Talk Time With The Timid Ranger Part VI

Volcanic ash prevented me from returning to my desk in time for an article last week, so Chile apologises for that. All the talk this week has been about the one-sided nature of the biggest clash in the dream team calendar. I am referring of course to the Bill Lawry Cup and after a convincing win by the Birdman, it is time for Patty (cough..me…cough) to have a bit of a gloat.

Coach Name: Patrick Barclay

Team Name: The Birdman

Current Position: 13th

Q: Patty, a big win in the Bill Lawry Cup this weekend gone, you must be very satisfied.

A: TR, it was a good feeling to win my third straight BLC. I certainly feel like I have established my authority in this cup over the last few years and despite 1706, I was always confident I would get up.

Q: You need to pick up wins whenever you can to keep in touch with the top 8, how are you feeling about the run into finals?

A: I certainly need all the wins I can get. This week coming, a few of the boys on 20 points are playing tough games, so if I can pull an upset win over Leeds this week I might just sneak into contention.

Q: It certainly is shaping as an important game. What tactical approach will you take to jump over the reigning premier?

A: Well he does have Goddard, Montagna and Riewoldt, so there are 3 spots to cover and I think his midfield especially will be particularly stretched. I might need to pull out a surprise captain choice as well. Could be a week for Stevie J to hold the big C.

Q: Any trades likely before the game?

A: I’m thinking of pulling out a double trade this week, its been a while since I’ve upgraded and I know that Adcock will miss another two weeks with his finger. I too have the three Saints, so might consider bolstering my backline to cover the loss of them.

Q: And what is your tip for Match of the Week for round 14?

A: I think Burgs v Laing will be the one. Burgs has scored 350 points more, but finds himself 7 slots below him on the ladder. Might be a week for justice this week, though for my sake, I hope Laing gets up.

Q: Patty, thanks very much for your time.

A: TR, the pleasure is ours

He is a good bloke that Patty. If anyone would like to be featured next week, please submit your application to thetimidranger@hotmail.com otherwise, keep an eye on facebook for any Dream Team talk.

Talk Time With The Timid Ranger Part V

Talk Time With The Timid Ranger
A recent run of form has seen The Polar Bears placed only half a percent away from 2nd spot. So we’ve kept it in the family this week for our consecutive profile of the Polkinghornes and Andrew is this week’s guest.
Coach Name: Andrew Polkinghorne
Team Name: The Polar Bears
Current Position: 4th
Q: Andrew, thanks for taking the time to involve yourself in this interview.

A: The pleasure is mine TR, I’m actually a massive fan of the articles and I find them extremely useful in gaining an insight into the mindset of opposition coaches. There have been a few times where the Polar Bears have been tipped for a win by an opposing coach and that has come true, it is good to know that you have the respect of your competitors.

Q: You come up against Cutter411 which looms as an interesting match-up for you. Would you consider it as the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service’s Match of the Week?

A: I’ve actually picked a bit of a smokey for that this week, I reckon Juddy’s Brownlows v The Birdman will be a crucial game which will go a long way to deciding who finishes in the eight and who doesn’t. Its going to be a tight one to call, but I’ve just got a feeling that the Birdman might get up to keep his season alive.

Q: It certainly is shaping as an important game. Now you mentioned respect a little earlier, but I’m afraid you don’t have mine. Considering my love for all things natural, I find it a little disappointing that the league condones the practice of forcing Polar Bears to play AFL. It is a highly dangerous exercise for them as it is certainly not a game which is observed in their natural environment, how do you explain your actions in permitting and encouraging this wildlife endangering practice?

A: I consider this to be an internal matter at the club, and isn’t something which should be broadcast to the greater public.

Q: I’m a journalist, it is my job to ask the tough questions. I demand an answer.

A: Well what if I don’t have an answer for you? I just know that I’ve got a committed bunch of guys who are willing to pull on a jumper for me. What difference does it make if those jumpers are XXXXL so that my players can fit in them? Polar Bears have just as much right to engage in an enjoyable game of football as humans do, surely as an activist for animal rights you should be encouraging the increasing acceptance that our society is displaying for the animal kingdom

Q: You’ve got to be kidding don’t you? You could use that argument to say that slavery was breaking cultural barriers because it allowed people of all races to coexist!

