WXV Round 1: Into the WXV-verse

[Purple 77]

Thursday night partial lockout at 7.20pm AEDST

Full lockout at 7.50pm AEDST

Alright, let’s do this one last time. My name is Purple 77.

I was bitten by the fantasy spreadsheet bug, and for 5 years, I have been the WXV Admin. I’m pretty sure you know the rest.

With great responsibility, comes great drama

*ossie85 walks into the beyond*

I saved a bunch of spreadsheets, fell in love, saved the FF ad revenue stream again, and again, and again…




And uh, I did this…

nah, this is a stupid game......

We don’t really talk about this.

Look, I’ve done write-ups, team selectors, graphics, I have an excellent avatar, and a so-so Team Board. I mean, I’ve seen worse.

But after everything, I still love being the WXV Admin. I mean, who wouldn’t?

So no matter how many hits I take.

Toronto Wolves (0.0.0) lost to Dublin Destroyers (23.8.146)

I always find a way to start a new thread.

Because the only thing standing in the way of this forum and oblivion, is WXVs*. There’s only one Purple Man, and you’re looking at him.

*Purple 77 winks. Man he’s cool.*

*dramatized to fit copyrighted narrative

Round 1, AFL Round 1

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Toronto Wolves	Pacific Islanders	Rogers Centre, AAP Alliance	5  v  4
Beijing Thunder	New Delhi Tigers	Beijing Olympic Park, EurAsia, Asia, Billions Cup	2  v  6
Dublin Destroyers	Seoul Magpies	Crooke Park, EurAsia	7  v  3
Rio de Janeiro Jaguars	Moscow Spetsnaz	Maracana Stadium	2  v  3
New York Revolution	Berlin Brewers	MetLife Stadium	4  v  5
Tokyo Samurai	Cape Town Cobras	Tokyo Olympic Stadium	3  v  5
Christchurch Saints	Cairo Sands	AMI Stadium, AAP Alliance, Africonia	3  v  2
Mexico City Suns	London Royals	Fireball Stadium	5  v  3
PNL Reindeers	Buenos Aires Armadillos	Stade du Ray	3  v  5

The Wolves were at the centre of controversy in the penultimate week last year, but are now back in safe hands with new coach FTC. The Wolves will enter this year again one of the favourites to take out the flag, but has the rest of the competition caught up? The Islanders firm stance on its list has gotten them this far, but you can’t help but notice that they have missed an opportunity to strengthen their forward line. How will they fair without the reigning Jim Stynes medalist Tom Mitchell too? I'll have to back the Wolves in this one.

Is this the year we finally see what the 'Jing have been building towards under Toga? The sensible coach from Asia shook his team up a little bit, trading out a piece of furniture in Ollie Wines to consolidate some depth. But its a disappointment from 2018 that could be the key... can Rockliff return to GOD mode? New Delhi almost seemed to stagnate (albeit in the top 4) last year... they didn't seem to have the same sense of dominance they enjoyed in 2017. Can the Tiges bounce back in 2019? Hmm. Jing for me.

The season hasn't even started, and Dublin are already in the headlines in my MATCH OF THE ROUND! Fresh from a third premiership, you could argue the Destroyers have taken the mantle off the Suns as Worlds GOAT. But, another one would certainly silence the doubters (but never the inaugural wooden spoon). Meanwhile, the Magpies somehow slipped out the top 4 in finals which seems crazy with their trio of mids. Well, having now added McLean & Ed Curnow to that list, the Magpies are my personal tip for the premiership, and I reckon they'll trump the Dublin both now, and in 22 weeks time.

The Jags went under a bit of a makeover over the off-season, with an impromptu leadership change. But Brazil have received coach changes very well in the past; both of its previous coaches are premiership winners! Will new (and also old!) coach PowerBug continue this excellent tradition? Will the real Moscow Spetsnaz, please stand up (without crutches)? One year, they might go into a season without a serious LTI to one of their stars… but it ain’t this one (RIP Docherty). That starting Rio midfield is hard to ignore, I'll tip the Jags.

The Revolution committed to the rebuild over the trade period, shipping off a lot of aging firepower for a bucket-load of potential. This is not a new strategy, but the rate at which teams recover from their first 'sub-competitive' year varies from team-to-team; so it will be interesting to observe New York from afar. They come up against the team, however, that absolutely refuses to play the long game anymore, and continues to desperately chase flag glory by propping up its list with dinosaurs on the decline. Berlin flirted with the idea of splicing Fyfe into smaller pieces, but in the end, chose to continue its life support on the whims of the golden haired atlas. Hey â€" if you try for the flag for long enough, surely one year you might make it? I'll back my Brewers in this one.

The Samurai continue to be the team I'm quite fascinated by, and will again seek to contend for finals with a few key changes over the off-season. Zac Williams return cannot be understated, and along with the likes of Whitfield, Ross, Johannisen... see themselves in finals this year. The Cobras didn’t take too kindly to 2018, and went hunting for a big point injection over the trade period. The reigning wooden spooners would be unlucky to get to retain that title me thinks, and could even be a legit finals contender with a bit of luck! Two genuine peers, but I like teams who go for the oldies, so I'll back the Cobras.

Christchurch - still reeling from local tragedy - will re-enter 2019 with a new look list that will probably struggle this year. But, released from the first-round draft pick anchor, they are now free to skyrocket up the ladder and prove all the doubters (everyone) wrong. As prescribed by the old Mayan adage, Mummy has returned to lead the Sands to victory! Sausage himself has been brought back from retirement, no longer able to stomach Dawson Simpsons efforts. Big things from the Sands this year? It starts with a win this week I reckon.

