Out in the Goldfields its looking like a bit of a massacre, with the visiting Whalers @HOLKY leading the way all over the ground. Coolgardie: 873 / 11 / 79.3 Eden: 938 / 11 / 85.2 To come we have J Macmillan, T Miller, T Dumont, and O Fantasia against R Tarrant, Z Williams, S McKernan, and J Murdoch
It’s been a see-saw, it’s been an arm-wrestle, it’s been a lot of other cliches that our hack correspondent (yours truly) cant think of now, but the one thing I got right is that these games are always close.... ...and so it is here - the Smugglers and Panthers are tied at 1205/14. Jumping back to the cliches - it’s a shoot-out in the Wild West as Aaron Hall (Smugglers) and Reece Conca (Panthers) go Mano-a-Mano for the win. @TigersTooTough
Cam McCarthy has sent the Grenades into hiding by playing the first good game of his career. Stupid sport this fantasy football @fresh
The Sandgropers (1247/15/83) have gone down in a tight contest by 42 points with @Mick ’s Blowflys (1289/15/86) outlasting the home side in the end. Match report to follow.
Banchang has come home with a wet sail at The Stadium to outlast Hughenden 1173 -1036, although at a cost. The loss of 2 young defenders in Doedee and E V-W to season ending injuries has soured the result. BOG: 3. Dahlhaus (BB) 102 2. Shiel (HPD) 101 1. Sinclair (BB) 99 BIG TAP: Sinclair (BB) 99 def Spargo (HPD) 18 (oop) @Batfink
@tyze1 ’s Bulls have run away with this one and come out with a commanding victory 1400 - 1015 Match report on the way
Staghorn Flat have got their season off to an impressive start and put the rest of the ORFFU competition on notice with a commanding victory over the hometown Buffaloes. The win was setup for the Bulls in the middle of the ground with the decision of Serengeti management to go in without a ruckmen completely blowing up in their faces. McEvoy (102) did as he pleased and led to a dominant midfield display from the likes of BOG Coniglio (154), Rockliff (138), McCluggae (114) & Hill (108). This was in complete contrast to the Serengeti midfield, so long a strength of the Buffaloes, with none of their midfield men able to get anywhere near the ball. From there it was always going to be tough for the home team and despite some encouraging efforts from youngsters Ballard (105) and Ridley (71) and the returning Elliott (84) the midfield dominance, one more player short on the bench and performances from Salem (139) and Whitfield (105) the Bulls were never seriously troubled. Final scores down in the Crater were Staghorn Flat 1400 defeating Serengeti 1015 Up next the Bulls will head home to take on an injury hit Barcrawlers outfit while the Buffaloes will stay at home to host the Smugglers as they deal with questioning from the Serengeti faithful on whether they will ever work out a decent ruck strategy BAFFU votes 3 Stephen Coniglio (154) 2 Tom Rockliff (138) 1 Hugh McCluggage (114) Big Tap Ben McEvoy (102) unopposed...
