MaherShalalHashBaz (1863) def. by The Love Sparkles (1933)
Another win to the Sparkles, with the fear associated with their name becoming more and more prevalent each week we play. Rocky is back, and while Lloyd isn’t the highest scoring defender (curse you Whitfield), he is the most consistent, with only a 7 point spread between his best and worst efforts this season. This win came about from solid midfield and defensive work; though I’m sure coach Burgess Snr will have some strong words with his forward line this week.
Over at MSHB, it’s not as doom and gloom as 2-2 might feel for this former giant of our competition. A score of above 1800 was finally achieved, showing some light to the fans, and they weren’t reliant on Chris Mayne to achieve it. Both sides lost a player to injury in the opening minutes of their respective matches, but knowing the importance of Mayne to MSHB over the last 3 weeks, this felt bad. A ton on every line shows that the work isn’t being left to few any more, but the lower lights will need to start doing more if this team is to be a threat come August. Interesting note from this week – Jordan’s forwards kicked fewer goals than his defenders this week (2-3)!
Next up the Love Sparkles stick around in SA for their match against Max’s Devils. Aiming for 4 wins in a row, this feels like it will be a one sided affair (though I’ll let Paul break that down in more detail). Jordan hosts the local rivalry – Gawler VS the Barossa. Solomon’s Soldiers have never had a win against MSHB, so Jordan, while seeing this as a test, is probably no more than mildly interested in how he’ll win this week.
The Taxmanian Devils (1547) def. by The Redshins (1607)
With a score line befitting 9th VS 10th, the 2nd lowest score of the round beat the lowest score. Travis Boak continues to defy all expectations and recorded his 4th straight hundred of the year, this time from the midfield powering the ‘Shins through to their maiden win. Libba once again showed what the Dogs and the ‘Shins were missing last year, now the rest of the team need to take note. With 2 emergency spots vacant, I don’t think too many players are worried about their position in the 22 for the immediate future, but times are changing, so look out for future years if you want to play for the yellow and black.
The Taxmanian Devils are still searching for that maiden win for coach Max, but I feel it’s getting closer. A couple of different choices at the selection table would have netted the win, but that consistency of a best 22 will come with time. This does show he’s getting closer, so the rematch with Chris should be an engrossing encounter. Trent Dumont is looking to repay the faith he had from the trade with Mark’s Chiefs, and with back to back 100’s he’s a bright light in this team going through a rebuild.
Next up the Redshins take on the wounded Shire Scourers in a match that is coming at the right time for him. The Scourers have still been scoring higher than him, but one injury may well open the door to the unexpected win to truly distance himself from the Spoon conversation. The Devils meanwhile have a match against the highly fancied Love Sparkles. My suggestion for tactics is to knock Rockliff out, as that seems the only way to keep his score manageable. Still not sure they’d have enough at that point though.
Defenestrators (1939) Def. Such is Fyfe (1720)
4 hundreds in defence, 5 in the midfield, none in the forward line. No surprises where Paul pulled this victory from. At an average of over 100 per defender, that set the tone for what would be the final defeat of the team known to the world as “Such is Fyfe”. A clinical display of aggression by Paul putting him into the top 2 from whence he was kicked out last year in the final rounds, he’ll be hoping the dropping of Motlop from Port as well as his side will spark a run that keeps this high scoring machine where it belongs.
The rebuild is on over at Viper-land. Such is Fyfe are gone, and this match up was the first game with the team electing to openly rebuild, with Andrew Brayshaw and Aaron Naughton lacing them up for the first time for coach Nathan. With 4 of the 6 Dangergawn votes this game wasn’t a complete write off, but there are no illusions about a quick fix here. Touk Millar with 14! tackles showing the way forward for this team. There will be a very different and young team running out for the rest of the season, and we wish him all the best in this rebuild.
Next week the Defenestrators face the same team that kicked them out of the top 2 last year, in a grudge match for the ages. Will the high scoring Paul get the points when they count, or will he again stumble at the (not quite) final hurdle? As for Nathan, The Lethal Vipers are making their Ultimate Keeper League debut against the undefeated Puttanesca Chiefs… Maybe they should have waited a week for the name change so that moral around the new culture would be higher, but maybe he’ll surprise us all (he won’t).
Puttanesca Chiefs (2105) Def. Shire Scourers (1687)
I’m running out of words to describe Mark’s wins. Excessive comes to mind. As does Hawthorn-like. Armageddon rings a bell as well. What’s scary is there is still room for improvement. The key Geelong forwards in Dangerfield and Kelly combined for a lower score than Dangerfield’s average alone so far this year, and when you throw in Gunston’s 59, you see 2200 as a when, not if. The Chief’s lowest winning margin this season is the 200 the Soldiers got within on our opening weekend.
This was effectively a free week for the Scourers. No one expected them to win, so a chance to try a new line up and new training methods to arrest their slump was in order. Lance Franklin always agrees to less training, and as a result put in his best effort of the season. Unfortunately this didn’t flow through to the rest of the team, with a number of below average performances across the board. Sam Menegola and Jack Crisp will have a lot to answer for this week no doubt.
Next up Mark has the Vipers for his 5th successive win to start 2019. The Scourers on the other hand have a clash that is currently looking to determine positions of the top few picks. Can he hold off the in form (if you call one win form) Redshins, or will he show that dominance that has led him to the second week and beyond of finals every year of our competition to date? I vote the latter, but not with confidence.
Rico’s Roughnecks (1931) def. by Solomon’s Soldiers (1943)
Patrick Cripps you star! So the echo reverberated around the studio apartment room when the siren finally sounded in the Carlton and Gold Coast game Sunday afternoon. Sunday morning it was doom and gloom for the soldiers. Equal players finished with a deficit of 120. Enter Patrick Cripps and his 12 tackles to bring up the Soldiers highest score (both individual and team) of the season. A great effort by all involved though with Neale doing his usual 40 touches, and Witts having his greatest game of the season. Caleb Daniel and Dale Thomas were traded into the team at the 11th hour, and it is not hyperbole to say that trade won the Soldiers the game. 200 between them, when the players they replaced on the field combined for a measly 127. This win also brings the Soldiers to the same win tally as last season ended, in a sure sign that things are on the up.
As joyful as this was for one team, it was heartbreak for the team on the other end. Another game decided by one mark and goal, and once again it wasn’t to be on the correct side of the ledger for Adam. Blame is being laid heavily at Chad Wingard’s door for this loss, when in the final quarter of the round there was still life, but in barely touching the ball (12 fantasy points) that wasn’t enough to hold off the fast finish by Acres and Hardwick. This loss is tough to look at when you consider the numbers – Adam had more 100’s (6-5), more 90’s (4-3), more 80’s (7-5), and yet still couldn’t come up with the 4 points when they mattered. This shows the value of big hundreds when a player gets started.
Next up the Soldiers play their rival Jordan who they are yet to beat in this league’s 4 year history. This is building a fire in their belly bigger than Notre Dame (too soon?) Can this slump continue, or is it time to break the shackles of MSHB domination? As for Adam and his roughnecks, they face week 3 of a tough 4 week stretch, this time facing off with the Defenestrators. If my tipping is anything to go by, I have no idea what will happen, but it should be a good match, and quite likely a preview of an August match to come.