Whether you like it or not, the university season starts in the coming weeks. There's not really a defined start of season date, but I like to think that Term 1/start of Term 2 is "pre-season", then after Nationals, the uni season starts. Mixed...meh, whenever. Ah stuff it, let's call Stampede the start of the uni season.
Which would make the Sydney IV and Ridin The Western the equivalent of the NAB Cup, I suppose.
First, a quick look at the Sydney IV taking place on April 5th. 6 clubs, 9 teams - Macquarie, Sydney, UTS, UNSW, UWS and CSU. The big question with AUG this year is "what Worlds players are going to be arsed going this year?" Mac and fUNSWitch are going to be hanging on this - Matt Dowle and Abra being Dingos, and Wazza being a Mundi - those players make a huge difference to their teams. Mac seem to have held on to most of their girls from '07 so that looks promising for them.
I'm quite impressed with Sydney's efforts - three teams fronting up (well it is on home turf) with about a third of them appearing to be rookies. They don't seem to have lost any key players from '07 (possible exception of Pete Liddicoat?) so they will only get better in '08.
UTS, UWS and CSU all finished at the bottom end of the AUG standings, but I'm expecting them to be a lot better this year, having kept their core groups together, and a fair chunk of those core groups getting a Regionals campaign under their belt.
Now on to Ridin The Western, Ballarat's annual "hey why don't you all come play up here for once" tournament. As I've already lamented, Ballarat's lineup is somewhat depleted - only 4 of the '07 team have committed to '08. That leaves the door open for Latrobe to break into the top 3. They only have one loss from '07, and this year have the addition of Super Macca (HoS, '06 Thunder) and Crystal Cheung ('08 Terra squad - no photo without resorting to Facebookstalking). Melbourne and Monash's teams are likely to be rookie-oriented, but their lineups look quite similar to '07, but with some rumoured superstar additions - Tarrant (Melbourne) and Owen (Monash). The dark horse in Victoria may be Deakin - word on the street is they've had quite the fruitful recruiting period.
This tournament is also going to see some extra teams - Geelong, Church Street, and a rumoured team of Chilly/Ishtar veterans (the term "has-been" has been deliberately avoided...for now)
But that's not everyone...
Queensland - UQ, the reigning champions, don't look like relinquishing that hold yet. In '07 they demonstrated the amazing depth their development had brought them - their only challenge this year will be the travel (affordability) and potentially shit weather in Melbourne. QUT and Griffith face similar challenges...
South Australia - Flinders disappointed at Gold Coast, but the experience their rookies gained will be invaluable. Couple this with the return of Joel Pillar - even if he doesn't play AUG, he will be pivotal in the development of the Fury this year. Flinders, along with Adelaide, will both benefit if Karma and Indies fire at Nationals.
ACT - ANU without Twats...will it happen? Of course it will. But they only made quarters last year by the skin of their teeth - they'll need to bring much more than good fortune this year if they are to make it again.
Tasmania and Western Australia - I'm not gonna pretend I know much about these mobs. Truth be told, no one does until September. UTas should figure among the top few again if they bring a similar lineup. UWA also will be one to watch. Murdoch and Curtin remain unknown quantities.
So who are the teams to watch this year? I'm not going to come out all guns blazing with top 8 predictions just yet, but keep a watch on Flinders and Latrobe to be the big improvers of 2008.
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6 comments:
In mixed, you win or you lose on your women.
Mac will have Bec Carman for ECC's, and maybe Megan Gamble if she gets pressured enough. Maybe.
Word on the uni street is that Sydney are going to be unbelievably strong this year, picking up some Furious handlers if rumour sticks? but how much of that is just Bretty Latham's bravado and how much is fact remains to be seen.
Both Flinders (SA) and UWA are putting to use some ever-improving Juniors who will (come Thursday) probably have made Thunder - Alex Britten-Jones and Peter Eley respectively.
T.
I thought BJ played for Adelaide Uni? And Eley was on UWA last year...I agree he'll only get better - he'll be one of their key players this year along with whichever Delane shows up.
I did notice Bec Carman and Megan Gamble on the Mac list, but wasn't sure whether they'd be about for Uni Games - they'd make a massive difference if they are.
And handlers from Furious George at USyd? Laughable.
I don't totally agree with winning/losing on your women - there are exceptions. But in uni ultimate especially this is true. Teams who don't use their girls on offense get nowhere. In fact, I've conceived a new zone D that would destroy any team who doesn't use their women...
Kicking folks in the balls now are we?
T.
Sydney may get Sam Schroeder..played furious in 05 i think, and played barefoot last year (just for regionals), and is playing barefoot this year. Havent seen a heap of him but looks good. It all depends on whether Jimmy T-H (our new coach) can convince him to actually play uni games, hopefuly with enough badgering he will.
I dont think we lose Tintin either, he is still there being somewhere on campus, but onyl emerges for the big stage.
Alot of our current girls are also not playing the IV, but are still around. We lose Izy Macualy to graduation for AUG's though.
Also some of the junior squad have seen the light and come to the right uni. Tiger was not one of them.
With very few losses across the board we are quietly/noisily confident of improving from last year.
Mac will however destroy us at our own tournament, as we a splitting evenly across 3 teams and will see alot of beginners playing. But that is only a positive for the club, and hopefully we can retain them for the future.
UQ is only going to faintly resemble last years team.
Brett Matzuka and Chris Cunliffe are out for sure, and whether Al Don or Piers Truter play Unigames when they are both already throwing money at Vancouver remains to be seen.
Similarly QUT has lost most of their older players, including Mike Nield, so unless Queensland gets some ridiculous imports, we might be a bit low on impact this year.
Results from Sydney IV
1. Suufa 1 (bretts stacked team)
2. Pick Up team (tim gee/glenn hodges/bozza/heather/usyd randoms that got the short straw and ended up in a good team)
3/4. Mac (minus some stars)
3/4.Suufa 3 (this game never happened though word is that we lost a scissors paper rock off for 3rd place. Mac may have won due to Hayley being awarded Hoe of the Year 2008)
5. fUNSWitch
6. CSU
7. UTS
8. Suufa 2
Was a geat day, lots of beginners down playing. I know the Sydney beginners imporved heaps over the day. Awesome fun party, great tournie all round. Well done Mike Tarn and Nikki. Hopefully we will see some more IV's emerging throhgnout the season
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