Match day report out of PAKENHAM. A battle of the cellar dwellers seen the visiting Bunyips ride into town hoping to pinch a win against a youthful inexperienced Parasite outfit. It was a classic struggle of poor efforts, both teams doing there best to lose with the home team barely doing enough to scramble a victory in the end. Pakenham 1150 defeat Blanchetown 1017 Great performances from Gaff 136 Hogan 114 and Carlisle 109 lead the way for Pakenham with Blanchetowns Sauce 145 Laird 111 Houston 103 and Steele 104 performing excellently. Unfortunately not enough quality scores from the lesser likes let the Bunyips down. Jacobs 145 defeats Bellchambers 76 in the giant tap 3. Sauce 145. 2. Gaff 136. 1. Hogan 114 take the votes
In the Round 15 top of the table clash the Southern Cross Sandgropers were gallant in defeat to the Ararat Armadillos at home. In a see-sawing affair which never reached great heights, the 23 point margin was probably the highlight. Scoring 1262, the SCS were disappointed to lose Fyfe early for only 43, while usual suspects McGovern (68) and Dev Smith (52) scored 30 and 40 points less than their respective averages. Captain Selwood led the way with 122 which reinforces his consistent season, and was ably supported by Duncan (116), while the Gropers also welcomed Dion Prestia back into the fold who scored a respectable 91 after a long layoff. For the home side it was a real struggle to reach the 1285 they needed for victory, with Luke Ryan (53) failing for the first time this year, new recruit Henderson (62) doing nothing to justify his mid season selection, and regular 2018 saviour Tom ‘I can play anywhere on the ground and should’ve changed clubs instead of re-signing with melbourne’ McDonald being well held to 39. The people’s beard carried the squad as usual with a lazy 145, but locals were confused with the stats sheet when it was revealed a 122 and 93 were scored by unrecognisable players. Low and behold, The Chad and Knock On finally arrived in 2018 by removing the proverbial finger and scoring to their potential. As is often the case however, young Mason ended his day with ice on his leg so the revival may be short lived. Delightful as it always is to battle the great foe @eagle_eyed I feel we let the fans down with this week’s (weak?) performance. Final score AA 1285 vs SCS 1262
This matchup over the last couple of seasons has been a tale of what could’ve been for Southern Cross. No excuses for this game in 2018 however as both clubs can point to underperforming players and those missing through injury. The record stands at 5 zip in the Armadillos favour and with any luck we can have a shot at redemption in this season’s finals. Another great battle with virtual beers after the game. Cheers @insider , see you in August
After the chance to reset over the mid season break both teams were looking to turn around their underwhelming starts to season 2018. Unfortunately for @HOLKY and the Whalers they seemed to forget that the season had re-started and had too many players underperform. Only Ryan Lester (79) and Shaun Mckernan (91) provided any sort of encouragement with Mckernan putitng together a particularly impressive highlights reel as he comprehensively smashed Billy Longer (40) in the Big Tap battle. The Buffaloes however started to show that their season may yet have a pulse with an encouraging display. Zac Merrett (118) looked like he had spent the mid season break working hard at breaking tags while Marcus Adams (68) was a welcome addition to the backline and Sam Wright (80) played well after being shopped around heavily in the trade period. Final Scores Serengeti 1292 def Eden 1000 BAFFU votes 3 Zac Merrett 118 (SB) 2 Patrick Dangerfield 118 (SB) 1 Nick Haynes 109 (SB
Pearcedale vs Banchang match review to come tonight, still picking my jaw up from a scintillating match-up.
