BPL 2011

As I've been sitting at work, wasting away my working hours with frisbee organization, I thought why not have a flutter at the ol' blog.

So let's have a quick first look at the new BPL season, and who's going to make a splash, and who's going to sink like a Cobra. I fully expect my suggested placing to ruffle some feathers, and I'm sure they'll be incorrect, but I think they're an interesting suggestion of where teams are at.

This season sees some of the greatest roster changes in the last couple of years of BPL. UQ has lost it's Lovers representative team, Cobras has waned, Dojo have waxed and Buggers have stayed much the same. Heroes have strengthened through months of open season training and Slamtown have been quietly holding selections for their new look side. A team of rookies has snuck in to form Los Bandidos.

It seems as though this season may be one of the hardest to predict in many years ... on paper a couple of teams look particularly strong, but the rankings of all six teams should prove to be a shit fight for position.

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Buggers

The Buggers are perennial challengers. The one team that you can never quite write off from being in contention for the title. Over the last couple of seasons, they seem to have faded a bit from their winning ways, having lost JRay to inevitable retirement and reduced from two teams to one after the formation of the Cobras and a big league restructure. Mike has also had a reduced ultimate role due to changing priorities.

This has resulted in the last couple of finals being devoid of a Buggers team; That's something that would have been almost unheard of a year ago.

Nevertheless, the Buggers are one of the few teams that has remained relatively untouched amidst the league wide restructuring, maintaining their old stalwarts, and with their only pickup (as far as we can tell on AFDA) being Rob Lowe from last season's lovers. Being continually predicated on gradual advancement and discipline and having held their first open selections, in the next season they should be getting back to the form of the past.

Players to Watch:

As always Mike Nield is going to be a danger man on the field, but we should expect to see more from Stu Austin this season, as he relinquishes his long held (and well performed) duties as LD to concentrate, we assume, on picking up the MVP prize for the season.

This may be balanced out by the fact that Special is going to be playing on sleepless nights and stress meds for much of the season.

Young guns such as Tim and Trev will hopefully step up to take more of a role this season.

Old buggers Buzz and Spinner probably might do something useful as well, besides providing the humour.

Predicted Finish: 3rd

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Slamtown FC

Slamtown have been holding the middle ground the last few seasons since their entry into the league as a new team a couple of years ago. This in no way signals a lack of advancement, as Slamtown has been gradually grinding up their skill levels, but perhaps shows the burgeoning strength of the league in the past few seasons.

Their middle of the pack performance seems to be becoming a thing of the past however. Slamtown are one of the few BPL teams that has regular team trainings both in and out of season, and are the only BPL club sending a team to nationals. Playing nationals together as a team can only be an awesome thing for the general skill level of the team, however it may result in some post nationals blues and injuries that could provide a set back in the most important time of the season.

Nationals isn't the only ace in the hole though: They have also picked up new GC immigrants Al Don and Abra Garfield which will provide some sorely needed star power to an otherwise solid line up, and have quietly held team selections for BPL from a competitive player base.

This could be Slamtown's year to take down their first BPL premiership. But probably won't.

Players to Watch:

New import Al will add handler patience to a relatively receiver heavy line, and Abra will bring piles of athleticism and defensive presence to the sea side.

Look for just about every player on this team to bust long, and for ridiculous blades and overheads from the Mayor and Mike.

Predicted Finish: 2nd

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Los Bandidos

Now to the new team to the scene this year, Los Bandidos. These young guns have escaped customs and University to bring a whole bunch of new rookies to BPL. Formed exclusively for the purpose of strengthening UQ's eligible unigames players, this Club is aiming to bring an unconventional and athletic look to an aging league.

That is all I'm allowed to say for now.

Predicted Finish: 6th with style

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Cobras

Cobras have been a team of peaks and troughs. Every season, they seem to either be final contenders that can mix it with the best of them, or a sore covered wench whoring it in the gutter for a wooden spoon (Bit rough?). This season has seen the biggest roster change in their history with Wetnose and Dan Young moving on, Abra heading the Gold Coast and JJ heading to Bandidos. That's a lot of good players leaving for a young team, and there isn't much except rumours replacing them at this stage. Is Mike Nolan still around?

Reece's angle for rebuilding the Cobras former glory seems to be an O-Week based poaching campaign, which could provide him with much needed import firepower, or could leave him struggling for a roster in quiet uni weeks.

The young guns in this team, Reece, Jack and Finn (Well ... not really young) have been making big strides in their performances for Firestorm in the last couple of months, but will have to comprise much of the leadership in a much changing club.

While I expect that they will surprise in their performances this season, I can't see them crawling their way out of the bottom 3. It looks like this will be a rebuilding season for the snakes.

Players to Watch:

Look out for the little guys of Reece and Robbie to be making big plays, and putting up most of the throws for this team. Jack and Finn will be workhorses down field, with Finn going to be picking up most of the big match ups.

Predicted Finish: 5th

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Heroes

After stepping in to BPL as complete new comers a few seasons ago, and relying on the big game experience of Jangles, George and Myall, it's time for the Heroes to take a step up. Heroes have kept a relatively consistent roster since they first entered the league, relying on a tried and true formula of consistent insular training sessions to build their performance. One great strength of the team is the close friendship that most of the players share, and this has helped them continue a legacy that's been going since the day's of Huddy and QUT.

This closeness has also been hindrance however. In Brisbane ultimate, with the lack of much independent coaching, one of the best ways to improve your ultimate abilities is to be exposed to new competition, new playing styles, and new team values, normally by playing on other teams, or with other people. Unfortunately, due to the Heroes' isolation in that respect from the greater Brisbane scene it's perhaps taken them slightly longer than most to grow in this regard. The assistance of Matt Boevink, and Firestorm training in particular will have a tremendous impact on this team, and I expect them to make great strides forward in the coming season. Heroes has long had the athletic potential to be a great team, but has lacked the training and game experience necessary to take full advantage. I expect that to change this season, although how much remains to be seen.

Players to Watch:

Jamie and Bevan are going to step up in their role as prized receivers this season, however it will be their defense that will make the most impact. If they can nullify other teams deep threats, Heroes will go a long way closer to the top of the totem pole.

The quick and short Jangles, Matt, Myall, George, Carl could be winners for this team, but they will have to look to improve their short game and rely less than they have in the last few seasons on looking for huck options.

Predicted Finish: 4th

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Dojo Mojo

As last season's major premiers, Dojo will be looking to continue the run of form that had eluded them in the previous seasons. Once known as perennial chokers, Dojo has finally broken the spree that had stripped all their minor premierships of the crowning glory. (Although it seems that we don't have a video to prove it. How ironic that the one final they don't record is their own win.) And with their roster this season, it seems hard to believe that they can choke again.

Adding to their previous strength, they've picked up wounded deer Julian Sacre and for the full season have Chris Cunliffe.

Provided that all there talls stay strong, this will surely be the strongest tall line in BPL history. With the backing of their flamboyant but generally successful handler line, it seems hard to believe that they could possibly choke this season. In fact, I think we'll have to set up a QUDA inquiry into match fixing. I'm looking at you Pete.

Players to Watch:

The tall ones. And the other ones. They should all be pretty good.

Predicted Finish: 1st