WXV Round 3: PNL & Berlin Sweating on First Win

[Purple 77]

Normal lockout week :)

Round 3, AFL Round 3

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Cairo Sands	Mexico City Suns	Borg El Arab Stadium, AAP Alliance	0  v  4
Cape Town Cobras	Berlin Brewers	Newlands Cricket Ground	3  v  2
Dublin Destroyers	Buenos Aires Armadillos	Crooke Park	3  v  2
London Royals	Tokyo Samurai	London Olympic Stadium, EurAsia	2  v  2
New York Revolution	Moscow Spetsnaz	MetLife Stadium, Peace Cup	1  v  3
New Delhi Tigers	Toronto Wolves	Tata Stadium	0  v  4
PNL Reindeers	Beijing Thunder	State de France, EurAsia	3  v  1
Rio de Janeiro Jaguars	Pacific Islanders	Maracana Stadium, AAP Alliance	0  v  1
Seoul Magpies	Christchurch Saints	Seoul World Cup Stadium	0  v  1

WHAT A WIN! The Cairo Sands have posted their first win of the 2016 season in a huge upset result against the more fancied PNL Reindeers. It was a truly inspired performance with the crowd responding to boost them over the line, but it was perhaps the efforts of new recruit Kamdyn McIntosh that would get the chocolates from the "Karen" coaches (or Kamydn's coaches? No? Not even for the week?). However, Cairo take on Kamdyn's former team in the Mexico City Suns, whom although haven't hit their strides yet, but, like Suns do, they don't rise until a bit later! The Suns would be pleased with a 2-0 start but surely they'd like to remind the competition of their claim to retain their premiership title? I think it's only a matter of time before they do, and despite the Sands extra motivation spurred on by excitement, I don't see them winning their first match against the Suns.

The Cobras improved their Round 1 efforts by 100 points, but lost this time around instead to a more developed Christchurch squad. What the new-look Cobras have however is a team of competitors led by a gun captain to complement a plethora of youthful exuberance. The Brewers? Well, the youth certainly isn't there this season, and given their 0-2 start perhaps a bit of youth is what they really needed? Berlin traded for short-term success at the end of last year, and when that isn't happening then really its a disaster. The Brewers MUST win this game. They just have to, considering their last 5 games of the year is their toughest patch. Aside from the suspended Michael Hibberd, Berlin look like they'll be fielding a fully fit team in the first time in perhaps years, so there is no excuses. I'll tip my Brewers, just because they have to win... we just gotta.

The Destroyers are coming off a relatively rare event; a H&A loss. So rare, that I had to look at what happened last time to see what their response was, and it was a 159 point posting and 17 WXV point win over Berlin. Ugh. Also interestingly, last week's score was the lowest score Dublin has posted since... well, I don't have the 2014 records handy with me, but surely they scored a 132 in 2014? Anyway the point is, this was at least their worst performance in 18 months and really, I wouldn't want to be playing at Crooke Park this week. Oh, um, hey Buenos Aires! The Dillos have been respectable but unimpressive so far this season with scores of 132 and 129 to amount to two losses and they'll simply need a lot more to challenge Dublin this week. I reckon things might get a little ugly, and will tip the Destroyers.

London posted their first win last week against Toronto and would be pleased on it's 80 point improvement from Round 1. The Royals would be pleased with the perhaps unexpected good performances of some of its new recruits and despite the relatively low scoring, would feel a little optimism for the times ahead. Tokyo meanwhile, after flogging Berlin in Round 1 where perhaps hit back down to earth last week with a flogging of their own to the handsclaws of the Jaguars. Last year saw a tense battle between these two sides that saw a 60 point win to the Samurai, and I can't help but notice the 1 SC point difference to London's favour between these two teams last week, which leads me to think we might be in for a battle this week. Who do I tip? I'm still having Round 1 nightmares personally, and wouldn't dream (coz there nightmares) of tipping against the Samurai any time soon.

New York were a little scary last week; posting the second highest score of the round (156)... with their freaking captain scoring 25. 25! On a somewhat related note, it just goes to show you shouldn't get in Mumford's way... anyway, the Revolution are here to play in 2016 and the Spetsnaz are a tough assignment. Moscow, despite their suspensions, are 2-0 and have shown they are still capable of scoring with that 141 in Round 1. They are capable of more, and that's the only reason I'm giving them a chance as New York is currently the second highest scoring team of the year. At home, the Revolution further their favouritism, and I don't think I'll tip against that.

Another game I'm particularly interested in, is this one. New Delhi, despite their 0-2 start to the season, have still in a way lived up to their promise of a much improved team in two noticeable regards, 1) they have scored much more than they have this time last year (260 to 173) and 2) they have a host of quality players out... and still have a pool of players to choose from. Against Toronto, presents a golden opportunity to open their ledger against a team that somewhat resembles a slightly better 2015 New Dehli outfit. If you look at the Wolves team, you'll realise they'll have a good day soon; a nailed captain choice and a star performance or two might even see them beat New Delhi this week given the unavailable tigers, but they gotta believe they're a chance. But, I'm gonna do what I haven't done in a long, long time and that is tipping New Delhi to get it done.

