WXV Grand Final: Buenos Aires v Toronto

[Purple 77]

WXVs proudly presents...

Grand Final, AFL Round 24

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Buenos Aires Armadillos	Toronto Wolves	MCG	7  v  6

Buenos Aires Armadillos vs Toronto Wolves

Active Streak: Toronto (1)

Buenos Aires
WXV Average (History): 1338
WXV Average (against Toronto): 1368
Average Winning Margin (against Toronto): 168

Toronto
WXV Average (History): 1390
WXV Average (against Buenos Aires): 1367
Average Winning Margin (against Buenos Aires): 194

Clash Year Winning Team Score Losing Team Score Margin 1 2012 Buenos Aires 1399 Toronto 1339 60 2 2012 Buenos Aires 1400 Toronto 1210 190 3 2013 Buenos Aires 1874 Toronto 1360 514 4 2014 Buenos Aires 1357 Toronto 1335 22 5 2015 Toronto 1210 Buenos Aires 1005 205 6 2016 Buenos Aires 1333 Toronto 1216 117 7 2017 Toronto 1403 Buenos Aires 1291 112 8 2018 Toronto 1506 Buenos Aires 1246 260 9 2019 Toronto 1573 Buenos Aires 1408 165 10 2020 Toronto 1388 Buenos Aires 1171 217 11 2021 Buenos Aires 1388 Toronto 1328 60 12 2022 Buenos Aires 1527 Toronto 1315 212 13 2023 Toronto 1585 Buenos Aires 1380 205

Last time they met

Toronto Wolves (25.9.159) def Buenos Aires Armadillos (22.6.138)

Wolves circle the Dillos Throne
All of a sudden, the Dillos minor premiership is being threatened! What a performance by Toronto, and against worthy opposition too! They are now only a win behind Buenos Aires, but also a bit of a % too which makes the task harder. Still, pressure for the first time this year for Buenos Aires!

2023 Head-to-Head (what if they played each other every week?)
The Armadillos have an imposing 12-7 record over the Wolves in 2023, off the back of 3 consecutive would-be victories over Toronto. The Wolves however comprehensively defeated the Dillos in Round 14, and fear no one, taking down New Delhi, Rio and now Rome in this finals series.

Team selection and preview

Buenos Aires
The Dillos have managed their list superbly, with 18 of its top 20 averaging players named in the squad of 19. It has been fairly smooth sailing on the injury front in 2023 compared to the late-season dip in 2022, but the season hasn't been totally without issue. In fact, only one player - the Dillos most famous in Reilly O'Brien - has played all 19 games for Buenos Aires this year.

As a consequence of the healthy list, the current XV - on season averages - is projected to produce a whopping 1479. This is with the likes of Ash (85avg) and Wines (84avg) as emergencies! Amazingly the Dillos haven't named the hero of 2022 in the XV either - Will Hayward. That is gob smacking to me - who could forget that UNBELIEVABLE last quarter! A proven big stage performer... wasted as an emergency. I'm sure if he does play, he'll be the emergency BA needs, not what it deserves.

Jack Ziebell's omission in the AFL squad is the only notable absentee, reducing that projected score by 21 points and would-be neat 1500, paving the way for Cam Rayner (68) to come on the field. He is the ONLY player in the XV to average less than 70, with thanks going to Shannon Hurn (another 2022 BA hero) coming on for his 176th and final WXV senior match, patching up BAs only weakness in it's D4 (where Aaron Francis (52) has featured in both of BAs QF and PF wins).

From the 2022 GF winning team, BA have brought in Nick Hind, Braeden Campbell, Mitchito Owens, Toby Greene and Dustin Martin for Tom Doedee, Ollie Wines, Will Hayward, Ash Johnson and Jarrod Berry.



Toronto
The news isn't good for Toronto.

Round 24 AFL outs of Jack Macrae (Toronto's #3 player whom has played every match this year) and Dion Prestia (#5 mid who has played 18 senior games) are huge blows (2 of the 5 players remaining from its 2019 GF team), taking significant wind out of the sails that have speed past New Delhi, Rio and Rome in the last 3 weeks. The Wolves would also prefer to have Rich (81avg) I suspect.

