History
Best Finish – Runners-Up 2018, 2019
As has been written about this team before – the unluckiest team in league history. The name Connor Blakely, as well as that of Max Gawn, still haunts him, as the 2019 GF was a big chance this team had at the ultimate glory. Since then, we have seen a mini rebuild in selling Adam Treloar, Tim English, and more for some draft picks to rejuvenate the list. And then there was the Chiefs trade during the 2023 season. In came Rory Laird, Lachie Whitfield, and Jack Macrae, and Adam saw the opportunity to not have to miss finals, but instead keep competing for that maiden flag.
This year is a wide-open field, and so with these big scorers supplementing guys like Dawson and Taranto, this is the time to strike. The Roughnecks have never been an easy out, so maybe this could be the year they climb over the final hurdle
Current Form/Injury Watch
The biggest yo-yo team in terms of form over the last 6 weeks. In this time, they’ve alternated going 1900+ (including a 2016 in round 16), with going less than 1800. The list hasn’t changed, so the question everyone including Adam will be asking of the team is which Roughnecks are going to appear this week? If they follow the pattern, round 22 should be a big one, but can they do it for 3 weeks in a row? You feel that’s what will be needed to win finals this year, but the list is certainly capable.
Bailey Smith has been out for the season with his ACL, however that’s really it on the list for injuries. Players not getting selected has been the bigger thorn in Adam’s side this season. Bevo is doing Bevo things in benching Macrae, Ross Lyon really doesn’t seem to like Brad Crouch, and young Ben Hobbs is playing well in the VFL, but still can’t crack Essendon’s midfield. There are still top grade players on the park, but some of these guys would certainly help now we’re at the pointy end of the season.
Where a final will be won/lost
This team has plenty of A grade players, but it’s the young guys that will determine their fate. Now the rabble have been eliminated, every team has a decent top 10 – it’s how the bottom 6 or so play that can gift a win or cripple an effort. With the lower half of this list so young, the consistency of play isn’t always there (which explains the yo-yo form). If guys like Rachele, MacDonald, Dempsey, and Durham can score 85+, this team can win against anyone. All of them scoring 70 or less, and it may be too much of an uphill climb.
Predicted finish/finals match-up
It’s going to be a run to remember should the Roughnecks win through to their maiden premiership. The loss to Paul in round 21 means this campaign starts with a matchup against the fully loaded MaherShalalHashBaz. This is a team that has multiple players that can go huge, so part of the matchup is purely hoping they don’t all do it together.
A win over Jordan leaves a match against minor premier Max – again with multiple players that can go huge, but not quite bringing that form into finals. It would be just Adam’s luck that they did all go big against him to recapture that form.
A win there leaves the winner of the Sparkles/Defenestrators (assuming they beat the Chiefs) matchup in the grand final. Another hard game regardless of opponent – you could potentially say this would be the greatest finals run in league history. Now we just need to see if it can be done.