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Maybe we should have a mutual league tank (no players over 10k salary allowed). Then whoever promotes will have enough cash to stay in the ABBL.

You go first aussie... :-P

Had a decent look at all the teams and I reckon Haggards is definitely the favourite in the Great 8. In the Big 8 though, there are a number of teams that look a chance to go through (Beechy for once not included). P5 was quiet all last season and could be looking to make a couple of purchases this season that would put him right in contention. SS, Chelsea, Vics look to be in for a tough battle and personally I think Moosa is being a tad modest in saying he's out of contention. I think we're in for a beauty!

Yeah Hags look good. I'll be happy with 4th/5th i'm about a million short of having enough cash to buy the PG i need.

I'd like to finish higher than 5th this season. At this stage it's probably looking likely the 3 new teams are likely to fall short of the 5, unless of course they make some purchases to bring them up (obviously Fanny is already looking to auto relegate).

My guess is the Great 8 will look like this at the season's end. Obviously there is still plenty of time for teams to change but I'm just having a go.

***UPDATED***

1. Haggards
2. Aussie Pride
3. Vios Violationers
4. All Sorts
5. Team Lordy
6. Flaming Ramzays
7. Docs Patients
8. Hobos

Last edited by Violator at 8/2/2011 10:01:24 AM

And just for the hell of it here's a guess at the Big 8: (I may update this later tonight, this comp is a lot closer and needs a more detailed study).

***UPDATED***

1. VictoriaMages
2. Chelsea Seagulls
3. Stone Slashers
4. Moosas Mad Men
5. Pheonix 5
6. Beechy (i'm still counting on a big spend up, he's done it before)
7. Steves Crocs
8. Northcote Slammers


I fully expect this list to easily change. The bottom 4 do not look like names one would expect to be competing for relegation but early on this is how it looks.

Last edited by Violator at 8/2/2011 7:58:27 AM

surely you have a couple of mil and push to the big time coming vios.

they only way ill get it this season is by pure fluke. I'd say i'd like to have a run Season 20.

It would be nice to have a genuine crack but I've been saying a while now that season 18 is the most likely time. Based on my last 3 season's training plan. If I got through this season it would be very sneaky and highly unlikely. Haggards is my man for the Great 8. He'll be up against any one of 4 teams from the Big 8.

Last edited by Violator at 8/1/2011 12:23:36 AM

Yay 5th. Pretty good considering I was thinking a tanking season. lets hope no buy ups from the others.

Yay 5th. Pretty good considering I was thinking a tanking season. lets hope no buy ups from the others.

Yeah that's pretty much what it comes down to. It's not often you have a Div III team receive high expectations early in the season when they have just promoted. You're now in your 2nd season after just sneaking through season 16. You are the initial target of new teams but I think you're in a comfortable spot for now and should be able to consolidate once more.

I'd hate to be in the Big 8 though as every team listed in my initial bottom 8 looks to be a possible sleeper. Injuries could play a vital part in who finishes where and mistakes in tactics could be crucial. P5 is my big tip for an improved performance on last season.

Time to take a look at the newbies...

Big 8
Steves Crocs - After a shock relegation from Div II.1 in season 15, the Crocs had a pretty easy run down in Div III.16, taking out the title with a 22-0 record. The only loss all season was game two of the finals series, which no doubt was deliberate in order to rake in some extra dosh. Not only did they take the title but Pablo Fromista also took out the season MVP, with fellow Croc Silvio De Lange following in 2nd place. It should also be mentioned that Carlton Gustafson finished 5th as well as Conor Bain coming in at 8th place.
Steves Crocs has been around since season 2 and back in the early days spent 4 seasons in the ABBL before being relegated in season 7. He then spent the next 8 seasons in Div II.1, making the finals 7 times consecutively before being relegated. Always a favorite but never making it further than the semi's must have been a bitter pill to swallow.
Now the Crocs are back in Div II (.3) and ready to have another crack at that holy grail that we all desire. Far from the team that I remember owning me 7 times (to -0) in our own rivalry but probably still packing a trick or two. Star player and recent MVP winner Pablo Fromista ($54k) leads the team at C but may struggle in a league well known for monster C's. With an average $38k PF and $36k PG, some changes will be required if the team is to hang about. The Crocs severely lacks a genuine SG & SF and looks to be easy pickings for the moment. None the less Brendo69 is a seasoned veteran and can't be written off this early into the season.

