WXV Round 16 - Can the Royals handle the heat?

[ossie85]

Round 16
(AFL Round 18 )

London Royals       v       Cape Town Cobras       Wembley
Seoul Magpies       v       Berlin Brewers       Seoul World Cup Stadium
New Delhi Tigers       v       Moscow Spetsnaz       Nepal
Cairo Sands       v       Toronto Wolves       Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt
Beijing Thunder v       Wellington Warriors       Beijing Olympic Park
Tokyo Samurai       v       Buenos Aires Armadillos       National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo
Dublin Destroyers       v       Sao Paulo Pumas       Crooke Park
Paris Nice Lyon Reindeers       v       Pacific Islanders       State de France
New York Revolution       v       Mexico City Suns       MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA

London v Cape Town

The London Royals - despite sitting in 8th position and a game clear - can not afford to lose with three teams breathing down it's neck. A tough run home against Cape Town (7th) and Cairo (5th) and it will be a tough ask for them not to drop one. Can the unsung midfield trio of McVeigh, Hannebery and Stanton get them through? Meanwhile Cape Town had a return to form, with its highest score of the year despite being without Jobe Watson, Dale Thomas and Zac Smith, and suddenly they look a threat again. An upset victory over Moscow has eased Cape Town's pressure, and a win against the Pacific in the final round should secure a finals spot - a home elimination final is on the cards though.

London Run Home: Cape Town (H), Cairo (A)
Cape Town Run Home: London (A), Pacific (H)

Seoul v Berlin

It would take a miracle for Seoul to make the finals from here with many results having to fall there way - they will be kicking themselves after letting an understrength Buenos Aires get away with a victory, as the Dangerfield-less Magpies let there season slip away. The match against Berlin is 50-50 at best, while they should win against New Delhi in the last round. Berlin's victory over Toronto was just the major scalp it needed - as a loss would have effectively ended its season! Berlin need to win both matches against Seoul and Beijing, and hope London lose 1 match, for them to make the finals.

Seoul Run Home: Berlin (A), New Delhi (H)
Berlin Run Home: Seoul (A), Beijing (A)

New Delhi v Moscow

New Delhi has a few highlights this year in Ibbotson and Montagna, and have managed 3 wins, but it is hard seeing them winning against Moscow, with Seoul its best chance for an upset victory. Moscow - after winning 9 matches on the trot - have now lose 2 in a row and an upset loss to either Tokyo or New Delhi would likely see them drop out of the four! But they are still a chance of securing a home qualifying final if results go there way.

New Delhi Run Home: Moscow (H), Seoul (H)
Moscow Run Home: New Delhi (A), Tokyo (H)

Cairo v Toronto

A high stakes match! With both sides having tricky matches in the last round of the year, this match will shape the finals. The winner goes a long way to securing a home elimination final and possibly a top 4 spot, while the loser looks set to travel in the first week of the finals. Cairo has been hit with injury in its backline, while Toronto will be very worried after a poor performance against Berlin last week.

Cairo Run Home: Toronto (H), London (H)
Toronto Run Home: Cairo (A), Dublin (A)

Beijing v Wellington

Can you believe that Wellington and Beijing both played in elimination finals last year? Now the loser in this week's encounter will likely take away the spoon. Thunder's Kreuzer and Warrior Murphy the keys, and I'll back Beijing for the upset. I don't believe either are a chance of winning in the last round against Berlin or PNL.

Beijing Run Home: Wellington (H), Berlin (H)
Welling Run Home: Beijing (A), PNL (H)

Tokyo v Buenos Aires

Two injury and suspension hit teams (both could not field a full team last week) take on each other - but both have vastly different results. Buenos Aires have averaged a dismal 125 over the last 4 weeks but have won 3 games and are still a shot at hosting a qualifying final, while Tokyo have averaged 123 over the same period for 0 wins. Buenos Aires should win this, while Tokyo start thinking about rebuilding.

Tokyo Run Home: Buenos Aires (H), Moscow (H)
Buenos Aires Run Home: Tokyo (A), New York (A)

Dublin v Sao Paulo

Hard to believe the form side of the competition will likely not make the finals. For Dublin, they need several things to happen - London needs to lose 1 or both remaining matches, and they have to make percentage up on London, Berlin and New York. AND they play Sao Paulo (2nd) and Toronto (6th) in the last two rounds. A poor start coming back to haunt them. The Pumas see this as a danger game, and with Buenos Aires right behind them and the minor premiership still a possibility, they can't afford to lose this difficult match.

