History
Best Finish – Premiers 2017, 2018, 2020
The first juggernaut of Dangergawn league history, the Chiefs commenced a rebuild last season, and in a fight for 6th with the Vipers and Midnight, they were the ones that fell over the line and into finals after a 1-year absence. Was there luck involved? Absolutely. Will they take it? Also absolutely. There are a handful of players on this list, including Dangergawn medallist Rowan Marshall, that can go nuclear on any given week, but the depth just isn’t there like the threat of 5 years ago.
The Chiefs are very ahead of schedule in getting back to finals for this rebuild on the run, but with a coach that drives such high standards, we shouldn’t have expected anything less.
Current Form/Injury Watch
Ok look – the form line isn’t great. No 1800’s this year. Only 3 scores of 1700+ (one of those being 1700 exactly). On the plus side – the minor premier Devils have also struggled to pass 1700 the last few weeks, so they’re not out of it – but gee would you feel bad losing to the Chiefs in an elimination final.
On the injury front, it’s good to see number 2 overall pick Colby McKercher back from injury. Mark found a good one here. TDK out would hurt a lot of teams, but when Rowan Marshall is on your list, there is no chance he’s any more than an emergency, so no real loss. A few role players fighting niggles, but no one that you would say is changing the result due to their unavailability.
Where a final will be won/lost
Mark advised me not to bother with this preview as he doesn’t see a path to winning a final. I’m going to offer up one and you can make of it what you will.
Rowan Marshall the first player in league history to notch up a 250 score. 23 kicks, 12 handballs, 11 marks, 12 tackles (to join Josh Dunkley in the quad-double club), 4 goals 2 behinds, with 50 hitouts (yes, I did the math). Combine this score with Oliver and McKercher going 120+, and the rest of the squad not being dreadful, and there is a defendable score on the board.
Is it likely – no. Could it happen – probably not. But remember, Christie willingly agreed to marry me, so stranger things HAVE happened.
Predicted finish/finals match-up
The Chiefs are up against it from the start with a match against the in form Defenestrators. No one (including Mark himself) expects a win here I imagine, so on the plus side there’s nothing to lose.
Should the unthinkable happen, a match up with the Devils would be on the cards for prelim final weekend. Neither team scoring well in the lead in to finals could see the unlikeliest grand final appearance ever.