WXV Round 10: The New New Delhi v New York

[Purple 77]

Normal lockouts :)

Round 10, AFL Round 10

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

I thought it was a pretty fun & unique edition last year, so I'm bringing it back! This week, I try to find your 2016 AFL equivalent in the previews. There will be no double-ups, so some may resemble AFL teams more than others, but have a read! :)

The Thunder have been following an upward trajectory for some time now, but it is only recently that they've been able to beat some bigger opponents more often than not and now suddenly find themselves in the top 4! In this regard, Beijing have a very GWS-feel about them and they just got talent on every line. The Spetsnaz have been a team hit very hard from injuries and season long suspensions to a host of its key players and as such, their success has been limited by that. There is only so much Joe Daniher can do without his mate Dyson Heppell, and in this regard I liken Moscow to Essendon (albeit a bit more successful). Despite the Spetsnaz performing well and beating Cairo last week, I'd expect the Thunder to get up here.

The Brewers had all this expectation going into the 2016 season, with some regarding that their list had top 4 potential. But really, it's all gone to shower and one wonders if the coach is to blame? Shouldering disappointment from outside the eight, it is in this regard I liken the Brewers to... ugh... Collingwood. The Dillos? Well, there isn't many teams that will lose their first 4 games and then win their next 5! Wow, what a turnaround for the Dillos and you wonder if this momentum will ever stop! However, the games they did lose to were against top teams New York, Dublin & Mexico City so in this regard I liken the Dillos to the downhill skiers themselves in the West Coast Eagles. A little different sure, but it's the best I could do! Well, really, the Brewers have been playing terribly so I see no reason why the Dillos can't get up against another struggling team.

The Sands started the season quite well! Although 2-2 after 4 rounds isn't that impressive, those two wins came against quality opposition and Cairo was in a good place. But damn, it's really gone downhill from there with 5 straight losses whilst not putting a score that could challenge the opposition. In this regard, I liken the Sands to the Suns; underperforming, but they still got talent and promise for the future. The Saints had an absolute shocker last week; scoring 117 in their loss against Buenos Aires. Christchurch haven't quite been up to their 2015 standard although continue to find wins and despite one really bad performance, still look to trouble this years final series. In this regard, I liken the Saints to Hawthorn and I think they should be able to account for Cairo.

Cape Town are a team stacked with young potential gems in transition from where they are now (in the bottom realms of the ladder) to hopefully, something much better down the track. In the meantime, it's almost like that no matter what they do, no one will dish out the criticism that some of performances warrant so in this regard, I liken the Cobras (despite their great win last week) to St Kilda. Rio posted a crucial last gasp win against New York last week that was decided on HGA, and on the whole this year have really shown to be a finals threatening team; capable of beating anyone comfortably on its day but still prone to a bad performance here and there. In this regard, I liken Rio to Geelong and I expect them to beat the Cobras this week.

The Destroyers have been a picture of dominant consistency this year; although not being quite as terrifyingly unstoppable like last year, Dublin still finds itself atop of the ladder and to date, the deserving occupant of the number one spot in the ladder. With their coach also supporting this team, I almost have no choice but to liken the Destroyers to North Melbourne. The Samurai, well, can be really good on its day and challenge the best, or absolutely stink it up and lose to the worst. Although I would say the Samurai have definitely boasted a better season, I liken them to Brisbane; overall quite disappointing, but not without a proud smile here and there. The Destroyers should get it done this week.

A very New kind of feeling in this match which I have gonged my MATCH OF THE ROUND! The Revolution have been an impressive force this year; besting its peers, generally beating the teams below it comfortably but has seen a couple of disappointments in the form of a 3 point loss against a good team in Rio and a more convincing loss against another good team in Christchurch. There is a bit of Adelaide about the Revolution for me, they just have a good outlook about them and are generally considered to belong in the top 8. New Delhi have really asserted themselves of late in the form of two consecutive 150+ scores! Amongst their 4 wins, they comfortably beat teams ranked below them and bested two respected peers whilst their losses have come against the more established teams in the comp. In this regard, I liken them to Port Adelaide, but unlike Port Adelaide I'm more sure of them continuing this upward trajectory! My tip? A very tough match this one! But New York have been doing it for longer and I think they'll get over the line.

The Islanders have dropped off a little bit over the past two weeks but especially so with an awful 106 last week that saw them exit the World Idol. Apart from that, the Islanders have been quite the solid unit especially when you consider they are missing Michael Hurley and to a lesser degree, handy depth player Ben Howlett. They're coming from a fair way back in 2014 and are very much touted as one of the more impressive young teams in the comp, and in this regard I liken them to Western Bulldogs. Going into the season, the Reindeers were expected to challenge again in the finals and put their infamously unlucky ways behind them. But, a horror start to the season ensued with a couple of really disappointing losses, where only recently have the Reindeers woken up and dared to dream for resurgent charge into the finals. The Reindeers SCREAM Richmond to me, causing me to chuckle. A really interesting match this one, and I actually think PNL might continue on with this new breath of life so I'll back them here!

