Having had a quick look at the new and existing teams in our division and how they faired after the first round the following is a brief view.
Firstly, on behalf of those of us who have returned to fight out yet another season in Div III.3 in the wake of the GC Viking's triumphant promotion to Div II, I would like to officially welcome Div IV Champions, Serial Thrillers (IV.36), Cheap Power (IV.13) and dream warriors (IV.7). I would also like to welcome the GoldCoastSH who were relegated from Div II.2 last season.
Secondly, While this post won't be one of my usual essays I will briefly examine the first round of Season 20.
The first round of Season 20 was, as expected, a healthy balance of teams going for it and teams fielding weaker line-ups in preparations for their assault on the Cup. Here is how the ladder stands at present:
Big 8
1. Serial Thrillers (def Top-Prides 100-48)
2. Glenvale Cheaters (def Cheap Power 137-122)
3. Flames (def The Legends678 112-100)
4. HawthornFC (def Mash Brewers 117-109)
5. Mash Brewers
6. The Legends678
7. Cheap Power
8. Top-Prides
Great 8
1. Cheltenham Bombs (def Statesmans 112-71)
2. Maltese Falcons (def Hansborough Hurricanes 98-74)
3. Moorditj Magick (def CARLTON SUNS 124-109)
4. GoldCoastSH (def dream warriors 98-88)
5. dream warriors
6. CARLTON SUNS
7. Hansborough Hurricanes
8. Statesmans
So, some interesting results.
In the Big 8 The Serial Thrillers, fresh from their Div IV.36 Championship win recorded a big 52 point win over a depleted Top-Prides who seem to be preparing for their Cup game this week.
The Glenavle Cheaters, who snared the best rookie in the draft having tanked perfectly last season, made their intentions known with a solid win over Div IV.13 Champions, Cheap Power.
The Flames, who must be one of the favourites to challenge for the Championship this season, managed a 12 point win against The Legends678. Neither team fielding their A team in this encounter.
The HawthornFC fought out perhaps the best game of the round against the Mash Brewers, eventually winning by 8 points. Look out for both of these teams come playoff time.
On the other side of the league in the Great 8, the Cheltenham Bombs (who finished 2nd behind the GC Vikings last season) easily accounted for the statesmans with a 41-point thrashing The Bombs another team to keep an eye on this season.
The Maltese falsons, a top-four contender last season, registered a comfortable 24 point win over the Hansborough Hurricanes. The question is: Can the Falcons have an impact on the finals this season?
The Moorditj Magick, having tanked Season 19 whilst training two U21 NT players, signalled their intentions this season with a strong 15 point away win against the CARLTON SUNS.
Finally, the GoldCoastSH, no doubt eagre to return to DIv II, fielded a B team which secured a 10 point win over Div IV.7 Champions, dream warriors, which may well highlight the gap between the stronger and weaker teams in the Great 8 this season.
So, as we approach game two of the first week of Season 20, the first Cup game also only days away, their is the usual confusion as to who has the team to go all the way this season. One thing seems obvious at this point: unlike the previous three seasons which saw The Ms Strike Back, the Urmummas and the GC Vikings promote in tight 3-games series, Season 20 seems to be a very open race with a number of teams capable of taking out the coveted Div III.3 Championship trophy.