May Update Looking ahead to the coming five weeks and then to the mid-year draft and trade period, Darraweit have put a number of players on notice: Defence: Andrew Walker, Adam Kennedy Midfield: Dom Tyson, Ben MGlynn Forward: Michael Walters, Justin Westhoff, Adam Cooney With Ross, O'Meara sidelined with injury, and Cooney, Walters and Seedsman also hurt, Darraweit will investigate trading for another high first round MSD pick. Trading out Gibson, Frawley, Hill, Nic Nat, Goddard and Conca was always going to have an impact on this team in the short term, given the loss of quality experience in Goddard, Frawley and Gibson, as well as Nic Nat. In retrospect, Hill, Frawley and Conca haven't yet kicked on with their new teams - a couple due to injury. Nic Nat has been good, Goddard and Gibson good as expected - though Shane Edwards' arrival and a bunch of new defenders has helped adequately cover these latter two losses. The problem has come through the midfield. O'Meara injured, McGlynn injured and out of form, Ross injured, Tyson regressing markedly - and fill in's Cooney (injured) and Newnes (required in defence) has put a massive whole in the midfield. Boy do we miss the impact O'Meara would've had this year.
A mInor editorial note - whole or hole in midfield Chris? I admit it is obvious from the context but it is quite interesting to speculate on the unintended meaning.
graeme wrote: A mInor editorial note - whole or hole in midfield Chris? I admit it is obvious from the context but it is quite interesting to speculate on the unintended meaning. Definitely Graeme - a massive hole delivering a whole lot of ... well ... sub par scoring!!
Darraweit has suffered its first loss of the year, going down in a top-notch game to perennial nemesis Iron Knob 1290 to 1266. After looking likely to win its 6th straight game early in the weekend - thanks to big scores from Edwards, Maric, Armitage, Harvey, Betts, etc, the Blimps quickly deflated - the last eight players combining for barely 550 points thanks to sub-par efforts from Walters, Westhoff, Haynes, and the clearly struggling Walker. Rance played his worst game for the year, while McIntosh - in to cover for Steven May due to suspension, could not re-adjust to the pace of the game. Simply put, 6 players scoring less than 61 and another couple struggling into the 70s isn't good enough. When Iron Knob's Gray and Shuey put the pedal to the metal late in the game, the Blimps couldn't keep up, falling just short. That said, the potential remains given the 1266 score with so many underperforming players. Hindy Votes for the week: 5 - Armitage - 45 possessions. Top 5 in the Les W. Need we say more. 4 - Shed Edwards - Virtually swapped this guy for Goddard. Reckon I got the better end of the deal, somewhat surprisingly. Star. 3 - Big Ivan - Again sets the example 2 - Harvey - best game for the year 1 - Betts - keeps on keeping on. Hindy Votes Overall: 21- Armitage 12 - Edwards 11 - Rance, Betts 8 - Coniglio, Maric 6 - Harvey 4 - Mcintosh, Seedsman 3 - Walters, Westhoff 2 - Haynes 1 - Cornes, McGlynn Next week we host the high-flying Packers in what should be a great game. A number of players are on the cusp of being dropped or benched, with only a raft of injuries to replacements keeping them in the side. Ben McGlynn will return, as may others. We are looking forward to the mid-year draft! This round is our special One Game Wonders Round. Darraweit will dedicate the game to one of the most famous one game VFL/AFL players of all time - Bill 'Tracker' James - whose only game was for the Mighty Tigers in 1920 ... in which he kicked the sealing goal in a grand final to seal Richmond's premiership win. This game came only a week after he played in Kyabram's premiership. Hopes for a long career were however shattered in the off-season when James accidentally shot himself in the foot while out hunting. Never has the term 'shot himself in the foot' actually had a more literal unfortunate meaning.
Rumours have strengthened around the Darraweit township that veteran Kane Cornes will retire before the mid-season draft and trade period. The beloved veteran may play his last game as early as two weeks from now. Darraweit coach Chris88 said the club was aware that a mid-season retirement for Cornes might be on the agenda, and took steps to bolster the Dirigibles' midfield group by drafting Seb Ross, trading for Jaegar O'Meara and retaining Adam Cooney. However those plans have gone awry with Ross, Cooney and O'Meara all injured, leaving Darraweit horribly shorthanded in the midfield.Cooney is expected back in the next week or so, while Ross (3-4 weeks) and O'Meara (season) are not back for a little while yet. Even so, Darraweit remains supportive of Cornes' decision, with renewed conversations to occur in coming weeks towards acquiring a midfielder in the mid-season trade period.
