AAP Alliance v EurAsia: AAPs Atonement

Purple 77 · June 07, 2021, 08:34:17 PM

WXV Round 12
Rep Round

AFL ROUND 13

Port Adelaide v Geelong
Sydney v Hawthorn
Fremantle v Gold Coast
St Kilda v Adelaide
North Melbourne v GWS
West Coast v Richmond
Melbourne v Collingwood

AFL ROUND 14

North Melbourne v Brisbane
Geelong v Western Bulldogs
Gold Coast v Port Adelaide
GWS v Carlton
Hawthorn v Essendon

Representative Round, AFL Round 13 + Round 14 (as above)

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
AAP Alliance	EurAsia	Melbourne Cricket Ground	4 v 5

What started as a way to fill in time between WXV rounds has really developed into a highly anticipated annual fixture! I've seen a gradual rise in engagement in this clash in the past few years, to the extent where there is now genuine feeling in this! I've never seen the WXV community as engaged in this rivalry as it is now, and it's just bloody awesome to be honest.

For the newbies, there is 1 (and a half) too many AFL rounds to fill a WXV fixture, and as such the H&A fixture takes a break over the second half of the bye rounds. During that time, we split the competition in 2 by geography, and select the coaches of these two sides by whomever is highest on the WXV Ladder so far in the year. They get to pick a side of 19 out of the players of the teams whom fall within their allocated geography.

A big shift has occurred over the past 12 months. EurAsia was so clearly the favourites in 2020 (and they delivered the biggest ever score between these sides to show for it), but now, AAP have bridged the gap significantly and to be honest, it looks quite level!

	EurAsia		AAP Alliance
1	Seoul Magpies	2	Cape Town Cobras
3	PNL Reindeers	4	Pacific Islanders
6	Dublin Destroyers	5	Mexico City Suns
7	Beijing Pandas	10	Toronto Wolves
8	Berlin Brewers	11	New York Revolution
9	Tokyo Samurai	13	Rio de Janeiro Jaguars
12	London Royals	14	Buenos Aires Armadillos
16	Moscow Spetsnaz	15	Cairo Sands
17	New Delhi Tigers	18	Christchurch Saints

AAP were angry last year. EurAsia were better on all fronts, and they knew it.

They challenged where they could, and they played the mind game so well. But they were simply no chance, despite posting a good score.

Deflating, embarrassing... motivating? Read below and you'll see!

(the following analysis excludes whom have not played in the past 3 rounds)

Defence
AAP weapon this year is its defence. They have 4 of the 5 highest averaging defenders - Mills (Cape Town), Laird (Pacific), Stewart (Cairo) and Rich (Rio) - who stand heads and shoulders above the rest in overall season form. However, the difference in these games is ceiling and the highest score posted by a defender this year in fact Dublin's Chris Salem (167). That special effort, unfortunately for EurAsia, is the only one really as that aforementioned quartet has the EurAsian's covered comfortably. The odds are with AAP in this position.

Midfield
Heh! AAP have 4 of the 5 highest averaging mids too (*gulp*). Whilst you could pretty much pick the entire Pacific midifield and you'd be set, AAP have the likes of Macrae (Toronto), Guthrie (New York), Parish (Buenos Aires) and Walsh (Mexico City) to join the likes of the Islanders Bont and Lyons. That's quite intimidating, actually. For EurAsia, they have the best looking mug in the AFL leading the pack in Seoul's Clayton Oliver, the meteoric rise of London's Touk Miller and Clarry's Seoul teammate in Jack Steele before a noticeable dip in average... but again, Clarry has demonstrated the highest ceiling out of all mids so far this year with his 204, and efforts like that will be the difference in this game. I fear AAP though, on the balance of probabilities, have this position in the bag too.

Ruck
Ahhh, EurAsia's old faithful position of dominance (except that one time). Maximus Gawn (Berlin) doubles as EurAsia's best ruck and overall highest averaging player (again) and absolutely dwarf's AAPs Naitanui (Mexico City) and (the injured) Sean Darcy (Christchurch). KMart Max is also injured for EurAsia, but in his absence sets up Gawn against the likes of Darcy Cameron and Max Lynch. Shudder and weep AAP.

