WXV Finals Week 1: The Return of the Karen

[Purple 77]

No one forgets the Finals Experience.

Qualifying/Elimination Finals, AFL Round 20

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Toronto Wolves	New Delhi Tigers	Rogers Centre	7  v  2
Beijing Thunder	Berlin Brewers	Beijing Olympic Park	4  v  4
Cairo Sands	Moscow Spetsnaz	Borg El Arab Stadium	4  v  4
Seoul Magpies	Rio de Janeiro Jaguars	Seoul World Cup Stadium	4  v  1

Toronto v New Delhi
Head-to-Head: 7  v  2
Last time they played (Round 15): New Delhi Tigers (23.11.149) lost to Toronto Wolves (25.6.156)
2019 Head-to-Head: 12 v 5
Purps' Takeaway: Third times the charm? Ricophants has run the FTC gauntlet twice already this year, going down on both occasions via EurAsia and New Delhi. Question is, are they better or worse for the experiences? It's no question Toronto have been the best H&A team of the year, but they face a challenge not yet conquered by a minor premier; winning the flag. History is against them you could say! But having beaten New Delhi in the past 6 weeks, the odds are certainly with the Wolves on this one. That's also the length of time since New Delhi's last 150+, which is the pre-requisite you'd think. Although I have a funny feeling the Tiges are due, can't go against Toronto here.

Beijing v Berlin
Head-to-Head: 4  v  4
Last time they played (Round 5): Beijing Thunder (19.6.120) lost to Berlin Brewers (24.7.151)
2019 Head-to-Head: 13 v 4
Purps' Takeaway: In my head, I haven't been all too troubled with the idea of playing Beijing. I mean, look at the last time we met? Why would I be? But then I saw the 2019 h2h, and it all just gets a little grim. You could say we're both similar actually, both having two players in the top 5 SCers of the comp, but so far, Beiijing's other 13 players have been better than mine for the most part. With Cotchin and Rampe injured for this clash, I'm ready to go the 10/10 bitter-sulk mood, which is a classic of mine. Beijing big favourites here, and should win this match.

Cairo v Moscow
Head-to-Head: 4  v  4
Last time they played (Round 10): Cairo Sands (24.9.153) def Moscow Spetsnaz (21.8.134)
2019 Head-to-Head: 10 v 7
Purps' Takeaway: It's been six years between finals appearances, but Cairo have made it - the team that can only perform against the good sides. I wonder if they'd have preferred to finish 6th, and face the 160+ calibre Rio? But that's a little unfair on Moscow, whom have defied the odds to make it into finals despite a constant stream of injuries to key players. But... they haven't scored 130+ since Round 13, and managed to get the two wins they needed to make finals with that formline. They were a little lucky. The amusing part is that formline would have claimed two wins over the sputtering Cairo during that month, and 5 wins over the last 7 weeks! SURELY Cairo will capitalise on a well fought out season, and progress to the semis? I'll back 'em.

Seoul v Rio de Janeiro
Head-to-Head: 4  v  1
Last time they played (Round 13): Rio de Janeiro Jaguars (23.9.147) def Seoul Magpies (21.10.136)
2019 Head-to-Head: 9 v 8
Purps' Takeaway: The in-form team of the comp faces a high-calibre Rio in my MATCH OF THE ROUND! Honestly, I feel like I could take about Seoul for the whole preview, and I'll be close to doing that too. I'll take you back, to Round 13 where these two teams clashed. The thread title was 'Rio Rise or Seoul Survive?'. I implored Rio that day to stake a genuine claim in the upper rungs of the 8, and for Seoul to post a desperate win to keep their season alive. If Seoul lost, the outlook was grim, with Pacific, Toronto and Beijing on the horizon and a need to perhaps win all of those games to make finals. Well, Seoul did lose. And Seoul won all of those games! In fact, that was the last time Seoul lost and will enter this re-match with a completely different confidence! Obviously - because I subconsciously hate Rio and love Seoul - I'm tipping Seoul for this one, but also want to say that the winner of this game will be a serious dark horse for the flag!



And don't forget reserves!

There are four teams (Tokyo, Mexico City, Cape Town, London) who have made Reserves finals but not the seniors. What I require from you, is that you NAME YOUR BEST SENIOR 18 like you were playing finals. I will be scrutinising your best XV to determine if that is really who you would play, so as to ensure that the players available for the reserves matches are the ones that would normally be available. If I don't agree, then I will name one for you.

Qualifying/Elimination Finals, AFL Round 20

Home Team	Away Team	Venue
Yuzawa Yakuza	Copacabana Capuchins	Tokyo Olympic Stadium
Guadalajara Wolves	Siberian Wolverines	Fireball Stadium
Durban Pirates	Shanghai Storm	Newlands Cricket Ground
Pyongyang Chollimas	Imperial Princes	Seoul World Cup Stadium

[Nige]

Wowee, we made the title.

