Media TiFmedia presents... The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Season 33 In Review

[TheInjuryFactory]

Please engage the soundtrack.




With the new season upon us, we here at TiFmedia have revived an old classic... The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, as we take a glimpse back at the season that was. Over the coming days we will take a closer look at Season 33 of the Sweet FA in what was a landmark season for the competition, featuring TiFmedia's unique insight and perspective as we review all 12 13 teams of the competition and recap the season's highs, lows and moments they would perhaps rather forget.

From the historic Roys premiership victory in Mobbs ’ final game for the club ahead of joining the triumphant Ophidian Old Boys expansion bid, a bid that sailed into being with minimal resistance and wide acclaim, to the most hotly contested admin race in recent memory resulting in the return of a reinvented Kennedy Parker and a radical reshaping of the role as NaturalDisaster sauntered off slowly into the sunset. We also witnessed a remarkable run of luck for league newcomer damicky who saluted in the Mobbs just a season after winning the EKA, while the season culminated in the long overdue crowning of league darling and all around good guy Headless who romped it home in the beez trophy, not to mention the induction of well deserved Hall of Famer fitzroybowiedog and the surprise return to form and fame of league legend okeydoke7, there were so many unique stories that unfolded in what shall go down in the history books of the Sweet FA as... a season.

This is a chance to toast the successes, take away 'learnings' from the failures, and enjoy the hearty guffaws at some of the unmitigated disasters that unfolded before our eyes in Season 33.

Wishing every club the very best of success for the season opener ahead of us as Season 34 already shapes to be yet another season.



CLUBS

Baghdad Bombers
Coney Island Warriors - COMING SOON
Dragons FFC
Fighting Furies
East Side Phoenix
Gold City Royals
Gumbies FFC - COMING SOON
Las Vegas Bears
Mount Buller Demons
Ophidian Old Boys
Roys FFC
Sin City Swamprats
West Coast Wonders
​

 

[James Colorado]

The best of Season 33 - #grandfinalrematch

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

WHITE LINE FEVER

After an inauspicious start, Season 33 would quickly become a season from hell that even the most ardent Abdu resident would sooner forget. But even so, there were some positives for BLUEALLTHRU and Co to salvage from the wreckage, and those moments proved to be most often found on the field.

Coming off a wooden spoon winning season in S32 with a paltry 6 wins to their name, they started off S33 with a bang, registering 3 wins from their first month of qooty. Enjoying an exciting return to their S31 form, they would go on to qualify for finals having entrenched themselves inside the top four, with a double chance theirs despite a 2 point penalty for shenanigans which we know by now is their modus operandi.

A 72 point drubbing of a lacklustre Gumbies outfit in Wk 1 of the finals would see them sail through to a Prelim, and despite losing multiple top liners on the eve of the finals, they would go on to fall just 8 points short of an unlikely Grand Final berth at the hands of the East Side Phoenix.

ABDU EXODUS

What started out as a trickle in S32, would soon become a raging torrent as the Bombers would find themselves in the midst of a tumultuous and untimely transition of their list.

Having already seen established senior players like CALL ME SNAKE, miggs, VSTone & Requiem move on or call it quits over the course of the season prior, not to mention the shock loss of S31 skipper VeinGlorious to a surprise retirement, the momentum building around the haydo inspired, Tigerturbulance led expansion bid couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Bombers, as it would ultimately prove too appealing for some of the biggest names in Baghdad to ignore.

Players synonymous with the Bombers and directly responsible for creating the Baghdad brand, TheCoach16 & Tony Lynn 15 (vale) quickly jumped on board in a move that would have rocked the Bombers establishment. A third escapee The Jesus, while never quite finding his mojo at the club would also be a major loss, as he once again was at the forefront of an expansion bid to do with snakes. NTTAWWT.

Now as fate would have it, only The Jesus remains at the successful expansion bid as we find ourselves just days from their debut, with TL15 finding himself deregistered and the totally reliable (just ask haydo) Coachy appearing to have a change of heart.

But the additional loss of co-captain Metalcrusher would have absolutely blindsided the Bombers and when coupled with a sustained stream of losses over the past two seasons leaves a gaping hole in the list, and signals an unwelcomed changing of the guard at Abdu one would imagine.

