With 6 games left the run home analysis will begin very shortly! With 16 teams still in the hunt for a top 8 berth its all to play for in the search of FU glory...
Here they come: 1. Ararat 13-0 56 points Staghorn Flat, Korumburra, Cow Bay Pearcedale Signed sealed delivered the Minor Premiers Ararat will be. Expect the Dillos to remain undefeated in the H&A season. Deserved Premiership favorites on current form. The Big Question The longer this winning stretch goes on the more the pressure will heap on Coach @insider as the weight of expectation for Preimiership Glory will be immense. Will they release the pressure valve with a loss prior to finals? 3 out of the 4 remaining opponents could beat them on their day.
2. Southern Cross 10-3 40 points Serengeti, Blanchetown, Banchang, King Island Finals bound and will finish top 4. Only 118 points the better of Christmas Island in the Points For stakes. Massive clash this week against Serengeti which will go along way to deciding the reigning premiers fate. Should comfortably win the remaining 3 games The Big Question Can they maintain the rage? Injuries / retirements are starting to take hold of @eagle_eyed Sandgropers. Fyfe should return for the beginning of the finals although McVeigh looks shot as does Brad Crouch for 2018. Ryder is plagued by an ongoing achilles problem whilst Rioli has pulled the pin. Premiership chances depend on the return of Fyfe and keeping the remainder of the list in tact. Will finish 3rd or 4th dependant on the result of the Serengeti clash this week.
3. Christmas Island Smugglers 10-3 40 points Eden, Nuytsland, Pakenham, Blanchetown Finals bound and will finish top 4. Trialling Southern Cross by only 118 points in the Points For stakes. Massive clash next week against Nuytsland which will dictate if they finish second or not. Should comfortably win the other remaining 3 games The Big Questions @DamoH has gone ALL IN bringing in Simpson & Thomas in the recent trade period and Gray in the preseason. Christmas Island is at 1155pm on the Premiership Clock, their time is now with the acquisition of these two stars (& one fading one) in the twilight of their careers. The big questions are: How good is DamoH‘s poker face? When will Dusty start being Dusty again? Can a wafer thin defence (injury induced) hold up in a finals series? The Smugglers are balls deep in the race for the flag.
4.Nuytsland Vikings 9-4 36 points Banchang, Christmas Island, Blanchetown, Korumburra Finals bound Nuytsland's best is undoubtedly good enough in 2018 as they seek redemption for 2017. Massive clash next week against Christmas Island which will dictate if they finish top 4 or not. A fast finishing Korumburra awaits in the final round in what is a tipsters nightmare. The Big Questions @bryzza isn’t alone in having a crook defensive line, avoiding fielding an OOP in the run home may be tough for this coach. Can Grundy continue his All Australian FU form and carry the Vikings to Premiership glory? Will bryzza regret not going hard / landing at a defensive gun in MSD trade period? A defender short in 2018, will be in the mix for the foreseeable years to come. To finish 5th for mine
5.Groote Eylandt Brracudas 9-4 36 points Cow Bay, Gisborne, Hughenden, Eden Perennial finalists and dual FU premiers the Cudas are destined for another top 4 finish in 2018. A favorable draw in the run home should see the Cudas finish with 7 on the trot! The Big Questions Does @YAD69 's squad have the depth to go all the way? Can Stanley deliver enough ball to the all star midfield? Will Bont return to form on his return from injury? Is Hannebery a spent force? Has Phillips hit the wall? Will Waite make it back? The Barracudas will not be denied and can not be dismissed, however there are too many question marks over this squad in 2018 despite a predicted top 4 finish.
6.Pearcedale Panthers 8-5 32 points Korumburra, Cow Bay, Coolgardie, Ararat @TigersTooTough 's boys have a tricky run home a rampaging Blowflies outfit awaiting this week followed by tough encounters with Coolgardie & Ararat. Another squad which is defensively weak with Smith, Conca & Reid potentially done for 2018. The Big Question Can the Panther’s engine room (JPK, Parker, Hunter, Mundy consistently deliver 400+ points per week? Will Pearcedale pay for the Round 1 debacle against the Bulls and miss the finals? When it clicks Pearcedale are a contender however have been consistent in being inconsistent. Should do enough to remain in the 8, although have struggled for points since the byes.
7. Staghorn Flat Bulls 8-5 32 points Ararat, Coolgardie, Gisborne, Pakenham The Bulls have been crucified by injuries in 2018 with at least 54 games missed from players deemed best 15 in 2018 (that’s 4 per week on average). With Lynch, Zaharakis, Lobb, the Hills, Fasolo, Redman, Rocky and now most importantly Big Boy all missing chucks of time the already inconsistent Bulls have been even more so. Ararat aside it’s a softer run home for the cattle at Mill Park. The Big Question Can @tyze1 cover the loss of McEvoy? Will McEvoy & Zaharakis return this season? Can Champion Data be sued for not anointing ruckman in waiting Rory Lobb ruck status in 2018? The Bulls showed last week with only 2-3 missing from its best 15 that it has the cattle to push most teams in the FU and they have been defensively stout with the second best points against record in 2018. The Bulls still have work to do to seal a return to finals action 1 win might do it but 2 will guarantee. Will be looking forward to 2019.
