WXV Round 5: Cairo the Giant Killers?

[Purple 77]

We have a Monday game, which means...

NAME FOUR EMERGENCIES THIS WEEK

Round 5, AFL Round 5, ANZAC Day Weekend

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

The Cobras have struggled to hit the scoreboard so far this year; ranking 17th in total points scored but still managing just the one win against Cairo in Round 1. Knocked out from the World Idol; the Cobras will be looking to Moscow this week perhaps thinking the Spetsnaz are vulnerable after their close shave against Toronto. The Spetsnaz will this time not have the benefit of a game winning HGA when they take on the Cobras that they HAVE NEVER BEATEN BEFORE! I find that a little cool actually. The Spetsnaz do however find themselves 3-1 and in the top eight, so it's nowhere near panic stations yet however a win here will make their push to the eight much much easier. Who will win? How can I ignore a hoodoo stat? I'll back Cape Town.

Oh, god. No no, actually, wait actually. Actually. This might not be the blow-out that what those words "Dublin v Cairo" might suggest. The creations of Crooke Park reclaimed their bragging rights as top-scorers last week; seemingly cruising to a 150+ score that they know they can easily extend on if pushed. However, brushing sand out of your eyes might be a bigger effort that once thought with Cairo claiming the title as "Giant Killers". The Sands are 2-2 this year which, after the immense disappointment of being knocked out of World Idol in Round 1 have regrouped and taken down the PNL Reindeers and New York Revolution! Goodness, I don't think many other teams will achieve that feat this year! Cairo will look to Beijing for inspiration at taking down Dublin as they have shown it's possible only a few weeks ago! CAN THE SANDS DO IT?! It's a nice thought. But Dublin for me.

London would be up there as one of the surprise packets so far this season. Sitting 3-1 and 7th on the ladder with consecutive scalps of Toronto, Tokyo and PNL the Royals have shown that slow and steady can indeed win the race! What do I mean by this? Well, London are 3-1... and amazingly 14th on the points ladder. They have won with scores of 132, 132 and 129 which has always been the "competitive zone" of scoring; but it helps when you are ranked first in defence! The Islanders have been a bit more aggressive though, ranked 5th offensively but 16th defensively. The Islanders are coming off an important win against the Brewers, and I feel like their game is the sort of game that will unravel London's defence, so will back the Islanders to get it done.

The Suns... boy howdy. They were lucky not to be knocked out of the World Idol last week as they were next in line after Cape Town! When the Jaguars applied pressure, the reigning premiers wilted... is this the first sign of their decline? They aren't exactly spring chickens over there at Mexico City. But it also should be mentioned they are yet to welcome back ruckman Ivan Maric, forward Brett Deledio or debut Harley Bennell... but still, performances like that never attract positives! As such, Beijing are every chance to take down the Suns along with their main counterparts in Dublin! Now, I would really struggle to find another team that might achieve that feat. The Thunder play an exciting brand of footy stemming from their midfield, so expect them to challenge here! Who will win? Gah, I'm still a sucker for experienced teams, Mexico City for me.

New Delhi have been the picture of consistency so far this year with scores of 130, 130, 138 and 132 but has only netted just the one win so far against Toronto. However their 3 losses have come against teams ranked in top 5 offensively, so really the Tigers season is still one full of optimism and hope of landing many more wins! In the Samurai, the Tigers face an opponent where they if they win they'll be praised, but if they lose, they'll be criticised. The Samurai have annoyed its supporters immensely; teasing them of a magnificent Round 1 performance before succumbing to three straight disappointing losses. I tell ya what though, they'll be livid if they throw out a stinker here against a beatable New Delhi. Who will win? I like the consistent Tigers here at home!

In a battle of elite consistency v a seeming-less unlimited ceiling, New York host Christchurch in my MATCH OF THE ROUND! The Revolution are coming off their first loss of the season against Cairo of all teams... and they'd be filthy about it too! For a team that is doing so well offensively, you wonder where a good captain choice might take them! New York present themselves as perhaps first team to realise the disadvantages of the Leadership group, with the 137 averaging Jarrad Waite unable to lead the way; selected behind ruckman Kurt Tippet (85) and midfielder Mitch Duncan (83.5). Christchurch have been their usual consistent selves without really ever looking to go above and beyond when they don't need to. Still... the doubters are gonna doubt until the score 150+, and with that doubt ever present, I gotta back the Revolution.