SHOCK AND AWE SHIT

Now I think the less said here the better, but any season review for the Bombers can’t feasibly relive the highs and lows of their season without touching on the unexpected and ungainly end to Season 33 off the field.

While they stood to lose a number of players to expansion as we touched on above, no one could have foreseen the carnage that ensued late in the season, and even fewer would know the details. In a turbulent two week period, the Bombers lost two former skippers and a co-captain in Tony Lynn 15 & Metalcrusher to sanctions, some of their biggest names finding themselves deregistered from the competition, and also that guy Noidenous too from the looks of it. Well there you go.

While only those involved would understand the machinations in full, one thing is for sure, we’re going to see a very different Baghdad front up in Season 34.

Praise allah for KohPhi.​

 

[BLUEALLTHRU]

Baghdad is calling it the season we had to have. Our commitment and unwavering determination to continue to be the hallmark (top dog) will set us up for many seasons to come. No doubt though those Warriors will be missed!

 

[Robertio]

WHITE LINE FEVER

After an inauspicious start, Season 33 would quickly become a season from hell that even the most ardent Abdu resident would sooner forget. But even so, there were some positives for BLUEALLTHRU and Co to salvage from the wreckage, and those moments proved to be most often found on the field.

Coming off a wooden spoon winning season in S32 with a paltry 6 wins to their name, they started off S33 with a bang, registering 3 wins from their first month of qooty. Enjoying an exciting return to their S31 form, they would go on to qualify for finals having entrenched themselves inside the top four, with a double chance theirs despite a 2 point penalty for shenanigans which we know by now is their modus operandi.

A 72 point drubbing of a lacklustre Gumbies outfit in Wk 1 of the finals would see them sail through to a Prelim, and despite losing multiple top liners on the eve of the finals, they would go on to fall just 8 points short of an unlikely Grand Final berth at the hands of the East Side Phoenix.

ABDU EXODUS

What started out as a trickle in S32, would soon become a raging torrent as the Bombers would find themselves in the midst of a tumultuous and untimely transition of their list.

Having already seen established senior players like CALL ME SNAKE, miggs, VSTone & Requiem move on or call it quits over the course of the season prior, not to mention the shock loss of S31 skipper VeinGlorious to a surprise retirement, the momentum building around the haydo inspired, Tigerturbulance led expansion bid couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Bombers, as it would ultimately prove too appealing for some of the biggest names in Baghdad to ignore.

Players synonymous with the Bombers and directly responsible for creating the Baghdad brand, TheCoach16 & Tony Lynn 15 (vale) quickly jumped on board in a move that would have rocked the Bombers establishment. A third escapee The Jesus, while never quite finding his mojo at the club would also be a major loss, as he once again was at the forefront of an expansion bid to do with snakes. NTTAWWT.

Now as fate would have it, only The Jesus remains at the successful expansion bid as we find ourselves just days from their debut, with TL15 finding himself deregistered and the totally reliable (just ask haydo) Coachy appearing to have a change of heart.

But the additional loss of co-captain Metalcrusher would have absolutely blindsided the Bombers and when coupled with a sustained stream of losses over the past two seasons leaves a gaping hole in the list, and signals an unwelcomed changing of the guard at Abdu one would imagine.

SHOCK AND AWE s**t

Now I think the less said here the better, but any season review for the Bombers can’t feasibly relive the highs and lows of their season without touching on the unexpected and ungainly end to Season 33 off the field.

While they stood to lose a number of players to expansion as we touched on above, no one could have foreseen the carnage that ensued late in the season, and even fewer would know the details. In a turbulent two week period, the Bombers lost two former skippers and a co-captain in Tony Lynn 15 & Metalcrusher to sanctions, some of their biggest names finding themselves deregistered from the competition, and also that guy Noidenous too from the looks of it. Well there you go.

While only those involved would understand the machinations in full, one thing is for sure, we’re going to see a very different Baghdad front up in Season 34.

Praise allah for KohPhi.​

TheCoach16 for the Fred medal.

 

[The Foolback]

This is not a DenieD thread. Please rectify this ASAP.