8. Korumburra Blowflies 7-6 28 points Pearcedale, Ararat, Eden, Nuytsland With 4 on the trot the @Mick ’s Blowflies are back in the mix. Any team that can pump out 1400+ is squarely in the finals conversation. The Blowies are however going to have to earn a spot with the toughest run home of all vying for a spot in the 8. Pearcedale, Ararat and a final round encounter with Nuytsland are some mouth watering encounters. The Big Questions Can the Blowies mids (Ablett, Sloane, Redden, Menegola) match it with the best in the FU? Is GAJ fit? Will Sloane remain fit? Can Hodge’s renaissance continue? Will Scott D Thompson be a defensive saviour? The ball is in the Blowies court, finals beckon if this rich vein of form can continue and keep any potential top 8 suitor at bay. Need 2 wins to be in the mix 3 will guarantee. Serengeti looms as the side most likely to benefit if they trip up. Line ball, line ball.
9. King Island Monarchs 6-7 24 points Gisborne, Banchang, Seregeti, Southern Cross 4 losses on the trot has @Tylo ‘s boys in the gun and the squad hasn’t scored over 1200 points since round 9. Likely to need 3 wins to force their way into the 8. Some very winnable games in the run home however will need to jag the next 2 against Gisborne and Banchang. The Big Questions Can playmaker Macrae return to his early season highs? Will Walker challenge his 1 week suspension? Can Goddard, JJK, Vince & Boak are to deliver one more time and propel to finals action? The recent return of Macrae, JJK, Betts, Vince & Rohan has the best Monarchs on the park at the right time. No room for error in a team that may not have missed finals in its FU history. Next two weeks will tell a tale.
10. Banchang 6-7 24 points Nuytsland, King Island, Southern Cross, Gisborne 3 losses on the trot and now Nuytsland @choppers has his work cut out to take the Barcrawlers to finals action Will need 3 wins to force their way into the 8. King Island and Gisborne are non negotiable however will need to jag one against Nuytsland or Southern Cross The Big Questions Can Hanley add some Irish luck to the Barcrawlers? Is Doedee the rising star? What happened to Nic Newman? No Jonas, no Banchang? Looks to be a bridge too far after a promising start to 2018. An interesting off season awaits.
11. Serengeti 6-7 24 points Southern Cross, Hughenden, King Island, Cow Bay What’s that coming over the hill? Is it a Buffalo? Is it a Buffalo? (To the song ‘Monster by Automatic) Hold the phone the reigning premiers the Buffalo’s are back in it – 4 out of 5 has @wrightbrendan ‘s beasts back in it. Massive massive clash against Southern Cross this week, season defining! The Big Questions Will they make it? Can Hickey / Longer make a difference? Can anyone stop their midfield? Has there been a bigger FU hangover? It’s been some premiership hangover but finally the Buffs are clocking. Win this week and I’ll back them to make the 8 and there will be 7 other coaches who will not want to play this mob in the finals. In saying that its still all to do and largely out of their control given other results will need to go their way. Wary be very wary!
12 - 14 Hughenden, Gisborne & Coolgardie 5 & 8 - 20 points All need to win their final 4 games given their last 5 games its just not gonna happen HPD - 1 & 4 GG - 2 & 3 CP - 0 & 5 In saying that its possible after this round that all 3 have wins and potentially be one game out of the 8... If that happens lets check back in next week for some further analysis! @Batfink @Tomster @JPK
Finally with 4 to go my tips for the final 8 1. Ararat 17-0 2. Christmas Island 14 - 3 3. Southern Cross 13 - 4 4. Groote Eyland 13 - 4 5. Nuytsland 12 - 5 6. Pearcedale 11 - 6 7. Staghorn Flat 10 - 7 8. Korumburra 9 - 8 9. Serengeti 9 - 8 10. King Island 8 - 9 11. Hugheden 7 - 10 12. Banchang 7 - 10 13. Coolgardie 7 - 10 14. Gisborne 6 - 11 15. Pakenham 5 - 12 16. Cow Bay 4 - 13 17. Eden 2 - 15 18. Blanchetown 0 - 17
There's some serious work that went into all of this analysis. Thanks heaps @tyze1 and keep it up!!!!
2 Weeks To Go 5 Teams have booked their tickets to the ball!! Ararat, Southern Cross, Nuytsland, Christmas Island, Groote Eylandt Congrats @insider @eagle_eyed @bryzza @DamoH @YAD69 This leaves 6 teams with realistic chances of making the final 3 spots whilst 3 others require a hail mary to fall into September. Some commutations and permutations to follow
Pearcedale 6th - 9W 6L - 18682 For Coolgardie Ararat Limped over the line against the Crocs @TigersTooTough 2 Tough games to come, this week its crunch time v Coolgardie in a top 8 shaping classic. Wouldn't want to have to knock over Ararat in the final round to make the 8. The situation is simple - 1 win and finals are guaranteed Fact: If wins are equal both Serengeti (17820) & Staghorn (17489) can not overtake the Panthers with Points For as the deciding factor should these teams win both remaining matches
Korumburra 7th - 9W 6L - 18163 PF Eden Nuytsland Season defining win against Ararat sees @Mick 's Blowflies as one of the form teams in the comp. Can not let its guard done against Eden this week in a match that if they win all but guarantees (99%) the Blowflies a finals appearance. Defeat Eden and lose to Nuytsland and your finals bound unless both Serengeti & Staghorn can make up the points differential