History
Best Finish – Preliminary Final 2018, 2022, 2023
The most successful team to not make a grand final in our league history. Greg will be looking to go one step (hopefully two) better this year and get over that prelim final hurdle. This team has only missed finals once in the last 7 years, and there are rumours this was intentional as one N Daicos was available in the draft that year. A model of consistency outside of that – there is never an easy game against this mob, but we’re yet to see it when the lights shine brighter.
2 Prelim finals in the last 2 years, along with some improvement via the Soldiers fire sale (McCluggage and Toby Greene returning home, alongside Ollie Wines) means they know the time is now to break through that ceiling. Having traded out of the first 3 rounds of the upcoming draft, the Sparkles have almost called all in.
Current Form/Injury Watch
An unlucky loss to the Defenestrators last week (James Peatling 133 – really???) was only the second loss by this team since round 10, so form isn’t a worry for Greg – however while the wins have come, we haven’t seen any huge scores that can strike fear into an opponent the way some others can during this run.
A good injury run at the moment is certainly helping with form, and with M Crouch due to come back at some point when it appeared he was out for the season when he first went down, could really add some more bite to what is already a stacked midfield. A few fringe players are still out, but it doesn’t appear to be many others that will move the needle in the Sparkles chances.
Where a final will be won/lost
There are a few players on this list that can go nuclear. If any 3 of Xerri, Daicos, Stewart, McCluggage, Anderson, or Steele go big together, this team becomes a momentous challenge for their opponent. While the ceiling isn’t as high for many players on this list, Greg has carefully put a list together with a higher floor than most. You can’t afford to have an off week against them hoping they do too – it just doesn’t happen. Outside of the bye rounds, this team has not missed 1800 since round 6 – before they bulked up knowing this could be the year.
Just as if the big names go nuclear this team can win, if these same guns fail to explode, this team’s ceiling is more limited than others, meaning opponents have a clear path to victory. In a shootout this team can be beaten, but make sure you bring your A game, or you will feel the wrath of the Love Sparkles.
Predicted finish/finals match-up
Sitting in 2nd with the final round to come, the first week bye is theirs to lose. A game against the Vipers is never easy, however now that they have been eliminated from finals contention there is more of a chance that Nathan phones it in, and lets the Sparkles have the rest for the first time in their history. 3rd is the lowest they can fall, and assuming the Chiefs hold 6th, you wouldn’t think the Sparkles would lose week 1 to them, and so the real test will be week 2 of finals either way, against either the Defenestrators or the Roughnecks. Both high quality teams, so it might all come down to which players (from both teams) can light it up and take their coach to the grand final.