WXV Preliminary Finals: Magpies v Thunder, Islanders v Cobras

[Purple 77]

Hey finalists!

No more concurrent rounds for the rest of the year :D the preliminary finals will consume the entire AFL Round 17, running from Thursday to Monday :)

All 6 remaining teams can begin to start naming teams if they like. I'll formalise the OP probably Friday morning.

Preliminary Finals, AFL Round 17

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Seoul Magpies	Beijing Thunder	Seoul World Cup Stadium	4 v 5
Pacific Islanders	Cape Town Cobras	BSP Stadium	5 v 4

There will be a FULL LOCKOUT at the commencement of St Kilda v West Coast at 7.10pm AEST this THURSDAY NIGHT

YOU MUST NAME EIGHT ( 8 ) EMERGENCIES

Seoul v Beijing
Head-to-Head: 4  v  5
Last time they played (Round 1): Beijing Thunder (26.7.163) def Seoul Magpies (20.8.128)
2020 Head-to-Head: 11 v 7
Purps' Takeaway: The minor premiers - at no surprise to anyone - have gone two better than this Beijing powerhouse, which is quite insane really. However, the last time they met... Beijing absolutely smacked them. This game will be won and lost in the midfield, with both teams possessing massive firepower. I think Grundy is the real point of difference here. He hasn't really done anything of note in this second half of the year, and he has such a bigger ceiling than Seoul's McEvoy. The pressure is all on Seoul, actually. They've been contending for quite some time (I suppose Beijing has too), and they've got the minor premiership, the HGA and some expectation to go on with it. They've been the form team of the comp - lets see some results. As always, Seoul have my tip.

Pacific v Cape Town
Head-to-Head: 5 v 4
Last time they played (Round 14): Cape Town Cobras (22.8.140) lost to Pacific Islanders (23.6.144)
2020 Head-to-Head: 8 v 10
Purps' Takeaway: I was a little surprised actually, to see Cape Town lead the 2020 ledger. I suppose its recency bias. Cape Town's first half of the year was breath taking - averaging 152 - and of these 9 games, Cape Town won 8 against Pacific. However... Pacific upped its game considerably in the second half, and Cape Town have wavered, seeing Pacific win 7 of the past 9, including in Round 14 when these two teams clashed. In fact, from Rounds 14-17, Pacific were the second highest scoring team (behind Seoul), and Cape Town was a distant 3rd. To me, Pacific are the raging favourites here. They have a midfield that has amazingly flown under the radar this year - their starting 4 mids all average 100+, and its M5 averages 92. And although Cape Town have a list that bats really deep (and a similarly good midifield), I'm not sure they have the recent form to go with Pacific. We saw how important ceilings are when Menegola won the game for Cape Town - can someone else step up this week? I know Pacific will have 1 or 2 that do - but I'm not Cape Town does week-to-week. This is why I think Pacific wins.

And don't forget reserves!

Any team that makes the prelims, but not in the seniors, is welcome to name an indicative best 23. Otherwise, I'll name one for you.

Preliminary Finals, AFL Round 17

Home Team	Away Team	Venue
Durban Pirates	Shanghai Storm	Newlands Cricket Ground
Port Morseby Iguanadons	La Plata Armada	Tuanaimato International Stadium

[JBs-Hawks]

Seoul

D: Nick Haynes, Christian Salem, Lachie Weller, Nathan Wilson
M: Clayton Oliver (CC), Patrick Dangerfield(CC), Josh Kelly, Will Setterfield
R: Ben McEvoy
F: Jonathon Ceglar, Charlie Dixon, Toby McLean, Zac Fisher
I: Ed Curnow, Marc Murphy
E: Liam Shiels, Jamie Elliot, Bailey Scott, Zach Tuohy, Jake Riccardi, Lachie Fogarty, Darcy Fogarty, Caleb Graham

[upthemaidens]

   Pacific Islanders   

DEF: Rory Laird, Michael Hurley, Bailey Williams, Liam Duggan
MID: Tom Mitchell (CC), Marcus Bontempelli (CC), Andrew Gaff, Jarryd Lyons
RCK: Jarrod Witts 
FWD: Devon Smith, Matt Taberner, Josh Jenkins, Peter Wright
UTL: Harry Perryman (Mid), Zac Bailey (Mid/Def) 

EMG: Harrison Himmelberg(F), Tom McCartin(F), Tim O'Brien(F/D), Adam Tomlinson(M), Andrew McPherson(D), Sam Day(F), Zac Smith(R), Matt Conroy(R)