A: Go stuff yourself Timid.

Q: Andrew, don’t be like that…

A:*Andrew Polkinghorne exits the room, leaving an awkward pause*

Well that got a bit firey. If anyone would like to be featured next week, please submit your application to thetimidranger@hotmail.com otherwise, keep an eye on facebook for any Dream Team talk.

Talk Time With The Timid Ranger Part IV

The critics have expressed a disappointment at the overly positive reporting done by the Timid Ranger to date, having only interviewed those towards the top of the league. Thus, in the interest of equality, fairness and to try and give a confidence boost to those depressed by hearing from the winning coaches, this week’s interview is with a team towards the bottom of the ladder. And you can’t go much lower than DPolks Powerhouse

Coach Name: Daniel Polkinghorne

Team Name: D Polks Powerhouse

Current Position: 16th

Q: Daniel, you are always up for a chat, but I appreciate the time taken for this interview nonetheless.

A: No worries Timid, if there is one problem with the league (other than my inclusion) it is that people don’t use the chat facilities as much as they should. So anything I can do that will generate discussion other than my coaching faults is always on my agenda.

Q: You mentioned your coaching faults, what has been your biggest brain explosion so far this year?

A: Too many to compare I think in all honesty. Whether they have caused me to cop ‘donuts’ while having scoring players on my bench or picking a player when they are injured long term or anything else, there have been many and I like to let people know about them too.

Q: Since you’ve admitted to having problems in the squad, what actions are you taking to get back in form?

A: I don’t even know, I think I’ll have a few speculative trades tomorrow to see if I can spark something. My forward line is shambolic at the moment with Tapscott injured, Richardson and Gamble not playing, Mzungu starting shakily. Now Sandilands has gotten himself injured in my rucks, so that area is depleted as well. I think if I had an extra $500k and 10 trades for this week, I might have a chance of getting a competitive team up and running.

Q: You’ve got a big game against the Halcyons coming up this week, do you anticipate a win?

A: Not really, I did outscore him in the round just gone, but I’m sure I’ll be able to come up with some way to cripple my team before Friday. When you look at my performances over the years, I very rarely get a 2000+ score in consecutive weeks. That’s a record I’m proud of and will try to keep.

Q: At what is still a relatively early stage of the year, do you see any teams making a big run before finals?

A: I reckon you need 12000 at this stage if you plan to finish in the top 8. There are 10 teams who’ve done that, so two of them will still miss out. I would be worried if I was in Laing’s position, he is very lucky to still be in the top half

Q: Which game would you pick as the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service’s Match of the Week?

A: Can you go past the top of the table clash? King Dom are challenged by Hot Pies this week which promises to be a cracker. I like crackers, but only when served with cheese. My tip is for King Dom to bounce back after a relatively poor week and just pip the Pies at the post.

If anyone would like to be featured next week, please submit your application to thetimidranger@hotmail.com otherwise, keep an eye on facebook for any Dream Team talk.

Talk Time With The Timid Ranger Part III

After a cracking start to the year, Hot Pies followed their AFL affiliate by registering their first loss for the season last weekend, so the Timid Ranger has decided to ask the coach what happened and where future trades will go.

