WXV Round 10: PNL & Moscow Revivals

[Purple 77]

Partial lockout on Thursday night, followed by a full lockout on Friday night

Round 10, AFL Round 10

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Cape Town Cobras	Buenos Aires Armadillos	Newlands Cricket Ground, AAP Alliance	3  v  3
Christchurch Saints	Rio de Janeiro Jaguars	Neutral, Traeger Park, AAP Alliance	1  v  1
Toronto Wolves	Pacific Islanders	Rogers Centre, AAP Alliance	3  v  2
Moscow Spetsnaz	Mexico City Suns	Luzhniki Stadium	1  v  6
New York Revolution	Berlin Brewers	MetLife Stadium	2  v  4
London Royals	PNL Reindeers	London Olympic Stadium, EurAsia, Europe	2  v  3
Dublin Destroyers	Seoul Magpies	Crooke Park, EurAsia	3  v  2
Tokyo Samurai	New Delhi Tigers	Tokyo Olympic Stadium, EurAsia, Asia	3  v  2
Cairo Sands	Beijing Thunder	Borg El Arab Stadium	3  v  2

The Cobras just seem stuck in the 120-130 range at the moment, with their Round 9 score looking to be their 6th consecutive score in this vicinity. JPK and Nank continue to hold them up, but the reason why they are not going on with it falls onto Miller, Hunter, Jack and Blicavs with the latter three in particularly falling way under expectations. When this lot revisits 2016, so the Cobras will look different in 2017. The Dillos are certainly struggling for premium scorers at the moment, with Zach Tuohy (93) their best player this year. In a nutshell, their inability to hit 130 is because of almost a complete lack of quality midfielders as Curnow & Boak have been very down this year. In saying that, they should crack 130 in Round 9 so perhaps they are building? Hit 130 again and they might just topple the Cobras. You know what? I nearly tipped them, but I think Cape Town’s HGA will be too hard to overcome.

The children of Sao Paulo & Wellington go head to head once more; currently square at one win a piece. The Saints seem to be safe a 50-100 point improvement on their opening month this year, more often than not hitting that magic 135+ which wins more games than you think it might. Although the Reindeers aren’t without hope, I reckon the Saints can pencil in Round 9 as a win which would mean Christchurch have nabbed 3 wins in the past month. They’re waking up, is all. Meanwhile the Jaguars are starting to really impress; ranked number 2 from Rounds 5-8 for total points scored. Ignoring the potential falter in progress, the Jags deserve kudos for keeping their form up despite unlucky defeats earlier in the year. Despite all this... I dunno, I just think it’s going to click for Christchurch soon (even with their continued injuries) and I think it might be this match!

Ada said the Wolves were fielding their strongest team in Round 9 and so far, they are living up that statement! The Wolves are on track for their second 140+ score since 2015... it’s just a shame they’ll lose to a rampant Dublin. Brushing that aside, the Wolves will quite fancy their form going into any match in the future if their current 15 can stay on the park. The Islanders however would be the form team in the comp at the moment, ranking number in points scored from Rounds 5-8. I’m not sure Round 9 will be as flattering, but they continue to be a steady brutal force of points where only 145+ scores seem the only way to challenge them. The Wolves have the task ahead of them, but they have HGA, they have Pendles and they have the Pedobear... they just need to channel everything together. Else, I’ll go on probabilities and back the Islanders.

The bloomin Spetsnaz! Has there been a more unexpected turnaround?! (Yes, I am aware of the Reindeers when I say that). They are in prime position to win their third consecutive match after once being the second lowest scoring team before this streak began. I mean, they’ll still be the 3rd lowest scoring team after Round 9 but that win against New Delhi must have really sparked something out the team where its premiums are forever cursed from playing. The Suns continue to back up my claim that they can no longer maintain their oh-so-familiar quality scores. Smacking Dublin in Round 8 would have been fantastic. But they are stinking it up against the Jags and are on track for their 3rd sub 130 score for the year. They’ve just been lucky they’ve been winning those matches... but anyway, there aren’t many teams that have scored 150+ three times this year and there is no doubt in my mind that they’ll make finals, making what they do now until then irrelevant. Phwoah though, I’m tempted to tip the Spetsnaz. If they had any ONE of Hogan, NN or Coniglio available, I just might have. But I’ll back the Suns.

