Townsville Ultimate Disc

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Showing posts with label preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preview. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Round 8 Previews

The last round of games of the regular season is finally upon us! This is the last chance for teams to secure a better position for a more favourable finals match-up. Here are this week's predictions!

Game 1 - Cockwalas VS Tie Dynosaurs

The long awaited game of the season (for me anyway). The protege takes on the master as Finny goes up against Dave. Both teams have had solid seasons up until now and amazingly, have had the same results. Both teams have won and lost against the same teams but Tie Dynosaurs are further ahead on the table due to point differential. This is the match that will separate these two teams and determine which is the better side.

This game will be be won be whichever side has the least turnovers as both teams enjoy playing the short game and walking the disc into the end-zone. Finny will be looking to exploit Cockwalas' inability to make the open-side swing pass whereas Cockwalas will be looking to take advantage of Finny's low release flicks. Both teams have their share of good players and it will be exciting to see who will emerge victorious.

Prediction: Tie Dynosaurs to win 13-9. I predict Damo will be the deciding factor in this match.

Game 2 - Fluro Fantasy VS Purple Haze

First place Fluro Fantasy take on last place Purple Haze in the biggest mismatch of the season. Hopefully Purple Haze will have some more players this week. One thing's for sure though; Tyson is back and will be looking to help Purple Haze secure a favourable position for the finals. Fluro Fantasy have already secured first place in the league and the outcome of this match is unlikely to have an effect on their finals match-up but they are a competitive side and will be looking to finish off this season strong with an unbeaten record.

Throughout the season, it has been the girls of Fluro Fantasy that have given them an edge over their opponents. Will Purple Haze be able to stop Fluro Fantasy or will Fluro finish the season unbeaten?

Prediction: I really want Purple Haze to stop Fluro Fantasy in its tracks but my bet is on Fluro Fantasy beating Purple Haze 13-9.

Game 3 - Django Unchained VS Blue Crush

After suffering defeats in their respective games last week, both Django and Blue Crush will be looking to bounce back with a victory this week to secure a more favourable position for the finals. Django have had a surprising season and are languishing somewhere in the bottom half of the table. Blue Crush find themselves in a similar position as the regular season draws to a close. On paper, both teams have similar abilities but we know they can each turn up the heat on the field if they want.

Timmy will find it hard to play it hard to play a long game against Django due to the defensive capabilities of the team, and particularly James. A tight cup defense seemed to work well for Cockwalas against Blue Crush's handlers last game and it might work for Django this week. Blue Crush will have to put pressure on Django receivers and force the turnover if they want to increase their chances of winning.

Prediction: Blue Crush are too suited for the long game and I have a feeling they will stick to that strategy which i think will be easily defended by James and his Black marauders. Django Unchained to win this one 13-8.

Game 4 - Robust Fawn VS Seagulls

Second place Seagulls take on Robust Fawn. Seagulls will want to finish the regular season with a victory as they head into the finals so we can expect them to come out strong. Robust Fawn will have to watch out for Seagulls receivers such as Cooper and Renee who are excellent both in offense and defense. Rob, Deanna, and Genge are expected to be handling and they are without a doubt one of the strongest handling lineups in the league. Robust Fawn will be using Zane, Jenny, and possibly Kramer to handle, leaving Chris Palazzi in a receiving role.

A man defense would work well against Seagulls as it would limit their running. On paper, Robust Fawn have the players to handle Seagulls and should not be facing a mismatch on the field. But will they bring the heat against Seagulls or go out like Bambi's mom on a snowy winter night?

Prediction: If Robust Fawn bring their A-game tonight, I think they might be able to beat the Seagulls. However, looking at form and previous results, my money is still on Seagulls to win it 13-7.

Game 5 - Grapists  VS Mitey Discs

Mitey Discs have had a very good season thus far and should finish in a comfortable top four position for the finals. Grapists on the other hand, have had an unfortunate season where they came close to winning many games only to lose out at the very end. With Bobby Jackson's injury adding to their woes, Grapists have a tough end of the season match. Both these teams like to mix up their play between short and long, and man and zone defense so it will be very interesting to see how they adapt to one another and the flow of the game.

Prediction: Mitey Discs to close out the season strong with a 13-10 win over Grapists.



Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Round 6 Preview

Hey ho frisbee flingers! I hope everyone had a lovely and relaxing lecture recess because Ultimate action is set to resume this week. All the teams look really strong and it will be a very close race to the end of the season.

Game 1 - Blue Crush VS Grapists

Both teams in game 1 of this week have enjoyed a good run of late. Blue Crush are really starting to come together as a solid team and the players are improving in terms of skill level. Grapists won their first two games in the previous week and they are hungry for more.

