MILESTONES
50 Games
- Tom Atkins (Puttanesca Chiefs)
GAME OF THE ROUND
Pretty clear cut match of the round here. A Defenestrators win secures 2nd place and an automatic place in the Preliminary Final. A Sparkles win keeps them (and others) in the race for second place.
The Sparkles are coming off an absolute travesty of a win built off the back of illicit, backroom deals with nefarious actors a post siren points adjustment. And they’ll be buoyed by the return of Cerra and Simpkin – and shock horror, Matt Crouch has kept his spot. Their depth is absolutely coming to the fore at the right time, and a win this weekend would further cement those pre-season predictions that they were the challenger apparent.
Meanwhile the Defenestrators are Defenestrating. I mean, not literally. But you know what I’m getting at. They’ve gone about their business quietly in season 2023. As those around them have made flashy trades, or made frequently appearances in the weekly preview, they’ve just been notching up wins.
But are there are some minor blemishes. Walsh is a big out. Ziebell is finally being treated the way he should’ve been treated at least two seasons ago. Shiel is experiencing similar sub-related drama. They’re the opposite of the Sparkles in this respect, flying a bit thinner. And yet they’ve won their past four games.
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
The Devils lost their grip on 6th spot to MaherShalalHashBaz on percentage. A win here, obviously, would go a long way to restoring their final’s placing. But potentially a small loss would suffice as well….
As MaherShalalHashBaz face the juggernaut atop the ladder this weekend. And the Tax Devils will be hoping for a record score.
The Vipers are scorching hot and have vaulted into pole position on the “team the Soldiers are most concerned with facing in finals” ladder. They would expect to win this weekend. And they’ll be hoping for a Sparkles win against the Defenestrators, as that will put them right in the mix to claim second spot for themselves heading into the final.
If the Devils are to get up this weekend, I think the showdown will play a staring role. The Devils are flush with Power players, and the Power have seen fit to basically go in without a proper ruck, putting things on a silver platter for Devils’ ruckman Reilly O’Brien. If O’Brien isn’t in the DangerGawn votes come the end of the round, coach Bernardi should be annoyed.
STRAY OBSERVATION
The DangerGawn Medal race is down to three competitors – and one of them needs to poll votes in both remaining rounds to keep their chance alive.
That man, Nick Daicos, plays Friday night. So we’ll get insight quick as to whether he’ll have the sort of score that could net him the 3 votes.
English goes up against Threat Level Midnight this weekend, where the likes of Serong and Gulden would seemingly pose the biggest threat to his votes. Taranto faces the Chiefs, and will be hoping for quiet ones from Marshall and Kelly.