State of Origin Series XX - Series MVP... Congratulations beez!!

[TheInjuryFactory]

Western Australia 11.8.74 def by Allies 12.4.76 - LINK​

It was a blockbuster Series XIX Grand Final rematch that got this year's series underway here in Perth, as the Allies looked to extend their three game winning streak over WA. Team WA on the other hand were seeking revenge having faltered at the last hurdle on their home deck last series. But it was the Allies once again who would go on to continue their rich vein of form against the sandgropers, prevailing at Perth Stadium in a nailbiter as they pipped WA by a paltry two points.

Player​	Match​	Series​
TY24 (WA)​	3​	3​
serial_thrilla (WA)​	2​	2​
damicky (ALL)​	1​	1​

Victoria Metro 14.10.94 def by South Australia 14.11.95 - LINK

While across the Nullabor, Vic Metro hosted SA in what had been cast as the off broadway production, but which would produce an equally blockbuster showing to kick off the series. In another gripping contest, the croweaters would hold on in a cliffhanger to salute as they bested the Vics by a solitary point to get their campaign off to a dream start.
​

Player​	Match​	Series​
beez (VM)​	3​	3​
Cap (SA)​	2​	2​
NaturalDisaster (VM)​	1​	1​

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

Allies 12.10.82 def by Victoria Country 15.7.97 - LINK​

The Allies would return to one of their many homes for Round 2 as they hosted the Counts at People First Stadium. The Counts were looking to open their account with a win having sat out with the bye in Rd 1, while the Allies were looking to make it two from two in their title defence as they sought to become the first side to threepeat since WA achieved the treble all the way back in Series' III, IV & V. But it was not to be, as the up and about Counts cruised to a 15 point victory to get their series underway with a prized scalp.

Player​	Match​	Series​
damicky (ALL)​	3​	4​
Robertio (VC)​	2​	2​
cats_09 (VC)​	1​	1​

Western Australia 16.14.110 def by South Australia 17.11.113 - LINK

While the sandgropers looked to bounce back from an agonising two point defeat as they once again enjoyed a home ground advantage hosting SA. In the third game decided by less than kick, WA would once again lose in dramatic fashion in front of the faithful, this time to the tune of just three points as the home ground hoodoo continued with all four home sides bizarrely having lost their matches at home to date. SA would improve their ledger to 2-0 to lead the series off the back of two belter wins, while WA slumped to 0-2 and the fate of their series was no longer in their hands.
​

Player​	Match​	Series​
Cap (SA)​	3​	5​
Falconista (WA)​	2​	2​
Bradesmaen (SA)​	1​	1​

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

South Australia 13.15.93 def by Allies 22.7.139 - LINK​

The ladder leading South Aussies welcomed the Allies to Adelaide Oval as they looked to cement their place in the decider. The Allies on the other hand, were seeking to keep themselves in the hunt. The Croweaters started in red hot form as they piled on six goals to two in the first stanza, but it was the Allies who would arrest momentum and flex their muscles as they booted 20 goals to 7 after quarter time to once again prove their championship bonafides as they remained in contention with a thumping 46 point victory over the ladder leaders.

Player​	Match​	Series​
ShaunDuggan (ALL)​	3​	3​
DemurePrincess (ALL)​	2​	2​
philreich (SA)​	1​	1​

Victoria Country 10.9.69 def by Victoria Metro 12.9.81 - LINK

In what we now know was the preview to the Series XX Grand Final, the Counts hosted the even bigger 'counts' the Metros out at Mortlake for some stepbrothers style fighting action. In a serious case of foreshadowing, the Metros comfortably accounted for their less sophisticated brethren to the tune of 12 points as the now spooky streak of home team losses extended to six on the trot!
​

Player​	Match​	Series​
PhenomenalV1 (VM)​	3​	3​
beez (VM)​	2​	5​
Tigerturbulance (VC)​	1​	1​

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

Victoria Country 16.10.106 def by Western Australia 18.7.115 - LINK​

Round 4 saw a salty WA seeking to bounce back after the bye to keep their slim hopes alive, heading to the wilderness of the Victorian coast as they travelled to Ocean Grove to tackle the up and about Counts. In another thrilling Series XX clash, the gropers finally registered a win as they overcame a 14 point deficit at three quarter time to will their way to a 9 point victory to stay a mathematical chance of making it to the decider.

​

Player​	Match​	Series​
Falconista (WA)​	3​	5​
cats_09 (VC)​	2​	3​
BLUEALLTHRU (WA)​	1​	1​

Allies 12.12.84 def by Victoria Metro 27.16.178 - LINK
​

Riding high having bested their fellow Vics in Round 3, Vic Metro headed to a showground for livestock to tackle the reigning champion Allies. Needing a win to cement their chance for a historic third series win in a row, the Allies would have been confident going into the first change at 5 goals apiece, but from there it was an all time destroyation for the ages. The Allies were humbled on their own patch, as the Metro side led a procession kicking 22 goals to 7 after quarter time dispatching the Allies in humiliating fashion, delivering a 94 point defeat in one of the biggest thrashings in State of Origin history to brutally end the Allies campaign in a warning to the competition.

PS. Make that 0-8 for home sides in Series XX.

