As I sit back and reflect on the season so far I can’t help but have a smile on my face. Partly because of the young Thai ladyboy give my shoulders a gentle rub, but mainly be-cause of another fine season of Supercoach footy. With the Home and Away season now done and dusted, the D-Man continues to raise the bar in the running of an elite sporting competition. Its quality continues to be second to none and it is well known amongst Aus-tralian sporting administration circles that the SS is ‘the’ benchmark.

On the playing front, I must congratulate Blue Baggers on claiming the Minor Premier-ship—their second in three years. I’d also like to remind all Shield fans and supporters that my very own D-Man’s Destroyers were one of only three teams to emerge trium-phant when facing the Baggers. For the good of the competition, I felt it necessary to tank for the rest of the season after that round 1 victory.

We know set ourselves for another ripping finals series, which if it is half as good as last year, will still be top shelf. Last year’s champs the Baggers have given themselves pole position, however they have 7 teams breathing down their neck including this week’s op-ponents the Mudcrabs, who were a mere 5 points shy of knocking them off just last week. We have never had a side win two Shields, however half the finals field (Baggers, Tomsies, Wolfpak and Pies) are still in the running to be the first duel premiers.

I wish all competing teams the very best this weekend and remind the teams participating in the Gumby finals that they must do better.

Game on moles!

D���

Dr Dunwich Demitriou CEO, Stradbroke Shield

Results

The Blue Baggers wrapped up their second Minor Premiership in three years with a win over the second place Mud-crabs in a wonderful match to launch into the finals series. Dank’s Peptides secured their second finals appearance after finishing 14th last year, whilst Wolfpak won the double chance in their mini-final against the Pies. Tigerland lost again.

D-Man Destroyers 2007 def by FOF 2176

Mudcrabs 2339 def by Baggers 2343

tricolours 1793 def by Peptides 2154

JAKE'S 1486 def by Tomsies 2075

Ax 2235 def Tigerland 1491

Hangovers 2176 def Polly’s Saints2115

Pulsating Pies 2190 def by Wolfpak 2267

Vossy's mate 2184 def Franga's Fools 1705

Funny Chumps 1771 def by Dazzlers 1889

Round 17 Highest Scoring Players

1. Nathan Fyfe (Frel) - 171

2. Lenny Hayes (StK) - 155

3. Joel Selwood (Gee) - 148

4. Mitch Duncan (Geel) - 145

5. Michael Barlow (Fre) - 144

Season Highest Scoring Players

1. Scott Pendlebury (Coll) - 2,249

2. Joel Selwood (Geel) - 2,156

3. Josh Kennedy (Swans) - 2,121

4. Callan Ward (GWS) - 2,107

5. Garry Ablett (GC) - 2,050

Final Ladder

1. Blue Baggers 17 14 0 3 37040 32624 113.54 56

2. Ax 17 13 0 4 35433 32052 110.55 52

3. Wolfpak 17 13 0 4 35145 32607 107.78 52

4. Mudcrabs 17 12 0 5 36295 32942 110.18 48

5. Tomsies 17 12 0 5 35751 32918 108.61 48

6. Pulsating Pies 17 11 0 5 35599 32784 108.59 48

7. FOF 17 11 0 6 34611 32559 106.30 44

8. Danks Peptides 17 11 0 6 34429 31951 107.76 44

9. Vossy’s Mates 17 11 0 6 33069 32079 103.09 44

10. The Hangovers 17 9 0 8 34030 32449 104.87 36

11. Dazzlers 17 9 0 8 31853 32093 99.25 36

12. Tricolours 17 7 0 10 31120 31882 97.61 28

13. Polly’s Saints 17 5 0 12 32923 32659 100.81 20

14. Franga’s Fools 17 5 0 12 30123 31493 95.65 20

15. D-Man Destroyers 17 5 0 12 29975 32486 92.27 20

16. Jake’s Mates 17 2 0 15 28102 33717 83.35 8

17. Funny Chumps 17 1 0 16 28083 33022 85.04 4

18. Tigerland 17 0 0 17 21996 33260 66.13 0

Highest Season Score: 2,522 Mudcrabs (round 13)

Lowest Score: 735, Tigerland (round 6)

Highest Combined Score: 4878, Wolfpak 2507 d Tomsies 2371 (round 13)*

Lowest Combined Score: 1754, Dazzlers 1019 def Tigerland 735 (round 6)

Longest Winning Streak: 9, Baggers (rounds 3-11)

Longest Losing Streak: 17, Tigerland (rounds 1-17)

Highest Player Score: 191, P. Hanley (round 16) * Interesting note: this is the same total and same round as the highest combined score from 2013 home and away game (which also featured Wolfpak).