Both teams are capable of working the disc but Blue Crush throw more hucks; a strategy which works well for them because they have many players capable of running down the disc and making the completion. Grapists, on the other hand, prefer to play the short game and like to "walk the disc in".

Grapists, however, need to find the elusive final pass. As a team they work the disc up the field well, but the final catch in the end-zone has always been their Achilles' heel. With only three games to go, they have to make better completions if they want to make it to the Grand-finals. 

Prediction: Blue Crush to win 13-10.

Game 2 - Django Unchained VS Tie Dynosaurs

I hate to say it but the Dynosaurs are going to have their work cut out for them. Captain Finny will be away "chasing Nationals glory" with Slamtown which means Tie Dynosaurs won't have an experienced handler. Will Damo be able to step up to the plate, or can Josh Phipps fill in in the absence of Finny? As far as receivers go, Dynosaurs have a pretty solid lineup featuring the likes of Lucas, Jessup, Corrie, and the super beastly Julianna who will catch everything thrown to her. 

Django Unchained currently lie eighth in the table, which is surprising. However, their current position belies the true abilities of the team. The absence of Dynosaurs captain Finny means that this is the perfect time for Django to mount a comeback in their season.

Prediction: Django Unchained to sweep aside Tie Dynosaurs 13-6.

Game 3 - Cockwalas VS Seagulls

Cockwalas have suffered a slip in form recently when they lost both of their games last week. What started off as a promising season has slowed down for the green marsupials. The loss of Phangbang through injury was just too much for the team as they were cut down to just one handler. There have been rumours of a Cockwalas training camp being held over lecture recess but nobody knows for sure. What is certain is that if Cockwalas don't pick up the pace soon they'll be out of running for a shot at the Grand-finals.

Seagulls were defeated in the last round by Fluro Fantasy and this will be their first match after the loss. Will they be able to bounce back or will the season slip away from them? Interestingly, the captains of both teams happen to be brothers; will Dave prevail or will Rob be able to put one over his older brother?

Prediction: Cockwalas will struggle against a fully-fit Seagulls team. I think Seagulls will take this one 13-7.

Game 4 - Robust Fawn VS Purple Haze

Last place Purple Haze take on Robust Fawn in this one. Purple Haze will be missing one of their captains Swan as she heads to the Nationals but the team will be helmed by the other co-captain Ryan and Tyson. The wind and rain might have affected Purple Haze's performance in the last round but if conditions are good, expect them to come out firing and looking to get out of the last place.

Robust Fawn is one of the teams that is really starting to come together this season. Led by Chris Palazzi, Kramer, and Zane, the team has an incredible throwing and catching game. Definitely one of the speediest teams in the league at the moment, Robust Fawn will look to go deep if they can. 

Prediction: If conditions are right, Purple Haze will be able to put up a strong fight against a well-synergised Robust Fawn side. However, I think this game will ultimately go in Robust Fawn's favour 13-9.

Game 5 - Mitey Discs VS Fluro Fantasy

What can I say about this game other than the fact that Riley will dominate? With new experience from Division 2 Nationals, Riley is now super confident in his abilities as a handler. But he is still unproven on the fields and his ability to stick it in the hole is still very questionable. Will he be able to extend Fluro Fantasy's winning run or will Fluro suffer their first defeat this week under the hands of Mitey Discs?

Not a team that really attracts a ton of attention, Mitey Discs have been somewhat consistent in their performances and now sit comfortably in fourth. Teams that don't take them seriously will be in for a big surprise because Mitey Discs work hard and they will make you pay if you are complacent.

Prediction: Fluro Fantasy to extend their winning run with a 13-9 victory over Mitey Discs.

Remember that the day after this week's games is ANZAC day. So don't be in a hurry to go home; hang around, chill out, talk to people from other teams, and get your party on!!!

Monday, April 1, 2013

Round 4 Preview

Hello Townsvillains! I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter weekend. I know I did, which is why this post took a little longer because let's face it; when you have chocolate eggs buried in your backyard, you drop everything you're doing and dig that delicious confectionery up. And then you proceed to chow down on those goodies and spend the entire day after that wallowing in guilt.

But I have decided to pull myself off my bed, shake off my sugar crash, and bring you guys this week's preview of the games!

Game 1 - Mitey Discs VS Robust Fawn

With the return of Chris Palazzi last week, Robust Fawn have become a very, very strong team. Their victory over Grapists could be a sign of more victories to come. However, their defense needs a little more work because they only won be a mere two points last week.

Mitey Discs are an equally strong team. They have a very consistent core group of players who have been playing together for a long time. Mitey Discs have shown that they are capable of scoring by bringing the game all the way to the wire despite losing last week.