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

This is not a DenieD thread. Please rectify this ASAP.

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

AWARD WINNING CHEESE

The S32 EKA winner and rookie season journeyman damicky joined his third club in as many months as he sauntered his way over to the Colosseum and straight into a cushy VC gig alongside a man (I assume for the purpose of this blurb) whose career trajectory he rather closely emulated in Moz, only successful.

In need of a list shake up, he arrived at the perfect time for the Wonders, bringing a hive of activity and enthusiasm to a group distinctly bereft of it in recent times. Slotting in at ruck rover no less from the first bounce in Rd 1, the cheese would go on to produce an individual season for the ages, averaging 19.6 disposals, 5.4 tackles & 0.8 goals per game, as he would go on to poll 22 votes including 5 best on ground performances to secure an unlikely Mobbs Medal win in just his second season in the competition.

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR

Despite damicky ’s solo heroics, it was a season of missed opportunity for the Wonders, as they would ride the Sweet FA rollercoaster on their way to missing finals for the first time since their wooden spoon winning season of S30, with just 7 wins from 17 starts and agonisingly missing out on percentage in the cruellest fashion.

Just 2.78% shy of the 8th placed Demons, despite registering a win in Rd 17 against the Warriors, the win was not enough to get them over the line, and with the worst defence in the competition it was probably fitting.

Having celebrated edging the Warriors back in Season 29 for 8th place by percentage, the Coney Island side would have rather enjoyed having a front row seat to the Wonders’ final round failure, or so one might assume.

ALL-SFA? NO THANKS. WE’RE FULL

Shockingly the Wonders, despite being extremely bullish about the quality of their list internally, would not manage a single All-SFA selection at season’s end, despite their vice captain winning the Mobbs.

damicky would inexplicably miss out on selection, a feat only matched in the previous 10 seasons by an inactive Nunez in S30, and an extremely unlucky Pugsley and distinctly unlikeable GWS Goose in S31. Thankfully, that trend was arrested in S32 when a Warriors great restored honour in the Mobbs.

So what was it about this squad that saw them miss out? Was it lost at the selection table, with S33 free agent and popular kid NinjaSwan languishing on a wing? Everybody knows they never pick wings. Is Brenton Davy ’s shirtfront approach better suited to a behind the ball role, in favour of a glamour player like JT_the_Man who could parade the forward 50 and bring the fans back to the Colosseum in droves? Or was it a move like bringing the gilt edged, battle hardened inside beast Loonerty into the guts and putting a plodding hack like ClarkeM out to pasture?

One can only Wonder as they point and laugh, sadly of course…​

 

[damicky]

AWARD WINNING CHEESE

The S32 EKA winner and rookie season journeyman damicky joined his third club in as many months as he sauntered his way over to the Colosseum and straight into a cushy VC gig alongside a man (I assume for the purpose of this blurb) whose career trajectory he rather closely emulated in Moz, only successful.

In need of a list shake up, he arrived at the perfect time for the Wonders, bringing a hive of activity and enthusiasm to a group distinctly bereft of it in recent times. Slotting in at ruck rover no less from the first bounce in Rd 1, the cheese would go on to produce an individual season for the ages, averaging 19.6 disposals, 5.4 tackles & 0.8 goals per game, as he would go on to poll 22 votes including 5 best on ground performances to secure an unlikely Mobbs Medal win in just his second season in the competition.

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR

Despite damicky ’s solo heroics, it was a season of missed opportunity for the Wonders, as they would ride the Sweet FA rollercoaster on their way to missing finals for the first time since their wooden spoon winning season of S30, with just 7 wins from 17 starts and agonisingly missing out on percentage in the cruellest fashion.

Just 2.78% shy of the 8th placed Demons, despite registering a win in Rd 17 against the Warriors, the win was not enough to get them over the line, and with the worst defence in the competition it was probably fitting.

Having celebrated edging the Warriors back in Season 29 for 8th place by percentage, the Coney Island side would have rather enjoyed having a front row seat to the Wonders’ final round failure, or so one might assume.

