by Rik E Boy » Wed Mar 29, 2023 9:55 pm
Hogg Premier League Preview 2023
Current points Round 2
1 Ecky's Fevolas 4468
2 Delicious 4352
3 Inner Sanctum 4351
4 Roosters 4256
5 DAISYSDUDS 4212
6 Chops Clots 4199
7 Richo Richo Man 4193
8 Mediocre at Best 4145
9 Poon Army 4063
10 Captain Who? 4039
11 JOBBY the GOAT 4027
12 Hondo Crows SCC 4013
13 Summer of George 4009
14 TEAM_FISH 4006
15 Wild HORNE Berry 4001
16 Sharks 3995
17 The Far Callers 3946
18 REBCats 3839
Preview
This season's new Hogg Premier arrivals look set to once again strengthen the league as one of the Hogg's top scorers, JOBBY the GOAT has won the division and Poon Army became the first team to win their spot back into the premier league a season after being relegated. While wycbloods had a fine year (but still went down last year), Q Before You had a horrid season and both newcomers should cover Q's efforts from last year.
Of course this season we have Mediocre at Best attempting to win his third straight Hogg Premier title. He has knocked off Delicious in the past two Grand Finals and the history of this league would suggest that he has already breached the performance ceiling and that a repeat of past glories is unlikely. Both Delicious and Mediocre would have been at long odds to make the granny after about seven rounds so one thing we can say about them is that you shouldn't write them off. They will be competitive once again but I think this year's premier might come from one of the newer teams in the Premier League. I think JOBBY will go pretty close as he has been consistently scoring well for years. The Far Callers are another side who have been doing this but had something of a downer last year. The Callers have very high standards though as they win flags for fun so I'm expecting Ron Burgundy's boys to be right in there at the business end of the season.
Of some of the more established Premier League coaches I'm really like TEAM_FISH's chances, along with Ecky's Fevolas who already lead the scoring. Both of these teams have seen a bit of finals action, or in FISH's case, a lot of finals action. I would rate FISH as the best team not to have saluted on form over the past five years. It could very well be year of the FISH in Premier League this year. Another team who is difficult to discount is the Roosters although their form is not as consistent as some of the sides named above. I expect the Roosters to be active in August but they will face stiff competition in the form of InnerSanctum and Summer of George in particular. DAISYSDUDS command respect and he would be disappointed in his debut Premier season and I expect a return to form and possible finals action for him.
The next group of teams will threaten at times but I believe they might be watching on come August. Quite often it is the veteran teams who tend to end up in the relegation bunfight and I can see teams such as Hondo Crows SCC, Richo Richo Man and Captain Who struggling a bit, at least in comparison to past years. One of these teams could even be a surprise relegation chance. The newly promoted Poon Army has finished as high as second and as low as second last in recent Premier seasons so I'm tipping this year he splits the difference and finishes just outside, being a chance late though.
The last group are teams who might struggle. Chops Clots have started out well on the scoring but as a side yet to taste finals action, it's not good news that the standard has gone up again. Dave will be happy to be scoring points though as that has been an issue in the past. Wild HORNE Berry might consider themselves hard done by to be included in this group as Bertie has shown his best is good enough to go deep but will he replicate his best or will the ice baths prove too tough (yeah that didn't take long did it?).
This brings me to the two sides I believe will struggle to survive the drop. The Sharks always seem to be in this conversation but they often start the season well and even though they tail off the early season wins usually give Spiro the buffer to survive. He will need to win early again I feel. Then there is my mob. I reckon this is the last year I'll be covering Premier League as it might be time up for me. I'm the closest thing to a bye in this competition and I find it hard to get my head around the fact that I won nine straight as recently as 2021. This year will be a bit more like last year and already my side is a mess. I reckon I spoon up and make a good Division I commentator next season.
REB Sez
1. FISH
2. JOBBY
3. CALLERS
4. ECKY
5. DELICIOUS
6. ROOSTERS
7. DAISY
8. GEORGE
9. MEDIOCRE
10. SANCTUM
11. POON
12. RICHO
13. HORNEBERRY
14. HONDO
15. CLOTS
16. CAPTAIN
17. SHARKS
18. REB
Good luck to all coaches and HERE WE GO.
regards,
REB