Darraweit celebrated stalwart Brent Harvey's record-breaking game with a win - albeit not entirely convincing - and (it seems) an unexpected finals berth. The Guim defeated Wagga in a battle of "which good player could score very few points" 1204-1128. Alex Rance carried the Guim with 145 points. Stephen Coniglio scored 121. Dom Tyson scored 102. No-one else topped 100. A thumbs up to Harvey, Aaron Young and Jono Ceglar, as well as Tom Nicholls, for their steady contributions. However, six players scored below 70, including a shocker from Michael Walters and a defensive line featuring 50s from the 3 players not named Alex Rance. Coach chris88 has warned of changes and swinging axes if things don't improve. Team members have politely reminded the coach that they have won six straight so all is going OK at the moment. Cooney, Greenwood, Adams and Saad will come into consideration if fit and in form. Hindy Votes - Round 16 (Round 19 of AFL play): 5 – Rance 4 – Coniglio 3 - Tyson 2 - Harvey 2 – Young (first votes for the Guim) 1 - Lyons Discretionary votes (1) to Tom Nicholls and Jono Ceglar for their steady presence in the ruck. Votes to Round 16 (Round 19 of AFL play) - Coniglio 45 Harvey 27 Walters 26 Rance 25 Tyson 23 Westhoff* 20 Newnes 16 Armitage* 15 Lyons 14 Brown 13 Shane Edwards 10 Adams 8 Ceglar 7 May 6 Nicholls^ 5 Greenwood, Stratton, McDonald-Tipungwuti^, Hill 2 Ibbotson*, Trengove, Young 1 * = traded or delisted at mid year ^ = arrived at mid year
Darraweit rounded out its season in good form with a win over Wineglass Bay 1252 to 1179. A series of great performances up back and through the middle fuelled the win, which, injuries aside, could've seen Darraweit rack up 1300+ points. And in what has been emblematic of the Guim's season, the unfashionable continue to pitch in with points and contributions come from unexpected sources. This week the season long resurrection of Jarryd Lyons' career hit a high point: five Hindy votes, 122 points and a confirmed spot among the elite "forwards averaging 90+ points per game" club for 2016. Alex Rance continued his run of stunning form with 120. Fellow backman Steven May did his best Alex Rance impression (which is better than the Steven May impression he did on Stef Martin earlier this year) with 118, and midfielders Newnes (115), Tyson (112) and Coniglio (a quiet 92) did their bit. Special mentions to Tom Nicholls, who played through injury to score 66, Adam Cooney's 87 up forward and Nathan Hrovat putting together 67 points in his first game for 14 months. Oh and Brent Harvey keeps on running. The Guim are unexpectedly finals bound, but may have injury concerns. Nicholls and Sideshow Brown look unlikely for this week, while Darcy Byrne-Jones looks flat out tired at the end of his first sustained year of senior football. It is hoped Saad, Edwards and maybe Walters can return this week, while Martin Gleeson will come under heavy consideration. Jono Ceglar will man the ruck by himself. Hindy Votes for this week: 5- Lyons 4 - Rance 3 - May 2 - Newnes 1 - Tyson Coach's votes for Hrovat, Cooney, Gleeson and Nicholls for a variety of reasons. Votes to Round 17 (Round 20 of AFL play) - Coniglio 45 Rance 29 Harvey 27 Walters 26 Tyson 24 Westhoff* 20 Lyons 19 Newnes 18 Armitage* 15 Brown 13 Edwards 10 May 9 Adams 8 Ceglar 7 Nicholls^ 6 Greenwood, Stratton, McDonald-Tipungwuti^, Hill 2 Ibbotson*, Trengove, Young^, Hrovat, Cooney^, Gleeson 1 * = traded or delisted at mid year ^ = arrived at mid year
The team for Darraweit's big final against the Lefties from the Lagoon has been announced. In: Saad, Edwards, Walters (perhaps), Gleeson Out: Nicholls, Brown, Hrovat (perhaps), Byrne-Jones. DEF: Rance, May, Saad, Mcdonald-Tipungwuti (DBJ) MID: Coniglio, Young, Tyson, Newnes (Hill) RUCK: Ceglar FWD: Harvey, Edwards, Lyons, Cooney (Vickery) I/C: Gleeson, Walters (Hrovat) Saad, Ceglar, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Young and Gleeson playing their first finals game for the Guim. Let's see how we go.
