boncer34
Formerly "Dos23"
VS
First let us focus on the Furies. This is a team that has won 4 previous premierships in the SFA in seasons 5, 8, 10 and 11. However since their last triumph in Season 11 (when they were the undisputed best team in the history of the competition), the Furies have claimed 2 wooden spoons and 2 second last finishes consigning their golden era to the hearts and memories of the Furies faithful. If they win here, however, the bleak period for the Furies will be over and they will once again be the undisputed best team in the history of the competition.
But enough of the past lets look closer at this season; The Furies compiled an impressive 10-7 record throughout the regular season with their percentage of 114.86% being the best in the competition by approximately 3.5% which indicates that when they win they tend to win big and when they lose it is only by narrow margins. This record has occurred due to a number of factors, their number one recruit Uncle_Leo being one of them. A lot was made of Leo's off-season movement to the Furies from the Dragons and he has answered critics by having an impressive season where he finished fourth in the Alf-Andrews kicking 64 goals for the season (of course this is 6 less then the Dragons FF who he believes he should have replaced at Dragon Island but still a nice effort from the young man). Capped off of course by his 6 goals in the Furies' preliminary final victory over his former side.
Another key cog that has got the Furies to the big dance is This Is Anfield. He was the competitions clear disposal winner during the regular season, racking up 13 touches more than anyone else in the competition. For a team that has never managed to have a Mobbenfuhrer medalist, the bookies have the young man red hot favourite. There is no doubt, though, that he would happily give up his chance at the medal if it meant the Furies were to get up on Sunday night. TIA has been a revelation on the field for the Furies, the only flaw many still argue is his posting ability but in the game of Qooty that counts for naught and no doubt he'll be here all week telling you just how good he is.
But perhaps the most intriguing story for the Furies going into this weeks Grand Final is none other than their much maligned captain fumbler. I've lost track of how many times this bloke has been called the worst captain in the competition but for all the hate this Sunday he has the chance to forever be known as Premiership Captain Fumbler. Many would say this is a travesty when blokes such as Ljp86 and so have never won a premiership but the reality is he has worked just as hard as all the blokes before him and if he wins and gains the title it will be 100% deserved. In fact I like to look at it as proof that in the SFA anything can happen, even a bloke who has copped as much s**t as Fumbler can still win so if your looking for a reason to support the Furies this Sunday then look no further then how Fumbler has conducted himself in the face of all the bullshit this season and really the question has to be asked would the Royals be in the GF this Sunday if they'd given the captaincy to the deserving Fumbler instead of the usurpers?
But enough on the Furies, lets talk about the team on the other side of the ledger. Formerly known as Team Pump, the Mount Buller Demons have been around from day dot. They're almost as old as Freakie. But if the Furies are the potential poster boys for greatness then the Demons are without a shadow of a doubt the poster boys for mediocrity and failure. You may think I'm being harsh with that call but the reality is that despite existing for 18 seasons now the Demons haven't won a flag. In fact,Eth can already call himself their most successful captain after securing a minor premiership last year and the GF this year meaning he is one up on Juggalo Balla. (I think Juggs will correct if I'm wrong). But again enough of the past lets focus on recent history for the Demons.
Last year was the Demon's year, they had the Mobbenfuhrer Medalist, they had the Minor Premiership, they had the chicks, the power, the money... but what they didn't have was a finals victory and they ended up crashing out in straight sets. They had appeared to have put the result behind them though in the first four rounds of this season starting with a perfect 4-0 record before running into their Grand Final opponents in Round 5 and being hammered. After that their form was patchy at best before a 4 game streak between 12-15 again saw them go 4-0 which again was ended by the Furies, they then lost the last game of the season and for many all hope was lost. But the Demons proved the doubters wrong thumping a pathetically lead East Side Hawks who are clearly yearning for their leaders of yesteryear before rolling the top two ranked sides for the season; the Gumbies in the Semi final and the Bandits in the Prelim.
But who have been the men behind the Demons push to the Grand Final this season? Well we can't start this list off without mentioning the old timer in cooney. The Season 13 Mobbenfuhrer medalist has been written off more times than he can count, but despite this he is still bouncing around dominating the field. It is more on field then off these days, but in the game of Qooty it is the on field behavior that makes you a legend. Considered too old and slow for the modern game, the former midfielder Cooney has reinvented himself as a go to Full Forward in recent times and managed to kick 68 goals during the H&A season. But his finest effort of the year is without a doubt the 8 goal haul he managed in the Preliminary final against the Bandits. While his opposite number for that game,Bengwatkins, is all about the personal glory, Cooney has always been a team player. It was no surprise in the biggest game of their careers that Cooney was the one that came out on top.
