jimmy de bas
Years ago
Funny ABL Round 1!!!
I know it's early in the week, but I'm pretty pumped for the season to begin, so why not?
Saturday:
Norwood @ Eastern
I am assuming that Jacob isn't suiting up for the Mav's this season, and this will obviously leave a huge chink in their armour. Unless Trebilcock has finally bothered to do a semi-tough pre-season and steps up big time, I will imagine that the Mavericks won't win this game, or many other games for that matter, relying heavily on brad davis to score a bulk of their points. Norwood seems to have put together a pretty decent squad this year, including: Thompson, Krause, Foster, Webber, Arnold and Lomman among many more which should give them the most depth out of any team this year. With Sapwell and Brooks calling the shots, Norwood look to have the edge in every department and I am predicting that Norwood will be far too good this week. Norwood by 20, 3 votes - Dan Thompson.
Forestville @ North
2 very talented sides going toe-to-toe here in what should be a very exciting match. In my opinion, North looks like the better team on paper, with Hawkes, Hambour, McKay, Zorich, B. Kies, Burdon and Franzucchini leading the way. However, Forestville are a bit of an unknown at this stage. Just how will Dix and Farman return to the game after their knee injuries? How will Sullivan cope having to run PG, with Campbell now gone, and how will this affect his scoring? I am predicting a tight match-up here, but I think North's home ground advantage and a query over both Dix's and Farman's match fitness should see the Rockets escape. North by 4, 3 votes - Mike McKay.
South @ Centrals
Two of last year's cellar-dwellers doing battle in this game, but it is a pity only one of them will remain there this year. Centrals look to have everything in their favour to win this game. With the off-season additions of Wilkey, Vandenburgh and the Victorian dude to join Clayton at STARplex, the Lions look to be in for a better year compared to recent seasons. They should get off to a good start to the season this weekend against the Panthers. Unless Adam Blight continues to improve drastically and more than compensates for the loss of kent, the Panthers probably will not escape the bottom 5th of the ladder this season. Vandenburgh should prove too classy for the Panther guards and will be looking to showcase his talent in front of his new home crowd. Wilkey will appreciate being one of the big fish again after a frustrating year at sturt and should out-hustle and out-score his South Adelaide counterparts. Centrals by 15, 3 votes - Justin Wilkey.
Sunday:
Woodville @ Southern
Does anyone have any idea of who is going to be suiting up for the Warriors this weekend? Not that it will matter anyway, as I am positive that they will not be up to ABL standard. The Tigers look cherry ripe to demolish the Warriors at the Cage this Sunday. Gerlach and Hoban have both improved out of site during the off-season by the looks of the Academy games, and it will take a super effort from whoever plays for Woodville to contain either of these two. Clarke will be set to destroy the Woodville guards, probably from their 18 1's side(boys or girls, take your pick) and with the Hodges boys and Bowley also getting the job done inside, the Tigers look to have the wood over the woodies. Josh Wood will join Matt Hardiman as the Tigers new players and should fit into the Tigers' outfit quite nicely. If Woodville can get out of the Tiger Cage without being severely mauled, or at least stung by the slippery snake, I will be extremely surprised. Tigers by 25, 3 votes - Luke Hoban.
Sturt @ West
Sturt by 86. 3 votes - whoever they choose to score 40. Seriously, with or without Maher, can anyone seriously see them losing this week? Forman, Ng, Bauer, Gower, Maher(??), Benson, Shepherd, Finkameyer. Who will stop Forman..... Hunnerup? Sturt by 40, 3 votes - Forman. I don't think Maher will play much, if he plays at all.
P.S. West would have been absolutely spewing that the 36ers lost last Friday night.
Women's- I don't have much idea on the girls comp, so I'm not going to pretend I know what I'm on about. Winners will be: Norwood, Forestville, South(by about 3000), Southern and West.
