ORFFA Round 17 Review

Discussion in 'ORFFA' started by Len, Aug 8, 2016.

By Len on Aug 8, 2016 at 9:53 AM
  1. Len

    Len Cockburn Knightrider Staff Member

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    Courtesy of @graeme :)

    Round 17 (AFL round 20), the final H&A round for 2016

    The Lefties Round; The Latin adjective sinister/sinistra/sinistrum originally meant "left" but took on meanings of "evil" or "unlucky" … and in English "sinister". In French, droit(e) means both "right" and "straight" (humph). While gauche means "left" and is a synonym of maladroit, literally "not right", perhaps "clumsy". In Sanskrit, the word "वाम" (waama) stands for both "left" and "wicked." So a fun round looked likely if viewed from the right or should that be the left? Oh, our review looks at things a little differently – why are you surprised?

    Despite excellent prescience from the FIXtures Committee in scheduling fixtures that should have been critical to the composition of the top eight most of the final positions on the ladder were determined before the round began. The numbers in parenthesis were the ladder standings going into the final round.


    Larrikin Lagoon [2] 1291 defeated Foul Bay [1] 1218

    The bookies’ pets were far enough ahead of the Lefties to probably maintain their first pick in the finals advantage. The penultimate fixture of the round presented us with the prospect of Danger and Ducky performing what many pundits assumed would be the coup de grace;except Chris Scott decided to indulge in the sort of shenanigans Sam Newman might have thought were OTT. While Danger (who must be in his own SC team) decided to win his first round finals match the only way he knew possible the head Leftie (Lucifer?) drew a line in the sand and denied the chooks a win away from home. Sam Day’s 32 was trumped by BJ’s 36, and with many similar small gains the LLL eked out a victory which may be the entrée for the round 23 final. But who would you have as favourite now?


    Iron Knob [3] 964 were defeated by Mount Beauty [4] 1468

    Equal on 44 points before the round there was a lot to play for, viz the third choice of first round opponent. Jimbo had just sobered up enough to enter a team (will I have a ruck man this week?) when he realised the codpiece had so many holes it resembled a colander he ordered a double Ricard with a Kahlua chaser. An Ugly outcome looked possible and so it proved for the 13 man sieves. Robbie Gray’s 53 was symptomatic of the colander’s struggle which meant IK had to content themselves with a marginally better draft pick in their quest for a ruck man. And what of the Uglies? Have they elbowed their way into the big dance in round 23? Perhaps, especially if there is less ugliness from Reid and Maynard (both 49) and Petracca (63) while the non-ugly scores continue. Do we write off IK? The answer reposes in the injury room.


    Marble Bar [16] 1086 were defeated by Gariwerd [5] 1394

    On paper this appeared as one-sided as Novak Djokovic v a qualifier at Wimbledon. With Gariwerd’s first service on Song (see what I did there?) a doughnut match looked possible. With no Misfit raising his bat it would be churlish to single anyone out, but Hampson’s 40 in returning ant’s first serve was not ORFFA standard. A long season for the Commish’s mob is nearly over. For the Cocky ones Steven (56) and Wingard (64) may face an anxious few days before team naming Thursday. With the depth in the side I suggest they will not be selected as first round opponents by the top three sides. I suggest the colanders might well await the new kids on the block.


    Wineglass Bay [18] 1179 were defeated by Darraweit Guim [6] 1252

    At first glance this looked like the sort of match that ChiefBet™ would be too embarrassed to frame a market for. The visiting inflatables were well coached by Chris (stick round bro, we love you) who wisely put a set of brackets around Michael Walters 41 points. Every week the Packers future looks brighter and their 1179 – despite Seedsman’s 27 - would have been welcome in many teams. Bravo Tracey, I dip my chapeaux. Perhaps Prap is smiling or perhaps he has retired to the Antarctic. BTW, was that nothing more than air leaking from the blimp or was there more to worry about. It is tough in the top division bro and you need some more 120+ scores not the Brown (35) or DBJ (36) type contributions. Will Chris find the repair kit in time?