Forward
Now this is where the coaches can have some creative (and potentially match deciding) influence. 2021 is not the year for forwards. There are 4 forwards so far averaging 100+ (all for EurAsia), and only 1 of them is available this week - Moscow's Jack Ziebell. I certainly didn't think I'd type that this year. I'll now follow that sentence by saying AAPs best forward so far this year is Pacific's Taylor Walker. Anyway - EurAsia's would-be position of strength has been levelled out and they will consider a host of forwards averaging in the low 90s in its line-up. For AAP, on averages it's a clearer choice but jeepers these players are fraught with danger with potential coach killing performances lurking. I have no idea who will be picked - I think it's a level playing field this one.

My tip? AAP will lose.

HISTORY

2020 (Holz): EurAsia (30.9.189) def AAP Alliance (27.10.172)
2019 (FTC): AAP Alliance (29.6.180) def EurAsia (29.6.179*)
2018 (Purple77): EurAsia (28.11.179) def AAP Alliance (26.10.166)
2017 (Ricochet/elephants): AAP Alliance (25.8.158) lost to EurAsia (26.7.163)
2016 (Holz): EurAsia (27.11.173) def AAP Alliance (23.11.149)
2015 (JROO8): AAP Alliance (26.12.168*) def EurAsia (26.11.167)
2014 (Nails): EurAsia (24.11.155) lost to AAP Alliance (25.18.168)
2013 (Ringo): AAP Alliance (25.22.172) lost to EurAsia (27.21.183)
2012 (CrowsFan): AAP Alliance (28.8.176) def EurAsia (27.11.173)

So with that said, tell us what you think! But more importantly, put forward your players to GL and JB and get involved! Ensure that one of your players isn't a Salty Second 8)

ROLLING LOCKOUT PERMITTED / FOUR EMERGENCIES PERMITTED

GoLions · June 10, 2021, 04:51:33 PM

AAP

Mills, Laird, Stewart, Rich
Macrae, Parish (C), Bont (VC), Lyons
NicNat
Dale, Bolton, Hall, Langford
Guthrie, Walsh

Duncan, ROB, Bowes, Tex

Purple 77 · June 10, 2021, 07:44:47 PM

EurAsia with 4 of the last 5... if it weren't for that pesky Adelaide ruckman, it'd be 5.

Is THAT the squad to rise against the EurAsia superpower? Is Parish the messiah?

fanTCfool · June 10, 2021, 09:26:26 PM

yes

Holz · June 11, 2021, 11:23:55 AM

Quote from: Purple 77 on June 10, 2021, 07:44:47 PM
EurAsia with 4 of the last 5... if it weren't for that pesky Adelaide ruckman, it'd be 5.

Is THAT the squad to rise against the EurAsia superpower? Is Parish the messiah?

Last 5 premierships I think too

GoLions · June 11, 2021, 05:01:19 PM

Quote from: GoLions on June 10, 2021, 04:51:33 PM
AAP

Mills, Laird, Stewart, Rich
Macrae, Parish (C), Bont (VC), Lyons
NicNat
Dale, Bolton, Hall, Langford
Guthrie, Walsh

Duncan, ROB, Bowes, Tex

Darcy replaces ROB

JBs-Hawks · June 11, 2021, 05:43:24 PM

D: Jake Lloyd, Luke Ryan , Jack Crisp, Sam Docherty
M: Clayton Oliver, Jack Steele (VC), Tuok Miller, Zach Merrett
R: Max Gawn (C)
F: Jack Zieball, Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin, Toby Greene
I: Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper
E: Tom Hickey, Brad Crouch. Steele Sidebottom, Christian Salem

GoLions · June 11, 2021, 11:53:42 PM

AAP

DEF: Callum Mills (Cape Town), Rory Laird (Pacific), Tom Stewart (Cairo), Daniel Rich (Rio)
MID: Darcy Parish [C] (Buenos Aires), Marcus Bontempelli [VC] (Pacific), Jack Macrae (Toronto), Jarryd Lyons (Pacific)
RUCK: Nic Naitanui (Mexico)
FWD: Shai Bolton (Mexico), Bailey Dale (Cairo), Aaron Hall (Mexico), Kyle Langford (New York)
UTIL: Cam Guthrie (New York), Sam Walsh (Mexico)

EMG: Mitch Duncan (Cape Town), Sean Darcy (Christchurch), Jack Bowes (Cape Town), Taylor Walker (Pacific)

