WXV Round 2: New York & Pacific Mean Business

[Purple 77]

PARTIAL LOCKOUT

Thursday night at 7:20pm AEDST: Richmond vs Collingwood.

Just to re-iterate, this means that all Richmond & Collingwood players you choose (or don't choose) to be in your team, will be 'locked in', meaning you cannot drop (or select initially un-chosen) players as soon as the first bounce occurs.

The rest of the round will be locked out at the commencement of Western Bulldogs vs Sydney on Friday night.

Resting and Team Structures must be announced before partial lockout

Round 2, AFL Round 2

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Moscow Spetsnaz	Cape Town Cobras	Luzhniki Stadium	0  v  5
Berlin Brewers	Toronto Wolves	Berlin Olympic Stadium	3  v  2
London Royals	Christchurch Saints	London Olympic Stadium	1  v  1
Buenos Aires Armadillos	Seoul Magpies	Estadio de River	3  v  2
Rio de Janeiro Jaguars	New Delhi Tigers	Maracana Stadium	2  v  1
Cairo Sands	Pacific Islanders	Borg El Arab Stadium, AAP Alliance, Africonia	2  v  3
Beijing Thunder	Mexico City Suns	Beijing Olympic Park	1  v  4
New York Revolution	Tokyo Samurai	MetLife Stadium	4  v  1
PNL Reindeers	Dublin Destroyers	State de France, EurAsia, Europe	3  v  4

The return of JOM and Heppell didn’t go to plan for the Spetsnaz last week with a poor showing against the Islanders. However, Heppell certainly would have pleased Moscow fans who would be hoping Coniglio and a playing ruck would become available soon. Nonetheless, the Spetsnaz have sources of improvement in their team and with that, hope that they can beat most teams on their day. The Cobras meanwhile put on an excitement show perhaps reflecting the new coaches’ direction with recruit Toby Nankervis paying dividends early. That win against the Thunder, a team in a similar position, was really important but a win against the Spetsnaz will consolidate it. The Cobras to continue their unbeaten run against Moscow I reckon.

The Brewers continued to frustrate its fan base by producing higher scores whilst losing in the process. The Mexico City Suns were just too damn good and this team from Germany was taught a lesson at what the real contenders need to do win the premiership. Berlin won’t be comforted either by the performance of the Wolves last week whom displayed a sizeable improvement on their form from last year with a solid 132. Except that performance wasn’t even captained by Pendles! Deary me. The Toronto coach will surely be ‘urged’ by the supporters to chuck the C on him this week as the Wolves look to pounce on a Berlin outfit low on confidence. But, I’ll have to back my boys here as Fyfe is already one week overdue for a monster score.

The Royals opening performance was a total disaster; with a score line resembling the 2013-15 New Delhi Tiger bad days. The Royals will at least get to recoup at home where they will look to Captain Hannebery to at least double his score last week as well as someone else to become the first centurion for the Royals this year. The Saints were lucky last week (their lifestory?) that selecting only two defenders didn’t cost them the win, in an otherwise OK performance. They will hope veterans Montagna, McVeigh and Wells will catapult this solid performance into finals worthy scores in the future, but in the meantime they look well capable enough to account for the Royals.

The Dillos are already feeling Pendlebury’s absence with their lowest score since 2015; the last time they didn’t have him. Granted Harley Bennell, Jamie Elliott, Marcus Adams and a playing ruck would make this a much better side, the Dillos need more than Zach Tuohy to hit the 100 mark and will look to Boak, Curnow and maybe even Parish to do so. Similar to the Saints, the Magpies were lucky last week that the 13 players in their 18 that played were enough to account for the Reindeers. In saying that, Seoul still scored 130 and already have room for improvement by ensuring they have 15 players play in the 18. Caleb Marchbank shone taking the Rising Star nomination for Round 1, whilst the WXVs comp hasn’t made a big enough deal out of Clayton Oliver (109 points from 36 touches in his 14th game). I really kinda like this team so I’ll back them over the Dillos.