Northcote Slammers - Relegated together in the same season with Steves Crocs, the Slammers are another team that has been around the block. First arriving in season 6, NC spent 5 seasons improving their trade in Div III.2 before finally breaking into Div II.1 in season 11. Like a yo-yo the Slammers went up and then came crashing down.
After a season back down in the 3's, Greeno managed to sneak his way past Huddo's Hacks from 2nd on the ladder in the Big 8 (with a record of 20-2) and then easily taking the title. Demarcus Polglase was clearly the difference for NC, taking the MVP with no other team mates in sight in the race. At $43k Polglase is also going to needs some help, though the Slammers have a pretty well rounded starting 5 already. Only the PG falls under the $35k salary at $20k.
Greeno already has a couple of lesser players on the trade market and could well be looking to increase finances in order to boost his side's chances of avoiding relegation. Keep an eye on the healthy rivalry between the Crocs and Slammers as both jostle for a position above 8th.

Newbie Review Cont...

The Great 8
Hobos - Fannypackman has been around since season 8, beginning his journey right down in Div IV.2. Hobos managed to break through to Div III.3 after 4 seasons and then into Div II.2 after another 2 seasons. Unfortunately season 14 turned out to be a premature rise for Fanny and the team was relegated back to Div III.9. Now after two confidence boosting seasons, the Fannypackman has returned to Div II (.3).
It appears Hobos have not rated themselves and have already put their hand up for the auto relegate position after a well publicised fire sale (courtesy of Yoda). Fanny has only a single Div II worthy player over $30k and will likely be the receiver of many reamings throughout this season. In the long run though this team should save a considerable amount of cash and will most certainly bounce straight back up, if Fanny does indeed stick to his tanking schedule for the entire season.

Docs Patients - These guys arrived on the season back in season 6 (as did Northcote Slammers) and took just two seasons to move up to Div II.2. A Div II veteran of 8 seasons and 5 playoffs during that period, Docs Patients were finally relegated in season 15. Not looking to linger in the lesser Div, DC got back on the horse and finished the season with a 21-1 record and clean sweeping the finals. Jost Hollinger, Kelly Brereton & Marcel Videmšek were all good enough to make the top 10 (3rd, 4th & 8th respectively) in the MVP count last season.
These guys are held together by 3 worthy starters including a $64k C and two SG at $39k & $35k. Unfortunately the next four players fail to get out of the teens and are merely back up worth players. No doubt a decent starting point for any team wishing to hold a spot in our league but additional players will be required to gain that crucial edge.

Flaming Ramzays - In my opinion this Div II rookie is the most likely contender to hold their position this season. Of all the 5 Div III promotees, this is the most well rounded side and well lead by gun SG Brodey Haddock, at 22yo ($80k). Mention must also go to last season MVP Clément Picard who would have competed well but at $49k will have difficulties, especially for a 31yo. Olexandr Kravchenko finished 4th in the MVP tally, one spot behind already mentioned prodigy SG Haddock. With a record of 21-1 the Flaming Ramzays powered through for their first look at a Div II comp, though a 4pt in the prelim would have been a little nerve racking.
Already manager flipperking has $34k PF Freddie Seo on the trade market, which shows motions are already in play to improve the sides competitive ability. Currently lacking depth, FR will be hoping their future superstar SG will be able to cause enough trouble to put a few wins on the board for his team. He's already coming 2nd in the points scored race after a brilliant (but solo) performance against All-Sorts, scoring 36pts. An injury could prove disastrous though and teams may resort to dirty tactics if Haddock continues his early form.
I strongly tip this team to hold their position and will go well in seasons to come if they manage to consolidate.

always great write ups mate ;)
i'm hoping of landing bak here next season with wads of cash and smeltz V2 well on his way to taking over the original fatcat
i was hesitant at first about tanking in the abbl with the sal floor and all, but man i gotta say, tv contract is worth 207k this season, plus my merch has exploded to 120k this wk, hopefully i can fill out my stadium even @ 90% capacity and i'm already looking @ 450k net a wk. that is in my eyes, well worth tanking for