Official Team Thread Mount Buller Demons Season 38 Team Thread | The Brrrrr-illiant Demons [B&F announced!]

[sausageroll]

Happy New Year everyone

...except me. I stll have just over 12 hours of 2024 left

 

[Headless]

NOTE: The B&F this season will be slightly different insofar as I'm not going to post it all in one go. I've found previously that doing this means that only really those online at that specific time can engage in 'real time' - and, selfishly, it's just a lot easier for me to do it in bits and pieces. So we're going to start soon, but don't expect it all to be posted in one go!

 

[Headless]

Hello, everybody, and thank you for joining me for the Mount Buller Demons’ Season 38 Best and Fairest.

Season 38 was another wonderful season for our wonderful club. We were stoked to be joined by tgrs and Jatz (both returning to the league for the first time in ~10 seasons), and p4p1 and Duke of Windso (both rookies). Each made a contribution to our season - tgrs to the point that we have been pleased to welcome them into the leadership group for next season.

We started the season with a bang and seemed unbeatable before crawling through the middle part of the season. A late season resurgence helped us claim the minor premiership, but we stumbled twice in the finals, including a heartbreaking preliminary final loss, meaning we couldn’t salute for our fourth premiership.

For me personally, I was honoured to follow manangatang in captaincy. This was a really big thing for me - something I thought I’d never do - and it was really enjoyable. More on this later!

But for now, let’s get into the ceremony. This season, we’re presenting a number of awards to celebrate the season:

• cats2rise Medal, to the leading goal-kicker of the season.
• Best Defender Award, to the defensive player who has contributed most considerably through the season.
• Deaneus! Award, for the best rookie of the season.
• Coaches’ Award, first awarded in Season 8, to the player deemed to have gone above and beyond to demonstrate our club values.
• Poster of the Year, to a wonderful match-thread poster.
• Eth Award - the players’ player, voted by the playing list - to the player deemed to have contributed most in Season 38.
• And the Deestroy Medal, celebrating our best and fairest player this season.

Excitingly, we also have two new inductees for the Mount Buller Demons’ Hall of Fame.

Let’s get started!

 

[Gralin]

Exciting times

 

[Headless]

Before jumping in, I’d like to give sincere thanks and deep gratitude to the whole list, but specifically the leadership group who led this club all season. It’s the best leadership group in the league, and made the transition to captaincy much easier than it otherwise might have been.

Thank you, Wosh, Gralin, sausageroll, Hate, and manangatang for your work behind the scenes, patience, and guidance through Season 38. A big thank you to sausageroll in particular for once again compiling and presenting our beautiful team statistics, which we will miss dearly next season - unless, of course, you’d like to keep doing them, snags. And a big thank you to Gralin in particular for replacing me in committee partially through this season. This is typically a pretty thankless role, but I have no doubt that Gralin represented us beautifully. Thank you.

Thank you as well to tgrs, who jumped in and helped with some of the write-ups for this B&F. Thank you, tgrs - you’re a star, and we’re lucky to have you!

Alright, let’s do this.

 

[Headless]

We entered the season optimistically, having narrowly missed finals in Season 37, but bolstered by exciting additions such as tgrs (returning), Jatz (returning), and p4p1 (rookie).

Based on our start to the season, our optimism was warranted; after six rounds, we were undefeated, on top of the ladder, six premiership points clear of the Furies in second place, and absolutely flying on and off the field. moginie in particular came out of the blocks breathing fire, whilst DERO had some stand-out games starting on the half-forward flank.

Our Round 1 game against the Wonders was important for several reasons, but the biggest of these went beyond our club walls; the Season 38 Foundation Cup was the last game of deeply respected and now missed Grand Uncle Horace. We won the game convincingly and there were several references to The Simpsons, both of which would have irked Horry to no end.

We won all four quarters in Round 2 against the Dragons, before pushing hard in the final quarter to get it done against the Roys in Round 3. A 70-point victory against the Bombers in Round 4 was relatively straight-forward, but the Royals challenged us in Round 5; we won by just 14 points. Led by sausageroll with seven goals, a 52-point win against the Bears in Round 6 solidified our unbeaten start to the season.

