midfielders on the interchange, however The Others only ruck eligible player in Shane Mumford will be competing against a Vic/Tas ruck duo in fellow pure ruck Matthew Kreuzer and ruck/forward Toby Nankervis. Below, the ORFFA Record provides some key stats of the 30 State of Origin representatives as well as details on how they were drafted by their respective ORFFA clubs. Only seven of the top 50 selections at the inaugural draft have been selected for SOO 2017. In encouraging news for ORFFA coaches searching for nuggets of gold in the 2017 MSD three of this year’s SOO players were selected in an MSD, however only two remain at the club that drafted him, Vic/Tas forward Elliot Yeo selected by the Venus Bay Vultures with selection 43 at the 2013 MSD and The Others defender Tom McDonald selected with a top five pick at the 2012 MSD. The Others/Rest/Stench/Best 2017 State of Origin team D - Tom McDonald (BIB), Taylor Adams (GGH), Dylan Roberton (IKC), Rory Laird (MBM) M - Patrick Dangerfield (FBC), Marc Murphy (MBM), Tom Mitchell (WKI), Seb Ross (LLL) R - Shane Mumford (FBC) F - Lance Franklin (WWW)*, Jeremy Cameron (WSW), Luke Dalhaus (FBC), Jack Macrae (IKC) I/C - Joel Selwood (FBC), Lachie Neale (GGH) Players that were selected in the 2016 & 2017 SOO teams are in bold *During the mid-season trade period exhilarating forward Lance Franklin was traded to Victorian club the Venus Bay Vultures at auction. Due to the trade occurring after teams were selected and submitted to the ORFFA Franklin retains his position in the Others SOO line-up. Four clubs have multiple representatives for the Others led by Foul Bay with four, Gundagai, Marble Bar and Iron Knob all have two and the remaining five Others clubs all have one. FBC – 4 GGH - 2 MBM – 2 IKC – 2 WKI – 1 WSW- 1 BIB - 1 WWW – 1 LLL – 1 The five Others making back to back SOO appearances are spread fairly evenly across the ground comprised of defender Rory Laird, midfielders Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Mitchell, the aforementioned Buddy Franklin and on the interchange Lachie Neale. Defense Two members of the Others defense were actually bargain selections in annual drafts - Dylan Roberton at a PSD and Rory Laird at a MSD, whilst Taylor Adams was a 17th round selection in the ORFFA’s inaugural draft. This trio have provided phenomenal value compared to their draft position. Laird is averaging 31.5 disposals, ranked number 1 in the ORFFA for defenders ahead of Others team-mate Adams with 30.7. Roberton ranks fourth in the ORFFA for kicks and fifth for rebound 50’s. Key defender McDonald ranks equal seventh in the ORFFA for one percenters. Ruck Ruckman Shane Mumford ranks second in the ORFFA for hit-outs and has made the most of his size at 197 centimetres and 107 kilograms to be a massive physical presence and lay some bone crunching tackles and bumps. Midfield After being a 15th round selection in the inaugural draft and playing very little senior football during his first couple of years on the Cows list Tom Mitchell has repaid the faith and leads the ORFFA in disposals with 34.9 per game, excelling at the clearances and winning contested ball. Reigning Les W medalist and the winner of the medal for best afield in the 2016 SOO – Patrick Dangerfield is playing a slightly different role for the Chickens in the midfield this season, handballing more and kicking less. Danger is averaging at least 119 points per game for the third consecutive season and has been more damaging around goal in 2017 to average 1.9 goals per game, significantly up from 1.0 per game in 2016. Marc Murphy ranks seventh in the ORFFA for kicks and is averaging an ORFFA career best 114 points per game, one more point than in 2012, the season that he was the number 3 pick at the inaugural ORFFA draft. Sebastian Ross is the only representative for SOO hosts – the Larrikin Lagoon Lefties, he has excelled during the first 10 Rounds to lead the Les W Medal with 30 votes and easily be his clubs best player, being effective offensively whilst also able to perform a run-with role in the midfield, meaning that in some weeks he has effectively done the job of two Lefties, given that the Lefties are in the midst of a rebuild Ross’ scoring output has been close to the output of two players also. The Lefties had four SOO representatives in 2016, all of whom were traded in the off-season along with a host of other premiership players. None of the four, Todd Goldstein, Daniel Wells, Leigh Montagna and Josh Gibson have been able to maintain the output they had at the Lefties and none of them have been selected in SOO 2017. The member of the quarter who is closest – ruckman Todd Goldstein is averaging 95 points per game was the player traded from the Lefties to the Chickens in exchange for Ross and 2017 PSD pick 18. Forwards The Others have opted for a forward line comprised of two athletic key forwards in Lance Franklin and Jeremy Cameron along with two mid/forwards in Luke Dalhaus and Jack Macrae. Cameron has played further up the ground than ever before in 2017 and is making a significant impact, averaging a career-high 16.6 disposals per game and