Wagga Wagga Wombats 1295 d Larrikin Lagoon Lefties 1267
The showcase match turned out to be (arguably) the match of the round, with Scotland, Curnow and Saad playing hard late in the game to try and steal a comeback win for the Lefties. Unfortunately the Wombats' lead was too great with the Lefties falling short by 28 points. Carrazzo's late withdrawal, had the Lefties coach fuming with no emergency named. Bad luck can only be blamed for so much at the Lagoon, and the author feels that poor team/emerg selection cost the Lefties on this occasion.
Some stellar performances from Reilly (120), Prestia (124) and Schulz (126) set a solid platform for the Wombats, despite the loss of Clarke and Hunt (emerg) mid game. Workman-like Wombats have officially emerged from underground as they continue to monster their way up the ladder.

Birdsville Battlers 1126 d Gundagai Grasshoppers 577
In what can only be described as the worst case of bad luck in keeper league history, the Grasshppers have been crippled beyond belief by injury. With only 7 fit players showing up for the bounce, more salt was poured into the wound with Jono Griffin going down with an ACL. Rocky (153) and Dwyer (99) battled gainfully up forward but the supply from a depleted mid was limited.
Unbackable favourite to win this match, Birdsville were led strongly by Fisher (109) and Houli (104) in Def and McEvoy (140) in Ruck. All did not sparkle for the Battlers though, with their midfield noticeably down and finishing with a score 200 points shy of their average in the lead up to this game.
NB: would the owner of the Grasshopper voodoo doll please remove the pins, I think sNoZ gets the idea.

Gariwerd Cockies 1294 d Cradle Mountain Devils 1128
With the Cockies running into some nice form, this mid table clash was set to be a tight tussle. A monster performance from Deledio (163) got Gariwerd off to a flier, with young Zac Smith (140) playing the game of his life in Ruck. The battle of the Smiths continued across the park with the Cockies Brodie Smith(64) managing to double the Devils Smith” connection on I/C, with Devon and Clay only scraping in 32 a piece. Stevie J (123) and Zaha (115) continued to impress for the Devils but underwhelming efforts from Heppell (78) and Pendles (96) left the Devils waivering.
With a new-found love of the Smiths, the Cockies are rumoured to be considering Big mouth strikes again” as its new club song.

Mt Beauty Uglies 1202 d Waikikamoocow 953
With a killer performance last week, the Uglies had plenty sitting up and taking notice of this 3rd vs 10th matchup. With Cotchin missing for the Uglies, the Cow Kickers looked likely to continue on their merry way. However, a 2 point fight-to -the-death win last week seemed to have taken its toll on the Cows midfield, with yet another Smith (Issac110) having to prop up an under-performing centre. Wright (119) chimed in with some promising return to form, but a depleted defence and the loss of Knights to injury mid game, was telling on the Cows.
Mt Beauty showed off its depth with Sidebottom (132), Bennell (121) and Viney (104) all tonning up in Cotchin's absence. Despite a largely sub par defensive effort, the Uglies had Leuy(112) and Dusty (132) to seal the deal.