Round by Round

ROUND 1

Destroy. 2,166 d Baggers 2,127

FOF 2,168 d Peptides 1,945

Mudcrabs 2,308 d Tomsies 2,181

tricolours 2,157 d T'land 1,354

Saints 2,223 d Jake's 1,588

Ax 2,296 vs Wolfpak 2,120

Hangovers 2,010 vs Fools 1,776

Pies 2,077 vs Dazzlers 1,876

Vossy's 1,976 vs Chumps 1,574

ROUND 2

Peptides 2040 def Destroy.1902

Baggers 2077 def by Toms. 2088

FOF 2010 def Tigerland 1121

Mudcrabs 1975 def Saints 1849

tricolours 2248 def Pak 2023

JAKE'S 1512 def by Fools 1931

Ax 2005 def Dazzlers 1928

'Overs 2047 def Chumps 1412

Pies 2230 def Vossy's mate 2122

ROUND 3

Destroy. 1865 def by Toms. 2171

Peptides 2195 def Tig'land 1119

Baggers 2365 def SAINTS 2205

FOF 1955 def by Wolfpak 2172

Mudcrabs 2114 def Fools 2039

tri. 2166 def Dazzlers 1780

JAKE'S 1900 def Chumps 1402

Ax 2034 def Vossy's mate 1878

'Overs 2071 def by Pies 2349

ROUND 4

Tiger 1147 def by Destroy. 1940

Tomsies 2117 def SAINTS 2044

Peptides 2143 def by Pak 2159

Baggers 2218 def Fools 2021

FOF 1962 def by Dazzlers 2047

Mudcrab 1993 def Chumps 1957

tricol. 1931 def by Vossy's 2188

JAKE'S 1912 def by Pies 2105

Ax 2061 def Hangovers 2057

ROUND 5

Destroy. 1958 def by Saints 2092

Tiger. 1143 def by Pak 2092

Tomsies 2171 def Fools 1909

Peptides 2334 def Dazzlers 1764

Baggers 2228 def Chumps 1875

FOF 2117 def by Vossy's 2196

Mudcrab 2085 def by Pies 2086

tricol. 1895 def by 'Overs 2102

JAKE'S 1836 def by Ax 2299

ROUND 6 (BYE)

Pak 1602 def by Destroyers 1717

Saints 1305 def Fools 985

Tigerl. 735 def by Dazzlers 1019

Tomsies 1675 def Chumps 1569

Pept. 1110 def by Vossy's 1228

Baggers 1578 def Pies 1298

FOF 1402 def Hangovers 1244

Mudcrabs 1711 def Ax 1518

tricolours 1314 def JAKE'S 679

ROUND 7 (BYE)

Destroyers 730 def by Fools 1771

Wolfpak 1734 def Dazzlers 1521

SAINTS 1803 def Chumps 948

Tigerl. 1251 def by Vossy's 1726

Tomsies 1913 def Pies 1828

Peptides 1863 def 'Overs 1736

Baggers 2169 def Ax 2105

FOF 2107 def JAKE'S 1885

Mudcrabs 2116 def tric. 1569

ROUND 8 (BYE)