Coach Name: Daryl Hinton

Team Name: Hot Pies

Current Position: 2nd

Q: Daryl, a big thank you for chatting to the Timid Ranger this week. It really is appreciated when its so cold.
A: So it should be, requesting that I meet you at a River 130km from my house is a bit harsh and I am literally freezing
Q: Mmmm. Speaking of cold, the treatment you’ve given your backline is looking a bit that way, only two non-rookies in the set! Whats the theory there?
A: Well obviously Grimes had to be an immediate out last week, so I downgraded him. And you’ve got to be looking pretty hard for any backs worth having. Plus I will say that I have Gibbs and Scotland in my midfield who can also go back if needed.
Q: A brave move indeed picking all those rookies. Is this your only coaching crisis at the moment?
A: Having 6 Gold Coast players in my team will make this week a real battle. I’ll need to creatively manoeuvre everyone around, but 1 need 6 bench spots from somewhere and that won’t be easy.
Q: Do you even know who your back up ruckman Ryan Bathie is?
A: Not really, all I know is that he plays for Geelong and that he is probably fairly tall but that’s all I’ve got, I don’t expect him to play at all this season. Some would see that as a wasted selection, but in my eyes, it saved me money for other areas of the team, specifically my other ruckmen (Cox and Sandilands). My thinking was that a cheap ruckman was never going to earn enough to earn a ‘cash in’ trade later in the year, so having my team with a lower total value but a higher ladder position would earn the ire of other coaches. I’m all about annoying people.
Q: You suffered defeat for the first time last weekend at the hands of the Driscoll Halcyons, a team you were well above but he came up with a score of 2029. How are the boys feeling?
A: They are still up beat. Some teams are here to compete for the title and others are here to be happy with a spot in the top 8. Greg and I are in different categories, and I’ll let you decide which is which.
Q: Which game would you pick as the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service’s Match of the Week?
A: I think with King Dom hitting a weekly ranking of 12 and the Polar Bears rediscovering a bit of form by cracking the 2000 last week, that match up will be a real cracker. I’m tipping the polk a dot in an upset win.
If anyone would like to be featured next week, please submit your application to thetimidranger@hotmail.com thanks to those who have added me as a friend on facebook, will try to generate some discussion via that medium this weekend.

Team Review: King Dom

Written by Leights

The season has well and truly begun and now that the multi-byes are on the back burner for a while I thought it was time to start reviewing some of the teams and working out who is a chance and who isnt. My early opinions (your welcome to disagree, but I doubt few will) is that Dan Polks is not much of a chance. He has almost posted more rubbish in the coaches box this yr than last yr and were only into Round 4 of competitive games.

The team I want to focus on today is Andrew Carey's team: KingDom. Carey is making a genuine name for himself as a Dream Team gun after finishing top of the table last yr in the home and away season and making another cracking start to 2011. There was some off season talk that he might give the Fantasy game away this yr to focus on bigger things, primarily getting bigger. But with a 24 hour gym now at his disposal and regular protein shakes to keep him going Carey has found a way to manage training and playing.

His pre- season study, unlike Leeds, didnt use the Prospectus. He observed the NAB cup and used DT talk to find out what he needed to know and construct his team. His scores in the early 3 rounds demonstrated that he had researched well, although he had made some interesting selections that many, mostly Patty could not understand.

There are 4 selections in particular that I want to focus on that really have given Carey and edge over many of his competitors. Carey has realised that to win this comp you need to have some unique players in your team and take a punt on them performing for you. The selections I want to look at today are: Liam Shiels from Hawthorn, Tom Rockliff from the Lions, Chris Dawes from Collingwood and Robin Nahas from the Tigers. Each of these players have made carey money, Shiels nearly $100,000. What is more important for Carey is that no one else has all of them, even some of them in their team. Nahas beat Patty single handedly when he tonned up in the KingDom v Birdman match. Rockliff was a steal for many teams last yr, but no one would have thought he would have continued

Each of these players have paid off for Carey in big ways with their scoring the averages are as follows Nahas: 78.18 Rockliff: 111 Dawes: 91 and Shiels: 93.

Carey still has a lot of players that we all do, the Swan, goddard, Gibbs etc. but it seems the key to building a good team that can win a premiership is to take some risks and pick some players that are unique. We all know Carey loves to burn early trades, but if he can continue to build his team with these unique picks he should be a contender come seasons end.

When trading dont be afraid of having a look at some players on the list that no one else might have- unless your Dan who should stick to picking muppets.

