<img width='258' height='180' src='/Portals/0/Blog/Files/1/1661/Orffa.jpg ' alt='The ORFFA[/img]

What a round! What a series of matches! What a .... ahh, bugger all of that - let's just get to the review and write-ups for each game in the first round of ORFFA action - the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Round (kudos for black humour there).

Nunawading 1107 defeated Lovely Banks 1021
The season opener saw the Nunawading Nuffies notch a 1107-1021 win over a gallant but injury riddled Lovely Banks outfit.



Led by JP Kennedy (147) and Stanton in the midfield, as well as Tex Walker and Adam Goodes up forward, the Nuffies had too much firepower despite their own injury and form issues, which saw a number of goose-egg scores during the weekend.



For the Lilacs, coach Jen was left lamenting what might have been - with all manner of absent players across the weekend providing a tough initiation to ORFFA coaching.



Dane Swan (136) led the scoring, with Jack Grimes and old-man Chapman notching tons. Mike Pyke looks to have continued his late 2012 form, smashing out 104. But too much was left to too few.



Both coaches will be looking forward to some respite from injury and the return of a number of quality players in coming weeks.



Iron Knob 1422 defeated Foul Bay 1252



The match of the round produced a minor boil over, with the reigning champs comprehensively defeated by the Codpieces of Iron Bay.



Led by the brilliance of Gary Ablett Junior (178) and featuring 90+ scores from Minson, Griffin, Goldstein, Harbrow, Lynch and Douglas, Iron Knob simply had too much firepower for a, dare I say it, somewhat underwhelming performance from the Chickens.



Foul Bay enjoyed centuries from Libba, Mumford, JJ Kennedy, Selwood and Pearce, but a number of big names - including Pavlich, Roughead and Dangerfield - failed to fire. Aside from Danyle Pearce, Foul Bay's defence had a 'mare.



What is clear from this game, however, is that both teams will be nearer the top of the ladder come season's end than the bottom.

Venus Bay 1373 defeated Waikikamoocow 1071
A sneakily impressive performance from Venus Bay saw it thrash the Incorrigibles by 302 points.
Led by Bryce Gibbs in defence (150), Venus Bay had Watson, Mundy and Kreuzer all top the ton.
Importantly though was the Vultures' depth - the Carrion Eaters enjoying fine outings from Malceski and Richards in defence, as well as the underrated forwardline of Blair, Higgins, Howe and Garlett.
For the Cow Kickers, Sauce Jacobs, Matthew Wright and The Hoff scored 100+.
But a number of poorer scoring efforts, including disappointing games from a number of midfielders, and injury and sub-hit totals from Robinson and Armstrong, caused damage.

Darraweit Guim 1242 defeated Gariwerd 1099



The Blimps have opened their 2013 season with a win over a game Gariwerd outfit - 1242 to 1099.



Much of the damage was done last Friday, with Darraweit Guim's Richmond and Carlton contingent amassing 500+ points from five players. Some ill-timed injuries to Cockies' players over the weekend would have frustrated coach Anthak - however, there is plenty to build on at Gariwerd as well, especially amongst the younger contingent.



The win is a satisfying one for coach Chris88, given four or five first choice players remain injured, and four players made their debuts.For the Dirigbles, Andrew Walker led the way (137), with Rance and Maric also passing the 100 point mark. Special mention to debutants Michael Walters (90) and the Guim's new cult hero Rory Thompson (95).



For Gariwerd, Brett Deledio (116) top-scored, with good contributions from Hurn, Burgoyne, Wallis, Masten and the Coon-Dog. Injury niggles however hampered Clark, Christensen and Koby Stevens, while Sam Blease copped the dreaded vest.

Powlett Plains 1217 defeated Larrikin Lagoon 1176




Where would we be without some Round 1 controversy?
Original totals had the Lefties pulling a win seemingly out of nowhere on the last day of the match-up, with David Hale and Jordan Lewis scoring enough to peg back a 100+ point deficit.
However a check of the scorecard, the video goal review, Jay Schulz's mark, and Kane Mitchell's hair has seen a revision to the scoring (as per the comments below) and the win actually awarded to the Packers of Powlett Plains.
The Packers got great service from stalwart Kane Cornes (166), veteran Bob Murphy (102) and youngster David Armitage (113).
On the other side of the ledger, new recruit Nic Suban top scored for the Lefties with 120, while Monfries, Coniglio, Grundy and Lewis were among the best in a solid team effort.
However the most important score was arguably that of the Packers' Billy Smedts; his 77 points as a legal late inclusion for Claye Beams proved the difference between winning and losing for Powlett Plains.

