Current Scores
Stoops 1613 (3/0) vs. Dunlop 1574 (3/0)
Trotters 1215 (4/2) vs. topdon 1017 (2/4)
Smoten 1327 (2/0) vs. redbull 1151 (0/3)
Craze 1366 (2/1) vs. Allblack 1138 (2/3)
Predicted
Stoops 1708 vs. Dunlop 1630
Trotters 1464 vs. topdon 1290
Smoten 1387 vs. redbull 1331
Crazy 1498 vs. Allblack 1356
Holy crap!
Cripps and Sinclair barely scored in the last, so no 1700 for Stoops. Still before Rd 20, Stoops hadn’t scored 1600, now he’s scored season PBs in back-to-back weeks.
Can’t remotely be disappointed about the result, got much closer than I thought I would, just ultimately came up against a better side.
Unofficial Final Scores
Stoops 1673 defeated Dunlop 1622
Current Scores - SK/Carl Full Time (adjustments pending) + 1/2 Time Fre/BL
Trotters 1317 (2) vs. topdon 1106 (4)
Smoten 1341 (ufs) vs. redbull 1222 (3)
Craze 1425 (1) vs. Allblack 1234 (3)
Predicted:
Trotters 1417 vs. topdon 1288
Smoten 1341 vs. redbull 1349
Crazy 1476 vs. Allblack 1374
Smoten in trouble with Hayden Young playing midfield and already managing 7 more possessions than Steele produced in another half.
Young only scored 14 that term, but its still on a knife-edge.
Current Scores
Trotters 1341 (2) vs. topdon 1181 (4)
Smoten 1341 (fs) vs. redbull 1293 (3)
Crazy 1443 (1) vs. Allblack 1319 (3)
Predicted:
Trotters 1396 vs. topdon 1281
Smoten 1341 vs. redbull 1354
Crazy 1470 vs. Allblack 1393
15mins left
Smoten by 32
I’ve got it as 11 points to get in the last 9 mins
9mins left
Looks like redbull will progress.
Smoten by 10
Young on the bench.
Smoten still holding by 10.
6mins left
Young on the field again, but playing back
5mins
Redbull still needs 11 to win
2 mins
redbull’s taken the lead by 1pt
Late adjustments could decide this
I have hit the front. Clark drops a mark that could have assured the win
Clark handballs to Young who kicks! Good Bulls teamwork
Clark handballs to Young for a kick.
8pt lead, might be enough to hold late adjustments off.
Nice of Clark to take the last kick in and then for Young to have the last kick of the game.
Unofficial Final Scores
Trotters 1414 defeated topdon 1265
You Shall Be Smoten 1341 lost to redbull 1357
Crazy Bomber 1463 defeated Allblack 1372
Full wrap-up tomorrow. My aunt’s dropped in, so I’m off for the night.
Looks like the boys are off to another Prelim, commiserations @Allblack.
Would love to get Walsh back for the big game, seems like I’ll need him if I have to play Dunlop.
Bad luck @Dunlop, incredibly unlucky to score over 1600 and lose, I suspect it’s one of the highest scores ever to not win and I had to bring my best to get it done, and even then it was getting way too close for comfort. An incredible game of scoring that was probably befitting of a GF rather than QF, especially considering both teams were playing with 17.5 players given early third term subs yesterday, if Fogarty turned up today it would be a different story and I would have rued my selection of Wingard over Fisher which was the head scratcher all through Friday.
Very glad to get through to the prelim, hopefully no injuries or suspension next week with the week off ahead of what will be another tough clash.
Gutted.
Too much left to The Zacs
Congrats Fog… too good! While I’m happy to make my first finals series, its disappointing to go out in a whimper. How very Essington of me! All the best for the remainder of the finals. Go out with bang, mate!