[Toga]

BEIJING THUNDER:

D: Caleb Daniel, Bachar Houli, Heath Shaw, Tom Jonas
M: Lachie Neale [C], Dayne Zorko, Brandon Ellis, Tom Rockliff
R: Brodie Grundy [VC]
F: Jy Simpson, Kane Lambert, Luke Breust, Daniel Butler
IC: David Swallow, Callan Ward

Emg: Daniel Howe, Wil Powell, James Aish, Taylor Walker, Max King, Kyron Hayden, Tom Cutler, Daniel Rioli

[GoLions]

Kate

Luke McDonald, Sam Collins, Callum Mills, Josh Battle
Mitch Duncan (C), Sam Menegoat (VC), Shaun Higgoat, Jack Bowes
Nank
Gryan Gryan, Ben Ainsworth, The Papsmear, Bradstopher Ebert
James Cousins, Trent Rivers

Shane McAdam, Shaun Burgoyne, Ivan Soldo, Dean Kent, Lewis Taylor, Jaidyn Stephenson, Zach Guthrie, Mitch Crowden

[upthemaidens]

With Gaff 154 and Duggan 84, Pacific are off to a strong start.

[Toga]

Veryy shaky start from 'Jing

[Purple 77]

OP updated - engage with poll as well :)

[Purple 77]

After Friday

Oh dear.

Will either Seoul or Beijing score more than 140? 130? Beijing would be thanking its lucky stars that CC Danger (who I said to you weeks ago JB, shouldn't be any kind of C anymore) chucked in his lowest score of the year, because its starting 3 players have sh!t the bed. Game is still even in my eyes.

For Cape Town, it could be worse... but I think they needed it to be better. Nank was much improved, but Miers and Menegola couldn't reach the heights of their semi final. For Pacific however, Andrew Gaff went BIG and looks an early contender for a finals champion medal, whilst Duggan was serviceable. I think Pacific is ahead in this game.

	Seoul Magpies					Beijing Thunder
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Nick Haynes	0		0	D1	Caleb Daniel	0		0
D2	Christian Salem	0		0	D2	Bachar Houli	62		62
D3	Lachie Weller	0		0	D3	Heath Shaw	0		0
D4	Nathan Wilson	0		0	D4	Tom Jonas	0		0
M1	Clayton Oliver	0		0	M1	Lachie Neale	0		0
M2	Patrick Dangerfield	66		66	M2	Dayne Zorko	0		0
M3	Josh Kelly	0		0	M3	Brandon Ellis	0		0
M4	Will Setterfield	0		0	M4	Tom Rockliff	0		0
R1	Ben McEvoy	0		0	R1	Brodie Grundy	0		0
F1	Jonathon Ceglar	0		0	F1	Jy Simpkin	0		0
F2	Charlie Dixon	0		0	F2	Kane Lambert	58		58
F3	Toby McLean	0		0	F3	Luke Breust	0		0
F4	Zac Fisher	0		0	F4	Dan Butler	36		36
U1 (MID )	Ed Curnow	0		0	U1 (MID )	David Swallow	0		0
U2 (MID )	Marc Murphy	0		0	U2 (MID )	Callan Ward	0		0
E1 (MID )	Liam Shiels	0	0	0	E1 (DEF MID)	Daniel Howe	0	0	0
E2 (FWD )	Jamie Elliott	0	0	0	E2 (MID )	Wil Powell	0	0	0
E3 (MID FWD)	Bailey Scott	0	0	0	E3 (DEF )	James Aish	0	0	0
E4 (DEF )	Zach Tuohy	70	0	0	E4 (FWD )	Taylor Walker	0	0	0
E5 (FWD )	Jake Riccardi	0	0	0	E5 (FWD )	Max King	53	0	0
E6 (MID )	Lachlan Fogarty	51	0	0	E6 (MID )	Kyron Hayden	0	0	0
E7 (FWD )	Darcy Fogarty	0	0	0	E7 (MID )	Tom Cutler	0	0	0
E8 (DEF )	Caleb Graham	0	0	0	E8 (FWD )	Daniel Rioli	89	0	0
CC	Clayton Oliver	0		0	C	Lachie Neale	0		0
CC	Patrick Dangerfield	66		33	VC	Brodie Grundy	0		0
HA		0		0			0
		Total:	99	1			Total:	156	3

