Hogg Division V 2011 - PIGLET SHIELD

[Rik E Boy]

The missus got caught by the Shaw debacle last week (not that it would've helped her all that much). Poor thing traded him in on Thurday night to shore up her defence. Ended up with a big fat zero.

OUCH. Pass on a message for me. Tell her 'better luck next year' ha ha.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

There's still two teams outside the top eight who are some chance although the tide looks to be a bit too high for 10th ranked FOOTYLEDGENS. The cobras look the vulnerable side in the top eight and now I have to win my last game to cling to a top four spot which is a familiar spot for me in most of my leagues.

Still spewing about Newman costing me the match against my Mum! DOH.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

I haven't had that much to smile about in fantasy football in recent weeks but it's nice to know that in times of crisis your family can always be relied upon to come to your rescue. My sister, the fourth top scoring Underbelly has been beaten in the final round to miss out on the top eight after being in ominous form in recent weeks. Bragging rights have already commenced on the well patronised SIKE board.

Now all I have to do is work out how to beat Gibbo this week to pinch the week off!

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Piglet Shield Finals Preview

The Piglet Shield generates the least amount of interest on safooty.net seeing as not many posters appear in this competition. For those not in the know the Piglet is for my family and friends even though none of my family members have actually won the darn thing. Previous winners of this include Hondo in the 2009 and last year Gibbo’s Underdogs claimed the flag.

This could be the first instance of anyone claiming back to back premierships in any Hogg league as Gibbo has proven to be nearly invincible in this comp. Gibbo dropped the first game of the year and has now won 14 straight matches. Gingernuts is a good chance to pull off an upset should he get by the Lovelies and the FNQ Trotters also might be a strong contender with some excellent scoring in recent weeks.


Qualifying Finals

1. Underdogs vs. 4. REBCats

Oh dear. I need to find about 250 points to beat Gibbo and I’m not sure where they are going to come from. Yeah, Ablett might be back but guess what? Gibbo has Ablett. Maybe Swandlebury can come to my rescue. Dang she has them as well. The Underdogs are a top ten Hogg side and my mob are only ranked in the forties. It would be a huge upset for me to claim this and it looks like my second straight finals loss to the Underdogs here. Underdogs to advance to the Preliminary final.

2. Leisa’s Lovelies vs. 3. The Ginger Ninjas

The Lovelies have been flattered by their 13-2 win loss record but if Leisa can put together a decent selection meeting this week they could really ambush The Ginger Ninjas in this match. Leisa has a lot of trades left and a good bank as well and Gingernuts will be planning for Elimination Final in Hogg Premier rather than this one. Leisa needs to trade well and can make up the 200 short of the Ninjas that she has been in recent weeks. Leisa’s Lovelies to sneak over the line.

Elimination Finals

5. FNQ Trotters vs. 8. Kiwi Krapper’s

The FNQ Trotters have been on fire in recent weeks and enter the finals as one of the form teams of the competition. The Kiwi Krapper’s are well down on last season’s output when they only dropped one match during the minor round. The Kiwi only just qualified for the finals after Underbelly choked in the last round and doesn’t appear to have the firepower to stop FNQ Trotters this week. The FNQ Trotters wins this and will take some stopping in the coming weeks.


6. sharks vs. 7. cobras

The sharks got off to a terrible start to the year as they were smashed by a punishing fixture in the early rounds. As the fixture got easier and the sharks’ scoring improved they slowly but surely climbed the table. After 15 rounds the sharks are placed at a season high sixth position and their elimination final against Division I cellar dwellers cobras is definitely winnable. I’ve been writing off the cobras nearly all year though but bang here they are in their first ever Hogg finals series. The cobras had to defeat Underbelly (a side that has outscored the sharks this season) to make the eight last week so the cobras are not done with just yet. Still, I reckon the sharks will get the job done and advance to the semis next week.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

FINALS RESULTS

Qualifying Finals

Underdogs 2353 d. REBCats 2320
The Ginger Ninjas 2365 d. Leisa's Lovelies 2311

Elimination Finals

FNQ Trotters 2259 d. Kiwi Krapper's 2084
cobras 2235 d. sharks 2100

So near but so far to knocking off the Underdogs but Gingernuts has put his hand up as a genuine Piglet Shield contender winning a high scoring match against the Lovelies. The Trotters scoring was down a little but they still went well enough to win their first ever Piglet final and whenever Kiwi's lose that's always a good thing. The cobras cleaned up the sharks to end his season in all Hogg grades after he missed the Division II finals last week.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