The Reindeers huh? Who da thunk it? Probably the biggest surprise of the season is the current state the Reindeers find themselves in; 1-3, 12th, 11th on the points ladder and losses on previously pencilled wins against Cairo and London. What's gone wrong? I suppose it started with midfield stalwart Dane Swan going down to injury, and absences of Hodge, Wingard and Priddis... but really, making the finals from here is going to be an effort, which must start now. Buenos Aires are probably a bit stiff to be sitting last and winless given that they have scored more than Cape Town and Toronto and have faced much tougher opponents. But all of a sudden, they face a real opportunity to beat a vulnerable Reindeer outfit and kick-start their season. Who will win? Surely PNL. SURELY.

Well then! The highest scoring team so far this year takes on the lowest scoring team. The Jaguars have been nothing short of stunning this year; the only team sitting winless, 1st and coming off humiliating the reigning premiers. The question is, do they rest GAJ? Are they confident enough to take Toronto lightly? You know what? I'm challenging the Jaguars to rest GAJ. Are you Jaguars or scared-cats? Huh? HUH?! Toronto... heck, why not rest Ziebell? Where does your morals lie? You could beat Berlin next week you know... still, in the meantime, submit a team, close your eyes, and wait for it to all be over. This could get ugly.

Ugh, Seoul. Berlin are a joke.

[Purple 77]

NAME FOUR EMERGENCIES THIS WEEK

[kilbluff1985]

Seoul & Berlin are a joke?

wow purps right in the feels

[GoLions]

Seoul & Berlin are a joke?

wow purps right in the feels

Not sure if sarcasm or can't read :P

[kilbluff1985]

Seoul & Berlin are a joke?

wow purps right in the feels

Not sure if sarcasm or can't read :P

[Purple 77]

... through in a couple of coaching/team meltdowns, and what else you could possibly ask for?!

Arrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[RaisyDaisy]

Big Big match against the "team with the most depth" this week :P

Last week was a really disappointing outcome for us, so we need to bounce back

You're not wrong Purps - The introduction of Leadership Groups has probably actually hurt us seeing as Waite and Gibbo aren't available to lead the Revs

For the love of crumb cake, I hope our captain (whoever he may be) can score 100+!

[Holz]

2 points to clarify.

Dublin hasnt been beaten at home since mid 2014 except for london.

Are pnl and new york even giants :P

[RaisyDaisy]

2 points to clarify.

Dublin hasnt been beaten at home since mid 2014 except for london.

Are pnl and new york even giants :P

Well there's the New York Giants after all ;)

PNL & Us are 4-7 rank teams I'd think, so maybe Cairo are up and coming contender killers, not giant killers hehe

[Toga]

Love the write-ups as always Purps! Maric will be a massive in for MCS this week, as will Deledio if he comes up fit.

[Toga]

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

Emg: J.Jenkins (f), J.Hunt (f), T.Jonas (d), T.Richards (d)

OUT: J.Polec (omitted), T.Jonas (omitted), D.Howe (omitted)
IN: B.Hill, L.Brown, J.Aish

[Levi434]

The question is, do they rest GAJ? Are they confident enough to take Toronto lightly? You know what? I'm challenging the Jaguars to rest GAJ. Are you Jaguars or scared-cats? Huh? HUH?! Toronto... heck, why not rest Ziebell? Where does your morals lie? You could beat Berlin next week you know... still, in the meantime, submit a team, close your eyes, and wait for it to all be over. This could get ugly.

I personally guaren-damn-tee that Jaguars captain will NOT be getting managed this week. I spoke to Mr. Ablett about the pressing issues but we have decided that he will be playing and will be captain.  Dublin don't scare me. in fact I might rest Ablett next week.

Also Wolves "COULD" beat Berlin? Foregone conclusion in my eyes. :-X

[Adamant]

Good move Levi. You wouldn't want to take the mighty Wolves lightly. ;)

[DazBurg]

we seemed to go better when your doubted us Purps in your write ups
stop picking us :P

[Holz]

Backs: A.Rance, G.Birchall, J.Weitering, H.Grundy, N.Jetta
Mids: J.Selwood, R.Sloane, A.Treloar, M.Murphy
Ruck: T.Goldstein
Fwds: D.Martin, J.Gunston, J.Riewoldt
Interchange: N. Dal Santo , L.Jetta

Emg: R.Schoenmakers, C.Byrne, S.Frost, M.Daw

Resting: L.Franklin

Playing the 5 back thing whatever that is called.