JBs-Hawks · June 12, 2021, 09:55:49 AM

Quote from: JBs-Hawks on June 11, 2021, 05:43:24 PM
D: Jake Lloyd, Luke Ryan , Jack Crisp, Sam Docherty
M: Clayton Oliver, Jack Steele (VC), Tuok Miller, Zach Merrett
R: Max Gawn (C)
F: Jack Zieball, Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin, Toby Greene
I: Josh Kelly, Lachie Neale
E: Tom Hickey, Brad Crouch. Steele Sidebottom, Christian Salem

Purple 77 · June 13, 2021, 06:43:08 PM

After Saturday

Man, this has already got the makings of an EPIC match!

So far, both teams have had 2 defenders play and they've essentially drawn level! Pacific's Rory Laird (132) was outstanding for AAP, as was PNL's Luke Ryan (128) for EurAsia. Those are the kinda scores that make a real difference in this game.

Cape Town's Callum Mills (105) and Seoul's Jake Lloyd (104) put in 'par' efforts in the context for this game, but both coaches will take it... even if Mills in particularly had the ceiling to go bigger.

Also on the field, we've had EurAsia Vice Captain Jack Steele (126) put in a very commendable showing. It is neither game deciding nor a bad score, but you'd suspect EurAsia won't opt to loop in that score for the Captain Bonus as Big Max is poised to go lorge.

Speaking of lorge though - AAP seem destined to loop in Christchurch's Sean Darcy (140) in what shapes as a HUGE score! What a game.

EurAsia may be tempted to loop in Tom Hickey's 96, but I suspect they'd rather not. It's a shame, given Brad Crouch's 124 is sitting at E2 and he isn't getting on the field unless Hickey does. I wonder if JB will change his mind?

AAP have the slight advantage so far, but very early days.

	AAP Alliance					EurAsia
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Callum Mills (Cape Town)	105		105	D1	Jake Lloyd (New Delhi)	104		104
D2	Rory Laird (Pacific)	132		132	D2	Luke Ryan (PNL)	128		128
D3	Tom Stewart (Cairo)	0		0	D3	Jack Crisp (Seoul)	0		0
D4	Daniel Rich (Rio de Janeiro)	0		0	D4	Sam Docherty (Moscow)	0		0
M1	Darcy Parish (Buenos Aires)	0		0	M1	Clayton Oliver (Seoul)	0		0
M2	Marcus Bontempelli (Pacific)	0		0	M2	Jack Steele (Seoul)	126		126
M3	Jack Macrae (Toronto)	0		0	M3	Touk Miller (London)	0		0
M4	Jarryd Lyons (Pacific)	0		0	M4	Zach Merrett (PNL)	0		0
R1	Nic Naitanui (Mexico City)	0		0	R1	Max Gawn (Berlin)	0		0
F1	Shai Bolton (Mexico City)	0		0	F1	Jack Ziebell (Moscow)	0		0
F2	Bailey Dale (Cairo)	0		0	F2	Patrick Dangerfield (Seoul)	0		0
F3	Aaron Hall (Mexico City)	0		0	F3	Dustin Martin (Dublin)	0		0
F4	Kyle Langford (New York)	0		0	F4	Toby Greene (Dublin)	0		0
U1 (MID)	Cameron Guthrie (New York)	0		0	U1 (MID)	Josh Kelly (Moscow)	0		0
U2 (MID)	Sam Walsh (Mexico City)	0		0	U2 (MID)	Lachie Neale (Beijing)	0		0
E1 (MID)	Mitch Duncan (Cape Town)	0	0	0	E1 (RUC)	Tom Hickey (PNL)	96	0	0
E2 (RUC)	Sean Darcy (Christchurch)	140	0	0	E2 (MID)	Brad Crouch (Dublin)	124	0	0
E3 (DEF)	Jack Bowes (Cape Town)	0	0	0	E3 (MID FWD)	Steele Sidebottom (PNL)	0	0	0
E4 (FWD)	Taylor Walker (Pacific)	34	0	0	E4 (DEF)	Christian Salem (Dublin)	0	0	0
C	Darcy Parish (Buenos Aires)	0		0	C	Max Gawn (Berlin)	0		0
VC	Marcus Bontempelli (Pacific)	0		0	VC	Jack Steele (Seoul)	126		0
		Total:	237	2			Total:	358	3

Salty Seconds

Some bad reading for EurAsia here, with the 4 saltiest players so far. Leading the salt levels is PNL's Dougal Howard (160) who, to be fair, but in a score DOUBLE his average, so probably fair enough JB missed his potential in that one. The same could nearly be said for Dublin's Dane Rampe (131) whom although has shown an ability to go big in the past, he's had a tough 2021 so far.