Ah, the DRAMA! At that is the soul reason why this is my MATCH OF THE ROUND! The Reindeers are winless after two... unusual?... kinds of losses. The first being a recounted 3 SC point loss to the Jaguars, and the second to the team that finished 16th last year. Like Berlin, this top 4 aspiring team is in all sorts and they simply must not lose this match if they want to make the top 4... or even the eight, given their tough last 5 matches. Beijing is pretty much the exact opposite to PNL so far this year, in that they are 2-0 and on the right end of an upset result. The Thunder took down Dublin! They are the third team in the last 18 months to do so, and really what better way to provide momentum for the ENTIRE season?! Then there is the impending membership sales sky-rocketing... it's all looking up at Beijing, and you know what? I'm gonna back them to beat the Reindeers!

The Jaguars are angry. The current highest scoring team of the year have sent another message last week in that they can beat anyone, anytime, anywhere. I can't help but notice that the reigning coach of the week has got this player rotations craft sorted; resting David Zaharakis in Round 1 to receive a 14 point bonus in Round 2, whilst resting Elliott Yeo (who scored 92 in Round 1) in Round 2 where he scored 40 in the reserves. What will he do next?! Meanwhile, the Islanders will also benefit from a rested player in Sam Gibson in what promises to be a high scoring affair. The Islanders are 1-1 but improving, and will think themselves a chance to knock current ladder leaders Rio. I could have given this match the nod for my match of the round, but I couldn't go past the PNL drama, sorry coaches. Anyway, I can't go past the home team in this match as at the moment, they have my undivided curiosity.

The Magpies almost looked like they were gonna win against the Spetsnaz for a while there, but ran out of puff in trying to account for Captain Danger's off-game. I say this every week, but I just know it's a matter of time before the Magpies put in a big score that will make the competition stand up a take notice. In the meantime, I will assume that could happen any week from now, and give them every chance to take down the ever consistent Saints. Christchurch have done what they've needed to so far this year, but they would probably like to hit that 150 barrier just for a confidence boost and platform going into the year, wouldn't they? In fact, I'm challenging them to do so this week in my prediction of a Saints victory.

[RaisyDaisy]

Berlin got us last year and we got them back, and Moscow got us last year too so I'd love to get them back this week to start the season with a hat trick of victories

We're struggling with Captain choices, but surprisingly it's been our KPD's that are firing and getting the job done, although we don't expect this to be a regular thing

Big challenge this week - bring it on!

[GoLions]

PNL? Check.

Mexico, you're next.

[Ricochet]

Unlike Melbourne the boys at NDT don't get big heads when starting favourites.... :P

Looking to get our first win of 2016

[Nige]

PNL? Check.

Mexico, you're next.

[Toga]

Another big game against PNL this week! Need to really nail our defenders down which is giving us a bit of grief, apart from that the team has performed very strongly so far.

[Toga]

BEIJING THUNDER:
D: H.Taylor, H.Lumumba, L.Brown, J.Aish
M: C.Ward (C), L.Neale (VC), B.Ellis, O.Wines
R: B.Grundy
F: D.Zorko, A.Christensen, K.Lambert, J.Jenkins
I/C: J.Caddy, B.Kennedy

Emg: M.Jones (f), D.Howe (d), S.Mayes (d/m)

OUT: M.Jones, D.Howe
IN: J.Jenkins, L.Brown

[GoLions]

Fun fact: if PNL beat Beijing, then Cairo > Dunlin

[Memphistopheles]

What the new-look Cobras have however is a team of competitors led by a gun captain to complement a plethora of youthful exuberance.

Our captain's been the worst part of our team so far ??? ... scores of 75 and 95 so far this year means we're seriously considering a certain ruckman midfielder utility whatever he is as our number 1 man this week.

[meow meow]

150 away from Home without McVeigh and Hartlett? No chance. We peak at the other end of the season.

[Purple 77]

What the new-look Cobras have however is a team of competitors led by a gun captain to complement a plethora of youthful exuberance.

Our captain's been the worst part of our team so far ??? ... scores of 75 and 95 so far this year means we're seriously considering a certain ruckman midfielder utility whatever he is as our number 1 man this week.

Lol, was unaware of his current form! But I was thinking of his history when I wrote that.

[meow meow]

B: Boyd, Wilson, Gilbert, Reid
M: Mitchell (Vc), Griffen (C), Gibbs, Stevens
R: Sandilands
F: Montagna, Stringer, Breust, McLean
I: Roughead, Lever

E: Vandenberg, WHE, Lester

[My Chumps]

Dom Tyson to have a blinder and sink the Brewers, just for you Purps ;)

I've officially acknowledging Dom Tyson is overrated, and needs to be dropped.

[Jukes]

D: S. Docherty, N. Vlastuin, P. Seedsman, J. Hombsch
M: R. Gray (c), D. Armitage, R. Bastinac, L. Greenwood
R: N. Naitanui (vc)
F: J. Daniher, J. Hogan, D. Moore, T. Bell
U: S. May, W. Milera

Emg: T. Vickery, L. Dunn, A. Pearce

[RaisyDaisy]

The form Waite is in at the moment, and North playing Melbourne this week...  Wish we had Waite in the leadership group!