Gisborne Grenades 1280 defeated by Cow Bay Crocs 1312 @fresh Perennial cellar-dwellers Gisborne and Cow Bay once again renewed hostilities in a round 1 clash, but you'd be forgiven for thinking you were drinking some of that cellar-dwelling booze by looking at the scores! The best start to a season for both teams in many years, and whilst the crowd in Gisborne will go home disappointed they were witness to what could turn out to be the start of a dominant era from both teams. But enough big calls from me, let's examine how the match actually played out. The Crocs had 11 players score on or above their average from last year, indicative of the big pre-season regime they've been put through. Leading the way was young Jacob Hopper in the guts who pulled out a tidy 129, closely followed by his GWS counterpart Tim Taranto's 112. However, it was he-who-must-not-be-named that put the nail in the Grenades coffin late in the match, somehow pulling out a 121 along with 5 goals. Who knows where that came from, but if it keeps happening the Crocs have a big asset up their sleeves. With Patton and Blakely still on the sidelines the Crocs could turn into a force in season 2019. The Grenades actually played pretty well too, but had 4 sub-60 scores which really destroyed all momentum. #gisbornegun Lachie Neale once again led the way with 127, and Fiorini continues to impress with 118. If you get rid of the sub-60 scores, the Grenades would've been right in this match with a large 1300+ score - especially frustrating was having Parker's 87 in the reserves team! A few quick predictions before I go: I think both teams have come a long way in past years, and should be pushing into the finals if not this year then next. The Crocs have the ability to surprise teams, a danger match on the calendar, and could knock off some big names throughout the year. Also, two winnable games for both clubs next week based on the performances this week, would be huge for Cow Bay to start 2-0 BAFFU 3. Hopper 129 2. Neale 127 1. 121 BIG TAP Witts 87 defeated Lycett 69
After trailing all match, it took one man to stand up and take the game by the scruff of the neck in the final 9th, and give the home side a euphoric come-from-behind win - thankyou very much Jamie Macmillan! Coolgardie 1213 / 80.87 Eden 1167 / 77.80 Thats a narrow 46 point win to the Prospectors, over @HOLKY 's visiting Eden Whalers. It was all about the defence in this game, as the fans were heard murmuring about Steve Hocking, higher scoring, and something about 'FU kings and bulls hit (even though King Island were at home in Tasmania, and Staghorn Flat had taken the long road trip to Africa). After being really worried for most of the game, that the home side and coach had forgotten that the real stuff had started, the local fans were thrilled to see BOG Jamie Macmillan carve up the backline, midfield, and forward line all by himself, and drag his team over the line. This was all after watching opposition defender Harris Andrews run around earlier in the match doing exactly the same thing to the locals. It was speculated that he brought his own footy, but that was found out to be untrue. There was a lot of mediocrity for both coaches to worry about over the coming weeks, and some team selection issues that will create some sleepless nights. Looking squarely at the "surely this year they'll win a finals game" boys of O Fantasia and S McKernan (31 and 26 respectively), there were big question marks over whether either player was really committed to the cause. But back to the good players: 3 - J Macmillan, Coolgardie, 124 2 - H Andrews, Eden, 117 1 - J O'Meara, Coolgardie, 105 Big Tap A Phillips, Eden, defeated S Martin, Coolgardie, by 16 points, 98 to 82. Coming up next week, Coolgardie are off to south-east Victoria, to holiday on Phillip Island and French Island, and maybe even take on last season's runners-up, the Blowflys in Korumburra. Meanwhile Eden are back home on the NSW south coast, hosting the previous "biggest losers" (but apparently also biggest winners), last years Premiers, Ararat. (Who organised this fixture???) Good luck to all teams.
Good game and thanks for the write up @Tomster . It's been almost 4 years after drafting "he-who-must-not-be-named". Many frustrations were had and tears shed over his sitting out of the game for a year and subsequent below par performances. Was close to being delisted a mere couple of months ago. One of those sliding doors moments me thinks. Good luck for 2019, I'll be watching the continued progress of the Grenades. I really like the team you've put together and think you'll be unlucky if you miss out on finals this year.
Thanks for the write up and updates @wrightbrendan for the Bulls this is our highest score since the penultimate round in 2015! There is a lot of talent in the Buffs line up and I'm glad we caught yo on the hop this week. Great to see a fit Rocky up and about. A bit of rust needs to be ironed out up front with Rich Lynch hopefully being better for the run and Adel Lynch still adjusting to the Bulls game plan.
