Hogg Division I 2011

[wycbloods]

Good work REB.

Tough comp this one losing with 2415 this week.

Underdogs and Millers gonna be bloody hard to beat i think.

[Rik E Boy]

Good work REB.

Tough comp this one losing with 2415 this week.

Underdogs and Millers gonna be bloody hard to beat i think.

Any one of seven teams can win this. I don't think Culshure can muster up enough points to survive the first week. They are the REBCats of Divvy I!

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Hogg Division I Finals Preview

Hogg Division I in 2011 has proven to be the best Hogg league in the competition’s five year history. With the reigning Hogg Premier League champion and high scoring players plucked from below to replace retiring coaches it has been helter skelter all season long in Divvy I.

Underdogs enters the finals as a surprise league leader even though they have been consistent scorers for two years now. MILLERS MOSQUITOES will provide a strong challenge for premiership honours after repeating last year’s scoring efforts but winning matches this year to go along with it. wycbloods is another improved side and once again the Captain has earnt the double chance. The bottom eight is also chock a block full of talent with premiership winners BERBA DTC and BenjisBeasts up there as well as the competition sleeper Dutchys Dodos and Greggy Champion’s Culshure Plus who have qualified for the Division I finals for the first time.

Qualifying Finals

1. Underdogs vs. 4. Captain Who?

This match is going to be a high scoring and very close affair. The last time these sides met resulted in a narrow Underdogs victory but I have a sneaking suspicion that this time around the Captain can turn the tables. The Underdogs are proven finals performers with a premiership in the trophy cabinet and the Captain went out in straight sets last year but I believe that there is an upset on the cards: either that or I’m sick of tipping Gibbo every week in the Piglet emails. I’m tipping Captain Who to salute and spring the upset.

2. MILLER’S MOSQUITOES vs. 3. wycbloods

wycbloods haven’t done much wrong all season but this week they come up against the might of the MOSQUITOES who have been in awesome form almost every week, barring a strange result when they drew with bottom four side Leisa’s Lovelies. The MILLERS should be able to draw first bloods here although wycbloods cannot be discounted entirely. I’m not going for two upsets here so I’m selecting MILLER’S MOSQUITOES to win this and earn the week off.

Elimination Finals

5. BERBA DTC vs. 8. Culshure Plus

This matchup is one of the easier games to predict because you can stick a fork into Culshure Plus - they are done. This is bad luck for Cork in the Ocean who missed the eight but a finals matchup against reigning Hogg Premier League champion BERBA DTC is not to be taken lightly. BERBA has been scoring well again this season but his ranking is way down from the number one position he held at the end of last season. He has lost a couple of matches in recent weeks despite scoring over 2400 points so he’s a bit unlucky to cough up the double chance. I can’t believe that BERBA will get rolled in the first week of the Division I finals so I’m predicting a comfortable BERBA DTC victory.

6. BenjisBeasts vs. 7. Dutchy’s Dodos

This one is going to be a tough one to call. BenjisBeasts made the finals in two leagues last year and walked away with two premierships so they definitely have the finals form on the board. However, the Dodos have been building steadily and have made the finals almost by stealth this season. Dutchy has been a bit of a snake in the grass and I firmly believe he has his team primed for the right end of the season. I can’t believe I’m doing this but I’m tipping against a two time Hogg premiership winner and selecting Dutchy’s Dodos to win this knock out final.

Relegation Finals

13. Leisa’s Lovelies vs. 16. Voss’ Junkyard

SBJAC is an old hand in these relegation matches as he got done in one last year as he dropped out of Hogg Premier League. Problem is, this league has proven to be even better so as a result he’s gone on to record a Burger Ring in the Win column for the season. Leisa’s Lovelies has gone from a finals contender to a non competitive unit in this league as her team has not kept pace with the increased standard of the competition. This week the Lovelies will turn back the clock to last season in this one as I can’t see Vossy opening his account and surviving the drop. Leisa’s Lovelies to win and remain in Division I.

14. Professor Crow vs. 15. cobras

This time last year the Crow (aka Supre Cil Dlouhs) was preparing for an assault on the Divvy I finals and a crack at Hogg Premier. Fast forward 12 months and SCD is fighting for Division I survival after enduring a tough year. As for the cobras it’s pretty much as you were Sailor as he is suiting up for a second successive relegation final in this league. Despite this, cobras have improved on last years model even though Professor Crow can’t claim the same thing. In recent weeks both teams have improved their scoring although Professor Crow have been returning the more impressive numbers. This year cobras will go down as Professor Crow will win this match and stay up for another year.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