Dazzlers 1296 def Destroyers 1093

Fools 1468 def Chumps 1251

Wolfpak 1640 def Vossy's 1296

SAINTS 1590 def by Pies 1891

Tigerl. 1092 def by 'Overs 1607

Tomsies 1781 def Ax 1448

Peptides 1610 def JAKE'S 1330

Baggers 1815 def tricolours 1328

FOF 1574 def Mudcrabs 1489

ROUND 9

Destroy.2021 def Chumps 1584

Dazzl.1988 def by Vossy 2159

Fools 1952 def by Pies 2112

Wolfpak 2185 def Overs 2133

SAINTS 1848 def by Ax 2316

Tigerl. 1419 def by Jake 1598

Tomsies 2077 def trico.2021

Peptides 2268 def Mudcr. 1899

Baggers 2328 def FOF 2120

ROUND 10

Vossy 1970 def Destroyers 1819

Chumps 1686 def by Pies 2270

Dazzlers 2175 def 'Overs 1885

Fools 1753 def by Ax 2030

Wolfpak 2117 def Jakes 1948

Saints 1883 def by tricol. 1884

T'land 1249 def by M'crabs 2339

Tomsies 2128 def by FOF 2207

P'tides 1976 def by Bagg. 2283

ROUND 11

Destroyers 1701 def by Pies 2118

Vossy's 1892 def 'Overs 1690

Chumps 1771 def by Ax 2008

Dazzlers 2109 def JAKE'S 1616

Fools 1690 def Tricol. 1655

Pak 2047 def by Mudcrabs 2145

SAINTS 2006 def by FOF 2083

Tigerl. 1289 def by Baggers 2114

Tomsies 2146 def Peptides 1828

ROUND 12

'Overs 2141 def Destroyers 1547

Pies 1960 def by Ax 2130

Vossy's 1925 def JAKE'S 1890

Chumps 1737 def by tric. 1811

Dazzl. 1878 def by M'rabs 2364

Fools 1870 def by FOF 2045

Wolfpak 2055 def Baggers 2026

SAINTS 1945 def by Peptid.2189

Tigerl. 1385 def by Tomsie 2230

ROUND 13

Destroyers 1660 def by Ax 2400

'Overs 2319 def JAKE'S 1961

Pies 2366 def tricolours 1976

Vossy 2160 def by M'crabs 2522

Chumps 2083 def by FOF 2324

Dazzl. 2130 def by Baggers 2398

Fools 2087 def by Peptides 2189

Wolfpak 2507 def Tomsies 2371

SAINTS 2215 def Tigerland 1767

ROUND 14

Jake 1649 def by Destroyer 1975

Ax 2055 def tricolours 1734

'Overs 2191 def Mudcrabs 2075

Pies 1939 def by FOF 2081

Vossy 1887 def by Baggers 2229

Chump 1722 def by Pept. 2032

Dazzlers 2084 def Tomsies 2009

Fools 1628 def Tigerland 1461

Wolfpak 2094 def SAINTS 1815

ROUND 15

Destroyers 1678 def by Tri 1798

Jakes 1837 def by Mudc. 2417

Ax 2259 def FOF 2095

'Overs 2267 def by Baggers 2372

Pies 2436 def Peptides 2293

Vossy 1998 def by Tomsies 2341

Chumps 1811 def Tiger. 1422

Dazzlers 2039 def SAINTS 1977

Fools 1730 def by Wolfpak 2176

ROUND 16

Mudcr. 2404 def Destroyers 2196

tricolours 1840 def by FOF 2185

JAKE'S 1475 def by Baggers 2370

Ax 2234 def by Peptides 2260

‘Overs 2354 def Tomsies 2277

Pies 2344 def Tigerland 1551

Vossy's 2284 def SAINTS 2008

Chumps 1930 def by Wolfpak 2155

Dazzlers 2330 def Fools 1808

1ST QUALIFYING FINAL

Blue Baggers –v– Mudcrabs

The minor premiers and reigning champs start their finals campaign against a side who almost knocked them off just 7 days ago. The Baggers have pretty much taken all before them in their title defence, however they will be breathing a big sigh of relief that the D-Man and his Destroyers are stuck visiting Gumbytown. In finishing fourth, the Mudcrabs have finished outside the top 2 for the first time since they entered the Shield, however will be confident of advancing straight to the Prelim on the back of last week’s effort. If this match up is half as good as last week we are in for a treat. Dunwich says MUDCRABS by 5.

Last time they met: Baggers 2343 def Mudcrabs 2339 Form Guide: BAGGERS 5-0 MUDCRABS 3-2

2ND QUALIFYING FINAL

Ax -v– Wolfpak

Both coaches will have sat on the back deck with a satisfied look on their faces on Sunday night after putting their teams into a great position to have a crack at claiming the Shield. They will also be happy with how the cards as they escaped meeting the two premiership favourites in Baggers and Mudcrabs in the first week of the finals. Haven’t met since round 1 when the Ax got their season off to a flying start, but both sides have developed considerably since then, particularly Wolfpak who have won 10 out the past 11. Dunwich says AX by 170.

Last time they met: Ax 2,296 vs Wolfpak 2,120 (rd 1) Form Guide: AX 4-1 WOLFPAK 5-0

1ST ELIMINATION FINAL

Tomsies –v– Peptides

The 2012 champs come in with suspect form having won only two of their last five. The Peptides deserve their spot in the 8 and would fancy their chances of causing an upset and extending their season by at least a week. Finals experience is something that you can’t buy and the Tomsies have been all the way before and that may prove the difference. Dunwich says TOMSIES by 65.

Last time they met: Tomsies 2146 def Peptides 1828 (rd 11) Form Guide: TOMSIES 2-3 WOLFPAK 5-0

2ND ELIMINATION FINAL

Pulsating Pies –v– FOF

Both sides are perennial finalists but come in with differing finals form. The FOF are entering this year’s series on the back of their grand final appearance last year where it took a season high score from the Baggers to stop them claiming the Shield. The Pies on the other hand haven’t won a final since the semis of 2011. The Pies have a better form line across the season but the Fellows were triumphant in their round 14 clash. Dunwich says PIES by 113.

Last time they met: FOF 2081 def Pies 1939 (rd 14) Form Guide: PIES 3-2 FOF 4-1

     

     

1ST QUALIFYING FINAL

Vossy’s Mate v Tricolours: Dunwich says VOSSY’S MATE by 200

1ST ELIMINATION FINAL

Polly’s Saints v Jake’s Mates: Dunwich says SAINTS by 350

2ND ELIMINATION FINAL

Franga’s Fools –v– D-Man Destroyers: Dunwich says DESTROYERS by 130

2ND QUALIFYING FINAL

The Hangovers –v- Dazzlers: Dunwich says HANGOVERS by 140

GOLD LOGIE

MUDCRABS

AX

PEPTIDES

PIES

BAGGERS

AX

TOMSIES

FOF

MUDCRABS

WOLFPAK

PEPTIDES

FOF

MUDCRABS

WOLFPAK

TOMSIES

PIES

MUDCRABS

AX

TOMSIES

PIES

BAGGERS

AX

TOMSIES

FOF CHUMLEE

POPS, REGULAR SHOW

PRINCE GEORGE

CLYDE, GLASGOW 2014

MASCOT

CLINTON YOUNG