Pakenham were at home to start the year out against a strong Groote lineup. Not much of a contest in the end with the visitors dominating from the start. Pakenham 963 def by Groote 1370 Some really good scoring from the Cudas lead by the Bonts 158, Lloyd 131, Cripps 126 with Houli, Zorko, Stanley and young blood Berry also tonning up. The Parasites were terrible with no one worth mentioning. Lots of youth but not enough scoring. Missing key players also hurts but everyone has that issue. Baffu 3. Bont 2. Lloyd 1. Cripps Giant tap Stanley def Bellchambers
Nervous tension abounded in regional North Western Victoria. Picture the rolling hills, crops in the farms, fattys inside playing video games or at McDonalds; the only tension there was the collective waste-bands of the ever expanding populace. The place i speak of was Armadillo home ground, where the 531-strong membership of the Armadillos all turned out to see the boys in action vs the mighty Bunyips of Blanchetown. Crippled by injury, @martyg 's men were valiant but there were simply not enough of them. No ruckman and only 2 forwards, after Ben King decided to watch his brother not play for St Kilda, would make it tough for any team and so it was: Final Score AA 1351 defeated BBU 1056 The visitors did well in the backline with ex-Armadillo Saad holding a grudge and saying FU with a 114. The two debutantes the 60s with Rozee managing 67 and Walsh creeping to 68. Dom Tyson is a spud who North Melbourne didnt need and Blanchetowne may also rue his selection; a definite villain with a score of 68 not befitting his veteran status. Jack i mustve missed the trade with Gisborne Steele tonned up as did Polec. Home side had a solid performance unreliant on Gawn for once. 8 players scored in the 90s, 2 tonned up and everyone else (Ziebell, McDonald, Gibbs, Brayshaw) was shit.
Nice when something turns out after a while hey? On another note, that was Gisborne's highest losing score which may be the reason for the slightly bitter tone in the match report
Round 1 Trivia Cow Bay seems to play better against the Grenades, the win putting the ledger between the two teams at 4-2. It is the only positive win-loss ledger Cow Bay has. The next best is 2-2 against Hughenden. Cow Bay's score of 1312 was their equal highest ever. Gisborne's score of 1280 was their highest losing score. Pakenham's loss by 407 points was the biggest in their history, but not big enough to make it into the top 30 largest losses of all FU time. King Island is on a 9 match losing streak, the longest in their history. Blanchetown's losing run continues, with 22 losses in a row. Nuytsland recorded their 40th home and away win. Their H&A record now sits at 40-29 for a 58% win rate.
Southern Cross Sandgropers (1247/15/83) def by Korumburra Blowflys (1289/15/86) In the end only 42 points separated two teams that will be pushing for finals. Neither team scored spectacularly well but both were solid with Goldy, Menegola & Walters all saluting for the visitors and Sloane pumping out a huge 155. The home side had only Duncan tonne up and Fyfe just fell short of Sloane with a big 147. The difference in the end was of course the spuds and with more players performing to their expected scores, Korumburra outlasted the Sandgropers to take the win. For the visitors, new boys Miles & Kennedy were solid in midfield allowing @Mick the luxury of leaving debutant Mundy, Menegola & Dunkley up forward. The forward, mid & ruck lines scored well with only defence underperforming. For the home team Crozier & Crouch came in for the departed Hardwick & Cunnington with Crouch’s performance encouraging and Crozier’s performance shit. Ryder, as he has done every time he plays as a forward, scored poorly and the coaching team can’t wait for possible selection dilemmas in the ruck in a couple of weeks. Mids scored well but every other line whilst not quite shit was meh! BAFFU 3 votes - R.Sloane (KB) 155 2 votes - N.Fyfe (SCS) 147 1 vote - M.Walters (KB) 109 Giant Tap T.Goldstein (KB) 102 def P.Ryder (SCS) 68 Next week Southern Cross are on the plane to Groote whilst Korumburra host that ‘other’ goldfields team Coolgardie. Go Gropers!
Surely this would have to be a record... Banchang loses 2 defenders for the season to ACL injuries, on the same weekend(Doedee,Vickers-Willis)......which also adds to the other defender (Wigg) who did his ACL this pre-season....just sayin'
Can't say I can remember any coach here copping 2 ACLs in one weekend, let alone in the same line. I was really interested to see how Doedee went this year too after his performance last year.