PEARCEDALE 1199 def BANCHANG 1177 Pearcedale was extremely lucky to scrape a 22-point victory over @choppers Banchang, making it six wins from the last seven games. It was an extremely late withdrawal to Matt Suckling, with no backup provided, that saw the Barcrawlers fall agonisingly short at Wakanda stadium over the weekend. Banchang was buoyed by the centuries to consistent performers Tom Doedee (109), Jarryd Lyons (113) and Shaun Higgins (114), while Taylor Adams (114) bounced back. Ed Langdon (96) and Hugh Greenwood (92) have been consistent in recent times, yet this relative inexperience couldn't beat the hardened bodies of Josh P Kennedy (140) and Luke Parker (123). The Barcrawlers did enjoy the binge drinking session following the narrow loss, with multiple players said to be in doubt this week due to an inability to locate them. Pearcedale players, on the other hand, were forced to be the responsible drivers for their opponents due to the poor performance. The Panthers travel to Serengeti next week in a winnable encounter, while Banchang has another away game, this time against the Burracudas. VOTES: 3. Josh P Kennedy 140 (PEP) 2. Luke Parker 123 (PEP) 1. Toby Nankervis 122 (PEP)
Cow Bay 1,007 def by Korumburra 1,237 Fresh from a 3 week break the locals came out with a slight glimmer of hope of the home side knocking off the visiting Blowflies...even though history was against them with a 4-0 H2H record in Korumburra's favour. The home crowd brought out their fly swats when the visiting team ran out of the race and on to the ground and welcomed them with pats on the back. Unfortunately the players took that as encouragement and took out the match by 230 points. Lycett was still jet lagged and had a shocker managing a paltry 67. He was soundly beaten by Goldstein (111) who dished out silver service to the likes of GAJ (101), Menegola (92) and Sloane (89). Redden (66) spent most of his time trying to chat up a snappily dressed hottie in the cheer squad. Their efforts rewarded the forwards allowing Walters (91) and Hewett (81) to get plenty of practice taking shots and goal. Ainsworth (32) got distracted and provided wingman support to Redden. Vlastuin (125), Thompson (89) and Hodge (87) made sure that the ball didn't get to close to the big sticks at their end of the ground. Dunkley (105) gave the team strong support from the sidelines while Cunico (35) was trying to figure out where Ainsworth and Redden went. The home side were short one player from the start when Gunston pulled his calf muscle playing frisbee with his dog. Lycett's rubbish day meant Hopper (79) and Narkle (73) were unable to provide much drive. They were later seen with shoulder strapping after carrying the midfield for the day. Scharenberg (92) and Witherden (86) did well rebounding out of the defensive 50. Martin (91) was the focal point up forward. The team however were let down by the bench with McDonald (71) being the best from the interchange gate. The win moves Korumburra from 12th to 10th and within striking distance of the top 8. Cow Bay drop from 14th to 16th. Next week Korumburra travel to Blanchetown and Cow Bay head over to Eden. BAFFU 3 Vlastuin, Korumburra, 125 2 Goldstein, Korumburra, 111 1 Dunkley, Korumburra, 105
Staghorn Flat - Hughenden Match Report With 9th playing 10th it was all to play for and the resulting match was a reflection on both teams desperation to keep the top 8 in reach. For the second time in three years Staghorn Flat and Hughenden have played out an absolute thriller. Unfortunately @Batfink 's team was on the receiving end again with a heartbreaking 3 point loss. After the three week FU hiatus neither side could muster 15 players for the week and it was the Bulls 14.5 players going toe to toe with 14 P Dogs. Hughenden's chances were dealt a massive blow as big Sandilands tweaked a calf in the warm up and was ruled out much to the delight of the home fans and one Bull in Big Boy McEvoy. Despite the Bulls surely having the ascendancy with no opposing ruckman the midfield battle was as tight as the game itself with the Bulls holding sway 345 - 340, Ward 131 the best on ground leading the charge. Coniglio 111 was the best Bull in the contest. The P Dogs defence absorbed much pressure but it was the Bulls who managed to get the score on the board with debutante Thomas 111 snagging 4 and big Lobster despite a fractured spine nabbing 3 to lead the attack, McCluggage roamed the wings at Mill Park on his way to a solid 91. Sheppard 100 provided great run and dash for the P Dogs and was ably supported by Yeo who chimed in with 94. The P Dogs forwards nearly snatched the contest with Bruest 109 and Membrey 108 kicking 7 (i think) between them and with Langford 95 pushing up as the link man they outclassed the Bulls defenders with Maynard 78 and Salem 71 the best. In the end it was the Bulls depth off the pine that got the job done with much maligned and trade bait Lachie Weller putting in one of best performances of the year with 91 and the second debutante Sier putting out 83 points. Shiels and Giro weren't the worst on the ground but couldn't offer the support the P Dogs needed. In a low scoring classic it was Bulls 1145 defeating the P Dogs 1142 The Bulls moved to 7th with 7/5 record whilst the P Dogs 5/7 slip to 11th 1 game outside the 8. This week sees another 8 point match up with the Bulls taking on the 8th placed Monarchs, whilst Hughenden will be desperate to upset the Smugglers. 3 - Ward HPD 131 2 - Thomas SFB 111 1 - Coniglio SFB 111 Big Tap - McEvoy in a walk over
