safda league predictions...

this starts in less than an hour.

firstly, very impressed with the number of teams this year, particularly from flinders and adelaide uni, both sporting two womens teams and two div 2 teams!

and the women are going to be hard to call; from first glance it truely looks like it could go to any of the 6 teams; i think both the flinders and au teams have spread themselves to thin and, as a general rule, ue and flycatchers are still playing catch up to be able to dominate. having said that, i would pick flinders 'fun', the one lead by sarah pillar, as being the stronger of the two and with sarah's leadership and, probably more significantly, strong long throws, i'm picking them as my favorites for the win. the rest is too close to call...

div 2 is in a similar situation: split adelaide teams, split flinders teams, and several other clubs bringing their best div 2 lines. notably, ballmark figures have made a return. this excites me. adelaide are keeping all hush hush on their actual players so i can't comment on that, but i'd put flinders blue over flinders yellow and ue, with their coincidentally large number of div 1 players, above them both. this could be their first chance at a semi-serious title.

now div 1, time to get serious. from the outset, and im not the only one that thinks this, i can't see the title going to anyone other than 'joel and bumbo'. with the best handlerl, best reciever, and another couple strong pickups this looks like a sure thing. apparantly i've taken a 'pussy' approach to this team, but this was said to me by one of the bumbo team members who, in my opinion, didnt exactly join for strong opposition. all i'm saying is i don't think i'm the pussy one :)
their strengths are to strong to beat, but they have weaknesses - significantly, their several girls. i doubt that will be enough though.

again, adelaide havent released their lineup, but i speculate that they are in a similar boat as flinders; having lost a few key players from last year's finals lineup, they both may not be as strong but still will fight it out for a twenty ten finals spot. i pick flinders to come out on top.

ue have spent another summer preparing for nationals and therefore league, and this year it may finally pay off. they will be a close 4th. flycatchers have lost key members in craig and dutch, and even with the addition of sean lace it won't be enough to threaten the top teams. nau is slowly growing in strength and i wouldn't be surprised if they didn't finish bottom this year.

final placings:
joel and bumbo
flinders fury
adelaide uni
ultimate evolution
north adelaide ultimate
flycatchers.

see you on the fields in.... 15 minutes :)