Round 6 ladder, courtesy of Falconista:

​

Deestroy Medal votes:

Round 1:
3 votes: Gralin
2 votes: sausageroll
1 vote: cats2rise

Round 2:
3 votes: DERO
2 votes: moginie
1 vote: p4p1

Round 3 votes:
3 votes: tgrs
2 votes: cats2rise
1 vote: Scythe94

Round 4 votes:
3 votes: DERO
2 votes: moginie
1 vote: p4p1

Round 5 votes:
3 votes: moginie
2 votes: Wosh
1 vote: DERO

Round 6 votes:
3 votes: sausageroll
2 votes: moginie
1 vote: cats2rise

 

[Headless]

So six rounds in, how are we looking at the top of the leaderboard?

​

moginie leads the way with nine votes, but DERO is, perhaps surprisingly, in second place after polling in three games (including two BOGs). The reliable sausageroll and cats2rise round out the top four after the first section of games.

 

[Headless]

The cats2rise Medal is awarded each season to our leading goal-kicker, including the finals series if applicable.

Our spearhead this season was once again no other than sausageroll, who had another terrific season up forward. snags put through 74 goals including finals - two more than in Season 37, meaning sausageroll has contributed a whopping 146 goals in the last 37 MBD games.

Congratulations, sausageroll, on back-to-back c2r Medals!

 

[DERO]

 

[Headless]

The way the sim works, those playing in ‘non-premium’ positions typically have a hard time when it comes to sim-based awards, but those players are a crucial part of our team success. That’s one of the reasons we award the Best Defender Award each season.

Our back six chopped and changed a little bit throughout the season, particularly early. Jatz first came into the team in Round 6, named on a half-back flank, and was a mainstay thereafter. In total, Jatz played 14 games for the season, including our three finals, and averaged around 13 disposals per game.

We love Jatz’s posting and contributions to our match threads. Congratulations, Jatz, on being named the winner of the Best Defender Award for Season 38!

 

[Headless]

We had two rookies this season: p4p1 and Duke of Windso. Whilst we were stoked to see Duke of Windso pop up from time to time, it was p4p1 who took the league by storm.

p4p1 took to the league like a duck to water. In their very first season in the league, p4p1 posted in every single match thread, and averaged more than 20 posts per week. But they were also huge on field; p4p1 recently won the league-wide SFACA MVP Award, and finished second in the EKA Medal.

As such, p4p1 is the winner of the Deaneus! Award for rookie of the season. This award is named after past player Deaneus!, who played 193 games for the club between Season 19 and Season 31 inclusive, including the winning Season 26 premiership side. We lost Deaneus! some seasons ago now, but we continue to remember their contributions, and we miss them.

Congratulations p4p1 on the award!

 

[Headless]

- TO BE CONTINUED -​

 

[DERO]

 

[Gralin]

Nicely done so far Headless

Congratulations to sausageroll Jatz and p4p1 on their awards

 

[cooney]

Woooooo

 

[Proper Gander]

What happens now?

 

[Headless]

What happens now?

We celebrate in this NO DOUBT VERY BRIEF intermission!

 

[Headless]

NOTE: The Rounds 7-12 write-up below was penned by our dear friend tgrs. Thank you, tgrs!

–

Welcome back to the Mount Buller BnF

Round 7 saw the glorious winning streak come to an undeserving end against the Gumbies, I mean, the Gumbies... We have to console ourselves with the stand out performance of Scythe94 in the midfield who was the only Demons to crack the DreamTeam ton in the close loss.

The end of the streak would signal some dark times ahead, but thankfully, in Round 8, we had the Bye which was one of the toughest match ups of the season but a hard fought team victory.

Round 9's match-up was the East Side Hawks, looking to rejoin the winners list, an explosive second and third quarter with massive contributions from the ever reliable engine room and our inspirational leader Headless stepping into the ruck position and dominating allowed us to cruise in the fourth to a impressive 8-1 record.

Round 10, an away trip to Underground Stadium and the Swamprats beckoned, and in one of the most thrilling ends to a game the entire season regardless of team, Swamprat Rodney Dangerfield had a chance to kick the winning goal and missed, leading to a high-scoring draw that unfortunately didn't reward the awesome performances of Gralin , Scythe94 and p4p1 in the middle. Jatz was the spitting image of a really large, really solid wall down back and 4 of the 6 forwards chipped in with 2 goals or more.

The Round 11 battle against the Warriors was easily the most disappointing on field performance of the season, and despite a fourth quarter comeback to make the score respectable, the premiership quarter performance saw the game slip away, despite a heroic 9 goal effort from sausageroll .