ALL-SFA? NO THANKS. WE’RE FULL

Shockingly the Wonders, despite being extremely bullish about the quality of their list internally, would not manage a single All-SFA selection at season’s end, despite their vice captain winning the Mobbs.

damicky would inexplicably miss out on selection, a feat only matched in the previous 10 seasons by an inactive Nunez in S30, and an extremely unlucky Pugsley and distinctly unlikeable GWS Goose in S31. Thankfully, that trend was arrested in S32 when a Warriors great restored honour in the Mobbs.

So what was it about this squad that saw them miss out? Was it lost at the selection table, with S33 free agent and popular kid NinjaSwan languishing on a wing? Everybody knows they never pick wings. Is Brenton Davy ’s shirtfront approach better suited to a behind the ball role, in favour of a glamour player like JT_the_Man who could parade the forward 50 and bring the fans back to the Colosseum in droves? Or was it a move like bringing the gilt edged, battle hardened inside beast Loonerty into the guts and putting a plodding hack like ClarkeM out to pasture?

One can only Wonder as they point and laugh, sadly of course…​

That review was all about me

This makes me uncomfortable

 

[JT_the_Man]

AWARD WINNING CHEESE

The S32 EKA winner and rookie season journeyman damicky joined his third club in as many months as he sauntered his way over to the Colosseum and straight into a cushy VC gig alongside a man (I assume for the purpose of this blurb) whose career trajectory he rather closely emulated in Moz, only successful.

In need of a list shake up, he arrived at the perfect time for the Wonders, bringing a hive of activity and enthusiasm to a group distinctly bereft of it in recent times. Slotting in at ruck rover no less from the first bounce in Rd 1, the cheese would go on to produce an individual season for the ages, averaging 19.6 disposals, 5.4 tackles & 0.8 goals per game, as he would go on to poll 22 votes including 5 best on ground performances to secure an unlikely Mobbs Medal win in just his second season in the competition.

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR

Despite damicky ’s solo heroics, it was a season of missed opportunity for the Wonders, as they would ride the Sweet FA rollercoaster on their way to missing finals for the first time since their wooden spoon winning season of S30, with just 7 wins from 17 starts and agonisingly missing out on percentage in the cruellest fashion.

Just 2.78% shy of the 8th placed Demons, despite registering a win in Rd 17 against the Warriors, the win was not enough to get them over the line, and with the worst defence in the competition it was probably fitting.

Having celebrated edging the Warriors back in Season 29 for 8th place by percentage, the Coney Island side would have rather enjoyed having a front row seat to the Wonders’ final round failure, or so one might assume.

ALL-SFA? NO THANKS. WE’RE FULL

Shockingly the Wonders, despite being extremely bullish about the quality of their list internally, would not manage a single All-SFA selection at season’s end, despite their vice captain winning the Mobbs.

damicky would inexplicably miss out on selection, a feat only matched in the previous 10 seasons by an inactive Nunez in S30, and an extremely unlucky Pugsley and distinctly unlikeable GWS Goose in S31. Thankfully, that trend was arrested in S32 when a Warriors great restored honour in the Mobbs.

So what was it about this squad that saw them miss out? Was it lost at the selection table, with S33 free agent and popular kid NinjaSwan languishing on a wing? Everybody knows they never pick wings. Is Brenton Davy ’s shirtfront approach better suited to a behind the ball role, in favour of a glamour player like JT_the_Man who could parade the forward 50 and bring the fans back to the Colosseum in droves? Or was it a move like bringing the gilt edged, battle hardened inside beast Loonerty into the guts and putting a plodding hack like ClarkeM out to pasture?

One can only Wonder as they point and laugh, sadly of course…​

Mate I draw 300k to The Colosseum weekly, they love me!

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

That review was all about me

This makes me uncomfortable

Sure it does, fromunda

 

[damicky]

Sure it does, fromunda

I prefer to fly under the radar, TIF

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

KP RUINS RETURNS

Just as things were starting to look concerning for the Swampies after an S32 exodus of a number of experienced clubmen types, they managed one of the great recruiting coups in recent memory, surprisingly luring former and future admin Kennedy Parker out of retirement and straight into a leadership role back at the club where it all started for him.

