MILESTONES
150 games:
- Brodie Grundy (Roughnecks)
50 games:
- Max Holmes (Puttanesca Chiefs)
- Ed Richards (Roughnecks)
- Zach Guthrie (Threat Level Midnight)
GAME OF THE ROUND
These two have been sitting next to each other on the ladder since Round 11. They’ve been inseparable.
So perhaps it’s fitting that there is a chance nothing changes after the game is over. Defenestrators, currently in 3rd, stay in 3rd. Roughnecks, currently in 4th, stay in 4th. Indeed that is perhaps the most likely outcome, if form is anything to go by.
Because the Defenestrators are, suddenly, the form team in the league. They’ve dispatched the top two in consecutive weeks, and this weekend they’ll have a chance to conquer yet another finals outfit and stake their claim as the team to beat.
The loser – whoever it is – will finish fourth and face MaherShalalHashBaz, in what will be a highly anticipated elimination final next week. Both teams would be keen to avoid this. That is going to be a brutal one and the reality is the loser is going to feel as if they could’ve won the flag but fell short at the very first hurdle.
The winner… almost certainly finishes third. Unless the Sparkles lose. And then the winner will finish second and earn themselves a bye. Both coaches will have a hard time avoiding the occasionally sneaky glance over at Sparkles v Vipers matchup throughout the weekend.
Things could change dramatically. Or they could stay exactly the same. This final round of the home & away season looms as one of the most interesting we’ve had in our 9 seasons to date.
Last time these two met
Was back in round 12, and saw the Roughnecks cruise to victory against a Defenestrators team who just couldn’t buy a win in the lead-up.
The Defenestrators had 3 of the top 4 scorers in the game. But they also had a 12 from Charlie Dixon and a 6 from James Harmes.
The Roughnecks round 12 victory broke a streak of 7 consecutive wins for the Defenestrators in this matchup. The team in pink also has a commanding lead historically between these two, with 16 wins to 7.
DangerGawn votes
- 3 votes: Sam Walsh (Defenestrators) – 133
- 2 votes: Jack Bowes (Roughnecks) – 130
- 1 vote: Max Gawn (Defenestrators) – 122
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
With apologies to the Chiefs v MaherShalalHashBaz AND the Sparkles v Vipers games, I’ve opted for this one because I think an upset victory here is the most probable. Threat Level Midnight have outscored the Devils in each of the past two rounds.
If Threat Level Midnight can best the Devils, and MSHB dispatch the Chiefs, then Midnight will play finals – thanks to the miniscule percentage advantage they hold over the three-time premiers.
With a top two spot secured, and the minor premiership basically in the cabinet, the Devils don’t have much to play for this week. Though one suspects they’ll be hoping for a return to form after a rocky fortnight.
It would be a big ask for Threat Level Midnight. But as we’ve covered many times in these previews, they have the firepower to cause anybody problems. Can they sneak back into the top six at the last possible moment?
Last time these two met
It was not close. Historians might even refer to it as ugly. The Devils won, but that feels like an under statement. The margin was 432 points.
And they did it despite Midnight having the highest scorer on the ground, with Marcus Bontempelli’s monster 159.
Midnight also had a 132 from Dylan Moore, and a 131 with Mason Wood – who missed out on DangerGawn votes!
But it turns out those types of scores aren’t enough to compensate for 5 donuts on the field.
The Devils had nearly as many guys score 80 or more as Threat Level Midnight had on the field. There’s your difference.
This has been a topsy-turvy matchup historically. The Devils have won the last 4. Before that, Threat Level Midnight had 5 wins on the trot.
DangerGawn votes
- 3 votes: Marcus Bontempelli (Midnight) – 159
- 2 votes: Jordan Clark (Devils) – 151
- 1 vote: Dylan Moore (Midnight) – 132
STRAY OBSERVATION
It would be remiss to wind up this final preview of the home & away season without making clear the stakes in all the games.
MaherShalalHashBaz are locked into 5th place and simply cannot move. Their opponents in the Chiefs can guarantee a sixth place finish with a victory, where they would then face the Defenestrators… or the Roughnecks… or the Sparkles, in an elimination final.
The currently second placed Sparkles face the Vipers, whose second half charge fell just short in recent weeks. The Sparkles could theoretically win the minor premiership with a commanding win, and a Devils loss. But the upshot of winning is mostly fending off both the Defenestrators and Roughnecks. If they were to lose, there is no way they’ll keep that top two spot – they’ll fall to whoever wins the match of the round.
Hmmm, maybe Sparkles v Vipers should’ve been the sneaky interesting matchup…. validate my choices Rowan!
Oh – and I went for a walk outside around the office block during my lunch break on Wednesday, and I saw Nic Naitanui leaving a coffee shop, beverage in hand. I waved to him and started asking why he thought so many different ruckman have won the DangerGawn Medal, and he very politely asked me to stop talking to him.
Okay so only part of that happened. I’m a cool person folks. I let the celebrities be. It’s Sydney baby, we’re cool.