Hogg Champions League 2012

[LMA]

Crab Mustard FC showed tremendous courage, had their backs up against the wall, but the lads rallied with only 19 players and score a hard fought victory and scrape into the inaugural Champions League finals at the expense of either The Cat Empire or the ManBearPigs.

[Alaska]

Crab Mustard FC showed tremendous courage, had their backs up against the wall, but the lads rallied with only 19 players and score a hard fought victory and scrape into the inaugural Champions League finals at the expense of either The Cat Empire or the ManBearPigs.

It doesn't look good for the Cat Empire looks like a Lions v Crab - Elimination final next week!

[Rik E Boy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. ACK!! Crabby has got me in the last week to snaffle eighth spot in the Hogg Champions League after I had high hopes of qualifiying for the finals in this kick arse league. It was not to be in the end as my team spudded it up this week and I was no match for Alaska's Longwood Lions. Meanwhile Crabby got the job done against MILLERS and the eight has been decided.

Any one of the top eight sides could go on and take out this competition such is the standard of this league. In fact Halem Hawks are very stiff indeed to cop a wooden spoon after scoring nearly 2500 points to defeat the leading team in Division I this season! There just wasn't an easy match to be had up here and scores of under 2000 were a rarity.

I picked Buddy Franklin to win this league at the start of the year and he has finished on top of the ladder so that's pretty nice going to survive the REB mozz in the toughest league in the Hogg. No need to change my tip now I'm thinking but you can never discount the Darkside! Please don't let him win HCL and HPL!

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Hogg Champions League Finals Previews

Elimination Finals
Longwood Lions v Crab Mustard FC
MILLERS MOSQUITOES v Marion ManBearPigs

Qualifying Finals
Buddy Franklin v Has Been
Darksiders SCE v Les’s Men

In the first ever finals series for Hogg Champions League the most interesting matchup is the match between Minor Premier Buddy Franklin and Division I Minor Premier Has Been. Both teams are elite units and this match will be an absolute cracker. I reckon Buddy can get the job done this week but Has Been is no pushover. A real grudge match! Darksiders are always awesome and they get even more so at this time of year and I expect them to defeat Les’s Men in the other Quallie. Seeing as the Darkside has won everything in recent seasons I’m hoping Les can get up.

In the knockout matches I’m not real happy with Crabby taking my top eight spot so out of sheer spite I’m hoping that Alaska’s Longwood Lions get up but this match could go either way just like every other match in this league. Lions, just. In the other final an out of form MOSQUITOES faces up to Marion ManBearPigs who seem to grow another tusk at this time of year. They have a finals record akin to the Darkside and MILLERS isn’t in good enough form to stop his run.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Recent intelligence suggests (states flatly more like) that Buddy Franklin has opened a bakery this week so I now officially change my tip and predict a Has Been victory. Late Mail always good!

regards,

REB

[Alaska]

Recent intelligence suggests (states flatly more like) that Buddy Franklin has opened a bakery this week so I now officially change my tip and predict a Has Been victory. Late Mail always good!

regards,

REB

I think your intelligence is only scant and you would based on that invade Iraq, I believe on what I have read One Club Player has gone into partnership with Buddy and a number of other Hoggsters in the Bakery business! However, having said that, I always thought Has Been would get up.

[Rik E Boy]

Recent intelligence suggests (states flatly more like) that Buddy Franklin has opened a bakery this week so I now officially change my tip and predict a Has Been victory. Late Mail always good!

regards,

REB

I think your intelligence is only scant and you would based on that invade Iraq, I believe on what I have read One Club Player has gone into partnership with Buddy and a number of other Hoggsters in the Bakery business! However, having said that, I always thought Has Been would get up.

Witnessing Many Donuts!

regards,

REB

[Alaska]

Crab I am desperate to take advantage of no Stanton, Ryder or Franklin from your line up............... I hope I have also added to your pain? (or maybee given you an inn?)

[LMA]

Crab I am desperate to take advantage of no Stanton, Ryder or Franklin from your line up............... I hope I have also added to your pain? (or maybee given you an inn?)

You forgot Hawkins

[Alaska]

Crab I am desperate to take advantage of no Stanton, Ryder or Franklin from your line up............... I hope I have also added to your pain? (or maybee given you an inn?)

You forgot Hawkins

Yes I just noticed! Go Lions

[Rik E Boy]

Has Been has earnt the week off the Champions league finals after winning what was a surprisingly low scoring final at this level. Buddy hasn't had a good weekend as he will now have to play in a Semi next week in the HCL and he's missed out on promotion to the Premier League as well as he was knocked out in the Divvy I finals. Another top side to struggle this week was Darksiders whose quest for the 'triple' (HCL, Premier League, top of the rankings) got off to a bad start when he lost both Qualifying Finals. In Champions League it was Les's Men that conquered the Darkside which hasn't had such a poor result since Return of the Jedi. Still, you must not underestimate the power of the Darkside and Rueben remains alive in both major leagues of the Hogg.