	Pacific Islanders					Cape Town Cobras
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Rory Laird	0		0	D1	Luke McDonald	0		0
D2	Michael Hurley	0		0	D2	Samuel Collins	0		0
D3	Bailey Williams	0		0	D3	Callum Mills	0		0
D4	Liam Duggan	84		84	D4	Josh Battle	52		52
M1	Tom Mitchell	0		0	M1	Mitch Duncan	95		95
M2	Marcus Bontempelli	0		0	M2	Sam Menegola	108		108
M3	Andrew Gaff	154		154	M3	Shaun Higgins	0		0
M4	Jarryd Lyons	0		0	M4	Jack Bowes	0		0
R1	Jarrod Witts	0		0	R1	Toby Nankervis	99		99
F1	Devon Smith	0		0	F1	Gryan Miers	58		58
F2	Matt Taberner	0		0	F2	Ben Ainsworth	0		0
F3	Josh Jenkins	0		0	F3	Tom Papley	0		0
F4	Peter Wright	0		0	F4	Brad Ebert	0		0
U1 (MID )	Harry Perryman	0		0	U1 (MID )	James Cousins	0		0
U2 (DEF MID)	Zac Bailey	0		0	U2 (DEF MID)	Trent Rivers	0		0
E1 (FWD )	Harrison Himmelberg	0	0	0	E1 (FWD )	Shane McAdam	0	0	0
E2 (FWD )	Tom McCartin	0	0	0	E2 (DEF )	Shaun Burgoyne	0	0	0
E3 (DEF FWD)	Tim O'Brien	0	0	0	E3 (RUC )	Ivan Soldo	28	DNP	0
E4 (MID )	Adam Tomlinson	0	0	0	E4 (FWD )	Dean Kent	23	0	0
E5 (DEF )	Andrew McPherson	0	0	0	E5 (MID )	Lewis Taylor	0	0	0
E6 (FWD )	Sam Day	0	0	0	E6 (FWD )	Jaidyn Stephenson	0	0	0
E7 (RUC )	Zac Smith	0	0	0	E7 (DEF )	Zach Guthrie	0	0	0
E8 (RUC )	Matt Conroy	0	0	0	E8 (FWD )	Mitchell Crowden	0	0	0
CC	Tom Mitchell	0		0	C	Mitch Duncan	95		95
CC	Marcus Bontempelli	0		0	VC	Sam Menegola	108		0
HA		0		0			0
		Total:	238	2			Total:	507	5

[upthemaidens]

No Hurley or Jenkins.  Emergencies to the rescue, time to perform on the big stage Tom McCartin

[Hellopplz]

The fans like the Roaring Thunder but nobody thinks they'll scare the High Flying Magpies :-X.

Kate has a small backing but the crowd are thinking it'll be Islanders going to the GF 8).

[upthemaidens]

Taberner with a cheeky ton and Smith 120.   Squeezing the cobras in a boa like grip.

[Purple 77]

After Saturday

This game is at risk of fizzin out  :-\ Beijing look totally lost, despite efforts from Rockliff to guide them. The only saving grace for them is that Seoul's CCs have posted scores sub-90, whilst Beijing's "secret weapon" in Greale remains unfired. Actually, I'd almost go as far to say that of Beijings 7 players played so far, their entire bottom 6 players are amongst them. This game isn't over yet, but a Greale 400 is a must.

The Islanders were making this game a procession... until the unfortunate Harrison Himmelberg. Luke McDonald has kept the Cobras in the game, alongside a MIGHTY effort from Trent Rivers, backing up his 82 on debut with a ton! The Islanders though are just a big Bont or Titchell game away from winning this one.

