by Rik E Boy » Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:02 pm
Hogg Premier League Preview 2021
Buoyed by a surprise Preliminary Final showing last year, I am unsually optimistic about the current Premier League season ahead. Naturally there are some very scary teams in this league but I'd have to say I don't have the same level of trepidation as I once had for some opponents. Boys you've lost your aura!
One team that hasn't, and a side that really stands out is Summer of George. Shake'n'Bake wins Hogg premierships for fun and already he is one of the highest ranked teams in Premier League. Starting from lowly Division IV, George has made sure it's been Summer in the city all that time as he has won flag after flag on this way to the top flight. The big difference though is that there aren't any bunny sides up here and a slip up means a loss but the smart money is on yet another Summer of George premiership.
Most sides find it tough to back up every year though so perhaps the sun won't shine on Georgie boy after all. Ecky's Fevolas were brilliant last year finishing very strongly indeed to deservedly win their first Hogg Premier title. A repeat of that form and it will be back to back for the Fevs. Every year about this time I usually pump up Hondo SCC who I normally assume is due. Hondo is probably the best Hogg coach never to win the title and the flag might continue to elude him as cracks have been appearing in this once mighty team. Then again, now I've dropped off Hondo a bit, a flag would not surprise.
Pompy's Roosters is another team I think will be firing come the business end and top seeded Has Been will be keen to add another Premier flag to his belt. Has Been suffered from highscorelostitis last year and that crippled his season. Meanwhile the mighty REBCats pulled a thousand and one mistakes last year but made the finals. I'll be hoping to only make 999 and kick on this year. The big improver for me this year might be Richo Richo Man. Richo has a history of having a very good season followed by a pretty ordinary one so this year I'm backing Richo to come good and make a nuisance of himself seeing as he stunk up the place last year and is due for an 'up' year.
Several gun teams from lower divisions haven't really made a mark so far and Inner Sanctum and Mediocre at Best i'm talking about you. Both sides have struggled to maintain their stellar conversion of lower grades with Mediocre in particular making up the numbers more often than not. TEAM_FISH had a year to forget last season while Groovers Captain Who left it too late and Q Before You struggled for consistency. The other new sides might struggle to keep up with the big boys with wycbloods already copping a relegation in the past and WATTS & MOTTS getting in with a golden ticket. Both sides will make their presence known but will be spectators come August. One new side that might be still swinging in August is Hips Don't Lie who have an excellent Premier League record except for one poor year. Hippy will outperform bloods and MOTTS.
Which leaves me to the stragglers. It was something of a running joke between myself and hambone that Poon Illuminati was heading for the relegation chopping block. Now Poon and REBCats are the only survivors from the original 2007 league so I will be crying Crocodile tears if Troy gets punted from Premier this year. Normally a poor SuperCoach season can be put down to life, as in having one. Poon has responsibilities at home and at work which indicate he could be one of the few vulnerable teams this season. I've had none of the pre-season emails and phone calls from Hambone so if he's on his own he is in DIvision I next season. No banter! If he's not pulling his last minute VC loophole moves then you know there is only one other coach going down. That other team might be Spiro's Sharks. I'm still spewing I lost to the Sharks last year in the season opener and every Premier coach should be if the Sharks take a bite out of you. Mediocre at Best will also need a lift but I'd rate Mediocre ahead of the Sharks and they should stay up if Poon isn't a factor this year.
regards,
REB