This cannot be said however for Crab Mustard who also disappointed this week and Marion ManBearPigs whose excellent finals record came to a crashing halt as he was knocked out of Division I and in Champions League as well. MILLERS have done a great job turning around some recent poor form and he won both major finals and is once more 'about the place' and in the hunt for two major flags. Longwood Lions are also in the hunt for the double and Alaska is scoring huge points at just the right time of the season.

I know how good Alaska is from first hand experience last week so I'm not exactly barracking for him in the Divvy I finals I'd rather play against Les or Has Been in the Premier next year I reckon. As far as Champions League places go for next year Has Been and Les's Men only need to win their next match to appear in their second straight HCL competition.

The Semis next week are as follows....

Buddy Franklin v Longwood Lions
Darksiders SCE v MILLER MOSQUITOES (same as Premier league)


regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Hogg Champions League Finals Preview

1st Semi Final Buddy Franklin vs. Longwood Lions

This clash sees two Division I heavyweights clash for the right to remain in the Champions League. Even though Buddy has been the more decorated Hogg team I really like the look of the Lions at the moment and I predict great things for Alaska before the season ends. The Lions racked up the biggest score in the first week of the finals and are cherry ripe to roll Buddy Franklin and knock him out in straight sets.

Buddy will welcome back, um, Buddy Franklin…or will he? There appear to be plenty of questions still surrounding the star hawk. Will Buddy be able to recapture his old scoring form immediately, even against the Suns? I think the Longwood Lions have timed their run to perfection and could prove very hard to stop in this HCL finals series, they could even go on to win the whole thing. Longwood Lions gets the kiss of death here as I reckon he can roll Buddy Franklin in this Semi Final and go on to play against Les’s Men in the Preliminary Final next week.

2nd Semi Final Darksiders SCE v MILLER MOSQUITOES

These two teams are meeting twice this weekend in the top two leagues in the Hogg as MILLERS on the rebound face the Darkside who had a disappointing opening round of the finals. 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 downed by Les’s Men last week. MILLERS have been down on form in recent weeks but have recovered sufficiently to remain a contender for the Hogg Champions League title and are not without a chance in this match.
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 Has Been.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Buddy Franklin and the Darksiders completed a spectacular fall from grace as they crashed out of the Hogg Champions League Semi Finals to go out in straight sets. Buddy has been on the nose in recent weeks and for a team that has done so well all year Masha would have to be more than a bit disappointed with how the year turned out for him.

MILLERS has slain the Dragon that is the mighty Darksiders and his year of being the hunted is now over as he cleaned him up in Hogg Premier as well. MILLERS had a bit of a form wobble just before the finals but has now hit form again at just the right time. Longwood Lions could be on the cusp of something special. Alaska's team is scoring well and he has come from the bottom half of the eight in Hogg Champions League and Hogg Division I and is in line to do the double this season. He only needs to win one of his two Prelims to qualify once again for the Champions League next season.

Next week the Lions square off with his old sparring partner Les's Men while MILLERS will take on another Division I side Has Been for the right to stay in the Champions League.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Hogg Champions League Finals Preview

1st Preliminary Final Has Been vs. MILLER MOSQUITOES

Giant killers MILLER MOSQUITOES are back in form and one week after disposing of the mighty Darksiders they face an equally great challenge to defeat Has Been. While Has Been hasn't um...been quite as powerful in 2012 as he was in 2011 he has done it a lot better than his mate Honey Badgers who have since gone underground. The return of Franklin for the Beeners has been offset to some degree by the omission of Joel Selwood and I wouldn't be Ironbanking on Steve Johnson suiting up against the Dogs. Ellis is out as well for Has Been which means he probably has to play Lake and Spurr which could be a couple of low scorers in an otherwise good defence. MILLERs look bit better in the midfield but have been weakened up front with Mitch Robinson out. Overall MILLERS MOSQUITOES look stronger and I'm tipping them to defeat Has Been and advance to the Grand Final.

2nd Preliminary Final Les's Men v Longwood Lions

Alaska has his Lions up and about at the right time of the year and he has the chance to win the Div I/champions league double and he may just do it too. Les's Men have most of the usual suspects that finals teams have but if he happens to be out of trades then he's in real trouble as he has Griffin in the ruck so Sandilands' return is not good news for Les. Les has coverage for Joel Selwood in the form of Gibson but he'll have to play the erratic Tom Rockliff in the middle against the Longwood Lions which is not a good look. The Lions will be hoping that Porps can slot straight back in as his coverage for Selwood, Cripps and Haynes is underwhelming already without having to field both. I reckon Porps will play and that Longwood Lions will go on to win this final.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Congratulations to Longwood Lions and Has Been for winning through a very tough league to play off for the first ever Hogg Champions League Title. By winning through to this game both sides have earnt a second straight year in the 'league of death' although the Lions would have been back anyway as they made it through to the Division I finals.