The Revolution just keep on getting things done. A self proclaimed fortunate team so far this year, they sit 4th (from 10th in the points ladder) and have set themselves up perfectly to make finals with a healthy team going into the second half of the year. The Revolution are just about full strength at the moment and the rest of the competition waits impatiently for their first 150+ score of the year. The Brewers... sigh. flowering Gawn & Spencer, you know? I mean, I can cover Armitage, I can cover Liberatore, but flowering both of them?! It is REALLY hurting. I reckon I’ll lose my Round 9 match because of it, and given I’m teetering on at the edge of the eight with big opponents still to come, each week is painful to watch. Just, please come back soon Gawn. I would be amiss to ignore the fact that I have an OOP ruck and HGA against in this match though... could I out-New-York New York? Well, no, they’ve just got the band together and are ready for 150. Revs for me.

The Royals have been stuck recently, who are on track for a 120+ score following two consecutive sub-120 scores. They are eerily following a similar path to 2016; winning 3 of their first 4 games whilst only winning one more in the next month. They just need  help for Shuey (103) and Hannebery (104), with their next highest averaging player being Tom T Lynch (83) and Fantasia (79). Meanwhile their opponents are ALSO following a similar path to last year; being written off early before pulling a dramatic turnaround out of freaking nowhere. Yes folks, the team that averaged 125 in their first month then followed it up with a 141 average in the next one. They’re still 3-5 though and face an uphill battle to win in Round 9. If they were ANY chance at finals, then they’ll need to pull 321 points out from Harbrow, Ryder and Wingard for Round 9 then do perform again against the Royals to sit 5-5. Even then, they’ll need 5 more wins from the last 7 games which include Mexico City & New Delhi... huh... it’s actually kinda doable. Pull off Round 9 first and I might dare to dream. Reindeers in this one though.

The Destroyers are BACK for my MATCH OF THE ROUND! They’ll probably take out the highest score of Round 9 and boy, was it needed. Before then, Dublin averaged 129 in their last 3 matches... the form of which probably not seen since 2013 or if not, the 2012 spoon year. Dublin’s big scores have correlated with their starting midfielders which, in combination with Goldy, pumped out 615 raw points last week. Stephen Hill going down though may have REALLY hurt the Destroyers whom have some depth problems. The Magpies went at it against the Tigers in Round 9 but look like will go down in a high scoring affair. This would make it the Magpies’ 3rd loss in a month and, with the Islanders, Revolution and Mexico City waiting in Rounds 15-17, maybe have caused them to blink and remember the heartache of missing out on finals. Just. Don’t. Choke. This match is a great test for the aspiring Seoul superpower who have got to prove it against the current ones. And I reckon OliveField just might do it.

The Samurai are fast fading into the lands of irrelevancy whom face the stark reality of a 6th consecutive loss for the season, against the Spetsnaz. This calls for analysis! *brings up ol mate spreadsheet* Right, I can see that Lukey Dahlhaus (102) is your only 100+ averaging player. As a forward, that’s brilliant. As a captain? More is needed, so that’s definitely problem 1 at Tokyo; lack of leadership. They then have 4 other players averaging 90+, which is fine I guess. It’s actually amazing when you consider that two defenders and ruckman are in that group. But Luke Parker? Wtf are doing! That’s problem 2; Luke Parker’s drop in form. The other problem is that 4 of Tokyo’s top 15 highest averaging players are scoring less than 70 points a week. Given the healthy balance of defenders, forwards and a ruckman in this 15 though, the answer to Tokyo’s problem is... TRADE IN AT LEAST TWO MORE DECENT MIDS. Then, dare I say, Tokyo could impact finals in a serious manner. The Tigers did that, except on every line, and more than 2 players. You know, I could give New Delhi some well deserved praise after all the crap they’ve had to take over the years. But all I think about now when I see them, is that three weeks ago, flowering Moscow beat them! I mean, no disrespect to the Spetsnaz, but you were down and out sitting 17th on the ladder. And New Delhi let you beat them. Heh, unbelievable. Tigers in this one.