Moving on to the new most disappointing performance of the season, Round 12 saw the misery continue against the last placed Bombers. In a low scoring affair that was as dour as having to post against them for a week, there were no standout performances from any Demon, except perhaps moginie at a stretch, the entire team just decided to not rock up, but despite the disappointment, our majestic season was still well on track, as we sat 2 points clear at the top of the ladder.

–

Round 12 ladder, courtesy of Falconista:



Deestroy Medal votes:

Round 7:
3 votes: Scythe94
2 votes: Gralin
1 vote: Azarole

Round 8:
BYE

Round 9:
3 votes: Proper Gander
2 votes: Wosh
1 vote: Headless

Round 10:
3 votes: Wosh
2 votes: Gralin
1 vote: p4p1

Round 11:
3 votes: sausageroll
2 votes: p4p1
1 vote: cooney

Round 12:
3 votes: moginie
2 votes: p4p1
1 vote: Bluelegs

 

[Headless]

12 rounds in, moginie keeps on keeping on - but there’s a big pack of players not too far behind!

​

 

[Headless]

Although we disappointingly lost the preliminary final by four points and, therefore, didn’t claim the ultimate prize this season, we enjoyed sim-based success mirrored by few if any teams in the league’s history.

moginie claimed victory in the Mobbs Medal. mogs becomes our fifth Mobbs Medal winner in our 38 seasons, after BT (Season 3), cooney (Season 13), Eth (Season 14), and lanky_wes (Season 17). This was a really well deserved award after several seasons of sim excellence.

What’s more, our very own Scythe94 finished an extremely close second. Both moginie and Scythe94 - our dynamic ruck rover and rover combination - polled more votes than any other player across the league. Both players had huge seasons, and it was a great night for the club.

As mentioned earlier, p4p1 finished second in the EKA Medal. p4p1 also won the SFACA MVP Award (previously the TFLUA): recognition for a wonderful season on the wing. To win this in their first season in the league is superb work.

And, of course, we had five players - the maximum number possible - named in the All-Sweet FA team, backing up four from last season. A big congratulations to Gralin (wing), DERO (HFF), cats2rise (ruck), moginie (RR), and p4p1 (interchange) on selection.



The Players’ Association MVP - beez Trophy will be awarded early this year (exact date TBC as far a I know). We had a fantastic sim season, but we also had a fantastic posting season, so I expect many Demons to poll well on the night. Keep an eye out!

 

[Headless]

This club has been consistent and stable for a long time, and it’s due in part to the wide variety of posters we have. The Club Award/Coaches’ Award typically is awarded to a poster who embodies the values of the club, consistently turns up, and contributes to the club’s functioning.

This season, the award goes to tgrs. We were stoked when tgrs agreed to join the club on their return to the league. They joined the group with ease, and it honestly feels like they’ve been here forever now. tgrs turned up in every single match thread, averaging ~26 posts per week, and was a really important source of engagement both for us and the opposition.

To demonstrate the type of contributor tgrs is, tgrs reached out to volunteer with the running of this B&F, and has been happy to step up into the leadership group for next season.

We’re really lucky to have tgrs amongst our ranks, and hope they’ll stick around here for a long time to come.

Congrats, tgrs.

 

[Headless]

NOTE: The Rounds 13-18 write-up below was penned by our dear friend tgrs. Thank you, tgrs!

–

With top spot on the line in Round 13, the mighty Mt. Buller took to the old folks home of the Roys and absolutely peppered the goals with multiple snags from the likes of sausageroll , jmoo wan and another dominating performance from Scythe94 highlighting the ferocity with which the club wanted to cement that minor premiership in the back end of the season...unfortunately, the Roys just happened to kick a few more than us which led to a third straight loss and being knocked off first place.

Round 14, redemption time, a return to glory, the return to form, rebirth of a juggernaut, and against the Dragons of all teams, it would be easy no doubt, yet it mysteriously didn't happen. A fourth straight loss, this time rather unceremoniously in a rarely close match beyond the first quarter would leave us in fourth place on the ladder as well for some terrible symmetry, DERO and Jatz once again turned in solid performances but the names that had become ever so reliable throughout the course of this season didn't come with them on this occasion.

The second Bye of the Season was substantially different to the first, whilst earlier the Bye was considered a nuisance, getting in the way of the glorious streak, the Round 15 bye was perhaps divine intervention, allowing a much needed break from weekly disappointment and a chance to rest, recover and return to winning ways.