    Birdsville [7] 1213 defeated Waikickamoocow [10] 1101

    A bit of a “sinistra” match this one with both teams claiming underdog status; it soon became apparent that it was JC who had (in the context of this game) spoken with the more forked tongue. Chels’s baker’s dozen proved to be no match for the Battlers in the heat of the Q hinterland. JC pulled some John Travolta ala Saturday Night Fever moves - just how much influence does he have at the Lions? – Nick Robertson’s 9 points was a case in point. But they were more sideshow than main event. Dan Menzel’s injury (18 points) – that’s abductor not deductor – has graeme worried and would have had the conspiracy theorists’ tongues wagging.


    Venus Bay [8] 1159 defeated Wagga Wagga [9] 1091

    For many watchers this was the match of the round – school yard bragging rights up for grabs and a year of winds up about top eight status as opposed to second level mediocrity. There was a terrific sub-plot - how would the transient Jasper Pittard perform for Fitzy’s mob against his former team mates or would Lenny once again grin at a great school yard trade? The battle of the younger ones did not disappoint. Well, when it counted Jasper performed like a trained seal and was just about the difference between the two sides. For Lenny, Dom Sheeds return to service with 30 points was disappointing and might have been the difference had it not been for Dempsey’s lazy 55. Real potential in both of these line ups, just not exposed this week.


    Cradle Mountain [11] 1183 defeated Nanawading [15] 1022

    Two teams winding down disappointing seasons had little to play for other than the cold comfort (a semi private joke) of draft positions and the affections of Melbany’s Majorettes (aka the Nunawading Tatts or should that be Tarts?). Perhaps it was the latter that invigorated the devils? The Nuffers seemed to be mourning the loss of their King Street clubhouse. Both Sexton (17) and Dixon (27) made valiant attempts at posting the bar’s number. For the home team the interchange bench of T Boyd (30) and Himmelberg (43) both gained some experience which will make the devils a better side in 2017. Before then it would not surprise if they have a decent run in the Zac Dawson.


    Charlies Opening [12] 1300 defeated Whitsunday [13] 1187

    Despite the dross in Boomer’s memoirs there was no place for a Banditto anecdote. For a Spelunker this game was to be as enjoyable as the final chapter of a Wayne Carey romantic novel. Meanwhile TiB would invite all and sundry to the nearest Tiki Bar™ to recount details of a fine win before jumping on the big silver budgie back to BKK, or perhaps DMK. Well that’s what my pre-match notes said. However, the “Power” had other ideas and deserted one of their long-time supporters. Amon (29) and Boak (58) being the principle offenders. Operating underground was not to the liking of Keays (38) or Davis (58) but their team mates proved adept at operating the heavy machinery. Strong contenders for the Zac Dawson me thinks.


    Lovely Banks [17] 1293 defeated Gundagai [14] 1274

    Apparently sighting grasshoppers amongst lilacs is a gardener’s nightmare. However, Jen set about earning back to back wins and destroying sNoZ’s longest winning streak (two) since the inaugural ORFFA season. NY NY natives who switched off the snooze that is the Olympics and switched onto the endeavours of their favourite Australian son would have been reminded of the Mets of yesteryear. The gallantry of the Lilacs would have inspired many cheers, albeit many would have been of the Bronx variety. While the ‘hopper’s midfield (FFS, described as “the future”™) performed, “the package”™ (51) and young Brayshaw (50) proved to be the difference. No such problems in the Lilac garden despite Trengove (31) and Stanley (51) seeming to not appreciate the heavy doses of publicity fertiliser they received recently.


    Best of luck to all in the finals.

    [​IMG]
     
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Comments

Discussion in 'ORFFA' started by Len, Aug 8, 2016.

    1. Len
      Len
      Great work @graeme we really appreciate the work you guys put into these reviews :)

      Grats to @ChiefRussell and @That KI Guy clearly the benchmark teams this year.
      Now onto finals, both real and consolation
      • Like Like x 2
    2. Bandit
      Bandit
      Spelunkers worst season in history, and should have been worse if not for a couple of lucky wins.

