by Rik E Boy » Tue Mar 21, 2017 11:44 am
Hogg Premier League Preview 2017
The pre-season is finally over and on Thursday night the real stuff finally begins. This season is the eleventh season of the Premier League and the standard gets tougher every season. In the past couple of years we’ve had a team on holiday which has held our ranking back a little so hopefully this season we all crack in and get a decent ranking for the league.
Here’s my view on this year’s field.
Hondo SCC
Hondo dominated last year but the wheels fell off in the finals. History shows that it can be difficult to back up a very strong year so I’m expecting a slight stumble down the ranks for Hondo as he attempts to prime himself for August. I think it was more bad luck than bad management last year but a more prudent Hondo could see himself launching his premiership assault this year from outside the top four. 2-8.
Buddy Franklin
Buddy has been an awesome coach…except for the 2015 season which somehow saw the Buds relegated to Divvy I. Normally what goes down will not come back up but Buddy has bounced back and has now become the first team to qualify for the Premier League twice. I believe that 2015 was an aberration and that Buddy Franklin will be a real force this year. 1-4.
Ben Rolfsbergers
The Rolfs were so keen this year that they entered Premier League and Elite twice. Unfortunately for Josh, half his teams were culled ha ha. The Rolfs are a very consistent side and I’d expect them to make the top eight this season but it’s almost impossible to predict where. 1-8.
Underdogs
The Dogs had a fine season last year but come up short when it mattered just like everyone else except for Richo. Just like last year I’m writing the Underdogs off, this time on the basis of a poor pre-season which saw the Dogs a very late entrant into the league. I’m not sure Gibbo has done the hard yards in the research department and she could very well be playing catch up this year. 6-12.
Hips Don’t Lie
The Hippys will make their Premier League debut after being in the Hogg for many years so that’s two of CoverKing’s mates in the Premier League now so expect plenty of ‘Westies’ derbies throughout the season. Hips have moved up through the ranks a little slower than Les’s Men and their scores have been quite similar throughout their career. Last year Hippys surpassed Les but perhaps both will be mid table this season 8-12
Les’s Men
Side by side again in the points scoring Les’ is right by his old mate Hippy. Les scored ok last season but didn’t get his usual tally of wins. In what will be a really tough season of premier league I think Les will be one of many sides battling out for the lower reaches of the eight. 7-12.
Poon Army
Anyone who lost to the REBCats last season can’t be considered a genuine contender even though the Poon missed out by a bees dick on making the eight last season (0.01%!). While this was most amusing what will be more amusing is Hammo being confused by a glut of Essendon duds that he can possibly put in his side. I expect a drug test at the Poon Army as they battle it out with my idiots in the relegation zone in July. 12-17.
Delicious
Valleys went down a bit last season as for perhaps the first time in their history delicious was not so tasty. If one player has a lone decent season and another has a blip on the radar, then the smart money should be on the blip to be corrected. I think Delicious will hit back and challenge for the top four this year. 2-8.
Has Been
The Beaners left their run late last year…a little too late. They were one of the sides who must have been wondering how Richo Richo Man went by them. This year I expect a more consistent showing and that the Beaners will be back in town. 5-10.
Pool Swimmers
Despite some good scores on occasion, Tommy’s boys don’t seem to score consistently enough to rank up there with the big boys in this league. I can see a few upsets on the horizon but when August comes around I expect the Pool Swimmers to not be on deck. 9-16.
Longwood Lions
Alaska has been a worthy addition to Premier League ranks but the Lions appear to be another side who are struggling to keep up with the Joneses as the standard goes up. The Lions are never easy beats but they might find it harder to get wins this season. 10-15.
Captain Who?
The Captain, along with great rival Q Man took a bit of a tumble in the pecking order last season the same way the REBCats did a few seasons earlier. This league is getting brutal but at least the Captain has been good enough to secure a premiership. It might prove to be more difficult to win another. Groover always picks strong teams but last year a few funky players started to bob up. Watch this space 9-16.
Richo Richo Man
It was an unbelievable finals series for Richo as they did a Bulldogs’ like run to win their first Hogg Premier League Premiership. It was a miracle that they even made the finals at all so it was perhaps the best Hogg Premier League premiership ever. No way he does that shit again. 9-16.
Eckys Fevolas
Ecky is another very good team trying to get traction in an increasingly tough league. I reckon this year Ecky could sneak into the eight. Just a hunch. It’s what managers do to win ball games Simpson. Ecky is no dud but he’s my pick to do a bit of a Richo next season. 6-13.
Q Before You
Q does my head in. Makes all sorts of shocking moves but he beats me every time. This year you are mine! And once you lose to the REBCats its season over for you Q Man! I reckon we will be pretty close next season. 11-17.
REBCats
My controversial trade burning strategy sucks bad so I’ve been to the Doctor to see if there is a cure. Unfortunately there isn’t so if I’m 1-4 like I normally am then it will be a third straight relegation fight for my Catters. One day I’ll learn…in Division III. 11-17.
Honey Badgers
The Honey Badgers were more like the Honey Wombats this year as they were nowhere to be found as they burrowed in. The Badgers are too good a team to be outscored by the mangy Cats so I’m expecting a bit of a bounce for them this year. 8-17.
SHARKS
Thank god for the SHARKS. Spiro isn’t a dud but I think his team has, if you’ll pardon the expression, jumped the shark. His scoring went south last year and it is a miracle he is still in this company. I’m tipping the Sharkies for the spoon so he’s one you won’t want to be losing to this season. 15-18.
REB sez..
Granny – Buddy Franklin d. Delicious
Relegated – Poon Army, SHARKS
Good luck to all teams.
regards,
REB