FINALS RESULTS

Qualifying Finals

Captain Who? 2364 d. Underdogs 2353
wycbloods 2461 d. MILLER MOSQUITOES 2398

Elimination Finals

BERBA DTC 2355 d. Culshure Plus 2156
Dutchy's Dodos 2451 d. BenjisBeasts 2374

Relegation Finals

Leisas Lovelies 2311 d. Voss' Junkyard 1481
cobras 2235 d. Professor Crow 2222

In sensational news the top two sides of Hogg Division I have both been rolled in their qualifying finals after the Captain and wycbloods scored brilliant upset victories. I had a feeling about the captain but the wycbloods result has come out fo the blue with the bloods scoring an excellent score to knock off the Mozzies who now face a knock out final next week. BERBA and Dutchy won through to the semis as well as they kept their promotion hopes intact and the relegation matches SBJAC and SCD both went down after losing to the brother/sister combination Leisa's Lovelies and the cobras who have now won two relegation finals in two years. If Gibbo doesn't go up there will be four Piglet Shield coaches in Division I next season as Cub's FOOTYLEDGENS were relegated from Premier League this weekend.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

SEMI FINALS PREVIEWS

1. Underdogs vs. 5. BERBA DTC

It's hard to believe but one of these top quality teams is going to miss out on promotion to Hogg Premier League next season. In the overall rankings the Underdogs are way ahead of BERBA but it is BERBA who have a track record at the highest level of the Hogg and enters this match with the stronger claims. Gibbo hasn't done much wrong and I'm sure Darcy is probably not all that thrilled to take on the minor premier in the second week of the finals but the Underdogs await and if he is to get back into Hogg Premier he needs to win this one. While the wheels look a bit wobbly in Dogland a close inspection of BERBA reveals a few holes in the backline as well as having a dodgy ruck set up. Against the class of the Underdogs this will prove decisive and BERBA will have to sit it out in Divvy I for another year as I am predicting an Underdogs victory.

2. MILLERS MOSQUITOES vs. 7. Dutchys Dodos

While it has been MILLER time nearly all year long I reckon the MOSQUITOES have jumped the shark. While the Mozzies still look strong a close look at the Dodos reveals a beautifully balanced side that looks strong in all areas with the possible exception of the ruck. I think this year that Dutchy has timed his run to perfection and that he could be a shock candidate for promotion to the Premier League next season. It takes a coach of real wisdom to sit back while everyone else goes batshit at the start of the year but Dutchy appears to have avoided this fate and that makes him a very tricky proposition in this finals series. It seems that every season in Division I there is a hard luck story of a gun side that has gone out in straight sets and MILLER MOSQUITOES could be this year's Captain Who? Dutchys Dodos will escape extinction for another week with a solid win over MILLER MOSQUITOES.

Yesiree bob it's Dogs and Dodos this week for mine. If you could bet on Division I Dutchy would be great value. I could be wrong about the Dodos but recent scoring suggests this mob is cherry ripe.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

SEMI FINALS RESULTS

Underdogs 2404 d. BERBA DTC 2132
Dutchys Dodos 2224 d. MILLER MOSQUITOES 2130

The Hogg Division I semis went as predicted this weekend with the Underdogs returning to form with a comprehensive victory over BERBA DTC. It was BERBA's first loss in a Hogg Shield final for two years and Darc was smashed by Gibbo and punted out of Hogg Premier League calculations for next year. In the other semi MILLER MOSQUITOES must be wondering what the hell has happened to them in the past two weeks as a team that was hardly beaten in the best league in the Hogg has now been rolled in straight sets. I still think that Dutchy has plenty of points in him as well and I reckon he might have plenty of trades too. Dutchy will play against Groover next week with the winner to be a newly minted Hogg Premier Coach while wycbloods stands in the Underdogs way of a Hogg Premier berth.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Preliminary Final Previews

In a week when absolute carnage has taken place in SuperCoach many coaches at this level are at an all or nothing point of the season. Some of the coaches in this week’s Divvy I Prelim Finals have spent years in the Hogg and entry into Hogg Premier League is on the line this week. Dutchy’s Dodos, Captain Who? and wycbloods have been in Division I for a while now and have been competitive at this level. Who will take the next step? Gibbo’s Underdogs have come from nowhere a bit. Up from the Piglet last year the Underdogs led the comp nearly all year long before dropping their first final and hitting back hard with a win over BERBA last week. To the victors go the spoils and to the losers this week it’s very much as you were.

4. Captain Who? vs. 7. Dutchy’s Dodos

As I said last week, the Dodos are on the move with a very well planned assault on the finals. However, I reckon all that planning may come to nought as a quick look at the Dodos shows that he has to cover for the loss of two Blues in the backline as well as Matty Pavlich and Colin Sylvia. Dutchy will need to trade very well if he can this week as the Captain doesn’t have the same selection issues as he although like Dutchy he does have Gibbs and Sylvia. Overall these are two very strong sides but the Captain looks far too strong up forward. With two less players to cover I’m selecting Captain Who to gain a promotion and record a solid win over Dutchy’s Dodos.