Carey: The stats
Average per round: 1982.67
Overall Ranking: 12,010
Predicted finish: top 4
Predicted trades used currently: 6

Talk Time With The Timid Ranger Part II

The Timid Ranger has been flooded with interview requests this week and whilst I would love to share a coffee with every team coach, the fact of the matter is that I do have a national park to run and there has been an outbreak of scurvy among the eucalypts so I’ve been run off my feet. I have only a couple of spare minutes with which I can act as journalist this week, and that time has been spent chatting to the reigning premier of Leeds Premiership, Mr. Leeds himself.

Coach Name: Matt Leeds
Team Name: Leeds Dynasty
Current Position: 12th

Q: Thanks for offering your time Matt, when you are referred to as Mr Leeds by students, have you ever likened yourself to Mr Deeds and secretly wished that the inheritance which he was given was yours?
A: No.

Q: What are your thoughts on the dream team season thus far?
A: Its been a slightly disappointing start for yours truly. I never expect to find myself outside the top 8 at any point during the season and so to have started with two losses out of the first three games, its very depressing. I do have a strong squad though and I’m confident our off days will be less common in coming weeks.

Q: Is there any particular area of concern for you?
A: At the moment its just a case of the big boys not pulling their weight. Like many DT coaches, I base my team around picking players at the higher end or lower end of the market and not much in between. The problem has been that of my 13 ‘star’ players,12 have decreased in value so far this season which is simply not good enough. Accepting that is like being happy about losing a game after leading by 7
goals in the 3rd quarter – its just not on.

Q: How has the 3 weeks of 3 team byes affected your team?
A: I’m of the opinion that it effects all equally. As long as you plan for it, you should be able to get away with minimal damage. Having an awful weekend for most just gone has left many with a sour taste in their mouth, but I believe it to be another area where those who prepare well can take advantage of their tactical ability.

Q: Do you see any trades coming up in the near future?
A: We have reached the stage of the season where it is worth considering liquidating your cash cows and upgrading to a ‘keeper’. Whether I start that process this week or next is still up for debate. I think I’ll have to wait until the teams get released on Thursday

Q: You play dkisgun this weekend, are you feeling confident ahead of this important game?
A: I’m always confident of a good showing, but you are right when you say it is an important game. I think having just the one Collingwood player in my normal starting lineup will help me. Daniel has got Shaw as well as Swan, so he has two big holes to fill and I’ll be looking to target that weakness in defence. He has to play two of Duigan, O’Shea and Toy – none of whom I would want starting for me.

Q: Which game would you pick as the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service’s Match of the Week?
A: Judging by ladder position, you would have to say that Cutter411 v thebluesfan is the red hot game and the victor is well placed to go on and challenge the top 3. Dkisgun and I are also fairly close, but I’m tipping a 103 point win to the dynasters on the back of a Matthew Boyd masterclass.
If anyone would like to be featured next week, please submit your application to thetimidranger@hotmail.com or invite me as a friend on facebook and we can get the ball rolling.

Talk Time With The Timid Ranger

I have been told by a friend involved in the Leeds Premiership that it has been suffering from poor usage of the blog page. Because of this, I have taken it upon myself to create a weekly article involving the interviewing of a coach. First up, it’s the high flying Leights Legends.

Coach Name: Leighton Corr

Team Name: Leights Legends

Current Position: 3rd

Q: Leighton, after a competent start to the year, you must be reasonably happy with your squad?
A: I think that’s fair to say, having scored like I have recently I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m a cut above the rest of the blokes. I’m expecting to go through this year undefeated and if I keep up this run of form, I’ll be putting my car up for sale as I get ready to drive around the FJ Cruiser.

Q: What has been the secret to your success during the early rounds of this season?
A: I think at the end of the day it comes down to the culture of the place. Once we hit that first win, success became contagious and started occurring more regularly than a DPolks coaching blunder. To be honest, I think that is also Collingwood’s secret – put all your effort into round 1 and your problems are solved for the year. Picking a Collingwood player as captain is just one of the common coaching traits I share with Mick Malthouse and considering this, I’m a little surprised they chose Buckley to coach next year, overlooking me in the process. I’m open to talk to any prospective AFL clubs (except Richmond, not even I could bring them success).

