The first game for Round 23 in the AFL commences with a bouncedown at Adelaide Oval at 7.40pm. This means your teams must be submitted to this thread by 6.00pm (WA time) this Friday.
Moptop v PurpleKit
The Fresh Breaths v Booker's Chookers
Who will lift the 2016 DuFFLe Glenmorangie Lasanta Perpetual Trophy?
Moptop has the runs on the board and has a very stable team. Since Round 8 and excluding the Bye Rounds, the Chookers have generally made just one or two tweaks to their team each week. Obviously, a great run in availability of their key players has enabled this success - Gawn, Riewoldt, Neale, Sidebottom, Hogan. PurpleKit has not had that luxury and has had to attempt to win games without a ruckmen; but, win they did and the Breathers now find themselves in the DuFFLe Grand Final.
Generally, the Chookers have the edge in the ruck with Gawn being a few points better each week and matching that with a dominant Lachie Neale they have a decided advantage. Not in their forwards, though. PK's Breathers have regularly outscored the Chookers' forwards. There's a slight edge to Moptop in the backline, but it is generally just one or two points.
Here's the key - Lachie Neale. If the Fremantle star has a quiet game and PK's backmen and ruck hold their own, we will see the Breathers lift the trophy come Sunday night. If Lachie runs free, PK can wave bye-bye to any chance of victory.
In the Stones Green Ginger Wine Richmond Cup, the Captain hosts Slammen's Men at the Dad Joke Graveyard. Let's be clear here; the Jolly Jokers are in form. Hot, hot form. If they were in the top eight at the end of the HomeNaway, they'd be on short odds to lift the premiership trophy. Slammo, however, has had a poor year. Injury has again afflicted the team and he'll struggle to match the Jokers this week.
I can't see Slammo stopping the Captain from claiming the 2016 Richmond Cup.
Best of luck to all our finalists.
Please keep an eye on the "Thinking" thread over the next few weeks as I try to lock down the changes for 2017.