With KP's star power at their disposal, they took full advantage of their new co-captain's cachet, bringing in a number of well respected veteran players in the form of ShaunDuggan, Kirkswan, Grav...oh and they also brought in okeydoke7. Add these names to established players like GremioPower, philreich, jackster83 & Ant Bear and all of a sudden things were looking up at the swamp. Come the season proper, the Swampies took on a considerably different complexion and proved to be one of the big improvers off the field in Season 33.

OUT: CATSNLAKERS

As we touched on above, the return of KP saw a consolidation of a list that had it's doubters, but how did they all gel?

One of the surprising names to come out of the woodwork and straight into the fray was former admin and league goalkicking bridesmaid okeydoke7, who even the most casual of Sweet FA observer knows, only gets out of bed for a full forward gig, no matter how many inactive seasons he has stacked together in recent times.

In fact, a certain TheInjuryFactory called it out at the time during an episode of Qooty Classified, much to the chagrin of host KP who rankled at the suggestion. Vice captain Catsnlakers was the full forward, he was a valued member of the leadership group, and old mate okeydoke7 was happy playing out of a forward pocket. Flash forward just 3 rounds later, and sure enough okey was slotted in at full forward as CNL sadly made way, throwing into question the selection integrity in place down at Sin City.

The end result? The promising Catsnlakers inevitably seeks greener pastures, making an off season move to the Gumbies.

SPOONRATS

While off the field the Swamprats enjoyed a season of much welcomed rejuvenation, on field it was a season to forget for the Undergrounders.

Despite managing a respectable start to the season as they hovered around the poverty line, which would see them sitting 6-7 and in 7th place as late as Rd 13, they would go on to lose the next four games straight culminating in a Rd 17 loss to the Dees at home, sealing the club's third wooden spoon in their history and their first since Season 24, ending a charmed run of form that had seen them qualify for four grand finals over that stretch and salute twice.

Silver lining to this was a handful of individual honours, as Kennedy Parker was named VC of the All-SFA side joined by his co-captain and perennial selection philreich, while okeydoke7 found himself 2nd for all time Sweet FA goals behind the inimitable Tarkyn_24.​

 

[okeydoke7]

Pretty poor write up, though I’d imagine it was designed to bait a somewhat egotistical response from me. So you can have one.

I played far more than 3 games as a forward pocket last season. I fully expected to have to earn my position. I never once asked club leaders for any favours.

My match thread posting was just way too good. I averaged more posts per game than at any stage in my career - far more than Catsnlakers who was a good poster in his own right. I was also dropped back to the forward pocket just a week or 2 after posting 150 times in a match thread, just to give Catsnlakers yet another look at it.

His departure was unfortunate, but that’s what happens when someone realises they’re not capable of out posting their competition for a position. It’s a shame, as I thought we were forming a nice forward line partnership.

Catsnlakers has now moved to the Sweet FA graveyard, the Gumbies, in a move that will ruin his career. He will chip away for a season, maybe two, then drift off into the sunset never to be heard from again. I’ve seen it all too many times. Wasted talent. I just wish he didn’t shy away from some healthy internal competition. With a bit of spine he could’ve taken it up to me and we could’ve made each other better.

 

[nahnah]

I don't like how you're not doing them in alphabetical order

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

I don't like how you're not doing them in alphabetical order

Do you know how many threads make it to the Dragons and get bored? There's probably a thread in that DenieD

 

[DenieD]

Pretty poor write up, though I’d imagine it was designed to bait a somewhat egotistical response from me. So you can have one.

I played far more than 3 games as a forward pocket last season. I fully expected to have to earn my position. I never once asked club leaders for any favours.

My match thread posting was just way too good. I averaged more posts per game than at any stage in my career - far more than Catsnlakers who was a good poster in his own right. I was also dropped back to the forward pocket just a week or 2 after posting 150 times in a match thread, just to give Catsnlakers yet another look at it.

His departure was unfortunate, but that’s what happens when someone realises they’re not capable of out posting their competition for a position. It’s a shame, as I thought we were forming a nice forward line partnership.

Catsnlakers has now moved to the Sweet FA graveyard, the Gumbies, in a move that will ruin his career. He will chip away for a season, maybe two, then drift off into the sunset never to be heard from again. I’ve seen it all too many times. Wasted talent. I just wish he didn’t shy away from some healthy internal competition. With a bit of spine he could’ve taken it up to me and we could’ve made each other better.