And yet - for a team with only 3 players playing that average above 90 - the XV averages 1391! This Wolves squad bats wonderfully deep, and doesn't drop off as sharply as the comparatively top heavy Dillos. Toronto also has the best player on the field - Rowan Marshall - whom has been INSTRUMENTAL in Toronto's success this year, posting back-to-back 140+ scores in the SF and PF victories. Jai Newcombe is in some serious form right now too, and even the likes of Witherden and Fisher are performing well above their season averages in the last month.

In terms of GF experience, Alex Witherden joins Tim Kelly and Rowan Marshall (along with the injured Prestia and Macrae) as the surviving members of its 2019 GF team who lost to New Delhi.



So who wins?

It is hard to look past the 100 pt differential just on averages here, and I think you're a brave punter to be backing Toronto. Obviously, that differential is easily bridged with swings in the captains performances, so the pressure is HUGE on Roma. The Wolves will be hoping Jack Hayes inclusion in the team will be in the forward line only, and not pinch any of his valuable ruck time. Of Buenos Aires 19 performances this year, it has dipped below 1391 5 times (26% - which seems about right for me in terms of Toronto's chances of winning).

The Dillos look destined to produce back-to-back premierships for mine, and have more players capable of going very large to get them there.



And don't forget reserves!

Both teams (Rio, Cape Town) have made Reserves finals but not the seniors.

You may name an indicative senior team if you wish (or I will), which will be used to determine who will not play in your Reserves side. Obviously, this senior team must consist of players you would be naming if you were playing senior finals.

Grand Final, AFL Round 23

Home Team	Away Team	Venue
Copacabana Capuchins	Durban Pirates	Adelaide Oval

[iZander]

BA

Def: Scrimshaw, Campbell, Hind, Hurn
Mid: Serong, Parish (CC), Green (CC), Cerra
Ruck: ROB
Fwd: Owens, Greene, Martin, Rayner
Int: Short, JDG

Emg: Ash, Wines, Hayward, Francis

[iZander]

BA

Def: Scrimshaw, Campbell, Hind, Hurn
Mid: Serong, Parish (CC), Green (CC), Cerra
Ruck: ROB
Fwd: Owens, Greene, Martin, Rayner
Int: Short, JDG

Emg: Wines, Ash, Hayward, Francis

[PowerBug]

Anti-Copacabana Capuchins

Def: Brayden Maynard, Nathan Broad, Corey Wagner, Ryan Lester.
Mid: Karl Amon, Jack Viney, Brad Crouch, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
Ruck: Sam Hayes.
Fwd: Tim Taranto, Tarryn Thomas (C), Kyle Langford, Todd Marshall.
Util: Mason Wood [Mid], Jeremy Finlayson [Ruck/Fwd].
Emerg: Eric Hipwood [Fwd], Hayden Crozier [Def], Tom De Koning [Ruck], Oskar Baker [Mid].

That means my named Capuchins for the Reserves Grand Final are as follows:
Hayden Crozier
Isaac Cumming
Joel Hamling
Oskar Baker
Tom De Koning
Mason Cox
Ben Hobbs
Eric Hipwood
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Eddie Ford
Jed McEntee

With potential late ins being:
Harry Sharp
Ollie Lord
Tom Campbell

[Purple 77]

(I've had a sneak peak at Toronto's squad, a mostly spoiler free preview)



Team selection and preview

Buenos Aires
The Dillos have managed their list superbly, with 18 of its top 20 averaging players named in the squad of 19. It has been fairly smooth sailing on the injury front in 2023 compared to the late-season dip in 2022, but the season hasn't been totally without issue. In fact, only one player - the Dillos most famous in Reilly O'Brien - has played all 19 games for Buenos Aires this year.

As a consequence of the healthy list, the current XV - on season averages - is projected to produce a whopping 1479. This is with the likes of Ash (85avg) and Wines (84avg) as emergencies! Amazingly the Dillos haven't named the hero of 2022 in the XV either - Will Hayward. That is gob smacking to me - who could forget that UNBELIEVABLE last quarter! A proven big stage performer... wasted as an emergency. I'm sure if he does play, he'll be the emergency BA needs, not what it deserves.