A long and somewhat interesting season for Darraweit comes to a close with a narrow but brave loss to Larrikin Lagoon in the first round of the finals - 1232-1210. Darraweit were unable to make up a massive last day deficit despite some huge efforts in the final stages from a number of players. Ultimately, and unfortunately, a decision to play Nathan Hrovat ahead of Michael Walters cost Darraweit a win. But the logic behind the decision was solid - and both Hrovat and Walters played very well. In retrospect, the decision to play Shane Edwards first up on his return from injury was a game-breaker, especially when there were other, better alternative up forward. The final round of votes in the Hindy, and final Hindy standings, are as follows: Hindy Votes for this week: 5- Tyson 4 - Rance 3 - May 3 - Coniglio 2 - Lyons 1 - McDonald Tipungwuti Coach's votes to Hill and Walters (2 each). Final Hindy Standings for 2016 Coniglio 48 Rance 33 Tyson 29 Walters 28 Harvey 27 Lyons 21 Westhoff* 20 Newnes 18 Armitage* 15 Brown 13 May 12 Edwards 10 Adams 8 Ceglar 7 Nicholls^ 6 Hill 4 McDonald-Tipungwuti^ 3 Greenwood, Stratton 2 Ibbotson*, Trengove, Young^, Hrovat, Cooney^, Gleeson 1 * = traded or delisted at mid year ^ = arrived at mid year Congratulations to Stephen Coniglio upon winning the 2016 Hindy. A great season. More importantly, the relative youth of the top few players in the Hindy standings (Harvey aside) bodes very well for Darraweit's future growth.
To the "off-season", and despite Darraweit's coach being yet to make a call on continuing on into 2017, a number of personnel decisions already look like being made. We farewell Adam Cooney, who has announced his retirement. Adam was a great servant of Darraweit in two different stretches as a player. Picking him up with a late pick in the 2016 MSD saw him play some memorable final season games for the Blimps, and allowed him to return to the finals one more time. Sadly, also, it looks to be farewell to Ivan Maric - cult hero and all round club leader - who looks likely to either retire or be delisted by the Guim. Ivan is one of four remaining foundation players at the Guim, and has carried the team's ruck load through seasons, finals and often without much support. An absolute star who provided some memorable highlights and helped propel the Guim into a grand final a couple of years ago. Ivan may well stay around as a support coach if he is delisted or retires. We shall see. With a high pick in the 2017 PSD (pick 3), Darraweit will be looking for a midfielder - either directly through the draft, or via other means. The club has indicated it is not averse to trading pick 3 for such a midfielder, but it might also not be the present administration's decision to make! List management will continue in the coming little while. Right now, the club is to enjoy a much-deserved end of season trip.
An official communique has been received by the ORFFA Commission from the Darraweit Guim outpost. Inside were scrawled three words in tight, non-cursive script: "Count Me In". The club remains on holiday for a couple more weeks. But beyond that, roll on 2017.
As a Richmond fan, I'm meant not to like Boomer given he's singlehandedly killed us at least 30 times. But I'm stunned - stunned they've retired him, and stunned that he goes yet Waite will play on next year. Someone's buggered up the contracts down at Arden Street for mine. I wouldn't be surprised if he did go elsewhere.
He may decide to go the one team path, but wouldn't blame him for playing elsewhere given form, would be a lock in most teams
Twenty-seven year-old Shane Edwards looks likely to be the oldest player on the Darraweit Guim list in 2017, as the club's veteran cohort move towards retirement. 30-year-old Adam Cooney has announced his retirement, while is is likely 30-year-old Ivan Maric will either retire or not be contracted next year. Meanwhile, 38-year-old Brent Harvey has been pink-slipped by his AFL alma mater and is very unlikely to continue into 2017. While the retirements/losses of Cooney and Maric were expected and planned for, the loss of Harvey combined with a serious knee injury to Jon Ceglar has thrown list management planning into chaos. With Harvey likely to retire, moves to trade Shane Edwards, Michael Walters or Nathan Hrovat for a high quality midfielder are now unlikely to be pursued. All three, along with Jarryd Lyons, Ben Brown, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and perhaps the returning Jake Carlisle will be needed up forward. Aaron Young's likely move to the forward line for 2017 may also help. The need for an extra midfielder at Darraweit may now have to be filled through the draft, in which the Guim have pick 3. It is becoming increasingly likely that the pick as well as a player may be traded away in return for a player that fills list management requirements, as well as a slightly later draft pick. The good news is that Darraweit defence remains on track, with Carlisle to return and Darcy Byrne-Jones confirming his continued commitment to the club after a noteworthy debut season in 2017. Marcus Adams' return in 2017 will also be a boost to a backline led by Alex Rance and Alex Rance jnr (Steven May). The loss of Ceglar with a knee injury throws the Guim's ruck division into confusion, with only the oft-injured Tom Nicholls to carry the load. The need to recruit another ruckman is being contemplated and might be pursued during the coming trade period. It is also unclear whether Ceglar will remain on the Guim's list. Meanwhile a midfield move for either Edwards or Lyons might be on the cards to help provide depth there. Again, further midfield depth will be required and will be pursued through the draft and trade periods.
