by Rik E Boy » Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:30 pm
Hogg Premier League Preview 2019
Trying to write an accurate Premier League preview is about as difficult as not pressing the trade button on Dustin Martin this week. Every year I look at the field and think 'this year you're gone REB' and I usually think it's my mate hambone who is going to keep me company in Divvy I next year. For those of you who don't know your Hogg history the first ever Hogg Premier League took place in 2007. Poon and the REBCats are the remaining 'foundation clubs' from that first season. I think the league was ranked 5000 and something so it's not the dog eat dog comp we have today.
I have no idea who is going for the drop because once again it is tempting to select Poony and myself but the facts remain, you blokes haven't managed to knock us out yet and I've been making howlers for ten years. But going down is one thing, winning it is quite another. Poon is the initial premier and the REBCats have dropped four Grannys but we aren't exactly contenders these days.
At the end of last season Has Been and the Honey Badgers put in a truly powerhouse performance towards the end of the season. Two beautifully selected sides that peaked just when it mattered. As a league we need to put these blokes away early or we could all get owned again. I'm always keen to talk up Hondo but August hasn't been a happy month for him, at least not in our league. Buddy Franklin somehow got relegated a few years ago but in just about every other season he has dominated and I expect him to do so once again.
Then we have some of the newer teams who have bullied their way in. Mediocre at best and Inner & TEAM_FISH have been heavy scorers in recent seasons while Chicken Twisties score less but win games. It will be very interesting to see how Mediocre and Twisties go now that they face a step up in class.
In this league you can't afford to have a poor year or down you go and unlike Buddy Franklin, most teams find it hard to bounce back. Richo Richo is out of the blocks in the early weeks but former power sides such as Q Before You and Captain Who have not. Benny Rolfs is a perpetual finalist...can he reproduce that consistency. The Sharks score well but don't get the wins on the board, that is a habit Spiro needs to break to make the finals for the first time. Longwood Lions and Eckys Fevolas can score very heavily one week but can go missing the next. If you can get them on the downswing you might just pocket an invaluable four points.
Last years heavy scoring at the backend of the season by Has Been and Honey Badgers has shaken me and I think Mediocre is anything but and it wouldn't surprise to see these three sides in the Prelims. As for relegation I think this will be a very even comp with the bottom four ranked sides perhaps needing six wins to avoid relegation this year.
ROUND ONE - REBs tips in bold
Longwood Lions v Ben Rolfsurgers
Honey Badgers v Poon Illuminati
REBCats v Captain Who
Delicious v TEAM_FISH
Has Been v Richo Richo
Mediocre at Best v Buddy Franklin - MATCH OF THE ROUND
Ecky's Fevolas v Sharks
Inner Sanctum v Q Before You
Hondo SCC v Chicken Twisties
The match of the round for me is Mediocre vs. Buddy. A massive game for both as they score heavily. That one is nearly an eight point game already. I'm liking Richo to continue his early season scoring to roll Has Been and I reckon Poon might upset the Badgers as well.
regards,
REB