Christmas Island defeated Coolgardie 1305-1288 Footy returned to Flying Fish Cove Park over the weekend, but unfortunately for the home team not all their players came back from the break, leading to only 13.5 Smugglers running out against the 15 visiting Prospectors. Stunned at the team’s lack of commitment, and his own poor planning, after Dusty’s 62 early in the 1st, the Smuggler’s coach declared the day lost and retired to the front bar in a failed attempt to land the quaddie. However, as all good sports movies have taught us, once the washed-up, alcoholic coach leaves, a stunning turnaround in fortune occurs, and so it was on this occasion. The Hoff started the comeback, with a couple of goals and 120SC against his old team. However, ex-Smugglers Dumont (79) and Wright (41) were disappointing for Coolgardie, perhaps hoping to curry favour for an end-of-season transfer back to the Island? The Smugglers’ captain, Shannon Hurn continued his career season with 24 disposals at 95% efficiency to add plenty of accurate drive from the back-half for the home team. It was a great day for newly recruited defenders for both sides as Simpson (139) and Geary (94) for the home side ever so slightly shaded Coolgardie's MSD No. 2 pick, Jayden Short’s 105. Fantasia was proving a difficult match-up, as the classy Prospector kicked 4 goals in the 3rd term to give the visitors what looked like a match-winning lead. In full sports movie cliché, the final result was in the balance late, and the “underdog” Smugglers had to defeat the best from Coolgardie, in the colossal form of Stef Martin. The final equation was Martin and 68 points versus Beams and Taylor and given Stef was pretty much unopposed (both in the FU and AFL) the home crowd feared the worst. Despite a BOG 142 from the big-man, the Smugglers VC in Beams willed his side across the line with 33 disposals and 12 clearances. Leuy Taylor’s 3 late goals iced the game, and the undermanned home team had snuck home by a meagre 17 points. It was at this point that the Smugglers’ coach snuck back into coaching box, claiming that his early departure was an Adelaide Crows-esque piece of psychological manipulation that was 100% responsible for the win. No-one bought his BS. The unlucky Prospectors left with their heads held high, with the home crowd knowing that some different picks at the selection table would have led to a very different result. The win saw the home team stay in third position, while the Prospectors slipped one position to 13th. Next week sees a tricky match-up for Xmas Island against Hughenden, while things don’t get any easier for the Prospectors, at home against the undefeated league leaders, Ararat. BAFFU 3 – Martin CP – 142 2 – Simpson CIS – 139 1 – Beams CIS – 129 Big Tap Martin CP 142, Williams CIS 23 @JPK
Is that the beginnings of a trade offer I read? Nice report mate. Did I mention that I'm ^$@#%& spewing? Mainly at Ross Lyin' but also at a few performances from my players. Looks like season 2018 is definitely gone for me - so I now declare trade season open!
Round 12 (15) Trivia We saw the 18th highest scoring match in FU history between Gisborne and Nuytsland with a total of 2,748 points scored. This aggregate was also the highest scoring match Gisborne has been part of. The longest winning streak in the FU continues after Ararat recorded their 12th win in a row. Ararat's record of 12-0 at this stage of the H&A season has never been achieved before. King Island (2015) and Ararat (2016) have previously held records of 11-1 at this round. The second longest losing streak in the FU continues after Blanchetown recorded their 16th loss in a row. Blanchetown's 0-12 record equals the worst record at this stage of the year which was achieved by Cow Bay in 2014. Southern Cross' 9 game winning streak came to an end, the longest in their club history and equal 4th longest in FU history. Coolgardie now have 4 losses in a row and King Island have 3 losses in a row, the equal longest losing streaks in their respective club histories. Next week Christmas Island and Pearcedale will be going for win 50 in their respective club histories. Serengeti will be going for win 40.
With one little win, I can put an end to two of those stats / streaks come Sunday evening. Anyone care to lend me some support? Maybe a good player, or 15....
Groote Eylandt 1270 def King Island 1159 The Cudas travelled down south to the colder waters of King Island in a match that saw 2 former powerhouses battle it out to keep up with the new kids on the block (and Ararat) and stay in touch with the top 4. It was the visitors that burst out of the blocks, dominating early at both ends of the ground through the efforts of Lloyd (136) and Riewoldt (135). The Monarchs gradually clawed their way back into the game only to fade away as young Berry (114) came off the bench and put the result beyond doubt. Former Monarch Stanley (109) stuck it up the home crowd getting the better of the big Figian Naitanui (86). Despite controlling the midfield for most of the day with Murphy (124), Swallow (114) and Cotchin (109) stepping up in the absence of Macrae, the home side couldn't capitalise up forward with only Walker (104) having any impact. In fact in was so quiet in the Monarchs forwardline, opponents Rohan (12) and Kolodjashnij (17) spent most of the match sitting in the bar. Votes 3 Lloyd 2 Riewoldt 1 Murphy
The Barracudas are on 439/4 109.8 to the Barcrawlers on 218/2 109 Both teams fly out of the race onto the paddock and get stuck into it @choppers
At 1/9th progression in the Goldfields, between Coolgardie and Ararat @insider we have an enthralling and high-scoring affair. Coolgardie: 204 / 2 / 102 Ararat: 95 / 1 / 95 (but then I saw the post above, and it puts us well into the shade!)
Don't stress too much mate. Firstly, you're THREE games clear ontop of the ladder. Secondly, as I proved last week (when playing 15 v 13.5), my boys can do a pretty good job of stuffing up a clear advantage!
I want a clean sweep of home & away plus finals. Hahahahaha. Greedy much? I’m sure I’ll get taken down a few pegs sooner or later