Getting in early (again) as I'll not be around for a little while ... regards post-season trade period: Unlikely to be doing a lot of trading post season, especially before the new player positions for SC come out in the new year. However if there is a "deal too good to refuse", well, let's chat. I had assembled a "very unlikely to trade list", but it is confusing. So I'll alter it to my usual branches of the tree type list. Everyone is tradeable, but the prices vary of course. Any interest, drop me a line: Top of Tree - best offers only: Rance (def) May (def) Coniglio (mid) Tyson (mid) Newnes (mid) Lyons (mid/fwd) Walters (fwd) Brown (fwd) Harvey (retiring, I think - if he plays on somewhere else I'll retain him, if he retires, he isn't worth trading) Upper branches - like these guys, would rather keep, but still ...: Adams (def/fwd) Mcdonald-Tipungwuti (def/fwd) Saad (def) Edwards (mid/fwd) Young (mid, will be mid/fwd) Nicholls (ruck) Mid branches - mainly younger guys with potential. Open to a chat: Carlisle (unsure of position) Byrne-Jones (def) Gleeson (def) Hill (mid, and perhaps on the move) Trengove (mid) Hrovat (fwd) Lower branches - might help fill depth holes if interested: Stratton (def) Greenwood (mid) Barrett (mid) Ceglar (ruck, inj - probably going to miss most of 2017, so be aware!! ) Vickery (pending any free agency movement) (fwd) Deadwood: Maric (ruck) Cooney (ret)
Darraweit's team as of September 7, 2016. Presented in position, ordered by 2016 average. Italics = retired or probably retiring. Jake Carlisle's average is from 2015. DEF: Rance, May, Adams, McDonald-Tipungwuti (F/D), Saad, Carlisle (D/F), Gleeson, Byrne-Jones, Stratton. MID: Coniglio, Tyson, Lyons (M/F), Newnes, Young (to be a M/F), Edwards (M/F), Greenwood, Trengove, Hill, Barrett. RUCK: Nicholls, Ceglar, Maric. FWD:Harvey, Lyons (M/F), Cooney, Walters, Young (to be a M/F), Edwards (M/F), Brown, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Carlisle (D/F), Hrovat, Vickery.
An update from the paddock: We officially bid farewell to stalwart star Brent Harvey, who has announced his retirement. He will stay on at the club as a support coach. Harvey joins Adam Cooney as a confirmed retirement. Both will be delisted before the 2017 season. Meanwhile, Darraweit's forward line appears to be very much in flux. Ty Vickery has changed AFL clubs and looks likely to get plenty of opportunities at Hawthorn. Nathan Hrovat looks likely to be on the move for greater opportunities as well. Jarryd Lyons is apparently being offered up for possible trade, while Shane Edwards may also be at a new home in 2017. The news about Vickery and Hrovat looks likely to have positive impacts on Darraweit's forward line. How the rest of the changes will pan out is anyone's guess. And of course the move of Brad Hill to Fremantle is virtually confirmed too. Meanwhile Ivan Maric has signed on for one more year in the AFL. However he may not remain at The Paddock. A decision on his future is yet to be confirmed.
Darraweit's team post AFL retirements: DEF: Rance, May, Adams, McDonald-Tipungwuti (F/D), Saad, Carlisle (D/F), Gleeson, Byrne-Jones, Stratton. MID: Coniglio, Tyson, Lyons (M/F), Newnes, Young (to be a M/F), Edwards (M/F), Greenwood, Trengove, Hill, Barrett. RUCK: Nicholls, Ceglar, Maric. FWD: Lyons (M/F), Walters, Young (to be a M/F), Edwards (M/F), Brown, McDonald-Tipungwuti (F/D), Carlisle (D/F), Hrovat, Vickery. Hrovat, Vickery, Lyons and Hill all being traded should help improve their averages in 2017 - especially good news for Vickery and Hrovat.