Wagga Wagga 1298 defeated Marble Bar 974



Competition newcombers the Wagga Wagga Wombats celebrated their entry to the ORFFA with a smashing win over an injury-hampered Marble Bar Misfits 1298 to 974.



The Burrow Diggers got some top notch contributions from unlikely sources - Jay Schulz top-scoring with 134 and notching an early mark of the year contender (though at least 15 bonus points came from umpires that couldn't discern his mark being at least a metre behind the goal line).
Dylan Shiel, Courtney Dempsey and Shane Tuck also cracked the ton in a fantastic all-round team effort.

For Marble Bar, injuries have hit hard. No-one cracked 100 points, and only David Myers (91) scored over 90.
Coach Len was left lamenting the absences of Stanley, Dempster, Nickoski, Bock (and the virtual absence of the vested Embley). Their returns in coming weeks will only strengthen a side having its depth unfairly tested this early in the season.

Birdsville 1420 defeated Whitsundays 1213
The boys from Birdsville helped themselves to a big score in a comfortable win over Whitsundays.
The Battlers definitely didn't battle for scoring - seven players scoring over 100, led by Ben Howlett (164) and impressive youngster Jarryn Geary (144).
Brent Moloney enjoyed a change of scenery, while Murphy, Ebert and Wells continued on their merry ways.
For the Whits, it as great to see Michael Barlow back in top form (144), with ample assistance from rookie sensation Ollie Wines (125), Birchall, Boak and Judd.
But after these high scores things fell away more quickly for the Warriors than the Battlers, allowing Birdville to pull away.

Charlies Opening 1234 defeated Cradle Mountain 1068
In another dramatic upset, Bandit's Charlie's Opening have cruised to a 1234-1068 win over the more fancied Cradle Mountain outfit.
As predicted pre-season, the Spelunkers' midfield is where much of their fortunes lay in 2013. And with A Swallow (137), S Hill (120), Jack (116) and Picken (74) all firing, Charlie's Opening were well on the way to a great score. Andrew Mackie also tonned up.



For the Devils, Scott Pendlebury led from the front (160). And while a number of his teammates scored solidly (Siposs, Jamar, Fletcher, Gwilt), disappointing performances from Redden, Shiels, Zorko and Hurley proved too much. Zaharakis' vesting didn't help




The only sour note for the Spelunkers was the injury to Frenchie Le Cras. I speak for many around the league in wishing him a speedy recovery.


Mt Beauty 1368 defeated Gundagai 1244
Mt Beauty lived up to pre-season expectations, outclassing Gundagai 1368-1244 in a high quality match.




Both teams scored freely in a display of attractive end-to-end football, but in the end the Uglies' superior depth saw it home.



For Mt Beauty, Cotchin, Sidebottom, Dickson, Waters, Rioli and debutant Viney all scored 115+ points in an impressive display.
For the Grasshoppers, Mitchell (141), led a number of good scorers, including new recruit Brett Goodes, as well as Guerra, O'Keefe, Hayes, Rockliff, Goldsack and Jono Griffin - all of whom topped 100.



But the difference proved to be a simple matter of depth - Mt Beauty's bench scoring 156, Gundagai's just 8.



Both teams can take plenty away from the match, and look to be among the better outfits in the early going.


Ladder
Iron Knob 4 1422
Birdsville 4 1420
Venus Bay 4 1373
Mt Beauty 4 1368
Wagga Wagga 4 1298
Darraweit Guim 4 1242
Charlies Opening 4 1234
Powlett Plains 4 1217
Nunawading 4 1107
Foul Bay 0 1252
Gundagai 0 1244
Whitsundays 0 1213
Larrikin Lagoon 0 1176
Gariwerd 0 1099
Waikikamoocow 0 1071
Cradle Mountain 0 1068
Lovely Banks 0 1021
Marble Bar 0 974

Round Two Fixture - Insomnia Round

The extra hour of partying caused by the end of Daylight Saving in South East Australia this coming weekend means the ORFFA celebrates Insomnia Round. Other causes of insomnia, including playing Bioshock Infinite to excess (yours truly), watching either version of the movie Insomnia or traveling to the Northern Hemisphere to enjoy a l-o-n-g day, are also accepted.







1 Marble Bar v Whitsundays

2 Darraweit Guim v Birdsville

3 Powlett Plains v Gariwerd

4 Lovely Banks v Larrikin Lagoon

5 Venus Bay v Nunawading

6 Foul Bay v Waikikamoocow

7 Gundagai v Iron Knob

8 Cradle Mountain v Mount Beauty

9 Wagga Wagga v Charlies Opening