1. Underdogs vs. 3. wycbloods

The Underdogs returned to form last week after a hiccup against the Captain in the first week of the finals and now needs to get past gun side wycbloods to make Hogg Premier next season. wycbloods has been in brilliant recent form but the Underdogs represent a serious hurdle. Tell you what bloods this is one match you don’t want to lose! This week of course is more about who is out rather than who is in and both teams have the same four players out in Broughton, Gibbs, Judd and Pavlich. Unfortunately for Gibbo though the Underdogs also has Colin Sylvia in the forward line so both teams are going to be really stretched here. I reckon it’s tough for Underdogs but I’m selecting wycbloods to win this due to the fact that he has less holes to fill in his side.

regards,

REB

[wycbloods]

REB i don't think i am any chance here to be honest. If broughton pulls out* i will have a donut there and i have no coverage in the midfield either. I haven't had a trade for over a month. If only i had one left .

[Groover]

Assuming Josh Toy doesn't get a game, my game looms in the balance:
effectively the situation is,
Me - Ablett and Zac Smith
vs
Dutchy - J.Riewoldt and M.lobbe (+40pts)

too tough to call IMO

[Dutchy]

Assuming Josh Toy doesn't get a game, my game looms in the balance:
effectively the situation is,
Me - Ablett and Zac Smith
vs
Dutchy - J.Riewoldt and M.lobbe (+40pts)

too tough to call IMO

Seb Tape will play though and his points will count if Toy doesnt.

[wycbloods]

Assuming Josh Toy doesn't get a game, my game looms in the balance:
effectively the situation is,
Me - Ablett and Zac Smith
vs
Dutchy - J.Riewoldt and M.lobbe (+40pts)

too tough to call IMO

Seb Tape will play though and his points will count if Toy doesnt.

I bet groover would take bailey's 94 right now if he could

[Groover]

Assuming Josh Toy doesn't get a game, my game looms in the balance:
effectively the situation is,
Me - Ablett and Zac Smith
vs
Dutchy - J.Riewoldt and M.lobbe (+40pts)

too tough to call IMO

Seb Tape will play though and his points will count if Toy doesnt.

Yeah just read the rules, sucks but oh well.
Bloody puopolo and lower have cost me!

[Dutchy]

Assuming Josh Toy doesn't get a game, my game looms in the balance:
effectively the situation is,
Me - Ablett and Zac Smith
vs
Dutchy - J.Riewoldt and M.lobbe (+40pts)

too tough to call IMO

Seb Tape will play though and his points will count if Toy doesnt.

Yeah just read the rules, sucks but oh well.
Bloody puopolo and lower have cost me!

I actually did it that way cause i would have rathered Toy's score if he played, but if he didnt knew I had Tape as back up

[wycbloods]

Me and underdogs is coming down to the wire.

42 + Watson is me and underdogs has Heppell.

Hope that concussion isn't too bad for Jobe and he can kick on and have a good game.

[wycbloods]

Pretty bloody wrapped to be in the final of the toughest league of the hogg this year.

Whatever the result next week i got what i want, promotion to the premier league.

[Rik E Boy]

PRELIMINARY FINALS RESULTS

Dutchys Dodos 2436 d. Captain Who? 2390
wycbloods 2379 d. Underdogs 2311

Congratulations to Dutchy and wycbloods because you have earnt yourselves a couple of big invites next year. Both coaches will not only be invited to participate in the first ever Hogg Champions League they have also earnt promotion to Hogg Premier League which is a big achievement as this has been the toughest ever league in Hogg history (until next year that is).

Dutchy's Juggenaut keeps on rolling on with a very impressive Carlton free 2436 to defeat the luckless Captain Who? The Captain has come oh so close to Premier League following two very solid seasons of Division I play but he just can't seem to get over the final hurdle with a finals record of 1-3 over the past two seasons. wycbloods comes from a similar spot to Dutchy...last year just outside of the top four but looking like a top four side all year unlike Dutchy who has really come from the clouds. Gibbo's Underdogs are another very unlucky side to not qualify but you've just got to score well in the finals when there is promotions in the air.

It's going to be a real cracker in the Grand Final next week but already the two participants have achieved a lot in the Hogg this season.

regards,

REB

[Dutchy]

Thanks REB!

Has anyone ever won a Hogg from 8th spot before?

[Rik E Boy]

Thanks REB!

Has anyone ever won a Hogg from 8th spot before?

Don't think so but I hope they do this year.

regards,

REB

[Hondo]

Well done Dutchy and wcybloods. IIRC they finished 3rd and 4th in Div 1 last year to Coverking and I. Dutchy, that's a huge score!

[CoverKing]

Well done Dutchy and wcybloods. IIRC they finished 3rd and 4th in Div 1 last year to Coverking and I. Dutchy, that's a huge score!

I think bloods went out in the prelim final week after finishing 6th or so last year