The Sands are on track to win their 5th match in the space of 6 weeks and not only find themselves in the eight... but dare I say as a genuine finals contender! Dayne Beams is huge for this team who, in conjunction with three other 100 averaging players, provide a solid a consistent backbone that will give Cairo every chance against most teams. The Thunder are currently waiting to see whether they truly are the unluckiest team ever in whether their final players can chase down a meagre lead against the Brewers. Finals is no longer a realistic hope, but teams like Berlin & Cairo are literally the perfect teams to upset against, because you know they NEED these wins and you know the coaches of these teams will cry themselves to sleep afterwards. You know what? I think the Thunder might be on a vengeance streak. Beijing to upset the Sands!

[Nige]

I'm surprised we're considered favourites to win and that Beijing are the ones who'll be upsetting us.

[Holz]

The Real Dublin Destroyers

Alex Rance, Jacob Weitering, Tom McDonald, Lachie Plowman
Rory Sloane (CC), Dustin Martin (CC), Adam Treloar, Nathan Jones
Todd Goldy
Jack Reiwoldt, Jack Gunston, , Tom Hawkins, Hugh Greenwood
Brad Crouch, Stephen Hill

Justin Westhoff, Oscar McDonald, Jack Silvagni

[Purple 77]

I'm surprised we're considered favourites to win and that Beijing are the ones who'll be upsetting us.

It is 9th v 17th after all  ;)

[Purple 77]

im confused what round does the port Goldcoast scores come from?

Your face.

[Nige]

I'm surprised we're considered favourites to win and that Beijing are the ones who'll be upsetting us.

It is 9th v 17th after all  ;)

Pleasant change that we're not 17th tbh.

[RaisyDaisy]

So Round 9 results will be finalised next week and this round is just a normal one right?

[Purple 77]

So Round 9 results will be finalised next week and this round is just a normal one right?

Yarp

[iZander]

Dillos

Def: Touhy (VC), Easton Wood, Marcus Adams, Berry
Mid: Boak, Curnow, Dumont, Parish
Ruck: Atley (OOP)
Fwd: Isaac Smith, Elliot, Hooker, Walker (C)
Int: Shane Edwards, Perryman

Emg: Green, Hartley, Joyce

[Toga]

BEIJING THUNDER
D: J.Hunt, S.Mayes, D.Howe
M: L.Neale (C), O.Wines (VC), C.Ward, D.Zorko
R: B.Grundy
F: C.Petracca, J.Jenkins, J.Caddy, K.Lambert, B.Hill
IC: B.Ellis, J.Polec

Emg: D.Butler (f), H.Taylor (d), T.O'Brien (f)

Attacking

[meow meow]

After 3 away weeks on the trot it's nice to not have to overcome the 16th man this week.

I think Roughy should spend another week in the 2's so big Boyd can get the C for realsies after dominating for so long as the spiritual captain.

[meow meow]

^ Sandi out is just one more sign from the universe

[RaisyDaisy]

New York Revolution

D: Shannon Hurn, Robbie Tarrant, Lachie Henderson, Sam Gilbert
M: Joel Selwood (C), David Mundy (VC), Tom Scully, Jordan Lewis
R: Kurt Tippett
F: Josh J Kennedy, Isaac Heeney, Mitch Wallis (10%), Richard Douglas
I: Dom Tyson, Jarryd Roughead

E: Sam Reid (F), Alex Sexton (M), Josh Gibson (D)

[DazBurg]

damnit purps i told you not to tips us :P

[meow meow]

CHRISTCHURCH SAINTS

B: Robert Murphy, Leigh Montagna, Nathan Wilson, Harris Andrews
M: Sam Mitchell, Bryce Gibbs (VC), Daniel Wells, Chris Masten
R: Thomas Boyd
F: Jarrad Waite, Jack Steele, Shaun Higgins, Ryan Lester
I: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Connor Blakely (C)

E: Nathan Vardy, Jake Lever, Will Hoskin-Elliott