Dublin Run Home: Sao Paulo (H), Toronto (H)
Sao Paul Run Home: Dublin (A), Mexico City (A)

PNL v Pacific

Surely PNL can't lose this match? "Honourable losses" have haunted the Reindeers this year, but will have legitimate complaints against lady luck if they lose to either the Pacific or Wellington in the last two rounds. Having said that, this remains the Pacific's best chance of victory - and they aren't out of the spoon race just year.

PNL Run Home: Pacific (H), Wellington (H)
Pacific Run Home: PNL (A), Cape Town (H)

New York v Mexico City

New York face off against Mexico City (1st) and Buenos Aires (3rd) in the final two rounds of the season - and although they'd fancy themselves against Buenos Aires in its current form - the results will depend a lot on which New York shows up - the team that has scored 140+ four times? Or the team that that has scored under 130 five times? Mexico City can secure its first minor premiership with a victory here, and would definitely like to do so, as the Pumas are a far more tricky prospect next round.

New York Run Home: Mexico City (H), Buenos Aires (H)
Mexico City Run Home: New York (A), Sao Paulo (H)

[Maca24]

Mexico City Suns:

Def: B.Goddard, C.Enright (VC), J.Adcock, B.Lake.
Mids: S.Sidebottom (C), B.Ebert, L.Hodge, B.Vince.
Rucks: I.Maric.
Frwds: N.Riewoldt, J.Lewis, D.Merrett, D.Addison.
Bench: A.Sandilands, S.Thompson.
Emg: B.Moloney, M.Baguley, A.Davey.

Thompson is on notice. Bartel is out suspended.
Waite and Goodes may not return for finals, while Hurn is all but ruled out.

[ossie85]

Just noting the round hasn't finished yet :P

[Nige]

Just noting the round hasn't finished yet :P

Beat me to it, Os!

[Maca24]

Just noting the round hasn't finished yet :P

I know, I still wanted to get it in anyway  ;D

[Purple 77]

Points!

[Nige]

Gonna have to nut out the team this week, selecting it for the big game against Toronto is gonna be tough. A fair few players pushing for selection, the choices we make could make or break our chances of taking the Wolves down.

[My Chumps]

Thought I'd get in early after forgetting last week.

D: G Broughton, J Gwilt, L Spurr, J Pittard
M: T Cotchin, JP Kennedy, R O'Keefe, A Cooney
R: J Hall
F: C Sylvia, C Bird, J Cameron, J Garlett
I: E Curnow, S Dwyer
E: N Haynes, T Chaplin, C O'Shea

In: S Dwyer, J.Gwilt, E.Curnow
Out: B Smedts, T Chaplin, T Hawkins

Cop it Hawkins. Perform in the reserves would you!

[Toga]

Big game vs the Warriors this week! Pretty much gonna decide who gets the spoon! :o

[AFEV]

I feel as though we will beat the Suns this week.

[roo boys!]

Gonna have to nut out the team this week, selecting it for the big game against Toronto is gonna be tough. A fair few players pushing for selection, the choices we make could make or break our chances of taking the Wolves down.

Yeah, will be a big game. As usual, the Toronto team will wait until Thursday night, big big night at selection for me after a horror round last week with Robbo, Nicholson, Greenwood and Edwards dropped, none of which I agreed with. Robbo with 31 disposals, 25 contested and 12 clearances in the VFL should return to bolster my forward line. Bit of a weird one there, a late withdrawal with a "shoulder" and was named as 1st emergency for the Blues the next week, hopefully just wanted to get some VFL fitness/form into him before returning.

McGrath and Hall woeful, expect both to be dropped this week whether Robbo and Edwards return or not. 


PS Where is Cam Pedersen?  >:(

[Purple 77]

PS Where is Cam Pedersen?  >:(

Failing at Casey :(

[roo boys!]

PS Where is Cam Pedersen?  >:(

Failing at Casey :(

Bugger....good for North I guess but he was a bloody good pickup when he was an 85 ave defender in his first year...

Nicholson?

[Jukes]

if we lose this...

Moscow Spetsnaz
D: H. Shaw (vc), C. Dixon, R. Murphy, J. Frawley
M: R. Griffen (c), N. Fyfe, A. Treloar, C. Ward
R: S. Tuck (OOP)
F: D. Martin, A. Monfries, M. Walters, L. Adams
U: J. Thomas, J. Darling

Emg: T. Vickery, S. May, W. Hoskin-Elliott

[Purple 77]

PS Where is Cam Pedersen?  >:(

Failing at Casey :(

Bugger....good for North I guess but he was a bloody good pickup when he was an 85 ave defender in his first year...

Nicholson?

Usually in Casey's best, but never seems to do enough for the seniors (if you can call them that ::)) anymore. Shame, he has some talent, hopefully he doesn't waste it and that it was just a blue year for him.