Jack Ziebell's omission in the AFL squad is the only notable absentee, reducing that projected score by 21 points and would-be neat 1500, paving the way for Cam Rayner (68) to come on the field. He is the ONLY player in the XV to average less than 70, with thanks going to Shannon Hurn (another 2022 BA hero) coming on for his 176th and final WXV senior match, patching up BAs only weakness in it's D4 (where Aaron Francis (52) has featured in both of BAs QF and PF wins).

From the 2022 GF winning team, BA have brought in Nick Hind, Braeden Campbell, Mitchito Owens, Toby Greene and Dustin Martin for Tom Doedee, Ollie Wines, Will Hayward, Ash Johnson and Jarrod Berry.



Toronto
The news isn't good for Toronto.

Round 24 AFL outs of Jack Macrae (Toronto's #3 player whom has played every match this year) and Dion Prestia (#5 mid who has played 18 senior games) are huge blows (2 of the 5 players remaining from its 2019 GF team), taking significant wind out of the sails that have speed past New Delhi, Rio and Rome in the last 3 weeks. The Wolves would also prefer to have Rich (81avg) I suspect.

And yet - for a team with only 3 players playing that average above 90 - the XV averages 1391! This Wolves squad bats wonderfully deep, and doesn't drop off as sharply as the comparatively top heavy Dillos. Toronto also has the best player on the field - Rowan Marshall - whom has been INSTRUMENTAL in Toronto's success this year, posting back-to-back 140+ scores in the SF and PF victories. Jai Newcombe is in some serious form right now too, and even the likes of Witherden and Fisher are performing well above their season averages in the last month.

In terms of GF experience, Alex Witherden joins Tim Kelly and Rowan Marshall (along with the injured Prestia and Macrae) as the surviving members of its 2019 GF team who lost to New Delhi.



So who wins?

It is hard to look past the 100 pt differential just on averages here, and I think you're a brave punter to be backing Toronto. Obviously, that differential is easily bridged with swings in the captains performances, so the pressure is HUGE on Roma. The Wolves will be hoping Jack Hayes inclusion in the team will be in the forward line only, and not pinch any of his valuable ruck time. Of Buenos Aires 19 performances this year, it has dipped below 1391 5 times (26% - which seems about right for me in terms of Toronto's chances of winning).

The Dillos look destined to produce back-to-back premierships for mine, and have more players capable of going very large to get them there.

[fanTCfool]

[GoLions]

Kate

D: Daniel Andrews, Trent Rivers, Isaac Quaynor, Jack Bowes
M: Chadley Warner (C), Callum Mills, Beijing Acres, Rigatoni Robertson
R: Toby Nankervis
F: Hairy Cheezels (VC), Tom Papsmear, Lachie Schultz, Gryan Miers
U: Ivan Soldo, Dylan Williams

E: Jack Hayes, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Judd McVee, Jaidyn Sleevonson

[fanTCfool]

Toronto Wolves

Alex Witherden, Jack Buckley, Ryan Burton, Jake Bowey
Jai Newcombe (VC), Tim Kelly, Will Setterfield, Marcus Windhager
Rowan Marshall (C)
Joe Daniher, Isaac Heeney, Zac Fisher, Connor Macdonald
Thomas Atkins, Liam Baker

Josh Rachele, James Borlase, Josh Goater, Tom Emmett

[Purple 77]

After Friday

Buenos Aires would be fairly neutral about its start. It certainly wasn't a commanding or potential match winning effort, but it does put the pressure on. Will Setterfield looked shaky out there for Toronto, in what is hopefully not a sign of things to come.