	Seoul Magpies					Beijing Thunder
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Nick Haynes	46		46	D1	Caleb Daniel	0		0
D2	Christian Salem	109		109	D2	Bachar Houli	62		62
D3	Lachie Weller	0		0	D3	Heath Shaw	41		41
D4	Nathan Wilson	64		64	D4	Tom Jonas	70		70
M1	Clayton Oliver	87		87	M1	Lachie Neale	0		0
M2	Patrick Dangerfield	66		66	M2	Dayne Zorko	0		0
M3	Josh Kelly	138		138	M3	Brandon Ellis	0		0
M4	Will Setterfield	0		0	M4	Tom Rockliff	142		142
R1	Ben McEvoy	0		0	R1	Brodie Grundy	0		0
F1	Jonathon Ceglar	0		0	F1	Jy Simpkin	62		62
F2	Charlie Dixon	92		92	F2	Kane Lambert	58		58
F3	Toby McLean	0		0	F3	Luke Breust	0		0
F4	Zac Fisher	0		0	F4	Dan Butler	36		36
U1 (MID )	Ed Curnow	0		0	U1 (MID )	David Swallow	0		0
U2 (MID )	Marc Murphy	0		0	U2 (MID )	Callan Ward	0	DNP	0
E1 (MID )	Liam Shiels	0	0	0	E1 (DEF MID)	Daniel Howe	0		0
E2 (FWD )	Jamie Elliott	0	0	0	E2 (MID )	Wil Powell	0	0	0
E3 (MID FWD)	Bailey Scott	48	0	0	E3 (DEF )	James Aish	120	0	0
E4 (DEF )	Zach Tuohy	70	0	0	E4 (FWD )	Taylor Walker	0	0	0
E5 (FWD )	Jake Riccardi	0	DNP	0	E5 (FWD )	Max King	53	0	0
E6 (MID )	Lachlan Fogarty	51	0	0	E6 (MID )	Kyron Hayden	0	DNP	0
E7 (FWD )	Darcy Fogarty	0	0	0	E7 (MID )	Tom Cutler	45	0	0
E8 (DEF )	Caleb Graham	0	0	0	E8 (FWD )	Daniel Rioli	89	0	0
CC	Clayton Oliver	87		44	C	Lachie Neale	0		0
CC	Patrick Dangerfield	66		33	VC	Brodie Grundy	0		0
HA		0		0			0
		Total:	679	7			Total:	471	7

	Pacific Islanders					Cape Town Cobras
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Rory Laird	0		0	D1	Luke McDonald	121		121
D2	Michael Hurley	0	DNP	0	D2	Samuel Collins	0		0
D3	Bailey Williams	0		0	D3	Callum Mills	0		0
D4	Liam Duggan	84		84	D4	Josh Battle	52		52
M1	Tom Mitchell	0		0	M1	Mitch Duncan	95		95
M2	Marcus Bontempelli	0		0	M2	Sam Menegola	108		108
M3	Andrew Gaff	154		154	M3	Shaun Higgins	72		72
M4	Jarryd Lyons	0		0	M4	Jack Bowes	0		0
R1	Jarrod Witts	0		0	R1	Toby Nankervis	99		99
F1	Devon Smith	120		120	F1	Gryan Miers	58		58
F2	Matt Taberner	101		101	F2	Ben Ainsworth	0		0
F3	Josh Jenkins	0		0	F3	Tom Papley	0		0
F4	Peter Wright	0		0	F4	Brad Ebert	62		62
U1 (MID )	Harry Perryman	114		114	U1 (MID )	James Cousins	0		0
U2 (DEF MID)	Zac Bailey	0		0	U2 (DEF MID)	Trent Rivers	107		107
E1 (FWD )	Harrison Himmelberg	30		30	E1 (FWD )	Shane McAdam	0	0	0
E2 (FWD )	Tom McCartin	0	0	0	E2 (DEF )	Shaun Burgoyne	0	0	0
E3 (DEF FWD)	Tim O'Brien	0	0	0	E3 (RUC )	Ivan Soldo	28	DNP	0
E4 (MID )	Adam Tomlinson	54	0	0	E4 (FWD )	Dean Kent	23	0	0
E5 (DEF )	Andrew McPherson	0	0	0	E5 (MID )	Lewis Taylor	0	0	0
E6 (FWD )	Sam Day	0	0	0	E6 (FWD )	Jaidyn Stephenson	0	0	0
E7 (RUC )	Zac Smith	0	0	0	E7 (DEF )	Zach Guthrie	0	0	0
E8 (RUC )	Matt Conroy	0	0	0	E8 (FWD )	Mitchell Crowden	58	0	0
CC	Tom Mitchell	0		0	C	Mitch Duncan	95		95
CC	Marcus Bontempelli	0		0	VC	Sam Menegola	108		0
HA		0		0			0
		Total:	603	6			Total:	869	9

[Purple 77]

With just Collingwood v Gold Coast to go

Neale falls when it mattered most. A very disappointing way for Beijing to end the season.

Meanwhile, Pacific just keep coming to play, and will prove too much for the brave Cobras.

Congratulations to Seoul & Pacific!