Prediction: This game will come down to which team wants it more. I suspect that Mitey Discs will be hungry for victory especially after a bitter defeat last week. Mitey Discs to win 13-10.

Game 2 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Seagulls

This is the match I look forward to most this week. Tie Dynosaurs have a real chance of shutting down Seagulls' winning run this week. Seagulls are already starting to develop an air of invincibility and many pundits are convinced that they will be unbeatable all the way to the Grandfinals.

I myself am hoping for a Dynosaurs upset. Don't get me wrong, I love the Seagulls and their brand of Ultimate and I think everyone on their team works extremely hard for every point in every game but a defeat for them would make the league even more exciting.

I have personally played on Finny's team before, and I am familiar with his style. Not only is he a great player, he is a great coach as well and he has the ability to coach the best out of his players. Tie Dynosaurs are still finding their feet at the moment but will no doubt become a great side in the near future.

Prediction: This is the best time to play against Tie Dynosaurs; before they find their groove. With Seagulls in a magnificent start-of-the-season form and Dynosaurs still looking shaky, this is no doubt an unlucky time for the Dynosaurs to face the Seagulls. Seagulls to win 13-9.

Game 3 - Django Unchained VS Fluro Fantasy

This will no doubt be the most exciting match this week. Captains James and Ash are friends off the field, but I have a feeling their friendship will be put to the test in this one. Both are extremely competitive and play to win and both have a strong mix of players on their team.

Fluro Fantasy is the only other team to have an unbeaten streak this season and they play a style of Ultimate that is fast from start to finish. This means that they put opposition teams under pressure and will race ahead if given the slightest opportunity to do.

Django Unchained, despite a loss in their first game of the season, have won their previous two encounters. Both times they were down at half-time but started the second half strong to ultimately emerge victors. They are a true representation of "it's not over until the fat lady sings".

Prediction: Last week Django Unchained managed to overcome a 7-2 first-half deficit to win the game. However, I feel that Fluro Fantasy have enough composure to win this game. Fluro Fantasy to win 13-10.

Game 4 - Blue Crush VS Purple Haze

Blue Crush played hard last week and came away with a score that didn't really reflect the effort they put in. They are well-rounded in all aspects of the game; athleticism, speed, and ability but they are turning the discs over too many times. Purple Haze can put on a mean defense, and with players like Ryan and Shane, they have the ability to shut down Blue Crush's long plays.

After an amazing come-from-behind win against Mitey Discs, Purple Haze have shown that they are capable of playing some fluid, flowing frisbee. I foresee that Purple Haze will throw fewer hucks than Blue Crush because they prefer the short game. If they can put together what they did in their last three points last week, Purple Haze will be unstoppable.

Prediction: This is a tough game to call and it will ultimately be won by the team that can find that magical final pass.  A Blue Crush victory is long overdue. However, Purple Haze are simply too mouthwatering at the moment. I predict a 13-8 Purple Haze victory.

Game 5 - Cockwalas VS Grapists

Cockwalas take on under-performing Grapists in the fifth and final game of this week. Cockwalas will definitely be looking to bounce back after last week's cruel loss to Django Unchained. Phangbang will be reprising his role of being a handler this week and is definitely the weak link in an otherwise strong Cockwalas lineup. Expect Cockwalas to play an extremely defensive game and look for the break on turnovers.

Grapists, as I've mentioned before, might be the dark horse this semester. They have shown last week that they are capable of getting the disc into the end-zone, managing to accrue 11 points before succumbing to a defeat against Robust Fawn. They might surprise us this week with a victory against Cockwalas.

Prediction: Grapists have yet to win a single game whereas Cockwalas have won two of their last three. I think that Cockwalas will be able to beat the yet unproven Grapists 13-9 in this game.

I hope everyone's ready to shed all that extra weight they've gained over this Easter weekend because Wednesday promises an even more intense round of Ultimate! With teams having been exposed to the different kinds of setups, there will be more variety in the plays and... who knows what could happen!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Round 3 Preview

Round 3 of Townsville Ultimate action is almost upon us and now that we're two weeks in, it gives us a better idea of the teams and how they might perform. With that being said, here's an "expert's" predictions on this week's matches.

Game 1 - Django Unchained VS Cockwalas

Now this is an interesting game to watch. If you have been following this blog, you will know that, even though they lost in Round 1, James David's Django Unchained are a force to be reckoned with. But Cockwalas have two wins under their belt and they will look to continue their winning form.

With Rowan Hall and Gibbo back in the line-up after missing the first game and new addition Aaron Hynds, Django Unchained have a strong team in terms of physicality and athleticism. Defensively, Django Unchained will undoubtedly shut down Cockwalas' long game with captain and world-record high jumper James David sitting deep.

