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.