MILESTONES
100 games:
| Nick Vlastuin |  |
GAME OF THE ROUND
Last season’s minor premiers have been dealt a brutal opening fortnight in season 2025. Fresh off another disapointing result against the Sparkles, they now run into the pre-season favourites in MaherShalalHashBaz. An outfit that delivered on that hype by dropping a significant 1950+ score to kick off the season.
But despite their absences, the Devils put up a perfectly admirable score last weekend. Their midfield in particular delivered – 5 of the 8 on that part of the field hit triple figures.
The forward line was what killed them. Rankine, Parker and Kennedy all held their standard, but Treacy’s 28 sucked. And Papley’s 19 sucked even more. Bench option Kyle Langford hurt his hamstring, so it will be interesting to see if coach Bernardi backs in Papley to rebound. If not, who takes his place?
On the other side of the fence, MaherShalalHashBaz had a cruisy opening game, crushing the collection of small children the Soldiers sent out for slaughter. A score of 1958, achieved despite a 23 from Logan Evans and a 45 from Massimo D’Ambrosio, should inspire varying degrees of concern from the rest of the league. This is a team worth fearing.
Key Outs
MaherShalalHashBaz: Mills, Rioli, T Green (didn’t play the bye), Yeo
Devils: Butters, Briggs, Worpel. Bolton under injury cloud, Langford, Ridley
Last time these two met
Was last season’s Preliminary Final, a high scoring encounter that saw the Devils emerge victorious by 91 points.
The Devils had ten players hit triple figures, and another two in the 90s. Both the Port Adelaide and Carlton contingents came through strong for the minor premiers.
MaherShalalHashBaz were led by exciting unicorn Sam Darcy, who dropped a massive 133. But a 38 from old man Travis Boak stung.
DangerGawn votes
There weren’t any, given it’s a final. But we can still paint the picture.
| Zak Butters |  | 143 |
| George Hewett | | 136 |
| Sam Darcy |  | 133 |
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
The Defenestrators had a horrid time in round one, running into a buzzsaw in the Roughnecks and seeing their forwards drop like flies. Can they steady the ship against another injury ravaged outfit in Threat Level Midnight?
Their opponents this week eeked out a victory over the Puttanesca Chiefs – no small feat given the aforementioned injury troubles. And look at that, they’ve likely lost Waterman as well. This has all the hallmarks of a team that just need to try and tread water while they wait for their stars to return. Every victory during this period is a boon. Can they snare another one this weekend? They have a bevy of Brisbane Lions, who have a potentially tasty matchup against the Eagles. Expect to see some Lions on field for TLM.
With the Giants on the bye, the Defenestrators have a few solid scores already locked in this weekend. The headline is Josh Kelly and his 118, but an 88 from the now injured Brent Daniels is very nice as well. They’ll feel like they’re off to a good start. But they need it – a loss here would set off all sorts of alarm bells at Defenestrators HQ.
Key Outs
Defenestrators: Treloar, Hollands, Mannagh, Hogan
Midnight: Bontempelli, Gulden, Waterman Coleman
Last time these two met
Was during last season’s bye period. In round 14 the Defenestrators won a low scoring victory by 104 points.
In what is perhaps a bad omen for Threat Level Midnight, their two best performers on the day were Bontempelli and Gulden – two players who will be missing this weekend.
Granted, they couldn’t get the win with those two leading the way. Maybe this weekend will grant them some sort of bizzaro ‘addition by subtraction’ benefit…
DangerGawn votes
| Marcus Bontempelli |  | 142 |
| Errol Gulden | | 127 |
| Nick Vlastuin | | 114 |
STRAY OBSERVATION
The De Koning brothers scored 256 points between them in round 1. Do they have a claim of being the best fantasy bros in the land?
I think it’s fair to say the Daicos brothers currently hold the title. The Ashcroft brothers loomed as the biggest threat. But maybe it’s the De Konings? Something to keep an eye on this season.
One thing is for sure, it probably won’t be the McKays.