Catsnlakers has made a great move. The graveyard of Sweet FA actually has many openings.

 

[nahnah]

Do you know how many threads make it to the Dragons and get bored? There's probably a thread in that DenieD

there is a set tradition in how these threads are ordered and conducted, please follow this traditional method and don't create unnecessary angst and uncertainty amongst the community

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

there is a set tradition in how these threads are ordered and conducted, please follow this traditional method and don't create unnecessary angst and uncertainty amongst the community

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

Pretty poor write up, though I’d imagine it was designed to bait a somewhat egotistical response from me. So you can have one.

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

BREATHING FIRE

The Dragons enjoyed a bullshit season on and off the field, securing an outrageous back to back minor premiership after finishing top of the table in S32. They were the first club to achieve this feat since the Swampies in S28-29, punctuated by a 7 game winning streak to end the season.

In addition to their smoking hot form as a club, a plethora of individual accolades would ultimately come their way. From DragoDelph's victory in the EKA who was well supported by fellow rookie Braklet in giving the Dragons a different look in S33, to the scintillating Bonz comfortably winning the Fred Medal leading the league's goalkickers. It was also a banner season for the skipper serial_thrilla who managed not only an All-SFA captaincy alongside three teammates (Pie 4 Life, Bonz & T2B_) but the highly coveted Frankston Rover Award for services to spreadsheets. The Dragons did it all.

EXTINGUISHED

As we've covered off, the Dragons absolutely romped it home in the back half of the season to finish minor premiers for the second time in as many seasons, and entered the finals in sensational form having won a whopping seven games on the trot. But it wouldn't stop there, as a 12 goal Hatchy1992 & Bonz party in the Qualifying Final in Week 1 saw them demolish the Phoenix 133-95 as they booked themselves a home Preliminary Final.

So when the Roys booked their place for the contest at Ljp86's Lair, you could forgive the Dragons for believing the result was a fait accompli. But the Roys were building their own momentum, fueled by Mobbs imminent departure and the talismanic #WOSHMOBBSDING hashtag celebrating the fleeting combination of Mobbs, Wosh & Dingster who managed to find themselves all in the same place at the right time.

The two sides were inseparable over four quarters, but it would be the Roys who would eek out the most slender of leads and manage to maintain it throughout the second half to cause an upset for the ages as they won by a kick and booked themselves a spot in the decider that they would go on to win. Having enjoyed such a thoroughly dominant second half of the season, the Dragons were bitterly unlucky as they choked at the final hurdle and their flame flickered out one game shy of a Grand Final berth.

OFF THE SCALES

After coming across from the Wonders at the completion of Season 30, the enigmatic Bonz made an immediate impact, shifting the often surly Dragons' natural disposition with a touch of whimsy and Tigerturbulance style titillation. He would bring a lightness and brevity that was sorely lacking and in limited supply, and yet behind the scenes it would seem there was more than meets the eye as he quickly established himself within the Dragons' LG.

Come Season 33 and the inevitable spectre of expansion would rear it's head, and surprisingly would prove too tempting for Bonz to resist. Like Blaze Storm with a brand new waifu pillow, the Old Boys would come quick, and come hard, as Bonz swiftly and rather publicly signed for the trouser snake inspired Ophidians early in the season. One would presume the chance to play with the player who seems to have inspired much of his posting style was too good to refuse, and he once again brings a unique approach to the new franchise along with some serious qooty pedigree.

While the Dragons can replace Bonz position on the ground, it remains to be seen whether they can cover his impact on and off the field in S34 and beyond.
​

 

[Braklet]

While the Dragons can replace Bonz position on the ground, it remains to be seen whether they can cover his impact on and off the field in S34 and beyond.​

There can be no substitute for the Bonz, ayyyyyyyy!

 

[Braklet]

Posting this stuff at 3am, now that's dedication.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

lol... TIF is on the money ... "Surly" is the one word that aptly describes the Drags

 

[Braklet]

lol... TIF is on the money ... "Surly" is the one word that aptly describes the Drags

I couldn't find his "take a picture, it'll last longer" clip.