Tiger Jack Sinclair (126) also would have come in handy as a very left field selection, whilst Dublin's Brad Crouch (124) still might find his way onto the field yet.

For AAP, Sun James Aish (111) stands as the saltiest selection so far followed by Dillo Tom Highmore (111), but they were never getting picked.

Purple 77 · June 14, 2021, 06:57:05 PM

After Wce/Rich/Coll/Melb

Some big moves!

Mexico City's Nic Naitanui put in a great showing for AAP, whilst teammate Shai Bolton was the first person not to ton in the game. It will still a solid performance regardless. I also missed in my last update the shocker from Tex tucked away at E4 for AAP... GL would want to be alert for any late outs in the forward line, that's for sure.

But these matches were more relevant for EurAsia who... would be disappointed with its return. Seoul's Jack Crisp put in a very average 79, as did forward emergency and Reindeer Steele Sidebottom. Seoul's Clayton Oliver also put in a below average showing, but the biggest disappointment lies with Berlin's Max Gawn who didn't capitalise against inexperienced opposition. The Captain score isn't nearly as high as EurAsia would want... but it's not terrible.

Thankfully, Dublin's Dustin Martin (110) contributed a good score, and teammate Chris Salem's 99 may also be considered to be looped in.

The scoreboard as EurAsia in front, but AAP have the clear advantage here.

	AAP Alliance					EurAsia
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Callum Mills (Cape Town)	105		105	D1	Jake Lloyd (New Delhi)	104		104
D2	Rory Laird (Pacific)	132		132	D2	Luke Ryan (PNL)	128		128
D3	Tom Stewart (Cairo)	0		0	D3	Jack Crisp (Seoul)	79		79
D4	Daniel Rich (Rio de Janeiro)	0		0	D4	Sam Docherty (Moscow)	0		0
M1	Darcy Parish (Buenos Aires)	0		0	M1	Clayton Oliver (Seoul)	108		108
M2	Marcus Bontempelli (Pacific)	0		0	M2	Jack Steele (Seoul)	126		126
M3	Jack Macrae (Toronto)	0		0	M3	Touk Miller (London)	0		0
M4	Jarryd Lyons (Pacific)	0		0	M4	Zach Merrett (PNL)	0		0
R1	Nic Naitanui (Mexico City)	125		125	R1	Max Gawn (Berlin)	123		123
F1	Shai Bolton (Mexico City)	96		96	F1	Jack Ziebell (Moscow)	0		0
F2	Bailey Dale (Cairo)	0		0	F2	Patrick Dangerfield (Seoul)	0		0
F3	Aaron Hall (Mexico City)	0		0	F3	Dustin Martin (Dublin)	110		110
F4	Kyle Langford (New York)	0		0	F4	Toby Greene (Dublin)	0		0
U1 (MID)	Cameron Guthrie (New York)	0		0	U1 (MID)	Josh Kelly (Moscow)	0		0
U2 (MID)	Sam Walsh (Mexico City)	0		0	U2 (MID)	Lachie Neale (Beijing)	0		0
E1 (MID)	Mitch Duncan (Cape Town)	0	0	0	E1 (RUC)	Tom Hickey (PNL)	96	0	0
E2 (RUC)	Sean Darcy (Christchurch)	140	0	0	E2 (MID)	Brad Crouch (Dublin)	124	0	0
E3 (DEF)	Jack Bowes (Cape Town)	0	0	0	E3 (MID FWD)	Steele Sidebottom (PNL)	74	0	0
E4 (FWD)	Taylor Walker (Pacific)	34	0	0	E4 (DEF)	Christian Salem (Dublin)	99	0	0
C	Darcy Parish (Buenos Aires)	0		0	C	Max Gawn (Berlin)	123		123
VC	Marcus Bontempelli (Pacific)	0		0	VC	Jack Steele (Seoul)	126		0
		Total:	458	4			Total:	901	7

Salty Seconds

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Moscow's Scott Pendlebury (167) - of course he was going to lift for Bucks! Bah. Rio's Brayden Maynard (142) also would have put in a game changing performance, and Dublin's Shannon Hurn (122) also would have been a welcome addition for EurAsia.