Congrats also to the defeated Preliminary Finalists, especially MILLER MOSQUITOES who won through in two tough leagues only to miss out on a Grand Final in either despite scoring 2385 OUCH. Les's Men fell away a bit towards the end of the year and they missed out on the chance for higher honours and they'll be back in the thick of the action for sure in Division I next week.

A massive week coming for Alaska then as his Longwood Lions have a chance to take a unique double, the Hogg Division I and Hogg Champions League title but he has to beat two very good sides in order to pull off that remarkable feat.

regards,

REB

[Alaska]

"Iron men from Ironbank were as strong as an army tank"
Two lads from the same country club fighting off for an SA Footy Champions League final.......Who would have thought?

And I get to fight Q. for a bit of cash in the Lobster!

[One Club Player]

Clash of the Thunderers looks to be a very close one. The Lions have also shown a liking for the non-Ablett captaincy of late......will he hold his nerve on this tactic in the big dance? Looking at match ups in each position (Lion's on the left):

Backs:
Hanley/Waters/Birchall v Adcock/Shaw/Lake - I'd say edge to the Lion's as Lake is a spud!

Mids:
JPK/Beams/Boyd/Scooter Selwood v Pendles/Cotchin/Priddis/Thompson - Pretty even but concerned about Thompson getting a rest

Rucks:
Cox v Nic Nat - Flip a coin, either could go huge and be the match winner

Fwds:
Dangermouse/Sidebum/Zorko/Porps and Wright or Trelour v Beams/Buddy/Pav/Martin/Chapman - If Pav plays i reckon I've got an edge here, a big day from Buddy could be decisive

All in all a pretty even match with a surprising number of differences between the teams. May the best team win and the selection table be kind!

[Alaska]

Clash of the Thunderers looks to be a very close one. The Lions have also shown a liking for the non-Ablett captaincy of late......will he hold his nerve on this tactic in the big dance? Looking at match ups in each position (Lion's on the left):

Backs:
Hanley/Waters/Birchall v Adcock/Shaw/Lake - I'd say edge to the Lion's as Lake is a spud!

Mids:
JPK/Beams/Boyd/Scooter Selwood v Pendles/Cotchin/Priddis/Thompson - Pretty even but concerned about Thompson getting a rest

Rucks:
Cox v Nic Nat - Flip a coin, either could go huge and be the match winner

Fwds:
Dangermouse/Sidebum/Zorko/Porps and Wright or Trelour v Beams/Buddy/Pav/Martin/Chapman - If Pav plays i reckon I've got an edge here, a big day from Buddy could be decisive

All in all a pretty even match with a surprising number of differences between the teams. May the best team win and the selection table be kind!

Yes ocp I think it will be close and I will leave you guessing re Ablett…..

You only kicked 16 this season big fella slowing down? I hope to see you on Sunday but I have to go out to Kersbrook first so I will be late they couldn’t beat Meadows last week, so both are playing Sunday…pain in the neck.

I need my back POD’s to perform better than last week especially Waters as a number of others had Heater and I wanted a difference there. Yes I think Thompson looked like he needed a rest last week so will either miss or be earmarked the Red vest. Scooter Selwood has been inconsistent for me this year so he needs to get amongst it like he can at his best.

I am hopping Nic Nat has had his big one and it is Cox’s turn

My forwards have been getting it done for me this year and if I were you I would be worried about Pav and Chappy looks done and moving into retirement early. I don’t know what Martin’s excuse is but he doesn’t get big numbers so watch out for the Wright machine he can score big. Buddy is a worry at the MCG and I do not think West Coast have anyone that can go with him with luck it will be 3 goals 8 as he resets his sights for the finals. Pav and Buddy are a couple that let me down at this time of year last season so I am off them.

[Alaska]

Well ocp ........bad weekend commiserations on your loss today on the ground and in Supercoach.
You were looking good for a win till the end!

But Cotchin 124, Martin 19, Adcock 87 and Lake 47 let you down.
The Lions last few of Zorko 82 Hanley 117 and Boyd 129 prevailed.

[One Club Player]

Well played Alaska, timed your run perfectly this season. Martin's 19 hurt, especially with Cloke's monster score sitting on the pine, but I note your decision to bench Porps also cost you points. Swans massive score also shit me as I had to trade him to cover holes week one of the finals. That trade also meant I could upgrade spudman Lake!

Bad day for the Thunderers yesterday. We were well beaten by a better side, but the A grade game was an absolutely corker and the boys would rightly be gutted to have not come away with the chocolates.

Thanks for all your Divy I write ups during the year, hopefully I'll see you in Premier league in 2014.....and there is always Champions League again next year.