Without question, this is my MATCH OF THE ROUND! Who doesn’t love a Grand Final replay?! The Jaguars played like a team with a calm assurance as they dispatched the early resistance from the Wolves to claim the 4th highest score of the round. You look at this team and see guys like Matthew Wright, Shaun Grigg, Tom Cutler and Danyle Pearce providing the support... and you think “pfft”. But you look at their stats and that they play support to the likes of GAJ, Cripps, Hall and McKernan and you start to realise that their premiership last year made a lot of sense. The Tigers would be bringing a lot of feeling to this match as their look to enact revenge, or at least a mental victory, against the team that took their dream away. Last week felt like a backfire of a great performance which turned out being quite solid. What I mean by this, is that this team has a high ceiling which happened to not work out because guys like Gray & Ross couldn’t outscore Neville Jetta combined. My tip? Gee man, I’m kinda waiting for New Delhi to hit 160 at this stage, and it may as well be this week than any other.

The Sands were good last week! Well, they lost, but I respected their performance all the same (please note Nige that I’m picking on PNL & Buenos Aires this year). A solid 130 was on the backs of regular stalwarts McGovern, Adams and Brown, but it was the re-introduction of Beams as well as the excellent debut of #2 pick (what a steal) McGrath that would have fans rejoicing. Unfortunately for Cairo, they come up against one of the more impressive looking teams going around in the Pacific Islanders, whom went about their 153 quietly and brutally. Bont, TMitch, Gaff, Laird... fuark. Just wait until Smith and Hampton kick on, or when they don’t rest a centurion in Andrew Swallow. I like you Sands. You did OK. But the Islanders easily for me.

The Thunder would be fairly flat about letting last week go against the Cobras; it was a chance to beat one of their genuine peers and to get a hard start on making that elusive top 8. BUT, it still wasn’t that bad, with Ward, Neale and particularly Thurlow and Taylor sure to improve in Round 2. Jayden Hunt awaits in the wings... just sayin. Last week, when I was playing the Suns, I’d look at the dodgy live scores and think “aw yeah, my guys are doing well! I reckon I’ll get the W! Wait... Rockliff is their captain? Goddard did THAT well? Vickery spudded his way to a 70?!”... gg Mexico City, you were infuriatingly brilliant, and you have barely felt Bartel & Harvey leaving. But Riewoldt would be worrying, and if James Sicily is next in line to replace him, Beijing might get lucky on that vulnerability. I could really see the Thunder winning this one, but I’ve been beaten into submission. The Suns for me.

The Revolution - along with the Islanders - are really ones to look out for this year. In a game where they had five sub 65 players at a neutral venue, they still managed to hit 140 on the back of 5 low centurions and a customary random berserker game from JJK. That midfield has scope, is all I’m sayin. The Samurai came home hard last week to notch up a good win against the Sands; with the likes of Atkins, Young, Cameron and Ruggles notching up 431 between them. Yeah. No, sorry Tokyo, but I remember some similar bull shower in our Round 1 game last year and you never replicated it again :P. Do it twice in a row, and I’ll get off your case. With that never fading scar in mind, I’ll tip the Revoluton to account for the teasing Samurai.

Last years’ qualifying finalists put in a real stinker last week; and I have grave concerns that it won’t get all that much better. Improvement will come from Rioli and Hodge, sure, but I can’t confidently say that the rest of the teams performances (bar debutants) won’t be the norm this year. The Reindeers have invested in the likes of Matt Kennedy, Will Brodie and Josh Schache but in the meantime, look to pay the price competitively. Prove me wrong! You’ve done it a few times before! The Destroyers were just their classic selves last week - basic team submission errors and all â€" on their way to the highest score of the round. The scary part is that Rance, Sloane, Gunston and Westhoff were outscored by Oscar “the flower am I doing?!” McDonald. The Destroyers should account for the Reindeers... I dare  them to rest Goldstein and play Preuss.

[upthemaidens]

"Pacific Islanders, whom went about their 153 quietly and brutally."  Like it :) great write ups as usual Purps.

[RaisyDaisy]

Who would have thought it, Sam Reid and Mitch Hannan knocking on the door for a seniors call up this week  :o

Another quality read Purps!

