WXV: The Cape Town Cobras

[My Chumps]

GOOD news for Cape Town (see, not all bad!)

With Ben Reid set to return... forward or back is the question!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-23/reid-to-play-but-where

Excellent! Need the added depth on both lines. Hopefully he can comeback and average near his 80 last year.

Where's Karmichael at MC?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-24/hunt-on-the-way-out

It's been some pretty tough times for Karmichael adjusting to the South African climate and culture over the last few years. We're hopeful that he'll stay, but it's about what's best for the player in this instance :)

[ossie85]

Goodbye to Cape Town's Nathan Bock!

He played 4 games (average of 61.75) for New Delhi and 1 game for Cape Town (average of 2.00)

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-29/veteran-sun-bock-retires

[Purple 77]

If my memory serves me, was Bock's only game in an elimination final against me last year?

[ossie85]

If my memory serves me, was Bock's only game in an elimination final against me last year?

It seems so!

[elephants]

Onya Bocky, great servant of the two clubs I worked with (funnily enough I don't think he ever played a game for the club when I was there #conspiracy

[AFEV]

You'd think he'll make the Cape Town HoF with that monumental average of 2. :P
An unfortunate failure for GC, I'll bet in hindsight Adelaide are happy they weren't the ones paying him.

[My Chumps]

You'd think he'll make the Cape Town HoF with that monumental average of 2. :P
An unfortunate failure for GC, I'll bet in hindsight Adelaide are happy they weren't the ones paying him.

An unfortunate failure for GC and more importantly the Cobras :P

I gave up a pretty high draft pick for him + Spurr IIRC.

Farewell Bocky

[ossie85]

Tension at the Cobra camp with Ryan O'Keefe considering his future

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-30/okeefe-open-to-offers


While the Cobra ruck will be tested (again) with Smith injured (again) for the rest of the year

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-30/smith-done-for-season

[My Chumps]

Tension at the Cobra camp with Ryan O'Keefe considering his future

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-30/okeefe-open-to-offers


While the Cobra ruck will be tested (again) with Smith injured (again) for the rest of the year

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-30/smith-done-for-season

Good news and terrible news here.

If O'Keefe leaves hopefully he'll get a few more chances at his new club and will be back playing for the Cobras. Smith injured is a serious qualm though. Fortunately Stef Martin's stepped up!

[My Chumps]

Trade Wrap

It's been a pretty hectic start to the 2014/15 trade period here at the Cape Town Cobras. Thanks to some terrific initiative by the coaches, the teams moved from strength to strength with some big additions.

Trade 14
New York give: Mark Blicavs and Darcy Lang
Cape Town give: Nathan Vardy and Jamie Bennell

Our first successful trade saw promising youngsters Mark Blicavs and Darcy Lang come to the Cobras. Blicavs is set to provide some much needed ruck depth that Vardy couldn't through his terrible run with injuries. We're also hopeful that, given his athletic prowess, he can become a quality rucking option with a few more years experience. Lang looks to be quite the talent too, after being taken at pick 25 in last years international draft.

Trade 35
Mexico City give: Pick 61
Cape Town give: Ryan O'Keefe

Our second trade saw a club stalwart leave in hopes of finding opportunity elsewhere. O'Keefe has been a terrific player over the years, and was instrumental in the inaugural season which saw us finish runners up. Farewell, Rhyno.

Trade 37
Cape Town gives: Zac Smith + Ben Reid + Nat 16
Tokyo give: Scott Selwood + Nat 9 + Nat 41.

In our latest and clearly most dramatic trade so far, gun midfielder Scott Selwood joins the likes of Kennedy, Cotchin and Tyson in creating one of the best midfields in the competition, reminiscent of the golden year in 2012. We're also excited about the acquisition of pick 9 which should net us a future star of the comp.

Zac Smith leaving is however hard to swallow. Taken by us in the original draft, he's unfortunately never quite lived up to expectations, his career thus far marred by injury. Ultimately, we're not sure if he's ever going to overcome these injury concerns, and we thought it best to move on. Farewell, Smithy!

Summary
IN:
Scott Selwood
Mark Blicavs
Darcy Lang
#9, #41 and #61.

OUT:
Zac Smith
Ben Reid
Nathan Vardy
Jamie Bennell
Ryan O'Keefe
#16

What do you think about our start to the period? Are Cape Town headed in the right direction?

[Memphistopheles]

IN:
Scott Selwood
Mark Blicavs
Darcy Lang
#9, #41 and #61.

OUT:
Zac Smith
Ben Reid
Nathan Vardy
Jamie Bennell
Ryan O'Keefe
#16

What do you think about our start to the period? Are Cape Town headed in the right direction?

I'm biased but I think we are. The first trade I rate as a big win due to Blicavs' and Lang's potential for improvement. Both have 4-5 seasons of improvement in them at least and Blicavs showed some very good signs towards the end of the season.

I also don't think O'Keefe gets picked up, or if he does it will only be for one season, so we're better off with a younger player/pick.

And in the last trade we get another premium midfielder in Scooter without having to give up any of our Best XV starters which is a huge boost for our team. Also we upgrade our Pick 16 to Pick 9 and get another pick to improve our depth with.

Definitely good signs. Can't wait for the JPK, Cotchin, S Selwood and Tyson midfield to fire.

[Nige]

What's the best XV look like now mate?

[My Chumps]

What's the best XV look like now mate?

Something like;

DEF:     Andrejs Everitt - Nick Haynes  -  Shaun Higgins  - Cam Guthrie
MID:     Josh Kennedy  - Trent Cotchin -  Scott Selwood  - Dom Tyson
RUCK:    Stef Martin
FWD:     Tom Hawkins -  Jack Darling  - Jeremy Cameron - Craig Bird
BENCH:   Ed Curnow   -  Adam Cooney


Definitely need to find another forward or two if Bird loses DPP, but other than that, I think it looks pretty tidy, especially if Stef can keep up his form.

[Nige]

I reckon Bird will lose DPP, but I think Daisy should have it - which is why I was surprised to see him leave/leaving.

I think Guthrie might become a mid too, so it looks like you guys may need a defender as well.

Not sure why I'm helping the enemy though.  :P  :o #goodguynigel

[Memphistopheles]

I agree with Nigey.

I reckon our best XV is probably more like this now:

Something like;

DEF:     Andrejs Everitt - Nick Haynes  -  Shaun Higgins  - Jasper Pittard
MID:     Josh Kennedy  - Trent Cotchin -  Scott Selwood  - Dom Tyson
RUCK:    Stef Martin
FWD:     Tom Hawkins -  Jack Darling  - Jeremy Cameron - Lachie Hunter
BENCH:   Ed Curnow   -  Craig Bird

E: Gwilt (Def), Cooney (Mid), Blicavs (Ruck), S Reid (Fwd)

Assuming Gwilt finds another club (linked with the Demons).