has kicked 33 goals, ranked second in the ORFFA, but the most of any SOO player due to Others team-mate Josh Kennedy who has kicked 34 goals injuring his calf in the last ORFFA home and away round before SOO and being unavailable for selection. Luke Dalhaus ranks sixth in the ORFFA for handballs and is averaging 90 + points per game for the fourth consecutive season. Jack Macrae is the youngest member of the Others team at 22 years of age, having been selected by Iron Knob with pick 17 at the 2013 PSD. Macrae has averaged at least 94 points per game in all four seasons from his second season in 2014 onwards. One of the big talking point during the mid-season break was Lance Franklin being put up for auction. Franklin’s manager said that the 30 year old was seeking a lucrative five and a half year deal until the end of the 2022 season. Franklin’s manager also stated that Franklin continuing to play for the rebuilding Wagga Wagga Wombats outfit would be akin to utilizing the Beatles as a support act rather than in their rightful position as headliners. There was no shortage of suitors despite the lengthy term, leading to a frenzied bidding war involving five clubs placing a bid, not surprisingly all five were in the ORFFA top eight at the mid-season break. Due to their enviable depth ORFFA heavyweights Venus Bay & Foul Bay loomed as the two clubs best placed to compete a deal, in the end Venus Bay won the battle to secure Buddy Franklin’s services. Due to the timing of the trade Franklin earnt a new nickname ‘Demarcus’ in reference to Demarcus Cousins who was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2017 All-Star game weekend. In the 2017 SOO game Franklin will be opposed to three of his new Vultures team-mates, Sam Docherty, Elliot Yeo and Matthew Kruezer. Given that Docherty and Yeo are two of the best in the ORFFA at taking intercept marks, it will be interesting to see if they maintain these high standards in this area when Franklin is in their vicinity or if they display the defensive intensity of an NBA All-Star game. Franklin has kicked 32 goals this season to be ranked third in the ORFFA, has added to his highlight reel with some incredible pieces of play and is averaging 13.4 kicks and 7.0 marks per game to set new career-highs in both categories. Interchange Joel Selwood is the only 2016 SOO emergency to earn a call-up to represent their state in 2017, having been selected on the interchange. Selwood ranks equal fifth for centre clearances, and fourth for contested possessions. Another midfielder Lachie Neale fills the second interchange position having scored 149 in SOO 2016, he ranks 10th in the league for contested possessions and has averaged at least 113 points per game in his past two seasons. Recruitment of the Others D Tom McDonald (BIB) 2012 MSD pick 4# D Taylor Adams (GGH) Inaugural draft pick 297 D Dylan Roberton (IKC) 2015 PSD pick 69 by Wagga Wagga D Rory Laird (MBM) 2013 MSD pick 13 by Birdsville M Patrick Dangerfield (FBC) Inaugural draft pick 76 M Marc Murphy (MBM) Inaugural draft pick 3 M Tom Mitchell (WKI) Inaugural draft pick 257 M Seb Ross (LLL) 2015 PSD pick 40 by Darraweit R Shane Mumford (FBC) Inaugural draft pick 40 F Lance Franklin (WWW) Inaugural draft pick 11 F Jeremy Cameron (WSW) Inaugural draft pick 210 by the Misfits F Luke Dalhaus (FBC) Inaugural draft pick 43 by the Misfits F Jack Macrae (IKC) 2013 PSD pick 17 I/C Joel Selwood (FBC) Inaugural draft pick 4 I/C Lachie Neale (GGH) Inaugural draft pick 280 Inaugural draft 10, including four in the top 50 selections MSD 2 PSD 3 #Estimate
Victoria/Tasmania 2017 State of Origin team Defenders: Sam Docherty (VBV), Michael Hurley (CMD), Kade Simpson (NN), Alex Rance (DGD) Mids: Rory Sloane (WGP), Scott Pendlebury (CMD), Marcus Bontempelli (COS), Dustin MARTIN (MBU) Ruck: Matthew Kreuzer (VBV) Forwards: Mitch WALLIS (GC), Elliot Yeo (VBV), Toby Nankervis (CMD), Isaac Heeney (LBL) Bench: Zach Merrett (COS), Dayne Zorko (CMD) Players that were selected in the 2016 & 2017 SOO teams are in bold Victoria have eight representatives from their six clubs whilst Tasmania punches above its weight with seven representatives from three clubs. Three clubs have multiple representatives, Venus Bay with three and Charlies Opening with two, whilst the Cradle Mountain Devils are well on the way to losing their mediocre tag, having a state best four players and are also the only club in the ORFFA to have two players making their second SOO appearance – Pendlebury and Zorko. The remaining six Vic/Tas clubs each have one SOO player. Victoria VBV- 3 NN – 1 DGD – 1 MBU – 1 GC – 1 LBL – 1 Tasmania CMD – 4 COS – 2 WBP – 1 Defense Victoria/Tasmania have a very settled defense with Sam Docherty, Kade Simpson and Alex Rance who all represented their state in 2016. The 2017 new addition is Michael Hurley who was one of approximately 15 players suspended in 2016 from the supplements saga, the key defender hasn’t missed a beat and leads the ORFFA in rebound 50s. Rance leads the ORFFA in one percenters, whilst Docherty leads the comp for marks. Veteran Kade Simpson is averaging in excess of 90 points for the