Southern Intervarsity review

Executive Summary: Everyone has some work to do before AUG.

It was a fun tournament and plenty of new uni players got a taste of how things go down at these shindigs. The main problem was that no team, with the obvious exception of Melbourne, was actually prepared for this tournament. Still, there were plenty of positives...


5th place - Deakin University
The Cheesegraters have been around for 4 years now, but 2008 is the first time they're having a decent run at things and will be pulling on the blue and green at AUG for the first time. While short on numbers (they were playing savage for most of the tournament), they were high on enthusiasm. They managed to beat Melbourne in the first round, but failed to chalk up a win for the rest of the...I keep going to say 'weekend' but it was a Tuesday/Wednesday.

The Plus: The girls
I have never seen a "new" team use their girls so well. Both genders got equal disc time and their girls are more confident than some I've seen playing for longer. Evidence: Kali Gawinski storming between two Ballarat boys for a vital endzone D in the 4th/5th playoff.

The Minus: Stamina
The Melbourne game proved they will be able to hold their own against quality teams. The rest of the tournament proved they will need to learn how to pace themselves and not blow their load on Day 1.

Players to watch:
Jason Gibson - can put throws wherever he wants. On several occasions he was able to send 30-40 metre passes through a zone to a deep player in a strong cross wind.
Jenelle Morton - legitimate deep threat, often on the end of Gibbo's throws. Fast, fit and able to take high grabs. Will be marked by some strong players at AUG, and I suspect will probably beat them.



4th place: University of Ballarat
If there was ever a team with an entirely new look, it was BUUF this week. This was the second tournament the new team played together and while things started out rusty, they managed to get some good flow going on O, and their D was better organised. Really struggled on fitness due to low numbers, and subsequently were beaten on O-to-D transitions numerous times. An injury to Sam Kuchel didn't help their cause.

The Plus: The core players
Many teams suffer after the loss of several big players, but BUUF's second string from 06-07 have settled into the first string role in 08 very comfortably.

The Minus: No game plan
The loss of the "Rule/Timmermans to Isherwood/Moloney" options have left a massive hole in the strategy of BUUF's O. They experimented with many different combinations but haven't quite found the one that works best.

Players to watch:
Nathan Job - Has made the transition from "regular at pickup" to "key player" over the last 6 months and will only get better. Highlight: a layout handblock on Chuck Summers (Melbourne) while playing Disrespect D.
Greta Hunt - Not many players out there are a senior player, let alone coach, in their 2nd year of uni. Will be a strong leader at AUG, plus her solid handling abilities are also a key to BUUF's success.



3rd place: Latrobe University
On paper, they had the team to win the tournament. With Lachlan McDonald on the team now, they will be a threat to most mid level teams at AUG and have the potential to push for a top 10 spot. However, they didn't seem to ever get out of 2nd gear and seemed a bit lackluster, especially on Wednesday. However I think this performance will give them the motivation they need to get their shit together for AUG.

The plus: The HOS boys
Lachlan McDonald, Dave Lockhart and Tim Wise will be the foundation for this team at AUG. The three are ridiculously cohesive and will be very difficult to contain, especially on zone O.

The minus: The rest?
Once you get past the HOS boys and Jen Payne, there is a sizable gap in talent compared to the rest of the squad. Preparation will be vital, as their key to success is how they use the rest of the squad in their gameplan.

Players to watch:
Phil Ward and Emily Billing - two players who have been playing with LaTUF for a while now, but showed at the tourney that the skills and the game smarts have now clicked and they should provide decent support to the top shelf players.


2nd place: RMIT
Well, a couple of RMIT students with a bunch of pickups. Very good team, but looking at the RMIT component of the squad, they have some "OK" players but will need to put some effort into recruiting and training over the coming months.

The plus: The basics
They have them down pat. Throwing and catching shouldn't be a problem come September.

The minus: Numbers
Particularly, lack of.

Players to watch:
Bec Wallbridge - As a wise man once said, "Play on a good team to learn the tricks of the trade, play on a less competitive team to start using them." Bec had a good season with Honey and will get to have some fun being the key player for RMIT.
Cliff Tham - the pick of the newbies. Has a bit of experience, mostly in pickup games/social league, but has the throws and the athleticism required to be an exciting player.


Winners: University of Melbourne
At about 11:30am on Tuesday, there were three teams that believed they could finally roll Melbourne Uni for the first time ever. But then they turned it on and won every game comfortably. Missing most of their best players (exception of Chris Freise for Tuesday arvo), they showed why Moho is the most successful uni ultimate club in Victoria.

The Plus: Their depth.
No obvious weak points in their squad - every player knew what they were doing. Melbourne had quite clearly come to play and to win.

The Minus: Who will rock up to AUG?
Little known fact: University of Melbourne have 5 current Australian representatives enrolled. Which of these (if any) will front up in September? The only thing that could unsettle Moho is uncertainty about what their lineup will be.

Players to watch:
Chuck Summers - The leader in Freisey's absence. Relatively unknown outside Victoria, Chuck learned his trade at UNC and has been plying his mad throwing skillz at Melbourne Uni for a few years now. Rumours are abound that he might actually play AUG this year.
Jude Mitchell - see Wallbridge, Bec. Girls who play women's ultimate = get more of the disc = become confident with said disc = better uni/mixed players.



What happened to Monash? They couldn't field a team. A lack of leadership might be their undoing this year after an outstanding performance on the Gold Coast.


Credit for the photos linked in this post go to Roger Barnes and Facebook. See if you can work out which ones came from where.