GAME OF THE ROUND
This is a funny round, flush with potential ‘sneaky interesting’ matchups, and light on a clearcut ‘Game of the Round’
So I’ve opted for the 5 v 6 matchup between the Vipers and the Devils. The Devils should win this. But they’re 4 and 4 and have lost a few heartbreakers.
The Vipers are riding a two game win streak after facing the cellar dwellers over the last fortnight. The week before they dragged MSHB into the mud and only fell short by 27 points. They have one more win than the Devils so far this season. The Devils have scored almost 1,300 points more than them so far this season.
So I guess given the evidence before us the real question is who will the Devils rage trade come Monday?
Key Outs
Vipers: Ugle-Hagan, O’Driscoll
Devils: Ridley, Nash, Pendlebury
Last time these two met
Was at the tail end of last season, in round 20, where the Devils emerged victorious by 60 points. The Vipers had the two best players on the ground, but the Devils consistency was the difference – with the Vipers having 5 scores below 55.
DangerGawn votes
| Lachie Neale |  | 129 |
| Andrew Brayshaw | | 115 |
| Jarrod Berry |  | 110 |
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
The Defenestrators are in the midst of a 5 game win-streak. Their opponents haven’t won 5 games in a row this decade.
And yet. Sneaky? Tiny bit sneaky?
I think so. Te Puke Pukekos are getting such strong results from their defender group at the moment. And Tim English has shown glimpses of his DangerGawn medal winning best over the last fortnight. If things break their way, they can put up a competitive score. They’ve demonstrated that in 2025. The Defenestrators have several significant outs. Stranger things have happened…
Key Outs
Defenestrators: Kelly, Daniels, Coniglio, Treloar, Clark
Pukekos: Parish, Day
Last time these two met
I imagined this would be ugly when I started my search, and it is. But also, not remotely as ugly as one might imagine.
Round 18 2024 saw the Defenestrators win by a comfortable 237 points.They won comfortably despite Te Puke Pukekos having the best 3 players on the field.
DangerGawn votes
| Trent Rivers |  | 126 |
| Tim English | | 111 |
| John Noble | | 102 |
STRAY OBSERVATION
I considered putting Threat Level Midnight in the sneaky interesting slot. They gave MSHB a small fright last weekend, and while the donut probably wasn’t the difference in the end, it would’ve been awfully close without it.
But alas, the preview does need some diversity, and both the Roughnecks and Midnight have featured quite a bit.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t make some observations. Observation one – what’s up with Caleb Serong? Two scores in the 70s and one in the 60s over the past 3 rounds.
Observation two – Jaspa Fletcher is averaging 90 over his last 5. Fast becoming a new blue chip youngster on the TLM list.
Observation three – despite having two Port Adelaide rucks, TLM may not have the Port Adelaide ruck in round 9. Does it get more annoying than this in fantasy?