ninth consecutive season including the last four seasons as a pure defender. Midfield Three midfielders return from last year, Rory Sloane who has been promoted from the bench, Scott Pendlebury and Dustin Martin who played as a forward in 2016. Sloane started the season in blistering fashion to post four scores above 135 in the first six rounds. Whilst his influence was restricted by run-with players in Rounds 7 and 8 he hit back strongly to post scores of 119 and 177 in the past fortnight for a season to date average of 124 and be the number 1 ranked player in the ORFFA. As well as being effective with ball in hand Sloane also works hard defensively, leading the comp for tackles. Pendlebury ranks equal third in the ORFFA for goal assists and in all six ORFFA seasons has averaged at least 114 points per game. Martin ranks third for kicks and inside 50’s and he also easily leads the comp for most broken tackles due to his formidable don’t argue. Marcus Bontempelli doesn’t feature in the top 10 of any stat, however he does rank 16th for contested possessions. Bontempelli’s strengths are his class, versatility and the damage he can cause with ball in hand. Of the players ranked in the top 40 of the ORFFA for contested possessions Bontempelli has kicked the third most goals behind Vic/Tas team-mates Martin and Zorko. Forwards The Vic/Tas 2017 forward line is a clean sweep of new faces, you could have written your own ticket with ‘ChiefBet’ on the eve of the season on these four being the 2017 SOO forward line for Vic/Tas. Two players that were on the sidelines at the start of the season returned in phenomenal fashion, Mitch Wallis who broke his leg in the last month of the 2016 season and 2015 PSD No. 1 pick Isaac Heeney who missed the start of this season due to glandular fever. Wallis has scored 110+ in both his games since returning in Round 9 whilst Heeney playing further up the ground than in previous seasons is averaging 98 points per game and had three consecutive 105+ games from Round 6 to Round 8. In four previous seasons in the ORFFA Venus Bay Vulture Elliot Yeo hadn’t averaged more than 80, but has taken his game to a new stratosphere in 2017, ranking second in the ORFFA for marks and averaging 108 points per game. Tasmanian born Toby Nankervis is without question the biggest bolter in either of the 2017 State of Origin teams. During his three seasons on the Devils list he developed his game at state league level and only played a handful of games in the ORFFA. Playing predominantly in the ruck but also spending some in the forward line Nankervis is making an impact around the ground and is averaging 100 points per game. Being the only Tasmanian in the Devils best 15 (another Tasmanian Mitchell Hibberd is also on the list), Nankervis developed a cult following and his SOO selection has received widespread media attention in Tasmania including an article in the Tasmanian Leader by proud Tamanian, football journalist, commentator and Cradle Mountain Devils Football Club president since November 2016 – Tim Alley. Ruck and Interchange The two most difficult positions to select for the Victoria/Tasmania team were the ruck and one of the interchange positions. The two contenders for the ruck position, Matthew Kreuzer and Stefan Martin both play for the Venus Bay Vultures so the preference of Vultures head coach @Fitzy to play Kreuzer given his extensive knowledge of his ruck duo played a pivotal role in Kreuzer gaining selection. Kreuzer is averaging a career-best 103 points per game, surpassing his previous best of 98 points in 2013. The two players selected on the interchange – Dayne Zorko and Zac Merrett both played in the forward line for their state in the 2016 SOO game. There was a late push for Brad Ebert to replace Merrett in the side and he actually led the match committee vote until the last vote was cast for Merrett which led to a tie. The tie-breaker was season average which Merrett won 109.2 to 108.4. Merrett ranks second in the ORFFA for kicks and uncontested possessions. Zorko ranks sixth for kicks and is also averaging 1.4 goals per game, ranked equal first with Dustin Martin amongst the top 60 players for kicks per game. Recruitment of Victoria / Tasmania players D Sam Docherty (VBV) Inaugural draft pick 329 by the Cows D Michael Hurley (CMD) Inaugural draft pick 144 D Kade Simpson (NN) Inaugural draft pick 59 D Alex Rance (DGD) Inaugural draft pick 85 M Rory Sloane (WGP) Inaugural draft pick 94 by Whitsunday M Scott Pendlebury (CMD) Inaugural draft pick 1 M Marcus Bontempelli (COS) 2014 PSD pick 15 M Dustin MARTIN (MBU) Inaugural draft pick 20 R Matthew Kreuzer (VBV) Inaugural draft pick 21 F Mitch WALLIS (GC) Inaugural draft pick 226 F Elliot Yeo (VBV) 2013 MSD pick 43 F Toby Nankervis (CMD) 2014 PSD pick 23 F Isaac Heeney (LBL) 2015 PSD pick 1 I/C Zach Merrett (COS) 2014 PSD pick 48 I/C Dayne Zorko (CMD) Inaugural draft pick 325 Inaugural draft 10, including three in the top 50 selections MSD 1 PSD 4, including three from the 2014 PSD - all by Tasmanian clubs, whilst the remaining PSD selection in Isaac Heeney is the only top 10 PSD pick in SOO 2017.