[Adamant]

Great read Purps!

We'll win. Fyfey won't have a big one, he won't do it to me.

Brayshaw will ton up just to add insult to injury. ;)

[meow meow]

CHRISTCHURCH SAINTS

Attacking

B: Bob, Montagna, Andrews
C: Gibbs, Masten, Mitchell (c), Blakely
R: Vardy
F: Lester (R), Higgins, Langford, Steele, McLean
I: Griffen, Sandilands (vc)

E: ANB, WHE, SPS

Rest: Boyd

[GoLions]

Kate Upton Cobras

DEF: Callum Mills, Cameron Sutcliffe, Jake Carlisle, Luke McDonald
MID: Josh P Kennedy (C), Dion Prestia (VC), Lachie Hunter, Kieran Jack
RUCK: Toby Nankervis
FWD: Touk Miller, Blake Acres, Peter Wright, Stewart Crameri
UTIL: Mark Blicavs, Jack Bowes

EMG: Ben Griffiths, Jon Griffin, Lachie Hansen

Tempted to attack and give Ainsworth a run...will depend on whether Blacres gets a gig or not this week

[Purple 77]

Love your emergencies meow haha

[Holz]

Dublin Destroyers

Tom McDonald, Oscar McDonald, Alex Rance, Jacob Weitering
Adam Treloar (CC), Dustin Martin (CC), Stephen Hill, Rory Sloane
Todd Goldstein
Jack Gunston, Jack Reiworldt, Tom Hawkins, Justin Westhoff
Nathan Jones, Grant Birchall

Emg: Troy Menzel, Breydon Preuss, Lachie Plowman

[Purple 77]

Tom McDonald, Oscar McDonald,

They are the bane of my existence. In terms of Melbourne, can't live with them, can't live without them.

[Jroo]

Mexico City Suns
D:
M: Trent Cotchin (VC)
R:
F:
U:

EMG:

[Toga]

BEIJING THUNDER:
D: S.Mayes, S.Wellingham, J.Thurlow, J.Hunt
M: D.Zorko (CC), L.Neale (CC), C.Ward, O.Wines
R: B.Grundy
F: J.Caddy, J.Jenkins, C.Petracca, B.Hill
I/C: B.Ellis, J.Polec

Emg: J.Aish (m), D.Butler (f), T.Jonas (d)

Rest: H.Taylor

[Boomz]

Tokyo Samurai
DEF: Z. Williams, J. Johanissen, A. McDonald-Tipungwuti, T. Ruggles
MID: L. Parker (C), R. Atkins, B. Stretch, J. Redden
RUCK: Z. Smith
FWD: L. Dahlhaus, A. Young, C. Cameron, J. Cripps
I/C: T. Phillips (VC), S. Powell-Pepper
EMG: S. Lloyd, H. Cunningham, G. Ibbotson

IN: Stretch
OUT: Lloyd

[Ricochet]

New Delhi Tigers
Flooding

DEF Houli, JHowe, Hartlett, JLloyd, JMartin
MID Gray(C), Sidebottom(VC), Murphy, MCrouch
RUCK SMartin
FWD Darling, JCameron, Cloke
UTIL Ziebell, Ross

EMER  Vlastuin, Rich, RKnight

[Holz]

ok just realised how big an advantage having a non playing guy is on your leadership group.

in my opinion you should not be able to name anyone who isnt named on to play that week or named as an emergency. Its clearly cheating the system if you do.

The emergencies and Vice Captain are to stop people being unlucky with late outs not for people to have a second bite of the cherry. Makes it unfair for those who arent able to come on over the weekend.

and im not being hypocritical as I can emergency loophole aswell.

[Purple 77]

Full lockout is on Friday's, so weekend availability is irrelevant.

If we didn't have leadership groups, loopholing would be easier to do.

There is also a risk at naming a non player. One less viable option, and a lot less leniency if you want to change any of your other 4.

Playing non players has backfired on people before. My view on loopholing is that it's a strategic risk, and adds an element of coaching.