Best of luck Kane Cornes - two games to go, and you'll be missed. Hope you have a great retirement! Meanwhile, Darraweit readies itself to trade draft picks and players to find an urgently needed midfielder!! /Portals/0/Users/034/90/6690/index.jpg
A somewhat exciting development this week saw Darraweit players actually all turn up to play. This fact, despite a quiet game from the gent pictured in the previous post, and the late withdrawal of forward gun Shane Edwards, allowed the Blimps to comfortably crack the 1450 barrier on the way to a win over Powlett Plains. Even the coach managed to select the right players, and even our emergency player did well in place of Edwards. More tomorrow once full scores are released.
Darraweit has returned to the top of the ORFFA ladder (on points for) with its best performance of the year, scoring 1479 to defeat an unlucky Powlett Plains outfit. In response to harsh criticism and a brutal week on the training track after a poor loss to Iron Knob last week,, seven Dirigibles' players scored 110 or more, and 12 scored 80 or more in the win, with a number of players having season best games. Darraweit's spiritual leader Ivan Maric led the way, his 139 point game his best for the season and earning him 5 Les W and 5 Hindy votes. Steven Coniglio (128) and Ben McGlynn (120) led a season-best midfield effort, with David Armitage also cracking 110. Down back Alex Rance returned to top form with 115, with great support from youngsters Nick Haynes, Jack Newnes and Paul Seedsman. The evergreen Eddie Betts turned it on up forward, with Brent Harvey and Justin Westhoff steady. Lachie Hunter filled in handily for an injured Shane Edwards, while Michael Walters had his best game for the year off the bench. Ty Vickery's reserves form was encouraging. Hindy votes: In recognition of the great team effort across the board, everyone who played gets a vote in the Hindy this week! Those getting multiple votes this week are: 6 - Maric 139 - the Mullet was in full flight this week. 5 - Betts 134 - A walking talking highlights reel 4 - Coniglio 128 - the contested ball king and driving force behind the Giants. 3 - McGlynn 120 - A great return in an unfamiliar run-with role. 2 - Rance 115 - Led from the front from the back. 1 - Everyone else who played. Hindy Votes Overall: 22- Armitage 17 - Betts 14 - Maric 13 - Rance 12 - Coniglio, Edwards 7 - Harvey 5 - Seedsman 4 - Mcintosh, McGlynn, Walters, Westhoff 3 - Haynes 2 - Cornes 1 - Newnes, Hunter, Tyson
Rumours are gathering strength around Darraweit Guim that stalwart player Kane Cornes may be consigned to the bench - or even dropped - on the cusp of what will be his last game for the club. It is understood team selectors are worried about Cornes' form in the leadup to the weekend's game against Charlie's Opening. However Cornes does have two allies who favour his selection - Justin Westhoff and team leader Ivan Maric, who are both understood to be lobbying the coach and selectors to ensure Cornes gets a send-off he deserves - even if he starts on the bench.
chris88 wrote: Rumours are gathering strength around Darraweit Guim that stalwart player Kane Cornes may be consigned to the bench - or even dropped - on the cusp of what will be his last game for the club. It is understood team selectors are worried about Cornes' form in the leadup to the weekend's game against Charlie's Opening. However Cornes does have two allies who favour his selection - Justin Westhoff and team leader Ivan Maric, who are both understood to be lobbying the coach and selectors to ensure Cornes gets a send-off he deserves - even if he starts on the bench. ruthless haha Lets hope theres a late out, so that he can com in as emergency
Ant - I might grow a heart and bring him back in once final teams are named. I have the feeling leaving him out might be bad karma....
Round 8 Update (delayed) The Guim were unable to farewell Kane Cornes with a win, going down to an impressive Spelunkers outfit 1356-1224. Too many players were slightly off the pace, as was the coach, who buggered up team selections in the lead-up to the game (and vows not to let real life intrude in that way again) Only three centuries to those on the park - Big Evahn led the way, with Kane Cornes providing a memorable farewell and David Armitage continuing his fine form. Adam Cooney's 115 on the bench earns his a coach's discretionary vote in the Hindy, and has seen him included in the team for Round 9. We remain inside the top 4 in what is a closely fought top half of the ladder. Hindy Votes: Maric 5 - The big man is playing like the champion he is. Cornes 4 - a memorable final game Armitage 3 - another game, another ton Walters 2 - re-finding his form Newnes 1 - has been great in the backline in recent weeks. Hindy Votes Overall: 25- Armitage 19 - Maric 17 - Betts 13 - Rance 12 - Coniglio, Edwards 7 - Harvey 6 - Walters, Cornes 5 - Seedsman 4 - Mcintosh, McGlynn, Westhoff 3 - Haynes 2 - Newnes, 1 - Hunter, Tyson, Cooney Watch out Mr Armitage, Big Ivan is gaining on you. Round 9 A challenging matchup awaits against Mt Beauty, whose midfield will provide formidable opposition for Darraweit's personnel and talent challenged mids. We do have lots of defenders though - 9 playing defenders in fact. Five will take the park, with a couple more as emergencies. Cooney returns, as does Stephen May.