Another sentimental favorite for the Demons to push forward for their fans this weekend is the much loved leader Eth. As stated earlier the man is without a doubt the most successful Demons captain of all time and if ever there deserved to be a man win a flag it is no doubt the long standing Demons captain. This man was brought into this league under one flog who vanished after having a sook and was then forced to endure the leadership of another flog before finally being given the chance to lead the club to greatness. His astute recruiting of Footypie and Smarty Pants is the stuff of geniuses and both of them will be integral players on Sunday night if the Demons happen to get up. Similar to cooney Eth is also a Mobbenfuhrer medalist but he has never tasted Premiership glory, no doubt he would give up his Mobbs medal, his Deestroy medals and his All-SFA Guernsey if it meant that victory on Sunday was guaranteed. While he does play a quieter role in the on-field aspect and is no longer the Demons number 1 go to midfielder there is no doubt Eth is a star and will dominate the match thread during the week. He may even wind back the clock a few seasons to give us a taste of the Eth from Season 14.
Finally 2 vital pieces in the Demons puzzle on Sunday night will be Footypie32 and lanky_wes. These two have formed one of the great on ball divisions this season with a real chance both of them will be Mobbs medalists at the end of Season 18. Lanky_wes last seasons winner of the medal has been in fine form this season and has continued his push into the elite category of SFA players this season. His posting has improved and he would be considered a real shot at the Deestroy Medal on Sunday night so check the bookies odds. In fact Footypie may be the only Demon able to knock Lanky off as favorite for the Deestroy medal, the man has been on fire this season always hovering near the top of the disposal count in what must be considered a break out season for him. Maybe I've never noticed him before or maybe he's genuinely improved either way Footypie is now pushing the elite category of the SFA. If the Furies are not careful on Sunday night he may just run rampant.
But enough of the history and the important players and all that crap, lets get to the nuts and bolts of this OP. Who is going to win the GF on Sunday? Well clearly the sentimental favorites will be the Demons. The Furies can claim this is wrong all they want but the Demons are the Western Bulldogs of the league. They are everyone's second team and the side everyone says they want to win the flag other then their own, hell if the Furies weren't in this one then I'd be a million bucks they'd be backing the Demons in. But sentiment can only get you so far in the SFA. The Fighting Furies as a club are known as winners. They have been to the top of the summit four times already and have a real shot to one up the Wonders in the #racetofive. Yes they have won spoons and all that since they last won one but don't forget this is a proud club and those down years would have stung, this is their shot at redemption. But redemption is a funny word because the Demons crashed out in straight sets last year and this season has been all about redemption, the chance to come back to the finals series and right the wrongs of last season and on Sunday they get their chance.
Of course the Furies' experience in the big dances will be brought up again and again during the week but it is interesting to note that only 5 of the side remain from their last premiership victory so make no mistake the Furies club may be experienced but for a lot of the players this will be as nerve wracking as it gets. It also needs to be mentioned that a number of Demons players have still played a Grand Final so they do know what it is all about and what level they will need to push themselves to this Sunday to get their club over the line. For me the Grand Final experience is with the Furies but only marginally, if this current crop of players thinks they are automatically the same as the ruthless Furies teams of the past and turn up expecting to win then they will be in for a rude shock.
If we look at recent experience it is also hard to go against the Furies as they have easily accounted for the Demons twice this season. But as they say, finals are a different kettle of fish and the Demons have been impressive in all 3 of their finals while the Furies did drop their first one. These two sides have also met in a final previously but it was in Season 5 so too long ago for anyone to give a s**t. In the end the reality is the Furies should and will go in as deserved favorites on Sunday night, they've had the wood over the Demons this season and will be supremely confident they can get the job done again.
My tip: But **** reality, I'm a softie at heart and I would love to see the Demons finally become men and pop the premiership cherry. The average score between these two teams is Furies 16.9 to the Demons 16.11 so I am tipping the Demons by 2 points in a close one with Cooney kicking 7, Leo kicking 6, TIA to win the Deestroy in a losing effort and Eth to wind back the clock and be the Demons best placed player in that medal.
Teams due Friday Midnight AEDST.