	Buenos Aires Armadillos					Toronto Wolves
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Jack Scrimshaw	0		0	D1	Alex Witherden	0		0
D2	Braeden Campbell	0		0	D2	Jack Buckley	0		0
D3	Nick Hind	64		64	D3	Ryan Burton	0		0
D4	Shannon Hurn	0		0	D4	Jake Bowey	0		0
M1	Caleb Serong	0		0	M1	Jai Newcombe	0		0
M2	Darcy Parish	107		107	M2	Tim Kelly	0		0
M3	Tom Green	0		0	M3	Will Setterfield	59		59
M4	Adam Cerra	0		0	M4	Marcus Windhager	0		0
R1	Reilly O'Brien	0		0	R1	Rowan Marshall	0		0
F1	Mitchito Owens	0		0	F1	Joe Daniher	0		0
F2	Toby Greene	0		0	F2	Isaac Heeney	0		0
F3	Dustin Martin	0		0	F3	Zac Fisher	0		0
F4	Cameron Rayner	0		0	F4	Connor MacDonald	0		0
U1 (MID)	Jayden Short	0		0	U1 (DEF MID)	Tom Atkins	0		0
U2 (MID)	Jordan De Goey	98		98	U2 (DEF FWD)	Liam Baker	0		0
E1 (MID)	Ollie Wines	0	0	0	E1 (FWD)	Josh Rachele	0	0	0
E2 (MID)	Lachlan Ash	0	0	0	E2 (DEF)	James Borlase	0	0	0
E3 (FWD)	Will Hayward	0	0	0	E3 (DEF MID)	Josh Goater	0	0	0
E4 (DEF FWD)	Aaron Francis	0	0	0	E4 (FWD)	Tom Emmett	0	0	0
CC	Darcy Parish	107		54	C	Rowan Marshall	0		0
CC	Tom Green	0		0	VC	Jai Newcombe	0		0
		Total:	323	3			Total:	59	1

[Purple 77]

After Saturday

TORONTO ARE SENDING IT!

How about those performances from Roma and Kelly?! They have given Toronto a commanding lead over some shell-shocked Armadillos (pun intended). The infamous ROB was subbed out during the 3rd quarter, Owens couldn't hit a target, whilst lesser lights Hind, Scrimshaw and Rayner were found out on the big stage... no blue moon tons for them.

Based on averages pre-game, Buenos Aires were 1479 to 1391. It has now shifted to a Toronto victory of 1486 to 1438!!!

Dillos need some big performances ala Caleb Serong, in particular Tom Green who can swing this match single handedly. But you have to admit, there is some SERIOUS firepower remaining for the Dillos... they can certainly blow them apart yet. Whilst I can't say the same for Toronto.

But wow, what a performance from Toronto so far!

	Buenos Aires Armadillos					Toronto Wolves
POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ	POS	Traditional	SCO	PEN	ADJ
D1	Jack Scrimshaw	70		70	D1	Alex Witherden	55		55
D2	Braeden Campbell	0		0	D2	Jack Buckley	0		0
D3	Nick Hind	64		64	D3	Ryan Burton	0		0
D4	Shannon Hurn	88		88	D4	Jake Bowey	0		0
M1	Caleb Serong	140		140	M1	Jai Newcombe	96		96
M2	Darcy Parish	107		107	M2	Tim Kelly	146		146
M3	Tom Green	0		0	M3	Will Setterfield	59		59
M4	Adam Cerra	0		0	M4	Marcus Windhager	81		81
R1	Reilly O'Brien	56		56	R1	Rowan Marshall	154		154
F1	Mitchito Owens	53		53	F1	Joe Daniher	114		114
F2	Toby Greene	0		0	F2	Isaac Heeney	0		0
F3	Dustin Martin	0		0	F3	Zac Fisher	0		0
F4	Cameron Rayner	82		82	F4	Connor MacDonald	73		73
U1 (MID)	Jayden Short	0		0	U1 (DEF MID)	Tom Atkins	95		95
U2 (MID)	Jordan De Goey	98		98	U2 (DEF FWD)	Liam Baker	0		0
E1 (MID)	Ollie Wines	0	0	0	E1 (FWD)	Josh Rachele	89	0	0
E2 (MID)	Lachlan Ash	0	0	0	E2 (DEF)	James Borlase	50	0	0
E3 (FWD)	Will Hayward	0	0	0	E3 (DEF MID)	Josh Goater	0	0	0
E4 (DEF FWD)	Aaron Francis	0	0	0	E4 (FWD)	Tom Emmett	98	0	0
CC	Darcy Parish	107		54	C	Rowan Marshall	154		154
CC	Tom Green	0		0	VC	Jai Newcombe	96		0
		Total:	812	9			Total:	1027	9

[Purple 77]

Gee whiz, Braeden Campbell has undone the amazing work by Dusty!