Round 9 Update Darraweit survived a fierce midfield onslaught from Mt Beauty to win 1314 to 1243. Up against a rampant Uglies midfield - which saw Boyd, Ellis, Cotchin, Martin, Sidebottom and Hartlett all ton up - Darraweit got welcome contributions across the park to sneak home. A couple of ill-timed red vestings to Mt Beauty players unfortunately hobbled its total. Darraweit remain in third spot on the ORFFA ladder. Hindy Votes: 5 - Armitage 4 - Newnes - best game for the year, last few weeks have been very good. 3 - Maric 2 - Westhoff - a welcome ton, has been consistent this year 1 - Edwards Hindy Votes Overall: 30- Armitage 22 - Maric 17 - Betts 13 - Rance, Edwards 12 - Coniglio 7 - Harvey 6 - Walters, Cornes, Westhoff, Newnes 5 - Seedsman 4 - Mcintosh, McGlynn 3 - Haynes 1 - Hunter, Tyson, Cooney Armitage and Maric have established a break on the rest of the field. Next week sees Darraweit faced with the formidable task of taking on a white-hot Venus Bay side, a team which we reckon is nigh on the best in the comp. Hopefully the players bring their A-Games, but with a number of unfavourable match-ups for key players (3 Richmond players v Freo, 2 StKilda players v Hawthorn) it is going to be a tough ask. Best of luck to the Vultures and coach Fitzy as we enter the last round before the mid-season break.
Round 10 Update Crap would be the best description, as the Guim fell to league leaders Venus Bay 1380 to 1219. Guim players and staff are looking forward to the bye, with a number of players nursing injuries and a few others sorely out of form. Rucks and forwards are travelling well, but the Guim's backline is banged up - May, Rance and Haynes all injured, Seedsman subbed in his last game for Darraweit before being traded to Powlett Plains as part of a deal to get midfielder Levi Greenwood. Greenwood will add sorely needed depth to a midfield that was so thin this week that a defender - Jack Newnes - and forward - Shane Edwards - played there. We hope the recruitment of Greenwood, and the returns of Tyson and McGlynn will help alleviate the problem. Seb Ross' improving fitness is also a positive. All that said, even a great performance would've struggled to have the Guim overcome Venus Bay, who we've long thought are the best team in the competition right now. We await the MSD - with our first pick at Pick 9, as well as picks at 33 and 34. Kane Cornes has already retired, while at least two more players will be delisted as we look to shake up our list. Thanks to Paul Seedsman, as well as Cornes, for their service to the club. Hindy votes: 5 - Westhoff - a big positive over the past couple of weeks. 4 - Coniglio - 120+ score is all we could ask. 3 - Edwards - has led the forwards and now helping out in our shorthanded midfield. A brilliant year. 2 - Armitage - two more votes despite a quieter effort. 1 - Walters - another nice game. Coach's discretionary vote to Ty Vickery, who is returning from injury and played a great game on Friday night. Overall Hindy Votes: 32- Armitage 22 - Maric 17 - Betts 16 - Edwards, Coniglio 13 - Rance 11 - Westhoff 7 - Walters 6 - Cornes, Newnes 5 - Seedsman 4 - Mcintosh, McGlynn 3 - Haynes 1 - Hunter, Tyson, Cooney, Vickery
Darraweit Mid-season Update: Player Ratings: Defence - Rance 8/10, Newnes, May, McIntosh - 7/10, Haynes 6.5/10, Seedsman (traded) 6/10, Walker, Jonas 5.5/10, Kennedy 2/10 Midfield - Armitage 9.5/10, Coniglio 8/10, McGlynn 7/10, Cornes (retired) 6/10, Tyson 5/10, Smith 2/10, Ross, O'Meara N/R due to injury, Greenwood N/R due to injury and just being traded in. Ruck - Maric 9/10, Hampson N/R due to no games played Forward - Edwards 9/10, Betts 8/10, Harvey 7.5/10, Walters 7/10, Westhoff 7/10, Vickery 6/10, Hunter 4/10, Lyons 3.5/10, Cooney 3/10 Best 15: D: Rance, Newnes, May, Haynes (Walker) M: Armitage, Coniglio, McGlynn, Tyson (Ross) R: Maric (Hampson) F: Edwards, Betts, Walters, Harvey (Vickery) I/C: Greenwood, Westhoff or any of the emergencies listed above. List Changes: Out: Cornes (retired), Seedsman (traded to Powlett Plains) In: Greenwood (from Powlett Plains) To be delisted: Kennedy, 1-2 others.