	Seoul Magpies					Beijing Thunder
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Nick Haynes	46		46	D1	Caleb Daniel	120		120
D2	Christian Salem	109		109	D2	Bachar Houli	62		62
D3	Lachie Weller	0		0	D3	Heath Shaw	41		41
D4	Nathan Wilson	64		64	D4	Tom Jonas	70		70
M1	Clayton Oliver	87		87	M1	Lachie Neale	55		55
M2	Patrick Dangerfield	66		66	M2	Dayne Zorko	68		68
M3	Josh Kelly	138		138	M3	Brandon Ellis	0		0
M4	Will Setterfield	111		111	M4	Tom Rockliff	142		142
R1	Ben McEvoy	68		68	R1	Brodie Grundy	0		0
F1	Jonathon Ceglar	47		47	F1	Jy Simpkin	62		62
F2	Charlie Dixon	92		92	F2	Kane Lambert	58		58
F3	Toby McLean	21	DNP	0	F3	Luke Breust	87		87
F4	Zac Fisher	37		37	F4	Dan Butler	36		36
U1 (MID )	Ed Curnow	80		80	U1 (MID )	David Swallow	0		0
U2 (MID )	Marc Murphy	75		75	U2 (MID )	Callan Ward	0	DNP	0
E1 (MID )	Liam Shiels	81	0	0	E1 (DEF MID)	Daniel Howe	51		51
E2 (FWD )	Jamie Elliott	0		0	E2 (MID )	Wil Powell	0	0	0
E3 (MID FWD)	Bailey Scott	48	0	0	E3 (DEF )	James Aish	120	0	0
E4 (DEF )	Zach Tuohy	70	0	0	E4 (FWD )	Taylor Walker	0	0	0
E5 (FWD )	Jake Riccardi	0	DNP	0	E5 (FWD )	Max King	53	0	0
E6 (MID )	Lachlan Fogarty	51	0	0	E6 (MID )	Kyron Hayden	0	DNP	0
E7 (FWD )	Darcy Fogarty	54	0	0	E7 (MID )	Tom Cutler	45	0	0
E8 (DEF )	Caleb Graham	0	0	0	E8 (FWD )	Daniel Rioli	89	0	0
CC	Clayton Oliver	87		44	C	Lachie Neale	55		55
CC	Patrick Dangerfield	66		33	VC	Brodie Grundy	0		0
HA		0		0			0
		Total:	1097	13			Total:	907	12

	Pacific Islanders					Cape Town Cobras
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Rory Laird	136		136	D1	Luke McDonald	121		121
D2	Michael Hurley	0	DNP	0	D2	Samuel Collins	0		0
D3	Bailey Williams	59		59	D3	Callum Mills	107		107
D4	Liam Duggan	84		84	D4	Josh Battle	52		52
M1	Tom Mitchell	71		71	M1	Mitch Duncan	95		95
M2	Marcus Bontempelli	161		161	M2	Sam Menegola	108		108
M3	Andrew Gaff	154		154	M3	Shaun Higgins	72		72
M4	Jarryd Lyons	132		132	M4	Jack Bowes	0		0
R1	Jarrod Witts	0		0	R1	Toby Nankervis	99		99
F1	Devon Smith	120		120	F1	Gryan Miers	58		58
F2	Matt Taberner	101		101	F2	Ben Ainsworth	0		0
F3	Josh Jenkins	0		0	F3	Tom Papley	69		69
F4	Peter Wright	0		0	F4	Brad Ebert	62		62
U1 (MID )	Harry Perryman	114		114	U1 (MID )	James Cousins	66		66
U2 (DEF MID)	Zac Bailey	70		70	U2 (DEF MID)	Trent Rivers	107		107
E1 (FWD )	Harrison Himmelberg	30		30	E1 (FWD )	Shane McAdam	78	0	0
E2 (FWD )	Tom McCartin	33	0	0	E2 (DEF )	Shaun Burgoyne	88	0	0
E3 (DEF FWD)	Tim O'Brien	76	0	0	E3 (RUC )	Ivan Soldo	28	DNP	0
E4 (MID )	Adam Tomlinson	54	0	0	E4 (FWD )	Dean Kent	23	0	0
E5 (DEF )	Andrew McPherson	88	0	0	E5 (MID )	Lewis Taylor	0	DNP	0
E6 (FWD )	Sam Day	0	0	0	E6 (FWD )	Jaidyn Stephenson	0	0	0
E7 (RUC )	Zac Smith	0	0	0	E7 (DEF )	Zach Guthrie	0	0	0
E8 (RUC )	Matt Conroy	0	0	0	E8 (FWD )	Mitchell Crowden	58	0	0
CC	Tom Mitchell	71		36	C	Mitch Duncan	95		95
CC	Marcus Bontempelli	161		81	VC	Sam Menegola	108		0
HA		0		0			0
		Total:	1349	12			Total:	1111	12

[upthemaidens]

Preliminary Finals should be a lot harder to win, let's hope for more of a contest in the Granny.