Round 23 of the AFL and the last round for the 2018 DuFFLe season commences at Adelaide Oval this Friday at 7.20pm. This means your team needs to have your team submitted to this thread by 5.40pm WA time. Good luck to Nelson, Blocker, MattyT and Joe.
The 2018 Gelnmorangie DuFFLe Grand Final
- Nelson (Dreamers) v Blockerhall (Willsie Aeroplane) at Trafalgar Square
Nelson and Blocker have two well-matched teams. Let’s look at them from a positional point of view. Firstly their ruckman. Nelson has Callum Sinclair and Blocker has Sam Jacobs. Both players score 20-21 points each week so I see no major advantage here to either team.
In the backline, however, WillsieAir have a decided advantage with Howe, Henderson and Carlisle scoring more heavily than the best backs for the Dreamers - Witherden, Smith and Swallow. Advantage Blocker.
It is in the midfield where Nelson’s Dreamers can take the premiership. Matt Crouch. Add in Phillips and Cripps and the Dreamers have a midfield to be feared. Blocker has a solid midfield - Cunnington, Lyons and Zaharakis. Big advantage Nelson.
Now to the forwards. Ben Brown has delivered goals regularly and Blocker will need Hipwood to help WillsieAir score heavily. Nelson’s forwards are his weakest line and with probably Curnow and Stringer being the nominated goal scorers, the Dreamers need these boys to get something on the board if the Dreamers are to lift the Premiership trophy.
KOD: I think Nelson. Just. In a low-scoring match.
Turning our attention to the Stones Green Ginger Wine Richmond Cup, El Primero lie in wait for Joe’s Nobodies.
- MattyT (El Primero) v Joe Nobody (Notreally Nobodies) at Estadio Busselona
These two should produce a high-scoring final. Joe has the edge in the ruck with Stefan Martin dominating the returning Ben McEvoy. But El Primero’s backline is stronger than the Nobodies. MattyT has Jonas and Hurley whereas the Nobodies can cobble together points from Haynes to support McGovern.
MattyT’s midfield are also better. Both El Primero and the Nobodies have two eminent midfielders: Gaff and Lloyd for MattyT and Ward and Duncan for Joe. But the third midfielder will pick up only 20-21 points and each team has a variety of players who could fill that role. Advantage to El Primero.
In the forward line, MattyT has Jess Hogan and Robbie Grey whereas Joe can put up Josh Caddy and Jordan de Goey to score for the Nobodies. No real advantage here.
KOD: El Primero in a close one.