It all began on Friday the 13th...

[Praetorian]

I sit down to watch Carlton versus Collingwood, pumped for another weekend of nothing but following my fantasy favourites. I didn't buy into the hype surrounding Carlton, so I figured my Pie Premiums were in for a big one.

I knew something was wrong when Pendlebury finished with just 62 points. No big deal, I figure, a lot of people have him. I can bounce back. My eyes scan further down the list. Cloke, 58 points. Fair enough, I says. Everyone's entitled to an off game. If anything, I underestimated Carlton this year, that's all. I elect to sleep it off, ready to pick up for a strong round the next day.

How wrong I was.

Next up is Richmond and Melbourne. Not rating Melbourne at all, I figure Richmond will run rampant and Martin will surely show the sort of form he's capable of after a tough couple of opening rounds. Not impressed by a mediocre return of 64, my heart sinks further when James 'Magnet' Magner crashes and burns against probably his worst opposition yet and struggles his way to just 48. At this point, I'm still consoling myself with whatever excuse I can invent. Martin will come good. Magner's just a rookie. Everyone has them, I'm not losing any ground here. At least it's all uphill from here, surely?

Wrong again.

The Port and Sydney game proves inconsequential to me, having not started Redden and not currently owning any Swans. It's the Freo versus Brisbane game that puts the wooden stake through my black heart. First Longer comes in to start in the ruck, and to my disbelief performs admirably against one of the toughest ruck match-ups in modern history. Worse still, he banishes my only premium ruck - Matthew Leuenberger - to full forward. After just seven points, the Berger comes off with a suspected achilles. And the bad luck just keeps coming. Fyfe does a shoulder, off for 22. Broughton, who I traded out this week, absolutely kills it in his absence.

Sulking to myself, I long for the Essendon vs. Gold Coast game where surely, one of my shining lights of PODs - David Zaharakis - will ton up. 47 points later, I collapse in a fuming heap, wondering to myself how the hell the Dream Team year could have gone so badly, so quickly.

Realising my overall ranking will surely be up a well known creek without a particular instrument, I decide to concentrate on my league games. I allow myself a small grin seeing the Sainters have killed the Bulldogs. Surely Matthew Boyd, one of my opponent's points of difference against myself, will have therefore had a poor game? Of course not. 39 disposals and 146 points, I can hear the bell beginning to toll.

With an impending sense of doom leering over me, I watch Dylan Shiel mocking me, having been relegated to the bench this week in Magner's favour. I watch Kennedy have his poorest game yet, also keeping Shiel out of my side. I watch Porplyzia get done, I watch Grant Birchall - Broughton's replacement - sitting on the pine in a red vest.

tl;dr?

- Pendlebury: 62
- Cloke: 58
- Martin: 64
- Magner: 48
- Leuenberger: 7 and injured
- Fyfe: 22 and injured
- Broughton traded out, 109
- Zaharakis: 47
- Boyd: 146 against
- Shiel: 74, sitting on the pine
- Kennedy: 58
- Porplyzia: 56
- Birchall: traded in, subbed off, 81

And as I sit here, wondering how the hell everything went so badly, I count the above and realise how many things have gone wrong for me this week.

Unlucky for some.

[Phasir]

gave your a cheer to cheer you up mate, that's some pretty harsh shower right there.. :-\

[Justin Bieber]

It seems your bad luck out did mine ;D lol

What did you end up on?

[owenbond007]

im feeling some of your pain. Scored a 1996, Ablett was the star. Only 5 tons. Kept Broughton :). Chapman screwed me out of league wins, fyfe (who didnt have him), played morris over Bugg, Magner spudded (Again who doesnt have him, Pendle sucked, lake probably gone for 3, Martin why did i pick you.

The only positive I can take out of the round is I still have all 24 trades.

[Mr.Craig]

I had much of the same, plus I should have fielded Clarke over Morris and Big O over Giles (will forgive myself for that one).

The next Friday the 13th is in July, maybe the DT Gods can give us a little bit of luck between then and now? :-\

[Edge]

well, at least you dont have dempsey

[me]

i feel your pain, zaharakis was flowering horrible... hopefully he lifts next week cos he looked fat and disinterested all night

[Football Factory]

Bad luck Praetorian ... on the bright side next week should be much better

I had a pretty bad week ,.. Fyfe, Dempsey, Martin, Pendles, Magner .. i played Morris over Clarke  :o cost myself few points there .. and was playing a mate first round so i decided to play Giles because he was ... leaving H.Mac on the bench and costing myself another 41 points .. oh well not so bad in the end i suppose 2074 .. only lost 1 game from my 5 leagues

[PowerBug]

meh, i liked this week. Everything came together apart from Paul Chapman, who was 6 points shy of making me undefeated through all my leagues this week.

[Football Factory]

meh, i liked this week. Everything came together apart from Paul Chapman, who was 6 points shy of making me undefeated through all my leagues this week.

LOL i expected you to do well this week  ;)

[PowerBug]

meh, i liked this week. Everything came together apart from Paul Chapman, who was 6 points shy of making me undefeated through all my leagues this week.

LOL i expected you to do well this week  ;)

Any particular reason?? I was happy that i had no Fyfe, Birchall, Leuenberger, Dempsey. In hindsight it's bad i didn't have them, but luck has been on my side. Chappy and Martin are concerning though.

[Football Factory]

meh, i liked this week. Everything came together apart from Paul Chapman, who was 6 points shy of making me undefeated through all my leagues this week.

LOL i expected you to do well this week  ;)

Any particular reason?? I was happy that i had no Fyfe, Birchall, Leuenberger, Dempsey. In hindsight it's bad i didn't have them, but luck has been on my side. Chappy and Martin are concerning though.

No i just like stirring you Bug .. not in the best of moods since i have Fyfe and Dempsey  :(  ..  and the "Meh i quite liked this round" was a tad annoying   :P

[PowerBug]

meh, i liked this week. Everything came together apart from Paul Chapman, who was 6 points shy of making me undefeated through all my leagues this week.

LOL i expected you to do well this week  ;)

Any particular reason?? I was happy that i had no Fyfe, Birchall, Leuenberger, Dempsey. In hindsight it's bad i didn't have them, but luck has been on my side. Chappy and Martin are concerning though.

No i just like stirring you Bug .. not in the best of moods since i have Fyfe and Dempsey  :(  ..  and the "Meh i quite liked this round" was a tad annoying   :P

Oh yeah, now i remember why. :P What did you get this week??

[Football Factory]

meh, i liked this week. Everything came together apart from Paul Chapman, who was 6 points shy of making me undefeated through all my leagues this week.

LOL i expected you to do well this week  ;)

Any particular reason?? I was happy that i had no Fyfe, Birchall, Leuenberger, Dempsey. In hindsight it's bad i didn't have them, but luck has been on my side. Chappy and Martin are concerning though.

No i just like stirring you Bug .. not in the best of moods since i have Fyfe and Dempsey  :(  ..  and the "Meh i quite liked this round" was a tad annoying   :P

Oh yeah, now i remember why. :P What did you get this week??

2074  :(   .. was ranked 958th .. not sure what ill be after this week

[Bones Bombers]

Great write up mate! I had a terrible week too :'(
Gave you a cheer!