How is Nationals shaping up?

Teams are starting to take shape for Regionals, happening in 4 weeks time, so I thought I'd take a quick look at how things are looking at the moment.

Northern Region
Open (1 spot)

• Firestorm 1
• Firestorm 2
• Brisbane Barbarians
• Thor
• Byron Ultimate Disc
  

North are starting to see some clubs forming in order to gain that elusive wildcard. Firestorm are obviously the red hot favourites to get one spot, but getting a wildcard would make things interesting. If Firestorm split X/Y, it'd reasonable to expect both Firestorm teams to go through, but if there's an A/B split, I'm tipping Byron to upset Firestorm B with their "everyone's either under 18 or over 30" mix.

1. Firestorm 1*
2. Byron Ultimate Disc*
3. Firestorm 2
4. Thor
5. Brisbane Barbarians
   

Women (2 spots)

• Minx*
• Sultry*

Yet to see line-ups for these two teams. With the absence of any other entrants, both of them go to Coffs. Sultry over Minx.


Southern Region
Open (4 spots)

• Karma
• Karma B
• Heads of State
• Heads of State Youth
• Sweet Chilly
• Hot Chilly
• Ultimate Evolution

Hmm. The Year Of The B Team, it seems. Karma and HoS are splitting A/B, but both only planning towards the A team making Nationals, so there'll be some promotions to boost number. Chilly have all but confirmed they are splitting X/Y this year, so they will be weaker than 07, but still pretty good. With a year's experience as a team under their belts, I'm tipping HoS to take this out, and wearing the #1 seed at Coffs. One of the Chillys and Karma will get a spot each, and odds are South will not get a wildcard, so the battle for fourth will be interesting. I'm going with the second Chilly taking it.

1. Heads of State*
2. Sweet Chilly*
3. Karma*
4. Hot Chilly*
5. Ultimate Evolution
6. Heads of State Youth
7. Karma B

Women (4 spots)

• Honey
• Bush
• Indies
• Team Box
  

The lack of Ishtar this year means that all women's teams will go through. Team Box have raised a few Whiskey Tango Foxtrots by only picking 15 players, but surely they'll get a few additions for Nationals. Expect them to be strong again this year. And because I like upsets, I'm tipping Indies to get second with the home state advantage.

1. Team Box*
2. Indies*
3. Honey*
4. Bush*

Western Region
Well, unless we hear otherwise, we'll assume Sublime and Primal will put in appearances.


Eastern Region
Open (6 spots)

• Umlaut
• Hills
• Taipans
• Barefoot
• Fakulti A
• Fakulti B
• Manly
• Fyshwick United 1
• Fyshwick United 2
• I-Beam
• Wollongong
• Westies

OK, that's a rough guess at the lineup based on this weekend's Share The Love lineup, plus early registrations. Fakulti have finally gone and done the equivalent of playing ZYZZYVA on a Triple Word Score in Scrabulous by splitting A/B. Certainties to win, I reckon. East will probably get the second wildcard, and possibly a third if the Kiwis look Coffs off (South might get one if that's the case...can't remember the formula). Hills may also get the AFDA allocation, being hosts. Will Fyshwick split A/B or X/Y? They could field a pretty solid lineup with A/B, but will probably run with X/Y for Regionals. A wild guess at final standings goes something like this...

1. Fakulti A*
2. Barefoot*
3. Taipans*
4. I-Beam*
5. Fakulti B*
6. Fyshwick United 1*
7. Manly*
8. Fyshwick United 2*
9. Hills*
   
10. Wollongong
11. Umlaut
12. Westies

Beyond the top 4, I'm not really basing that on anything.

Women (5 spots)

• Wildcard X
• Wildcard Y
• Southside
• Hills
• Sugar Magnolias
• Factory Girls

Is Wildcard actually splitting X/Y, or is that just Rach being funny? This is the only region oversubscribed, so a wildcard will see all go through, regardless of Kiwi appearances/no-shows. Once again, predictions based on very little...

1. Wildcard X*
2. Southside*
3. Wildcard Y*
4. Sugar Magnolias*
5. Factory Girls*
6. Hills*

So here's how Nationals seedings would pan out after my guesses...

Open

1. S1 Heads of State
2. E1 Fakulti A
3. E2 Barefoot
4. E3 Taipans
5. E4 I-Beam
6. W1 Sublime
7. S2 Sweet Chilly
8. N1 Firestorm 1
9. E5 Fakulti B
10. S3 Karma
11. E6 Fyshwick United 1
12. E7 Manly
13. E8 Fyshwick United 2
14. S4 Hot Chilly
15. N2 Byron Ultimate Disc
16. AF Hills
    

Women

1. E1 Wildcard X
2. S1 Team Box
3. E2 Southside
4. E3 Wildcard Y
5. S2 Indies
6. E4 Sugar Magnolias
7. E5 Factory Girls
8. S3 Honey
9. N1 Sultry
10. N2 Minx
11. S4 Bush
12. W1 Primal
13. E6 Hills

Am I game enough to make Nationals predictions yet? Not quite. I might wait for Regionals...