However Cockwalas are not without a few threats of their own. Big man Josh McIntyre is fast developing into an all-round Ultimate player that possesses speed, height, and physical prowess. Cockwalas also feature a hardworking female line-up with Laura Knecht bringing with her the experience of the previous semester and Chi MaGee's excellent reading of the game together with the engines Sheona, Biz, and Janelle. Cockwalas are capable of working the disc even without captain Dave Dehollander.

Prediction: This is a tough game to predict, if Cockwalas maintain their form, they will be "bringing it" and will be looking to upset Django Unchained. However, Django Unchained looks too formidable at the moment with James, Gibbo, Aaron, and Rowan and I predict a 13-8 victory for them.

Game 2 - Blue Crush VS Seagulls

Arguably the strongest team at the moment, Seagulls have blown away all their competition in the league thus far. The morale in the team will undoubtedly be extremely high this week following their previous two victories. Expect them to come out in force once again with captain Robert Dehollander and up-and-coming Australian Ultimate star Deanna Finn dictating the pace.

After a promising start to the season, Blue Crush succumbed to Fluro Fantasy in Round 2 after an exciting match that went down to the wire. I'm sure Timmy and his team will be looking to bounce back after last week's defeat. I predict a few long plays will be seen in this match with Timmy looking for the speedy Rob Davies on those puts. New players Torunn Lervik and Miguel Yagual look extremely promising for Blue Crush and you can expect them to bring their A-game.

Prediction: Blue Crush look determined to erase the memories of last week's defeat but I think Seagulls' excellent form will see them take this game 13-9.

Game 3 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Fluro Fantasy

A clash between the Tye Dynosaurs and Fluro Fantasy see two of the best handlers in the league Finny and Ash go up against each other. The Dynosaur's captain Finny will be looking to employ the short give-and-go game with his team, a play he has perfected over the years which many other teams still find difficult to beat. With the introduction of the zone, expect to find Finny sitting deep and cutting off the opponents' long plays whilst organising his defense. Josh Phipps of the Dynosaurs has been working on his handling game and inside sources reveal that he can throw a bullet of a flick; which will be useful if Dynosaurs' receivers manage to get on the end of them.

On the other hand, Fluro Fantasy captain Ash will have an array of tricks up his sleeves. Backhand, forehand, hammer, scoober, thumber; you name it and you can expect Ash to use it. Sabrina Beer, who scored five points in the first round but had to sit out against Blue Crush due to an illness is expected to make a comeback. Captain "Ash" has labelled her his "go-to-girl", and you don't need a cryptologist to tell you what that means

Prediction: Another tough game to predict, this game promises excitement for start to finish. I suspect the teams will match each other point for point but I think Finny's tactical experience will give Tie Dynosaurs the edge in this one. Dynosaurs to win 13-11.

Game 4 - Mitey Discs VS Purple Haze

With probably one of the strongest female line-ups in the league, Purple Haze will be looking to beat the Mitey Discs this week after their encouraging performance against Django Unchained in Round 2. There are no stand-out players in Purple Haze but as a team, they are certainly impressive. Aline and captain Swan will be looking to dominate Mitey Discs' female players. Purple Haze pack a pretty strong male line-up as well, featuring the speed of Shane, as well as the physical presence of James Murr and captain Ryan.

Physically, Mitey Discs aren't the best team in the league. However, Ultimate is not about physicality but more about skill, and teamwork; something which Mitey Discs possess in abundance. After last week's glorious victory against Tie Dynosaurs, Mitey Discs will want to ride on the euphoria of the previous week to another victory. In an exclusive interview, Purple Haze captain Swan revealed that she will be poaching a lot and the Mitey Discs will definitely want to take advantage of that.

Prediction: With the introduction of the zone defense, I think Purple Haze, with their slight height advantage, will be able to take this game 13-10.

Game 5 - Robust Fawn VS Grapists

Perhaps the most fortuitous match-up this week. The last game of Round 3 features two teams who have lost in the previous round. Expect Red, Andy, Nathan, and captain Kramer of Robust Fawn to come out playing this week after last week's unfortunate loss. Handling specialist Zane Quinn will once again look to utilise his experience and handling skills to swing this game in his team's favour.

After a disappointing start to the season with two losses, Grapists will want to erase the memories of their previous games and get their season started this week. Hopefully captain Chris "Jazzy McGee" Ende will have sorted out tactics for his team and be able to find one that suits Grapists best.

Prediction: Although I really want a Grapists victory, I can't see that happening this week. Robust Fawn to win it 13-6.

I look forward to another exciting week of Ultimate. If I didn't tip your team to win, it's because the laws of the great state of Queensland state that pundits must be "professional and impartial in their predictions". Remember, however, that everyone loves an underdog win so let's go and play some disc!