Q: Do you see any trades coming up in the near future?
A: Well as they say – if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Q: Moving our focus to the league, who do you think is favourite to take out the league this year?
A: KingDOM Carey has started brightly, but he has been lucky with a few smokey picks and as we have seen over the last few years is always susceptible to a latter season fade out. Daryl’s Hot Pies are the other unbeaten team, but that is more due to a favourable draw than anything else. I think Leights’ Legends are the goods this year, very strong performances early and though we are surrounded by a fair amount of quality, I’m confident to be leading the league into finals.

Q: And who do you tip to be fighting out the relegation battle come late August?
A: My tip is probably DPolks and Buddha. Not to pick on the new bloke, but regularly you see newly promoted teams enjoy a honeymoon period before hitting the week-in, week-out slog of a season long DT. Last I heard Centrebet was paying $1.02 for DPolks to finish 16th.

If anyone would like to be featured next week, please submit your application to thetimidranger@hotmail.com or invite me as a friend on facebook and we can get the ball rolling.

The Feeder Comp

By The Polar Bears

We all know that the Leeds Premiership is a strong competition but in order for the competition to continue to grow it has been decided that we need a feeder comp. Now at the moment Kent and a few of his mates have another dreamteam comp. This will for now act as the feeder comp. Now I hear you ask, how will this feeder comp work? Because I’m friends with everyone won’t I automatically be guaranteed my position in the Leeds Premiership (or other name deciding on who wins it.) No, No won’t. The first two sides to get knocked out of the bottom 8 finals will be relegated to the feeder league and the top two from the feeder league (currently Kent’s other comp) will move up into our league. Its not all bad news for the teams who get knocked out as one will get to have the feeder comp named after them and with some persistence can progress back into league number 1 if the win the feeder comp. The feeder league is still in its preliminarily stage of planning so we are happy to take suggestions from others as to the make up of the feeder league.

League Entry

By bloodstainedangels
Periods of the past month have been a time of intense struggle for me. There were times when I questioned the worthiness of life, and there were times when I wondered if it was worth carrying on for another season. If I’m being honest, a year of missing out on the banter, competition and discussion of this esteemed league would be too much for this coach to bear.

Thankfully though a space was cleared for me and as such the grey cloud of doubt was dissipated. My Fantasy Freako study sessions were now more serious, my NAB Cup watching was now more methodical, my whole Dream Team preparation had regained a zeal which could motivate me to rebuild the Bloodstainedangels to a position where they are primed and ready to take the competition by storm.

So watch out, the angels are back in 2011 and are primed to exercise their divine right as Dream Team Dominators.

Who Is Buddha?

With the addition of new teams to the competition it only seems fair that we receive some background information on these new premiership prospects. While a number of them will be considered rank outsiders the more information on them the better.

We start with the new kid on the block and self proclaimed Gold Coast of the competition 'The Dropkicks'. Initially the name does not fill you with confidence but I am guessing with the alias of Buddha there may be some divine help or at least a little wisdom. The child of a self proclaimed DT addict, Buddha has been working away at his craft for a number of years now. Entering what he has tipped as a breakout season, the Dropkicks, are set to pick a number of his beloved Bombers.

We can only hope the progress of Buddha is a little more rapid than our last St Andrew's student addition. Bill's Bulldozers talks a big game but so far the achievements list is a little bare with bragging rights including a first week finals loss a couple of years ago and beating the Birdman on a couple of occasions. With Buddha proclaiming himself the Gold Coast of the Competition (as in will win a premiership in 5 years) Bill must certainly be the Richmond (2 final appearances since 1983!) Good luck to the dropkicks this season, I think the development of the league’s youngest and newest team will be a quick one.

Team name: The Dropkicks
Alias: Buddha
Year 11 Student St Andrew's Cathedral School
The Question?
Will Buddha be the James Hird of our competition? False hopes based on preseason results followed by a disappointing effort when the real show comes to town.
Predicted ladder result: 8th - 10th.