The return to winning couldn't get any more poetic if it were to happen playing the Wonders in week 16, Heritage round, contesting the Foundation Cup, in the third last round of the regular season. With a one goal lead at the end of the third, it seemed the Demons would do it in plenty of style too. Capitulation, however, was the name of the game this week, as the Wonders kicked 6 goals to 2 in the final quarter to steal a victory and make the dominating performances from Gralin , Headless and moginie who all scored over 110 in DreamTeam points obselete in the grander scheme of things. A fifth straight loss in a row, when would the misery end?

Round 17, that's when the misery would end, and it would do so in style. At home against the Furies and with a top 4 spot on the line, of course the Demons came through, with 8 multiple goal kickers including six from Jatz ! Van_Dyke put in a vintage performance with 4 of his own from the midfield and the Demons kicked their highest score of the season to set up their finals campaign with a resounding message to the rest of the competition. manangatang and Yakker were also imperious down back, rarely allowing any forward forays from the Furies in a landslide victory and a sign that the poor streak of form was at an end.

It was the final round of Season 38, and despite the aforementioned batch of losses, a win and some favourable results could see us crowned minor premiers, with finals stitched up already, this game was about pride, and winning, and feeling good on a Sunday, and finishing first. This game, against the OOBS, was the most important of the season so far, and the whole team played like it was, scoring over double of what the OOBS could manage in a resounding victory. Hate and Wosh were peerless in the midfield, cartwright kicked 9 massive snags and once again the Demons defence showed why they were one of the best all year. With the Warriors loss going our way, the Demons emerged from Season 38 with a deserved minor premiership and signalled to the rest of the competition that they should know we're coming.

–

Round 18 (final H&A) ladder, courtesy of Falconista:



Deestroy Medal votes:

Round 13:
3 votes: Scythe94
2 votes: p4p1
1 vote: moginie

Round 14:
3 votes: jmoo wan
2 votes: tgrs
1 vote: DERO

Round 15:
BYE

Round 16:
3 votes: Gralin
2 votes: Headless
1 vote: moginie

Round 17:
3 votes: Van_Dyke
2 votes: Jatz
1 vote: sante

Round 18:
3 votes: cartwright
2 votes: Wosh
1 vote: Hate

 

[Headless]

So - time for our final check-in with the B&F votes before we reach the final three games (and the big reveal).

moginie has a four-vote lead with three games remaining. Can mogs hold on and go back-to-back?

​

 

[Headless]

The Poster of the Year (Season) Award was introduced in Season 29 to recognise consistent and engaging match thread posting. Winners in the last nine seasons have included Headless (x2), Callums_Guns (x2), Tarkyn_24, sante, sausageroll, Scythe94, and Gralin.

This season, I’m thrilled to say that the award goes to cats2rise. cats2rise led our midfield this season as first ruck, and notched up their second All-Sweet FA selection. cats’ first All-Sweet FA selection came all the way back in Season 11 - that’s TWENTY-SEVEN SEASONS ago - and it’s amazing that c2r is still around and contributing to this level.

c2r averaged more than 50 posts per match thread this season, and was consistently engaging both for our own players, and also for the opposition. c2r is quick-witted and super creative; match threads are a lot more enjoyable when cats2rise is up and about.

Congratulations on the award, c2r.

 

[Headless]

And now we get to the Eth Award!

Eth was our captain in Seasons 16-20 - an era that included our first ever premiership (Season 18) - and was hugely influential in the culture of the club. We’re looking forward to the glorious day that Eth eventually returns in a playing capacity!

At the end of the season, all listed Season 38 players were invited to send through 3-2-1 votes based on who they thought deserved this award this season, based on criteria like contribution to the club, doing stats, getting others involved, match thread posting etc. In many ways, it’s the most prestigious award that the club has to offer insofar as it’s peer-voted.

To put it bluntly, the results this season were very close; 10 different players were considered in the top three across the squad, indicating how even our contributions are. But in the end, there was one player who crept ahead for Season 38, and that player is Wosh.

This is Wosh’s first Eth Award, and I’m extremely pleased that she has been recognised by the playing group in this way. Since moving to the Demons in Season 35, Wosh has been nothing short of spectacular for the club. She always pushes engagement, understands that different posters have very different reasons for being here, and respects the lore of the game and the league.

But even more, her impact on the club is perhaps unparalleled when you combine match thread posting and behind-the-scenes contributions. She is a real leader, and one we all respect greatly. Congratulations on the Eth Award, Wosh - your teammates have recognised you as the worthy recipient for Season 38!