The Magpies are finally starting to realise some of the abundance of youth on their list and as a result have wins & rising star nominations to show for it. If I recall correctly, I compared the Magpies to this team last year, and I feel compelled to do it again! The WXVs Melbourne Demons have definitely taken steps forward this year to the point where they would think they are a genuine chance against most opposition. You could mount an argument for the Royals that they have overachieved a touch this year, given that they have netted 4 wins from being 15th on the points ladder. But hey, they've beaten the teams that sit outside the eight and you gotta give them credit for taking those opportunities. In this regard, I liken the Royals to Carlton so far this year as they continue to gel with their new young team. I'll back Seoul here, but London are a genuine chance as well.

The Toronto Wolves have been going through a year of development which they ideally would like to have avoided. Although they sit 0-9, they haven't necessarily been the worst team of the week either and it should be noted that they would have beaten Berlin, Christchurch, Buenos Aires, Pacific, London, Cairo & Seoul last week had they played any of them. With the added "bonus" that their coach supports this team, the Wolves are definitely the Fremantle of Worlds still searching for their first win. But oh lordy, that's unlikely this week. The Suns were back to their brilliant best last week; top scoring (178) and led by the amazing Captain's performance from Heath Shaw. Mexico City are just biding their time until finals and not adverse to blooding a young gem here and there in the process. In this regard, you got to liken the Suns to the professional Sydney team and they'll charge for the premiership again. The Suns to win comfortably here.

[Holz]

Destroyers = North

thats a big enough win for me this week. Im out cya all

[RaisyDaisy]

Before the season started I would have thought we could pencil in the W vs NDT, but they are strong and what makes them scary is their ceiling

We're going to need our guns firing, and hope that the likes of Sidey and Conigs have quiet weeks

If we want to be a Top 4 side then the lads need to step up and get the job done after a very disappointing loss last week in a game which we should have won, much like our losses to Christchurch and Cairo too

Anything can happen in this comp - that's been proven time after time

Up The Revs!

[RaisyDaisy]

I reckon we're better than Adelaide though Purps!

In this league I'd liken us to West Coast - usually choking on the road!  :'(

[Torpedo10]

That comparison is scary.

Us Essendon, they are GWS.

We traded Ward, a GWS gun.

Got Hooker, an Essendon Gun.

We lost out big time.  :-\

Great Preview Purps!

[Toga]

Coming off another solid score I'd back our consistency in over Moscow however they do have some exciting players that could jump and surprise us! So no complacency ;)

However pending selection we could be in huge trouble this week: Luke Brown (ankle), Tom Jonas (suspension), Ted Richards (concussion) are all in doubt and could join most a big bunch of our defenders on the sidelines this week. We really could have only Harry Taylor and Sam Mayes available by the looks of it. :-\

Still, I like being compared to GWS! Nice work Purps :)

[Toga]

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

Emg: J.Polec (m), B.Hill (m), J.Hunt (f)

Resting: J.Jenkins

[Nige]

I'll cop the Gold Coast comparison.

[Ricochet]

Awesome writeup Purps

Look out RD, New Delhi have arrived ;)

[GoLions]

Awesome writeup Purps

Look out RD, New Delhi have arrived ;)

And I hear they could be getting nude again ;)

[Ricochet]

Awesome writeup Purps

Look out RD, New Delhi have arrived ;)

And I hear they could be getting nude again ;)

Oh you know it

[Holz]

Far out finally get a good U2 in Dan Currie and now he is injured.


Dublin:

Rance, Birchall, Weits, Jetta
Selwood, Sloane, Treloar, Murhpy
Goldy (CC)
Dmart (CC), Gunston, Jroo, Buddy
NDS, Byrne

emg: L.Jetta,O.mac, S.Collins

[Nige]

The winner of the Cairo v Christchurch clash will take home the Shaun Higgins Memorial Trophy.

[Purple 77]

Far out finally get a good U2 in Dan Currie and now he is injured.
Dublin:

Rance, Birchall, Weits, Jetta
Selwood, Sloane, Treloar, Murhpy
Goldy (CC)
Dmart (CC), Gunston, Jroo, Buddy
NDS, Byrne

emg:

Byrne isn't so bad you know :P

The winner of the Cairo v Christchurch clash will take home the Shaun Higgins Memorial Trophy.

hahaha

[Holz]

Far out finally get a good U2 in Dan Currie and now he is injured.
Dublin:

Rance, Birchall, Weits, Jetta
Selwood, Sloane, Treloar, Murhpy
Goldy (CC)
Dmart (CC), Gunston, Jroo, Buddy
NDS, Byrne

emg:

Byrne isn't so bad you know :P

Byrne is a gun.


Im happy by defence is rock solid, only 2 stars at the moment but soo many good players. Might get Hansen back in aswell and Omac is slowly getting more experience.

I reckon carlton struggle against the cats though so nervous having 2 of them.