WINDY DILL FC 2023 SEASON REVIEW
It has been a poor season when judged by wins and losses, but the objective of refreshing the list by cutting deep and replenishing with young talent has been achieved. In 2021, we finished top of the ladder at the end of the regular season only to lose a thrilling Preliminary Final to eventual Premier Dunlop. In 2022, aging stars started to succumb to chronic injury and declining form. A decision was made to do a hard reset. Sam Docherty, Jack Steele, Steele Sidebottom, Dustin Martin, Jack Ziebell, Jarryd Lyons, Zach Tuohy, Chad Wingard, Jack Martin and Josh Kennedy (Syd) were moved on for draft picks, young talent or retirement.
2023 saw the team anchored to the bottom of the ladder as fresh faces struggled with the demands of AFL footy. In the first six rounds we averaged 975, however within half a season the kids showed remarkably improvement, averaging 1213 over the last six games.
Draft review
We took Ginbey (WC) with our first pick (pick 4), who has looked a solid player, but history will show that Sheezel was taken with the following selection and will most likely be the better player. At the time bolstering the defence was the priority, and we had no indication that Clarkson would transform Sheezel into the ball magnet defender he has become. Lachie Cowan (Carl) a late first rounder looks a solid pick. He got a good taste of senior footy and is a ball winner. Similarly Harry Rowston (GWS) looked very likely when given senior opportunities, and also racked up big numbers at state league level. Finding three keepers with the first three selections is a win in my books.
The rest of the draft was pretty hit and miss. Peatling (GWS) was a senior fixture for most of the year, though Tom Brown (Rich) and Dowling (Adel) didn’t see any senior action. Conor Stone (GWS) continued his form of being continually injured, McAndrews (Syd) got a taste of senior footy but limited game time, O’Neill (WC) battled away and Prior (Bris) rarely featured. In retrospect Conor Nash (JBaller - pick 122) looks like the biggest miss from the players I overlooked that were on my radar.
Back line
Chapman, Ginbey, Wilmot and Hough form the nucleus of a young back line and have cemented themselves as best 22 for their respective AFL sides. All look like developing into solid scorers. Cowan performed credibly for a first year player and Idun was as reliable as ever. Callum Brown shows potential too. The Gaelic star started slowly, but was averaging mid-60s in the second half of the season. The back line is probably the strongest part of the ground.
Midfield
Gulden and Warner are the centre piece of this young midfield and both look like having stellar careers. Liam Henry surprised after a breakout game against Essendon. After being a sub-60 scorer for most of his career, he has found his spot on the wing and has averaged 88 since. Corey Wagner has also been a revelation since coming into the side in round 18, avergaing 78. Similarly Jack Ross has found his spot in Richmond’s midfield, averaging 80 over the last six rounds. Harry Rowston looks a likely type and I expect we will see plenty of him in 2024. In the ruck Reilly O’Brien is one of the better ruckmen in the league when it comes to finding the ball and racking up fantasy points.
Forward line
The forward line is probably the weakest part of the ground. Gulden and Liam Henry were both eligible as forwards this year, but in likelihood won’t retain dual position status long term. Oliver Henry is one of the better young lead up forwards in the game, but is an inconsistent scorer. Tarryn Thomas performed much better than expected after his mid-season return.
The future
With a strong draft hand, we will be looking find another 3-4 talented young players that look like long-term prospects. Doing this would establish a core group of 15-18 young players that would make up the bulk of a keepers squad each year. After this, a shift in strategy will see more mature players added to the squad.
Pick one is certainly on the table, but passing up on Harley Reid will take a special offer. That said, if I can fast track this squad, with multiple high draft picks, elite young talent or a combination of both, I certainly jump at the chance.
This group was able to improve it’s scoring considerably over the course of the season as players adjusted to the pace of AFL footy, and in the last two months of the season was performing to the standard of a mid-table side. An average of 1270 is enough to make the eight, and that looks within reach with internal improvement from existing squad members, and talent brought in through the next draft and trade period.