      Great write up Graeme... Keays being issued with a lumenbright miners hat to assist him in finding the pill
      Last edited: Aug 8, 2016
      • Like Like x 1
    3. anthak
      anthak
      I'd be including @bama in there too @Len - 2nd best 'points for' and more than 500 in front of 3rd!
      • Like Like x 3
    4. anthak
      anthak
      interesting how 3 of the top 4 have 3 of the top 4 defenses in the league, in terms of 'points against'
    5. anthak
      anthak
      and last place has clearly the worst defense, leaking an average of 1247 points against per game
    6. anthak
      anthak
      btw, great writeup @graeme top class

      I dont think I'll be dropping Wingard or Jack Steven though mate, I suspect you may have had a few too many wines before writing that bit :)
      • Like Like x 2
    7. Len
      Len
      This has been pointed out, to say my sympathy was moderate is a gross overstatement :p

      Corrected to properly convey message
      • Like Like x 1
    8. chris88
      chris88
      Great write up Graeme.

      Bama's mob are still my pick, as long as his Richmond contingent don't do what they normally do against Geelong next week (that is, play like rubbish).

      I am making a blood sacrifice in a bid to get Saad, Adams and Shane Edwards fit in time for this week. I've been playing about four guys short of my best 15 for the last 3 weeks and really do now need that trio (as well as Walters back in form) to make their mark.

      No Brown nor Nicholls I'd think next week, so Saad, Gleeson, Edwards, Walters will all push for games this week, else my forwardline could be made up of a couple of old dudes, a guy playing his second game for the season and someone who last year spent more time in a subs vest than on the park.
      Last edited: Aug 8, 2016
      • Like Like x 2
    9. jimbowan
      jimbowan
      And so the Iron Knob run of dominance has officially crashed into a wall (if it hadnt already). We have so many serious injuries and other guys who have been flat out dropped due to poor performance that we will be lucky to field a full team for the rest of the season.

      It will only get worse if guys like Gray and Hodge get rested in the next couple of weeks which is likely.
      • Like Like x 2
    10. That KI Guy
      That KI Guy
      Brilliant stuff @graeme
      Think we need to recruit you as a regular (rather than a fill-in) reviewer for next year.

      Goonies prevail to win their first Shit-fight!
      That said, whomever the Gaucheys play this week, i'm predicting a tight contest.
      The loss of BJ and an underwhelming Hawks outfit has sent Chiefbet speculators into a frenzy.
      • Like Like x 2
    11. Len
      Len
      Was more looking at the 3 games clear bit tbh
      • Like Like x 1
    12. Len
      Len
      I need to get the top 4 to send me their opponent preferences ranked 1st to 3rd please, I think it's to me, maybe it's @anthak this is my first rodeo at this end of season
    13. anthak
      anthak
      Im pretty sure @Jen has already sent messages to the top 3. In years gone past, ive coordinated it as chair of FIXture committee, but this year we've shared aspects of it between different committee members.
      Happy for you to do it if you want @Len - let us know.
    14. ChiefRussell
      ChiefRussell
      We pick our opponents from 5 - 8 don't we?
      • Like Like x 2
    15. anthak
      anthak
      Yes
    16. Len
      Len
      Nope things that work without my interference are perfect :)
    17. melbandy
      melbandy
      Nice work Chels. A bit cerebral for my limited grey cells but it sure sounded nice. I heard it because I move my lips and read out loud when I see "thinking" words. Good luck to the finalists,
      • Like Like x 3
    18. HeavyMen
      HeavyMen
      We launch from 3rd, Gotta love the Beauties......ordering in a shit load of cans as we speak :)
      • Like Like x 2
    19. That KI Guy
      That KI Guy
      Didn't realise this was the case.
      Probably cos I've never been in this position before.;)
      • Like Like x 3

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