SEMI FINALS PREVIEWS

4. REBCats vs. 5. FNQ Trotters

I must say there isn't much joy in finishing 4th in the Piglet this year. I copped the mighty Underdogs last week and nearly rolled the bitches and this week I face the inform FNQ Trotters. What I wouldn't have given for a nice easy final against cobras or sharks or even Mrs REB last week. The Trotters have four defenders which means I enjoy a rare advantage in my weakest area of the field. The Trotters are also one short in the forward line so even if Ma has two trades she'll only get paritiy and that's if she nails em. The last time I played the Trotters was the week that Newman went down so as long as one of my gun players doesn't fall to pieces in the first quarter like last time then I think I have the Trotters covered. REBCats to win this one and stay alive stay alive ah ah ah ah STAY ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE.

2. Leisa's Lovelies vs. 7. cobras

In our family league the sisters are unbeaten in matches against their brothers this season so the cobras are out to buck a season long trend. The cobras coach is a Navy man so sometimes he is literally all at sea and can't get to his side. If that is the case this week you can put your bricks and mortar on the Lovelies. The cobras have serious issues down back with some real neddy no names on the bench which suggests that cobras have been playing catch up after a poor initial squad selection. So he has traded heavily to get this far and has done well to do so but alas brother in law, the Lovelies have a zillion trades left and you are going to be left high and dry. Leisa's Lovelies wins this one to earn a crack at the Underdogs next week.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

SEMI FINALS RESULTS

REBCats 2315 d. FNQ Trotters 1972
Leisas Lovelies 2176 d. cobras 1804

We had a couple of one sided semis in the Piglet this week with the FNQ Trotters failing to fire a shot to lose to the REBCats. When I played the Trotters earlier in the year Newman went down but in the finals it was Pav who went down and the Trotters never recovered. Next week the REBCats play premier league opposition in The Ginger Ninjas with the Cats enjoying a good record against Gingernuts. In the other final it was sister over brother yet again as has been the case all season long with the cobras putting in a real shitter. I know he doesn't like losing to the Lovelies does our man in the Navy but the Lovelies deserve their shot at the Underdogs as they have been in second spot nearly all season long.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

PRELIMINARY FINALS PREVIEW

The top four teams have predictably won their way through to the Preliminary Finals in the Piglet Shield with Underdogs red hot favourites to retain their title from last year. In the Gingernuts v REB final I'm sweating on one of my players being out as Ginge doesn't have coverage for Broughton and I can use any advantage I can get.

In this league you need to win the premiership to qualify for Hogg Champions League next year so winning a Prelim at this level doesn't quite cut it.

1. Underdogs vs. 2. Leisa's Lovelies

This week Gibbo's Underdogs will be out to win a Division I Prelim Final, which if she wins it makes her a Hogg Premier League coach in 2012. Leisa doesn't really give a rats about fantasy footy (except when she plays Dale or Brett) so I can't see the Lovelies stopping Gibbo from defending her title in Round 24. The Underdogs should get the job done here.


3. The Ginger Ninjas vs. 4. REBCats

In the other final Gingernuts has a lot more resources than I have and both of us have been racking up consistent 2300's in the most important month of the year. However, I feel that Ginge might just have my measure and that it will be the Ninjas who will play off against the Underdogs in the Grand Final this season. The Ginger Ninjas should win this one.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

PRELIMINARY FINALS RESULTS

Underdogs 2311 d. Leisa's Lovelies 2225
REBCats 2353 d. The Ginger Ninjas 2290


There will be a replay of Underdogs vs. REBCats after last year's Grand Finalists won through to the Grand Final of the Piglet Shield this weekend. Leisa's Lovelies went within a whisker of upsetting Gibbo but the Underdogs came home strongly to record a reasonably comfortable victory. In the other Prelim once again Gingernuts is my bitch and he was behind the eight ball for the whole game after listening to his opponent's advice and benching a bloke who made a 150 odd ha ha. Still, Ginge has had a great year in SuperCoach this season but it's a pretty tough gig getting into these Piglet Shield Grannies I can tell you.

regards,

REB