GAME OF THE ROUND
This is a tricky to week to call as there is no clear frontrunner to my mind. But that means all 5 games could potentially claim the crown (well, maybe not the one with the Soldiers in it) – that makes for potential excitement during the weekend ahead.
Now I admit it’s hard to make a particular case for this game over the others, given the Vipers went below 1500 last weekend, and the Sparkles have won their last 6.
But the Sparkles will be without Daicos and Anderson this weekend (and a few others). The Vipers lose Cameron in the ruck, one of their very best performers, and Miller as well. But they gain back their Freo contingent, who have a friendly matchup against the Kangaroos.
Crazier things have happened.
The Vipers will be counting their lucky stars that Threat Level Midnight face a very tough task in the Devils this weekend, because the pressure is on. Just shy of 300 points is what separates the Vipers from the finals spot they currently occupy, and the abyss that is the bottom four. A big upset here would give them much needed confidence as we approach the home stretch.
*editor’s note: Harmes out hurts. If the Vipers can’t field a full team, that upset becomes all the more unlikely
Key Outs
Vipers: Cameron, Miller, Powell, Elliott, Florent, Harmes. Ross
Sparkles: Daicos, Anderson, Lloyd, Lipinski, Crouch, Sheldrick
Last time these two met
Was in Round 5, and it wasn’t particularly close, with the Sparkles comfortable winners by 258 points. Jye Amiss scored a 9, which just about tells the whole story.
DangerGawn votes
| Nick Daicos |  | 136 |
| Andrew Brayshaw |  | 123 |
| Jai Newcombe | | 118 |
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
This is perhaps another hard sell, given the form of the ladder leaders and two consecutive “mehs” from the Defenestrators. But after two consecutive “mehs” from the Roughnecks I cannot in good conscience spotlight them a third week running – even if the Chiefs perhaps warrant it.
Truth be told the case here is similar to the one above. MSHB have quite a few notable outs this weekend, and the names coming in to fill the voids aren’t nearly as scary. Granted, some of them are players other coaches would field as mainstay members of the 22. Still, there are worse weeks to facing off against the league leaders. I imagine that is what coach Zerna will be telling his players in an attempt to motivate them before the opening bounce.
The Defenestrators have some outs that sting themselves – Witts in particular. But Sinclair returns, and Max Gawn is playing. There are worse foundations to build on (I imagine that is what coach Zerna will be telling… you get the idea)
Key Outs
Defenestrators: Witts, Hopper, Vlastuin, Mitchell, Coniglio, Perryman, Roberts, Peatling
MSHB: Mills, Houston, J. Daicos, Rioli, Sidebottom, Warner, Crisp, Nankervis, Callaghan, Yeo, Schultz
Last time these two met
The Defenestrators inflicted MSHB’s sole loss in the season to date, by a paltry 3 points.
Just quietly, we’re starting down the barrel of a potentially dominant season by MSHB here. One loss, by 3 points? And now the highest scoring team to boot. Many games still on the horizon, but keep an eye on this…
DangerGawn votes
| Zach Merrett |  | 134 |
| Sam Walsh |  | 126 |
| Max Gawn | | 118 |
STRAY OBSERVATION
Going rogue and offering a few observations ahead of round 14.
I’d planned on spotlighting TLM after their big win over Pukekos last weekend. Alas, the byes have not fallen in their favour, and it’s hard to see them mounting a serious challenge to a Devils outfit that put the Soliders to the sword.
Pukekos would want to comfortably beat the Soldiers. They’ve scored more points on the season than both the Vipers and Midnight, but find themselves two games behind those two in the fight for sixth. Losing here would be a disaster.
The Chiefs put on a great show last weekend in what turned out to be the true game of the round against the aforementioned Pukekos. Their collection of ‘former Roughnecks’ really paying dividends in particular – Holmes 146, Blakey 133, Ollie Hollands 109, Bergman 104, Rowbottom 98. Even Berry, Lohmann and Dempsey chipped in with passable contributions. The old adage goes that the team who gets the best player nearly always wins the trade, but one suspects coach Buscumb was feeling pretty good about his choices on Monday afternoon.