<p style='margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Darraweit Guim Dirigibles 1228 d Venus Bay Vultures 961
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Another mid-table clash of two evenly matched sides. The Vultures still suffering injuries to key Defs Gibbs and Watts, struggled to field a full defensive line. On the flip side, the Blimps'defence had a day out with Duffield (137), Thompson (103) and McKenzie (91) rebounding with intent. Up fwd the Blimps were equally as damaging with Walters (129), Boomer (111) and Edwards (97) all pitching in.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]The Vultures weren't disgraced with a under-manned fwd line of Blair (92), Garlett (111) and Howe (99) all shining bright. Mundy (103) and Watson (123) tonned up also, but with donuts on the menu at Venus Bay, The Guim ran out easy victors.
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<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Charlie's Opening Spelunkers 1136 d Nunawading Nuffers 968
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]A tighter contest than many might have expected, with donuts on both sides of the ledger. A solid team effort from the Spelunkers with Petrie (111) and Gunston (102) leading the way. Shaw (98) was impressive down back but is likely to be watching from the sidelines next week after being nabbed for ball tampering.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]For the Nuffers, Kennedy (143) went berserk but it was a one man show in the midfield with Black (54), Simpson (66) and Cross (46) all mis-firing. Nuffers also on the wrong end of the umpires stick with Dawes looking at a spell.
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<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Foul Bay Chickens1313dWhitsunday Warriors1233
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]A high scoring affair with some big tons on both sides.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]For the Warriors, Sloane (105), Barlow(108) and Judd (108) got the engine room churning with great feed from Warnock (131) in Ruck. However, below par efforts from Birchall (75) and Hawkins (49) continue to frustrate. The easy run into the bye for Cats and Hawks should no doubt see these stars bounce back.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Foul Bay demonstrated why they are reigning premiers with knock out performances from Danger (147), Ibbotson (142) and Orange Roughie (126). A Geelong-inspired fwd clinic from Bartel (102) and Stokes (119) polished off a team effort across the rest of the ground. Unfortunately Yarran's injury late in the game left a sour taste for the winning Chooks.
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<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Iron Knob Codpieces 1495 d Marble Bar Misfits 1187
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]The Codpieces again flexed their scoring muscle to steamroll a game Marble Bar team by more than 300 points.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]As predicted in pre-season, while Ablett might score well for the Codpieces, it is the teams depth that is the vital factor.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]That depth was again on show this week, with 8 100+ scores and 3 150+ scores. Ryan Griffin, not Ablett, top scored with 171, while Gazza (152) and Goldy (163) just went nuts.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]For Marble Bar, the form of Jack Steven (150) would be heartening, while quality centuries were knocked up by quality players Corey Enright and Callan Ward.
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<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Powlett Plains Packers 1362dLovely Banks Lilacs 1245
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Powlett Plains continue on their merry way, flying somewhat under the radar but continuing to win games at an impressive clip.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]The Packers 117-point win was built on the back of a consistent set of performances by veterans playing some great football - led by the outstanding Nick Riewoldt (136). Chris Newman, Luke Hodge, Robert Murphy and Kane Cornes also topped the century.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]For the Lilacs, who have noticeably improved in recent weeks despite losing Jack Grimes to a long term injury last week, it was the Majak Daw show. In what might be a preview of things to come, Daw smashed out 139 points and took five votes in the Les W. Frighteningly, he will only get better.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Scott Thompson, Jarrad Brennan, Jake Carlisle and Mighty Myke Pike all scored 100+ points for the Lilacs.
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<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Ladder after Round 6
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Iron Knob 24 10038
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Birdsville 24 9014
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Wagga Wagga 24 8946
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Powlett Plains 24 8713
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Foul Bay 20 9251
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Waikikamoocow 20 8728
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Charlies Opening 16 8726
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Venus Bay 16 8502
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]------------------------------------
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Mt Beauty 16 8304
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Darraweit Guim 16 8183
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Cradle Mountain 12 8588
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Gariwerd 12 8406
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Whitsundays 8 8124
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Nunawading 8 7674
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Larrikin Lagoon 4 8129
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Lovely Banks 4 7974
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Marble Bar 4 7308
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Gundagai 0 6786
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Round 8 (AFL 8) 17/5 - 19/5
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Walesy Appreciation round
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]The ORFFA Match Committee is appreciative of the community that has been created, here at TS, and which brought ORFFA into being. For that we are thankful, Walesy. As for the games themselves, a number of good contests await - with the pick of them perhaps seeing high-flying newcomers Wagga Wagga take on the all-conquering Codpieces.
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Darraweit Guim v Marble Bar
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Powlett Plains v Whitsundays
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Lovely Banks v Birdsville
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Venus Bay v Gariwerd
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Foul Bay v Larrikin Lagoon
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Gundagai v Nunnawading
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Cradle Mountain v Waikickamoocow
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Wagga Wagga v Iron Knob
<p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Charlies Opening v Mount Beauty