Q. wrote:I'm just hoping more than three of my mids crack the ton this week
And Goodes, never again will you be in my team.
Well I had Lake spudding it up for weeks so I benched the idiot and brought on Spurr who had been scoring well. What happens, Lake ton Spurr 70 odd bye bye 30 points. Then I repaced Judd with Rockliff who has tonned it once since I brought him in while Gibson racked them up again. Now I have to toss up whether or not I bench Rockliff and bring on Gibson and do I play Lake!
I need to get both calls right there to stay alive especially if I have to play Hampton again this week.
1st Semi Final Darksiders SCE vs. MILLER MOSQUITOES
Earlier in the season this match up was looking like a possible Grand Final so it is a measure of the relative decline of these two teams that they meet up in the Semi Final instead. Darksiders are the most successful team in Hogg Shield history but their quest to become even more successful got off to a rocky start when they were ambushed by CoverKing last week. MILLERS have been down on form in recent weeks but have recovered sufficiently to remain a contender for the Hogg Premier League title and are not without a chance in this match which is also taking place in the Hogg Champions League this week.
The return of Buddy Franklin will strengthen the Darksiders who have been a little down while covering the Hawk star on the bench so I would expect a stronger scoring Darksiders this week and that is not news you want to hear when playing Rueben in a Supercoach final. Strengthened by the return of Buddy and with superior scoring players in the uniques , I’m tipping Darksiders to win this one and go on to the Prelim Final where they will play off against Captain Who?
2nd Semi Final Q Before You vs. The Cat Empire
For the last couple of weeks I’ve been pumping up the Q Man who is a rare breed of coach who actually has trades up his sleeve at this time of year. Unfortunately this is a luxury my Cat Empire simply does not have. The Cat Empire is the form team of the Premier League having won their past eight matches after somehow getting past the Underdogs last week. The problem is that I have had to burn my trades to avoid relegation and that job was achieved. Making the top eight was a happy accident but I was expecting a first round exit so it’s all bonus games from here.
For Q Man it’s a bit different. He passed up trading opportunities to stay in the hunt in cash leagues because he wants to win that elusive Hogg title so on paper he should be able to capitalise on an opponent that fired his best shot weeks ago. This match is almost a test case of should I trade vs. should I hold. With Chapman back but not Porplyzia this means that the Empire is not at full strength. Q Before You look set to trade in a rested Buddy for the injured St Nick so I reckon that Q Before You should win through to the Preliminary Final, much to CoverKing’s relief as he is worried about my mob for some reason.
Goodluck lads! For the first time this year ill have a stress free weekend of watching footy Might actually enjoy a game or two instead of looking at the stats every moment I get.
I'm in real trouble against Q. No one has scored well for me yet and Carazzo has been subbed off. I've also lost Mitchell as a late change. Saturday not good to me once again.
This week's Semi Final results represent a real changing of the guard in the Hogg Premier League. For the first time since the 2007 season my Empire won't be in the Hogg Premier Grand Final after Q cleaned as the inclusion of Beams proved to be decisive in our match. Even though it was my worst season in results I think I acdtually went better this year LOL. In even bigger news MILLERS has come back from the dead to clean up the reigning premier Darksiders who won't be there in two weeks time to defend his title so we are going to have a brand new champion in two weeks.
The Preliminary Finals also double up as Hogg Champions League qualifiers so all four coaches have a lot to play for. Things won't get any easier for MILLERS next week as they have to play against the high flying Captain who must be starting to dream of Premier League premiership glory now that the Darksiders have bowed out. Q Man will be up against Don't Drop Catches with CoverKing hoping to avenge a close loss the last time the sides met. CoverKing of course, lost the Prelim last year and will want to have a crack at Champions League and of course the Hogg Premier granny.
BTW, I forgot to say ACK! Congratulations to the winners and those who will win over the next two weeks.
Q. wrote:Good game REB. Had me worried early in the weekend, but Clarko's shenanigans gave me some breathing space.
And I brought Dangerfield in for Rooey. I went Zorko > Beams the week before.
Side feels settled. Should finally pull the trigger on Lake this week and hope it doesn't burn me.
Both top moves. I didn't have the luxury as I dropped the close ones early and had to burn trades to avoid relegation. Not too shattered as I scored really well but got done by a better team. Need to better with my initial squad next year. Well done and make sure you take out CoverKing!
Hondo wrote:Q you must have had plently of cash ready to roll out for the finals then to be able to afford Beams and Dangerfield?
Late rookie downgrades. Have J.Allen (D/M), Bagguley (M/D) & Staley (R/F) on the bench and they weren't brought in for direct cover. With three trades left I figure I can cover any injuries etc. with trading rather than subbing.
1st Preliminary Final Don’t Drop Catches vs. Q Before You
This one should be quite a match as two experienced Hogg coaches play off for the right to appear in their first ever Hogg Premier League Grand Final. CoverKing’s Catchers fell at this stage of the season last year and hasn’t got a great record against the Q Man and he has been shitting bricks as soon as Q Before You completed his convincing win over my Empire last week. Both coaches have trades up their sleeves but perhaps Q has made more trades leaving CoverKing with a little more to do maybe to complete his side. If both teams make trades this week, CoverKing’s decision to preserve trades could backfire. Q Before You to roll Don’t Drop Catches and advance to the Grand Final.
2nd Preliminary Final Captain Who? vs. MILLER MOSQUITOES
The Captain has been in brilliant form in recent weeks and after enjoying a stress free week off he is now rested and ready to face the dragon slayer, MILLER MOSQUITOES. This is the most important match that either coach has ever had in the Hogg and if the Captain can salute it will be an all safooty.net Hogg Premier Grand Final. Any visits from the General this week will favour the Captain as the Mozzies have had to fight it out the hard way through knockout finals. The Mozzies won’t be a pushover but I think that Groover can win Hogg Premier this season so I’m tipping Captain Who to end MILLERS gallant finals run.
Q. wrote:After reading reports on GAJ having the flu I thought Smurpher was worth a punt.
I did the same in my Piglet final. I took the C off Gaz and put it on Josh Kennedy (Cotchin vice). Even if Gazza plays you can't expect him to rack up a huge score. My opponent (Underdogs) has Gazza as skipper with Watson (73) as vice so hoping to qualify for the Piglet granny on the back of that.
Might actually enjoy a game or two instead of looking at the stats every moment I get.
