GAME OF THE ROUND
What a doozy to end the home & away season on. 2nd takes on 3rd to decide who gets the bye, and who needs to survive an elimination final to force a rematch.
In one corner we have the Roughnecks, who have held onto second spot dearly with an unblemished record since a decidedly mediocre performance over the mid-season byes. They’ve scored well, despite only securing narrow victories over Pukekos and the Defenestrators in the last month.
And they’ve needed those wins, because the Sparkles have been smashing down the door. Last season’s premiers have won 13 straight games, and are by far the strongest 3rd placed club we’ve seen at this point of a season.
True, both teams should fancy their chances if they find themselves in an elimination final next week. But the thing about playing a game is you can always lose – and we’ve seen sixth place triumph over 3rd place several times in our league’s history. Best to just avoid the risk entirely and win this weekend.
Key Outs
Sparkles: Xerri, Papley
Roughnecks: Taranto, Cerra, Laird, Mitchell, Rachele
Last time these two met
Was a round 12 clash during the byes, that the Sparkles won comfortably.
DangerGawn votes
| Hugh McCluggage |  | 152 |
| Bailey Smith | | 147 |
| Nick Daicos | | 128 |
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
The stakes are simple here. With Te Puke Pukekos facing off against a MSHB team that seems to have a personal vendetta against them (I’m assuming that’s the sole impetus behind their trades this week), the Vipers can likely claim 6th spot with a win here.
Both these teams have been in a selling sort of mood this week though. The Vipers parted with club stalwarts in Neale and Keays, bringing in another 1st round pick and a host of younger players. They would seem to have minimal interest in maximising their chance of victory in round 21.
Not to be outdone, the Defenestrators have parted with some legends of their own. Gawn has been sent packing, back to the club that once sent him packing. Jack Sinclair had played 95 games for this team, but no more. And then after I wrote this, they traded out Tom Mitchell, Salem, Coniglio, and Bailey Williams.
In return though they’ve brought in Tom Green, who will be a pillar moving forward for the next era of Defenestrators football. Chances are he’ll perform more strongly this weekend than the Vipers new additions (though Jeffrey has been in some form… as has Cadman… as has Max Hall? So maybe it’s not so clear cut)
Key Outs
Defenestrators: Walsh, Daniels, Treloar, Kelly, Johnson anyone else they happen to trade after I draft this
Vipers: Caldwell, Miller, Setterfield
Last time these two met
The Vipers won a tight one, by just 29 points, in their round 12 classic.
DangerGawn votes
| Jye Caldwell |  | 140 |
| Andrew Brayshaw | | 113 |
| Jack Sinclair |  | 112 |
STRAY OBSERVATION
With the Defenestrators parting with multiple stars, and the Devils hobbling a bit to the finish line, it would seem finishing 1st will be a particularly strong advantage this season. The Defenestrators have been in solid scoring form of late, and the Devils are a deep team, but neither will be at their strongest.
Conversely, whoever finishes second will have to deal with either the most accomplished 3rd placed finisher the league has seen, or a Pukekos outfit that’s really turned a corner over the last month. Or the Vipers, I guess, if things break their away in the aforementioned SIM.
With MaherShalalHashBaz really loading up on the eve of the finals, it will take some effort to topple them. Does anyone have it in them?