[fanTCfool]

Toronto Wolves

Kade Simpson, Wayne Milera, Connor Blakely, Mason Redman
Jack Macrae (C), James Harmes, Jacob Hopper, Dion Prestia
Matthew Kreuzer
Tim Kelly, Travis Boak (VC), Rowan Marshall, Tom Hawkins
Jack Redden, Brayden Fiorini

Taylin Duman, Peter Wright, Andrew Phillips

[Boomz]

For the only title I'll ever win
D: Johannisen, Williams, Whitfield, Thomas
M: Ross, Dunkley, Fritsch, Powell-Pepper (Phillips if he is named, I'll be away).
R: Lycett
F: Cameron, Hoskin-Elliott, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Long
U: Short, Gleeson
EMG: Plowman, Atkins, Smith

[GoLions]

One could argue The Schlong has overtaken Nank for the R1 role at Kate...

[GoLions]

Kate, yarr

Daniel Andrews, Callum Mills, Stepladder Carlisle, Jordan Lewis
Mitch Duncan, Ben Cunnington, Touk Touk, Silk Burgoyne
Toby Nankervis
The Papsmear, ANB, Gryan, Darcy Lang
Chris Mayne, Shaun Higgoat

Jasper showertard, Dylan Clarke, Taylor Garner

I assume you don't need captains :P

[Toga]

Here we go!

Beijing Thunder:
D: Brandon Ellis, Heath Shaw, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas
M: Lachie Neale [VC], Dayne Zorko, Tom Rockliff, David Swallow
R: Brodie Grundy [C]
F: Kane Lambert, Darcy Macpherson, Josh Caddy, Luke Breust
IC: Daniel Howe, Jy Simpkin

Emg: Taylor Walker, Marcus Adams, Mason Cox

[Nige]

Karen

Tom Stewart, Jeremy McGovern, Nick Vlastuin, Andrew McGrath
Taylor Adams, David Zaharakis, Ricky Henderson (vc), Hugh McCluggage (c)
Dawson Simpson
Ben Brown, Lincoln McCarthy, Jake Melksham, Jason Castagna
Shane Edwards, Mitch Robinson

Ollie Hanrahan, Shane Mumford, Ben Stratton

[Jroo]

Mexico City Suns
D: James Sicily, Nic Newman, Jacob Weitering, Aaron Naughton
M: Lachie Hunter, Sam Walsh, Luke Dunstan, Anthony Miles
R: Tom Hickey
F: James Worpel, Christian Petracca, Shai Bolton, Mason Wood
U: Brad Hill, Jackson Hately

EMG: Jack Silvagni, Jack Graham, Callum Wilkie

[PowerBug]

Rio de Janeiro Jaguars

Def: Daniel Rich, Jeremy Finlayson, Hamish Hartlett, Aaron Francis.
Mid: Patrick Cripps (C), Elliot Yeo, Tim Taranto (VC), Jaeger O'Meara.
Ruck: Zac Clarke.
Fwd: Jack Ziebell, Sam J Reid, Shaun McKernan, Eric Hipwood.
Int: Karl Amon, Tarryn Thomas.

Emerg: Ivan Soldo (Ruck), Levi Greenwood (Def), Bailey Dale (Mid/Fwd).

In: Zac Clarke, Aaron Francis, Tarryn Thomas, Eric Hipwood.
Out: Ivan Soldo, Brayden Maynard, Joel Hamling (All Omit), Jeremy Cameron (Injured).

Dropping Maynard has the makings of a big blunder. Cripps gets the captaincy. Up the Jags!

[Jukes]

D: S. Docherty, R. Burton, K. Kolodjashnij, P. Naish
M: S. Coniglio (c), D. Heppell (vc), B. Stretch, B. Ainsworth
R: T. Bellchambers
F: J. Daniher, J. De Goey, S. Weideman, M. Parker
U: S. Draper, E. Vickers-Willis

Real team tomorrow

[Purple 77]

Only very annoyed about my outs this week.

A miracle if I won here. flower injuries.

Berlin Brewers

Team Format: Traditional

D: Zak Jones, Jarrod Harbrow, Jake Lever, Sam Frost
M: Nat Fyfe, Josh P Kennedy, Jack Viney, Jay Kennedy-Harris
R: Max Gawn
F: Michael Walters, David Mundy, Doulton Langlands, Ben Ronke
U: Luke Hodge, Harrison Petty
E: Michael Hibberd, Oskar Baker, Daniel Menzel

C: Max Gawn
VC: Nat Fyfe

[Purple 77]

6 Demons in the starting XV, another 2 in the emgs.

Last time that happened?*

2013 semi final, where I beat Moscow to advance to a prelim

*may not be last time it happened, and it was 5 demons on field, not 6, but it was my entire backline!

[fanTCfool]

Toronto Wolves

Kade Simpson, Wayne Milera, Connor Blakely, Mason Redman
Jack Macrae (CC), James Harmes, Jacob Hopper, Dion Prestia
Andrew Phillips
Tim Kelly, Travis Boak (CC), Rowan Marshall, Tom Hawkins
Jack Redden, Gary Ablett Jnr.

Alex Witherden, Peter Wright, Matthew Lobbe

[Boomz]

For the only title I'll ever win
D: Johannisen, Williams, Whitfield, Thomas
M: Ross, Dunkley, Fritsch, Powell-Pepper (Phillips if he is named, I'll be away).
R: Smith
F: Cameron, Hoskin-Elliott, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Long
U: Short, Gleeson
EMG: Plowman, Atkins, Smith

So Lycett is dropped (wtf) so Smith comes in. If I've made any other glaring mistakes then I accept Purple's judgement.