After Syd/Melb, projected scores based on averages is Toronto 1466 to Dillos 1449

[Purple 77]

Toby Greene and Tom Green lifting early!

[Purple 77]

Tom Green. Wow.

I think the end is nigh for Toronto

[Purple 77]

BUENOS AIRES: 2023 WXV PREMIERS

Buenos Aires Armadillos (23.9.147) def Toronto Wolves (23.8.146)

Best
Buenos Aires: Caleb Serong, Darcy Parish, Tom Green, Dustin Martin, Jayden Short
Toronto: Ryan Burton, Tim Kelly, Rowan Marshall, Joe Daniher

Late Changes
Buenos Aires: Nil
Toronto: Nil

WXV debut
Buenos Aires: Nil
Toronto: Nil

Club debut
Buenos Aires: Nil
Toronto: Nil

BUENOS AIRES are the WXV PREMIERS!
TORONTO finishes 2nd

ROWAN MARSHALL wins a FINALS CHAMPION Medal



The premiership captain:
DARCY PARISH
TOM GREEN

The premiership coach:
IZANDER

The premiership players:
JACK SCRIMSHAW
BRAEDEN CAMPBELL
NICK HIND
SHANNON HURN
CALEB SERONG
DARCY PARISH
TOM GREEN
ADAM CERRA
REILLY O'BRIEN
MITCHITO OWENS
TOBY GREENE
DUSTIN MARTIN
CAMERON RAYNER
JAYDEN SHORT
JORDAN DE GOEY



I swear WXVs results as a whole just gets more amazing each year! Two years in a row, it took until the last quarter of the last AFL game to decide the match, and again it was Buenos Aires that emerged victorious! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DILLOS!

Deep commiserations to the Wolves, whom have now lost 3 Grand Finals :( it was a helluva performance considering the absence of a couple of key players.

The Grand Final story

Friday Night Initial Skirmishes
- Crossing over from London, Nick Hind (64) is no stranger to a ton but looked nervous out there for Buenos Aires.
- It was crucial that co-captain Darcy Parish (107) started well, and ultimately the Dillos would have loved more from him
- Jordan De Goey (98) however (almost) saluted, to round out a solid but not amazing start for Buenos Aires
- Will Setterfield (59) was the only one from Toronto, but much like Hind, looked out of place on the big stage.

Saturday Afternoon Battles
- Jack Scrimshaw (70), Mitchito Owens (53) and Cameron Rayner (82) just plodded for BA really, with some credit due to Rayner from posting above his season average of 68.
- Thankfully for the Dillos, Caleb Serong (140) IGNITED with a stunning display, and was the first of the Dillos premiership heroes.
- Jai Newcombe (96) and Connor MacDonald (73) displayed his mettle for Toronto, whom is starting to feel the pressure to perform at this point (the projected score differential was is its highest at +174 to Dillos).
- of Toronto showed his resilience, adding to the contest's intensity.
- of Buenos Aires engaged in the battle, leaving their mark on the grand final.

Saturday Twilight: Enter Roma.
- The mighty Captain of the Toronto Wolves, ROWAN MARSHALL (154) puts in a commanding knock to almost single handedly bring the Wolves back into the match! Every point important, as the projected differential is SLASHED to 20!
- Marcus Windhager (81) also added valuable points to the cause, whilst Joe Daniher (114) stood tall to complete the remarkable mid-game effort.

Saturday Night: Party at Toronto
- He's famous for haunting EurAsia, but Reilly O'Brien (56) had an absolute 'mare for the Dillos, subbing out in 3rd! What is going on?!
- Tim Kelly (146) POPS OFF to give Toronto the lead (+48 on project score)! Although Alex Witherden (55) failed to fire,  Tom Atkins (95)  kept the incredible night going for Wolves.
- In his last ever match, Shannon Hurn (88) steadied the floundering ship for Buenos Aires, and was ultimately its best defender in the match.

Sunday Afternoon Finale: BAs Response
- Of course. Who else but Dustin 'big stage' Martin (139) would bring BA back from the brink? Jayden Short (116) was right there with him, and together with Liam Baker's (45) flop for Toronto, Buenos Aires took back a +29 point lead in the projected score.
- Ryan Burton (100) stopped the bleeding however, putting in a clutch performance for the Wolves.