There is also a decent cohort of 100-120 scorers - such as Cairo's Nick Vlastuin, Berlin's Steven May, and Buenos Aires' Jayden Short and Jordan De Goey - that would have made a fine contribution.

GoLions · June 14, 2021, 11:58:42 PM

Quote from: GoLions on June 11, 2021, 11:53:42 PM
AAP

DEF: Callum Mills (Cape Town), Rory Laird (Pacific), Tom Stewart (Cairo), Daniel Rich (Rio)
MID: Darcy Parish [C] (Buenos Aires), Marcus Bontempelli [VC] (Pacific), Jack Macrae (Toronto), Jarryd Lyons (Pacific)
RUCK: Nic Naitanui (Mexico)
FWD: Shai Bolton (Mexico), Bailey Dale (Cairo), Aaron Hall (Mexico), Kyle Langford (New York)
UTIL: Cam Guthrie (New York), Sam Walsh (Mexico)

EMG: Mitch Duncan (Cape Town), Sean Darcy (Christchurch), Jack Bowes (Cape Town), Taylor Walker (Pacific)

Cam Guthrie and Mitch Duncan out for Cam Rayner and James Sicily

AAP

DEF: Callum Mills (Cape Town), Rory Laird (Pacific), Tom Stewart (Cairo), Daniel Rich (Rio)
MID: Darcy Parish [C] (Buenos Aires), Marcus Bontempelli [VC] (Pacific), Jack Macrae (Toronto), Jarryd Lyons (Pacific)
RUCK: Nic Naitanui (Mexico)
FWD: Shai Bolton (Mexico), Bailey Dale (Cairo), Aaron Hall (Mexico), Kyle Langford (New York)
UTIL: Sam Walsh (Mexico), Cameron Rayner (Buenos Aires)

EMG: James Sicily (Mexico), Sean Darcy (Christchurch), Jack Bowes (Cape Town), Taylor Walker (Pacific)

GoLions · June 15, 2021, 02:44:02 PM

AAP

DEF: Callum Mills (Cape Town), Rory Laird (Pacific), Tom Stewart (Cairo), Daniel Rich (Rio)
MID: Darcy Parish [C] (Buenos Aires), Marcus Bontempelli [VC] (Pacific), Jack Macrae (Toronto), Jarryd Lyons (Pacific)
RUCK: Nic Naitanui (Mexico)
FWD: Shai Bolton (Mexico), Bailey Dale (Cairo), Aaron Hall (Mexico), Kyle Langford (New York)
UTIL: Sam Walsh (Mexico), Jye Caldwell (Cairo)

EMG: James Sicily (Mexico), Sean Darcy (Christchurch), Cam Guthrie (New York), Taylor Walker (Pacific)

Caldwell in for Rayner, Guthrie in for Bowes

GoLions · June 18, 2021, 10:46:02 PM

Quote from: GoLions on June 15, 2021, 02:44:02 PM
AAP

DEF: Callum Mills (Cape Town), Rory Laird (Pacific), Tom Stewart (Cairo), Daniel Rich (Rio)
MID: Darcy Parish [C] (Buenos Aires), Marcus Bontempelli [VC] (Pacific), Jack Macrae (Toronto), Jarryd Lyons (Pacific)
RUCK: Nic Naitanui (Mexico)
FWD: Shai Bolton (Mexico), Bailey Dale (Cairo), Aaron Hall (Mexico), Kyle Langford (New York)
UTIL: Sam Walsh (Mexico), Jye Caldwell (Cairo)

EMG: James Sicily (Mexico), Sean Darcy (Christchurch), Cam Guthrie (New York), Taylor Walker (Pacific)

Caldwell in for Rayner, Guthrie in for Bowes

Caldwell C over Parish

Purple 77 · June 19, 2021, 07:47:36 AM

No score updates this weekend unfortunately; currently holidaying/travelling.

But eyeballing... seems AAP had a good game. Except for Dale