We’re in the third year of our competition, and some trends are beginning to emerge.
The six teams making up the final combatants are the same as those who featured last year.
Not content with merely featuring again, MaherShalalHashBaz and the Shire Scourers have doubled down to face off again in the 4 v 5 Elimination Final. It’s also their third successive year of facing one another during the business end of the season, having duelled in the inaugural grand final.
These two clubs are a bit like the Cats and Hawks of a decade ago. MaherShalalHashBaz have won both home and away matchups this season, with a 3-point thriller in round 2 a standout. The Scourers though are on the same run when we consider finals only, having brought about the MSHB’s ultimate demise in each season to date.
The other elimination final this weekend also features a familiar team in a familiar place – The Love Sparkles, and the 6th spot on the ladder. Their opponent this go around is different though, with the Roughnecks changing places with the Defenestrators.
This game looks lopsided from the outset. The all-conquering Defenestrators, with 13 wins under their belt, facing an opponent with six less wins and just percentage stamping their admittance ticket.
But a look beyond the surface suggests a battle may loom large. Over the past 5 weeks, the Sparkles are averaging 1905 points – the Defenestrators are only slightly ahead, with 1918 points.
Ten of their players are averaging 90 points or more over the last 5 (the Defenestrators have 6 in that same period, excluding the injured and the punchy). Granted, the Defenestrators have midfielders dropping scarcely believable numbers. And Tom Mitchell. Hard to beat a team with Tom Mitchell.
But regardless of the results this week, or next, we are guaranteed something new though, in the form of the eventual grand finalists. A quirk of the draw means we will definitely have a newcomer in the big dance (Rico’s Roughnecks, Defenestrators, or The Love Sparkles). No matter what, they will go into the grand final the inexperienced outfit, with a repeat grand finalist awaiting them (Puttanesca Chiefs, Shire Scourers, or MaherShalalHashBaz).
Yes, it is bonkers the Defenestrators haven’t made one before. Yes, it is bonkers they’ve only finished in the top two once, despite being the highest scoring team in each and every season.
Just ask Andrew Gaff how frustrating that can make one feel.
There are storylines aplenty over the coming weeks. Can the Chiefs go back-to-back? Can the Scourers make their third grand final on the trot? Can the Defenestrators make their first? Will Mitch Brown ruin a Roughneck’s season yet again? Can the Love Sparkles’ late season flurry carry them to a flag? Will MaherShalalHashBaz conquer their New Zealand shaped demons?
The answer to all of these questions is maybe.
The Numbers
1st Elimination Final
MaherShalalHashBaz (4) v Shire Scourers (5)
Winner to play Puttanesca Chiefs in 1st Preliminary Final
2018 head-to-head
Round 2: MaherShalalHashBaz defeated Shire Scourers, 1807 to 1804 (BOX SCORE)
Round 11: MaherShalalHashBaz defeated Shire Scourers, 2012 to 1935 (BOX SCORE)
Previous 1st Elimination Finals
2016 1st Elimination Final: Defenestrators defeated The Leadskins, 1992 to 1760 (BOX SCORE)
2017 1st Elimination Final: Rico’s Roughnecks defeated The Love Sparkles, 2008 to 1795 (BOX SCORE)
Finals Record
MaherShalalHashBaz
Finals Record: 1-2
2016 1st Preliminary Final: WIN v In Gore We Trust, 2072 to 1937 (BOX SCORE)
2016 Grand Final: LOSS v Champs16, 1867 to 1884 (BOX SCORE)
2017 2nd Elimination Final: LOSS v Champs16, 1674 to 1790 (BOX SCORE)
Other:
2017 5th Place Playoff: WIN v General Soreness, 1922 to 1166 (BOX SCORE)
Shire Scourers
Finals Record: 4-1
2016 2nd Preliminary Final: WIN v Rico’s Roughnecks, 1869 to 1861 (BOX SCORE)
2016 Grand Final: WIN v MaherShalalHashBaz, 1884 to 1867 (BOX SCORE)
2017 2nd Elimination Final: WIN v MaherShalalHashBaz, 1790 to 1674 (BOX SCORE)
2017 1st Preliminary Final: WIN v Defenestrators, 2024 to 1889 (BOX SCORE)
2017 Grand Final: LOSS v Stranger Danger, 1883 to 1958 (BOX SCORE)
***
2nd Elimination Final
Defenestrators (3) v The Love Sparkles (6)
Winner to play Rico’s Roughnecks
2018 head-to-head
Round 5: The Love Sparkles defeated Defenestrators, 1855 to 1806 (BOX SCORE)
Round 17: Defenestrators defeated The Love Sparkles, 2032 to 1913 (BOX SCORE)
Previous 2nd Elimination Finals
2016 2nd Elimination Final: Rico’s Roughnecks defeated Such is Fyfe, 1912 to 1887 (BOX SCORE)
2017 2nd Elimination Final: Shire Scourers defeated MaherShalalHashBaz, 1790 to 1674 (BOX SCORE)
Finals Record
Defenestrators
Finals Record: 1-2
2016 1st Elimination Final: WIN v The Leadskins, 1992 to 1760 (BOX SCORE)
2016 1st Preliminary Final: LOSS v MaherShalalHashBaz, 1937 to 2072 (BOX SCORE)
2017 1st Preliminary Final: LOSS v Champs16, 1889 to 2024 (BOX SCORE)
Other:
2016 Third Place Playoff: WIN v Rico’s Roughnecks, 1913 to 1878 (BOX SCORE)
2017 Third Place Playoff: WIN v Rico’s Roughencks, 1924 to 1886 (BOX SCORE)
The Love Sparkles
Finals Record: 0-1
2017 1st Elimination Final: LOSS v Rico’s Roughnecks, 1795 to 2008 (BOX SCORE)
Other:
2017 5th Place Playoff: LOSS v MaherShalalHashBaz, 1166 to 1922(BOX SCORE)
And, the teams awaiting them…
(2) Rico’s Roughnecks
Finals Record: 2-2
2016 2nd Elimination Final: WIN v Such is Fyfe, 1912 to 1887 (BOX SCORE)
2016 2nd Preliminary Final: LOSS v Champs 16, 1861 to 1869 (BOX SCORE)
2017 1st Elimination Final: WIN v General Soreness, 2008 to 1795 (BOX SCORE)
2017 2nd Preliminary Final: LOSS v Stranger Danger, 1902 to 1960 (BOX SCORE)
Other:
2016 Third Place Playoff: LOSS v In Gore We Trust, 1878 to 1913 (BOX SCORE)
2017 Third Place Playoff: LOSS v Defenestrators, 1886 to 1924 (BOX SCORE)
(1) Puttanesca Chiefs
Finals Record: 2-0
2017 2nd Preliminary Final: WIN v Rico’s Roughnecks, 1960 to 1902 (BOX SCORE)
2017 Grand Final: WIN v Champs 16, 1958 to 1883 (BOX SCORE)