Sunday Afternoon: The Lull
- Sydney v Melbourne was not kind to either team, but Braeden Campbell's 17 was an absolute KILLER for Buenos Aires. A tradeable offence!
- Jake Bowey (79) and Isaac Heeney (68) almost looked really good by comparison, but missed opportunities to really capitalise on the advantage. But Toronto re-take the projected total lead by 17 points!

Sunday Night's Dramatic Closure
- Toronto 1319 to Buenos Aires 1122. The brilliant Tom Green (CC), Toby Greene and Adam Cerra taking on the lead and lesser lights Jack Buckley and Zac Fisher. Only 17 points separating them in terms of averages. Wow. What a final setup!
- Tom Green and Toby Greene make a HOT start, and the fight back is ON
- Cerra chugs along to a score in the 30s midway in the 2nd, and yet Buckley and Fisher are keeping up from seemingly less impact. Greene has also kicked 3 goals at this point, but only 44SC?
- From 197 points to chase down... BA make solid progress, bridging the gap to just 109 at HT!
- Can Buckley and Fisher HOOOLLLDDD ON!
- The 3rd quarter happens... and Tom Green is IRREPRESSIBLE! He has put BA on his shoulders, and CHARGING TOWARDS THE FINISH!
- The margin is just 44 points to Toronto at 3QT! A role change to Fisher during the 3rd has the Toronto coach doubting whether he can hold on... he needs Tom and Toby to slow the flower down.
- The start of the 4th... a SHOT AT GOAL FROM TOBY... misses. Minutes later, Tom Green comes streaming down and has a ping from 30... but MISSES! Toby also has some other half chances sprayed across the goals. Have these two just cost BA the premiership?
- Then, in the 15th minute of the GF... TOBY CONVERTS HIS 4th! THE SCORES ARE LEVEL!
- The AFL game is dead... but they have no idea how close THIS game is!
- Toronto need Kingsley to take Green and Greene OFF the field and rest them up for finals!
- Zac Fisher has stopped, whilst Buckley is maximising his touches (36DT to 73SC)
- Cerra has now come on the bench... is he now there to stay?
-  ... a few minutes have passed with not much action. Toronto leaking some small points as BA take a tiny lead, that could be overtaken by just one passage of play...
- As the result is starting to take shape... what's this? A late goal to Fisher?! Are we back on?!
- 5 mins pass... SIREN SOUNDS! The pre-scaling is in... BA are up by 16 points! Surely scaling won't swing too much? (*cough 2022 Grand Final*) (*cough Roma scaled down 6 points)
- Scaling is in... BUENOS AIRES ARE VICTORIOUS!

Champion's Unveiling:
- As the final whistle echoed, the grand final concluded.
- BA in raptures, the Wolves devastated. The players crowd around and watch Rowan Marshall accept a deserved but shallow finals champion medal, and promptly leave the MCG.
- The resilient and simply amazing Buenos Aires emerge victorious.

A Fitting Farewell:
- With the grand final's curtains drawn, 15 players with hands in the air victorious, 15 with hands on their faces... the season ended with a simply amazing grand final, Buenos Aires 2nd premiership and Toronto's 3rd GF defeat. What a game, what a season, and what a result that will be remembered for the years to come.

[Purple 77]

COPACABANA: 2023 WXV RESERVES PREMIERS

The Capuchins swarmed the Pirates 9 v 6 in a dominant display reflecting its dominant 2023 season. They were lucky the Pirates were decimated by injury compared to last weeks 10 representatives! But all the same - congratulations to Copacabana!

Copacabana Capuchins (17.6.108) def Durban Pirates (11.11.77)

Best
Copacabana: Nil
Durban: Judd McVee, Mabior Chol, Ollie Dempsey

COPACABANA are the WXV RESERVES PREMIERS!
DURBAN finishes 2nd

Premiership players:
EDDIE FORD
JOEL HAMLING
BEN HOBBS
HAYDEN CROZIER
MASON COX
JED MCENTEE
OSKAR BAKER
JAMARRA UGLE-HAGAN
OLLIE LORD