​

Player​	Match​	Series​
nahnah (VM)​	3​	3​
PhenomenalV1 (VM)​	2​	5​
NaturalDisaster (VM)​	1​	2​

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

South Australia 7.6.48 def by Victoria Country 20.10.130 - LINK

The match of the round saw a hopeful Counts side desperately needing a win and a bit more to go their way to make their way into the Final, as they headed to Adelaide Oval to take on the 2nd placed Croweaters. It was the Counts who got out in front early, and went into the first break with a handy 14 point buffer. That was as close as the home side would get, as the Counts hit blistering form to pummel the South Aussies, kicking 15 of the last 19 goals of the game to cruise into their first decider since Series XIV with an 82 point hiding of SA sealing an All-Victorian Final for the first time in State of Origin history, much to everyone else's dismay.

PPS. That's 0-9 for home sides in Series XX.
​

Player​	Match​	Series​
FootyGuy13 (VC)​	3​	3​
Robertio (VC)​	2​	4​
cats_09 (VC)​	1​	4​

Victoria Metro 15.10.100 def Western Australia 14.8.92 - LINK​

WA headed to the home of that other sport, seeking to achieve the miraculous after a bitterly unlucky series to date as they took on the form team of the competition, Vic Metro. Hoping to see the home ground hoodoo continue, the gropers were still on the plane in the first quarter, as the Vics piled on 7 goals to 3 in the opener. The Metro side looked in cruise control for the first three quarters, until they put the cue in the rack in the final stanza giving the West Aussies the faintest sniff of a chance, but they failed to capitalise as the home side broke the Series XX curse and powered into the decider in poll position to take on their Victorian pals on their home deck.

​

Player​	Match​	Series​
Freofalcon (WA)​	3​	3​
nahnah (VM)​	2​	5​
TheInjuryFactory (WA)​	1​	1​

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

Congratulations to TheGoatBaron, the leading goalkicker for State of Origin Series XX with a damaging 20 majors for Vic Country, 2 goals clear of the Alllies' runner-up big man, ShaunDuggan on 18 goals.

He joins illustrious company as the most dominant spearhead of a State of Origin series, joining past winners such as WA legends and multiple series leaders YOTC & Tarkyn_24, as well as his fellow Counts Headless (wow this SHOCKED me!) & croweater 41.

A bag of six straight in Round 2 against the Allies got his series off to a flyer, backing it up with 6.2 against Metro the following match, and despite being held goalless against WA in Rd 4, he managed to regain his attacking prowess heading into the Series XX Final, where his valiant 6.3 effort gave his Counts a fighting chance in the Final despite ultimately falling short.

Congratulations TheGoatBaron ​

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

Victoria Metro 14.13.97 def Victoria Country 13.16.94 - LINK

The Series XX culminated in an historic All-Victorian Grand Final for the first time in State of Origin's long and illustrious history, as the 3-1 Metro qualified to host the decider at the MCG against an equally dangerous Counts side coming off an 82 point trouncing of SA to force their way into the final two.

Well, we all know by now how this belter finished in the end, but what a classic it was and what a befitting battle for a State of Origin Final. The Counts surged in front after a tight first quarter, streaming away to a game high 39 point lead midway through the third quarter, only for the Metro side to storm their way back into the contest with 8 of the last 12 goals and just nudging their way in front with the last score of the game to go on to win their third title and first since Series XV by just 3 points in a heartbreaker for the Counts.
​

Player​	Match​	Series​
beez (VM)​	3​	8​
FootyGuy13 (VC)​	2​	5​
kickthething (VM)​	1​	1​

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

Final Leaderboard

Player	Votes
beez (VM)	8
Cap (SA)	5
Falconista (WA)	5
FootyGuy13 (VC)	5
PhenomenalV1 (VM)	5
nahnah (VM)	5
cats_09 (VC)	4
damicky (ALL)	4
Robertio (VC)	4
Freofalcon (WA)	3
NaturalDisaster (VM)	3
TY24 (WA)	3
ShaunDuggan (ALL)	3
DemurePrincess (ALL)	2
serial_thrilla (WA)	2
Bradesmaen (SA)	1
kickthething (VM)	1
philreich (SA)	1
Tigerturbulance (VC)	1
TheInjuryFactory (WA)	1

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

Congratulations beez, our State of Origin Series XX boncer34 Medallist!!!

beez enjoyed a stellar Series XX campaign, polling 8 votes across 5 matches to win the boncer34 Medal by an impressive 3 votes from the following pack.

The crowning glory is surely his best afield performance in Vic Metro's stunning comeback in the Grand Final. His 30 touch, 11 tackle midfield masterpiece dragged his side over the line and secured their third series win in State of Origin history.

But as a wise man once said, that's just the fingernail deep analysis. The tackling machine and inside beast kicked off his series in style with a commanding Round 1 performance in an agonising first up loss for the Metros, as he collected 21 touches alongside his whopping 11 tackles in a best on ground effort.

beez returned to the votes in Rd 3 in the All-Victorian clash after a Rd 2 bye, his 23 disposals, 7 tackles and a goal seeing him link with teammate PhenomenalV1 to turn the tide in their favour in the Grand Final preview.

The veteran enjoyed a remarkable Series XX in the Vic Metro engine room to become just the third Vic Metro player to win the prestigious boncer34 Medal for the MVP in a State of Origin series.

Congratulations beez!!!


beez - Statistics across 5 Matches for Vic Metro
​

Disposals per game​	​ 21.8​
Tackles per game​	​ 7.6​
Goals per game​	​ 0.8​
DreamTeam Points per game​	​ 89.2​

Thanks Falconista for the statistics!