State of Play: Darraweit Guim bid a fond farewell to Adam Cooney and its first round 2016 PSD pick for Pick 7 in the upcoming MSD and a third round pick in the 2016 PSD. We thank Adam for his service, especially last year when he helped out in the midfield. List: Out: Cornes (retired), Seedsman (traded to Powlett Plains), Cooney (traded to Charlie's Opening) In: Greenwood (from Powlett Plains) To be delisted: Kennedy Draft: Darraweit Guim now holds Picks 7,9,32, 33 in the upcoming MSD, as well as three picks in the third round of the 2016 PSD. We have two bids in on auctions - one for Cameron Wood and the other for two further picks in the first round of the MSD. The Dirigibles stupefyingly frenetic trading patterns in the previous PSD and in the lead-up to this MSD are a bid to clear out and clean up our list, bring in some youth and set the team up for 2016 and beyond. Any premiership tilt in 2015 is being hobbled by continued midfield injuries - Stephen Coniglio the latest to go down just as Dom Tyson and Seb Ross return.
Darraweit welcomes Cameron Wood aboard the HMAS Dirigible, with high hopes his work as a back-up ruckman will continue. Ivan Maric has already welcomed Cameron to the club with a forceful handshake and several softly-spoken threats about workrate. Last reports had Cameron looking slightly wide-eyed. Cameron joins Levi greenwood as our mid-season recruits. Darraweit has farewelled Adam Cooney, Paul Seedsman and Kane Cornes, with Adam Kennedy likely to be delisted. Shaun Hampson's place on our list remains in limbo.
State of Play: Darraweit farewelled anumber of players in the lead-up to the MSD: Kane Cornes Retired Paul Seedsman Traded Adam Cooney Traded Lachie Hunter Traded Kamdyn McIntosh Traded Adam Kennedy Delisted Shaun Hampson Delisted In the MSD draft we brought in four players: Ben Brown - a young tall forward/ruck from North Melbourne, who we were happy to nab with pick 3. Marty Gleeson - a young midfielder from Essendon for whom we have high hopes. Already playing senior football. Sam Butler - veteran defender from West Coast enjoying a great season. Will shore up our very young defence. Shaun Edwards - a speculative pick - the former Giant now Bomber should get plenty of chances to cement a place in his side's first 22. Listed as a back but is playing forward currently. We also traded in three players: Levi Greenwood - Collingwood midfielder Cameron Wood - Carlton ruckman Nathan Hrovat - Bulldogs forward These new players fill specific needs for the present and into the future. Given the effort which has gone into trying to rebuild the midfield and backline this far this year - losing players like Gibson, Goddard, Frawley, Cornes, Cooney, and a few other older players and replacing them with mainly younger players, we are happy with how the team sits for 2016 and beyond. We envisage a very quiet post-season trade period after all this movement. Best 15 for 2015: D - Rance, May, Butler, Newnes (Haynes/Walker) M - Coniglio, Armitage, Tyson, Greenwood/McGlynn (one of Ross or Edwards) R - Maric F - Walters, Edwards, Betts, Harvey/Westhoff (one of Vickery, Hrovat or Brown) I/C - Combination of players in brackets/emergencies above. Best 15 for 2016: D - Rance, May, Newnes, Haynes/Butler (Walker/Gleeson) M - O'Meara, Armitage, Conilgio, Tyson/Greenwood (one of Ross/Edwards/McGlynn/Gleeson) R - Maric - will need support F - Walters, Edwards, Betts, one of Harvey/Westhoff/Brown/Vickery/Hrovat (McGlynn/Edwards)
After a welcome break, Darraweit will return to action this coming weekend against the Nuffers from Nunawading. The game will see Nic Nat play his first game against his old club since we traded him before the season's start. Nick Haynes may also play against his old club Nunawading for the first time as he was also part of the trade. Unfortunately Darraweit will be scrambling to field a midfield line, with first choice midfielders Levi Greenwood, Ben McGlynn and Stephen Coniglio likely to join Jeager O'Meara on the sidelines due to injury and fitness issues. All four would be automatic midfield inclusions if fit. Recruits Sam Butler, Martin Gleeson and even Cameron Wood are in the mix for debuts for Darraweit, while Ty Vickery, Seb Ross and Nick Haynes could all return. Coach Chris is hopeful that the weekend's good form - which saw 12 of Darrweit's squad of 28 take the field in various AFL games and score more than 1000 - continues this coming week. High quality games from Newnes, Rance and May in defence, as well as Armitage in the middle and Vickery, Betts and Walters up forward were noteworthy. Gleeson, Wood and Seb Ross (who played a great quarter after starting as sub) were also good.
Nic Nat told me at training today that after playing two blinders during the bye weeks and taking a well earned rest, he didn't want to do too much damage against DGD. We took him over to the video review room at the Nuffers training [span style='text-decoration: line-through;]compound complex and showed him episodes of Banged Up Abroad to remind him what happens to Nuffers players who don't play.