The Mexico City Suns are coming off their worst ever season, but it was one they had to have; a price if you will, for 6 years of brutal dominance. The Suns have several players primed for bigger things in 2019 which might see a faster rise than you might expect!. Another year, another new start, and don’t the Royals love ‘em. Our perennial cellar dwellers have once again gone to the well, and will look to see if the long game will start to pay off. It some ways, it might just, with Willem Drew set for an early season debut! I'll back the Suns here.

The Reindeers - gee - who knows what they will produce each year? They're impossible to predict, because they have a habit of appearing to be a under-strength list, but are so well coached that they see themselves punching above their weight, and winning. This year seems to be no exception. Buenos Aires seem firmly on the path of a traditional rebuild… and look set to reap those rewards! Finals seem a genuine possibility in 2019 with a much boosted midfield, but might need some luck to get any further. Still, I like the Dillos over the Reindeers this week.

[Nige]

Hey, I think I've seen this one before.

[Nige]

Karen

Jeremy McGovern (vc), Tom Stewart, Andrew McGrath, Nick Vlastuin
Dayne Beams (c), David Zaharakis, Hugh McCluggage, Hugh Greenwood
Dawson Simpson
Ben Brown, Mitch Robinson, Lincoln McCarthy, Jake Melksham
Shane Edwards, Rory Lobb

Mark Hutchings, Travis Colyer, Ben Stratton

[Toga]

Beijing Thunder:
D: Heath Shaw, Tom Jonas, Darcy Byrne-Jones, James Aish
M: Lachie Neale (VC), Dayne Zorko, Tom Rockliff, David Swallow
R: Brodie Grundy (C)
F: Luke Breust, Kane Lambert, Tex Walker, Daniel Rioli
IC: Tom Cutler, Darcy Macpherson

EMG: Jy Simpkin, Mason Cox, Nathan Broad

[Ricochet]

New Delhi Tigers

DEF Lloyd, Hurn, Savage, Houli
MID Sidebottom (VC), Pendles (C), Brayshaw, Langdon
RUCK SMartin
FWD Menegola, Gray, Darling, Dahlhaus
UTIL JMartin, Newnes[F/M]

EMER Tucker, Archie Smith, STaylor

[GoLions]

Kate

Harris Andrews, Callum Mills, Jordan Lewis, Luke McDonald
Mitch Duncan (C), Shaun Higgins (VC), Ben Cunnington, Touk Miller
Toby Nankervis
Tom Papley, Alex Neal-Bullen, Lewis Taylor, Dean Kent
Brad Ebert, Shaun Burgoyne

Reece Conca, Jaidyn Stephenson, Jasper Pittard

[meow meow]

CHRISTCHURCH

B: Jack Henry, Phil Davis, Tom Langdon, Mark Blicav
M: Paddy dow (C), Brett Deledio, Sam Lloyd, Zac Bailey
R: Sean Darcy
F: Harry McKay, Jake Stringer, Josh Thomas, Sam Reid
I: Conor McKenna, Oriental Erection

E: Daniels, Preuss, Richards

[Purple 77]

Hey, I think I've seen this one before.

Thanks for the acknowledgement nige haha

[Holz]

Dublin

Backs: Jeremy Howe, Alex Rance, Jarrad McVeigh
Mids: Dustin Martin (CC), Rory Sloane, Joel Selwood, Matt Crouch (CC)
Ruck: Todd Goldstein
Fwds: J.Gunston, Tom McDonald, Justin Westhoff , Jack Gunston, Jack Riewoldt
Interchange: Brad Crouch, Toby Greene

emg: Josh Kennedy (F), Zak Butters (M), Colin Oriordan (D)

emergency emg: Mitch Lewis (F), Mark O'Çonnor (D), Lachlan Keefe (D), Darragh Joyce (D)



He is Back!!

[Jay]

Pacific

D: Rory Laird (VC), Matt Suckling, Bailey Williams, Michael Hurley
M: Marcus Bontempelli (C), Jarryd Lyons, Paul Ahern, Adam Tomlinson
R: Jarrod Witts
F: Devon Smith, Josh Jenkins, Matt de Boer, Steven Motlop
Int: Rhys Stanley, Liam Duggan

E: Allir Aliir, Cam Guthrie, Mitch McGovern

[JBs-Hawks]

Seoul:

Def: Salem, Haynes, Weller, Wilson

Mid: Kelly, Oliver vc, Murphy, E Curnow

Ruck: McEvoy

FWD: Danger (c), McLean, C Curnow, Fisher

Int: Shiels, Smith

Emg: Myers, Setterfield, Marchbank

[Purple 77]

Previews are done!

Some rule reminders...



Leadership Groups are back. I'll open up a thread shortly where you can announce them.

Partial lockout loopholing is not allowed, however, you may loophole to your heart's content during the bye round rolling lockouts.

Resting bonuses were increased from 10% to 20%.

[LF]

Except London is playing Mexico and Dillos are playing PNL

[Purple 77]

Except London is playing Mexico and Dillos are playing PNL

Ta

[GoLions]

Kate

Harris Andrews, Callum Mills, Jordan Lewis, Luke McDonald
Mitch Duncan (C), Shaun Higgins (VC), Ben Cunnington, Touk Miller
Toby Nankervis
Tom Papley, Alex Neal-Bullen, Lewis Taylor, Dean Kent
Brad Ebert, Shaun Burgoyne

Reece Conca, Jaidyn Stephenson, Jasper Pittard, Jack Bowes

Resting: Reece Conca