WXV: Beijing Thunder

[Toga]

I aim to please ;)

[Purple 77]

Jayden Hunt 102 SC against the Suns  ;)

I for one am outraged he didn't play for the Thunder, but there you go I suppose!

[Toga]

Dahh he looked very good today! Could well be getting close to a senior debut if he keeps putting those kind of numbers up. Pity he's not listed as a defender (like he should be!) and our forward line mistakenly couldn't fit in the great Josh Jenkins this week! :-X

[Toga]

World #PETREKT as Petracca earns Rising Star Nomination

Christian Petracca has taken only three senior games to stamp his mark on the World competition, earning a rising star nomination for his 105 point effort against the Berlin Brewers on the weekend. In his third game for the Thunder, the powerful Petracca had 21 disposals to go along with 21 pressure acts, 7 tackles and 442 meters gained. Despite this, a scoreboard result of 0.4 left a little bit to be desired, and Beijing coaching staff acknowledge that while Christian has work to do in that regard, it shows that he still has scope to improve.

Congratulations Christian on joining Beijing's ranks of rising star nominees!

[Purple 77]

Totes worth the wait  8)

[Ricochet]

I love #petrekt and everything it stands for

[Nige]

I love #petrekt and everything it stands for

It's really hard not to ahaha.

[Toga]

Totes worth the wait  8)

Definitely! Would've been a handy addition to the team last year but I won't complain 8)

I love #petrekt and everything it stands for

It's really hard not to ahaha.

Haha I'm glad it's caught on ;D

[Toga]

B&F Update

10 rounds into the new season and it's time to give an update on our results and best and fairest standings.

The Thunder currently sit one game out of the top 4, with a 6-4 scoreline, and sit atop the EurAsia conference with a record of 4-2 against its rival teams.

Danye Zorko and Lachie Neale are currently tied for the Best Individual Performance award, having scored 148 points in a single outing against Dublin and Berlin respectively. Christian Petracca has earned a rising star nomination for his performance against Berlin.

The B&F tally as it currently stands is as follows:
(Standing - Player - Votes)
1. D.Zorko (32)
=1. L.Neale (32)
3. C.Ward (26)
4. B.Ellis (13)
5. J.Caddy (10)
6. B.Grundy (9)
=6. O.Wines (9)
8. K.Lambert (5)
=8. A.Christensen (5)
10. H.Taylor (4)
11. S.Mayes (2)
=11. B.Kennedy (2)
13. L.Brown (1)
=13. C.Petracca (1)

So who do we think will take home this year's B&F award? Will the improved consistency of last year's winner Lachie Neale prevail? Will boom recruit Dayne Zorko's amazing form continue and see him jump ahead? Could captain Callan Ward sneak up on the current leaders? Or will Christian Petracca simply #PETREK everyone and fly up the leaderboard over the second half of the season?

[Purple 77]

Christian Petracca has earned a rising star nomination for his performance against Berlin.

Not even mad.

So who do we think will take home this year's B&F award? Will the improved consistency of last year's winner Lachie Neale prevail? Will boom recruit Dayne Zorko's amazing form continue and see him jump ahead? Could captain Callan Ward sneak up on the current leaders? Or will Christian Petracca simply #PETREK everyone and fly up the leaderboard over the second half of the season?

Although Ward is a tempting option, I think the answer is obvious.

#PETREKT

[GoLions]

ZZZZZZZZORKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Toga]

2016 Season Results + B&F Tally

Round 11: L
Beijing Thunder (24.7.151) lost to Pacific Islanders (24.8.152*)

We can't possibly be too disappointed with what was probably the best game in WXV history, where our fate was sealed by 1SC point. ONE SC POINT! It would have been nice to take home the bikkies but kudos to fellow up-and-comers Pacific. Josh Jenkins was again enormous, posting the highest individual score for the season with a 171. Lachie Neale was great in his first game as captain for the year, while Callan Ward responded to having the captaincy taken off him for the week very well indeed. A seemingly long-term injury to Allen Christensen soured things a little bit.

B&F:
5. J.Jenkins (171)
4. L.Neale (138)
3. C.Ward (125)
2. D.Zorko (97)
1. O.Wines (94)



Round 12: W
Christchurch Saints (20.8.128) lost to Beijing Thunder (21.7.133)

Not our greatest effort but back on the winners list! Lachie Neale showed that he is not invincible, being well held by a tag this week in his second consecutive week of being trusted with captain's duties. Might be time Callan Ward gets the armband again. Our youngsters stepped up this week, with Brodie Grundy, along with inexperienced duo Ben Kennedy and Christian Petracca holding off a last-ditch effort from the Saints. Josh Jenkins starred once again.

B&F:
5. O.Wines (106)
4. H.Taylor (103)
3. J.Jenkins (101)
=3. C.Ward (101)
1. B.Kennedy (94)



Round 13: L
Beijing Thunder (20.10.130) lost to Rio de Janeiro Jaguars (27.8.170)

Rio were simply far too good this week with their second-string players really standing up in addition to their stars performing. Far too good. Lachie Neale lead from the front once again, showing why he is one of the club's most important players. Sam Mayes has been performing very well over the past five weeks with an average of 86 ppg, standing up down back when we have been struggling down there, while Nathan Broad was solid in his AFL debut, and we could see him in the seniors sooner rather than later. Josh Caddy's medial ligament injury put a dampener on things as he will now miss a number of weeks.

B&F:
5. L.Neale (149)
4. D.Zorko (108)
3. B.Ellis (107)
2. B.Grundy (106)
1. S.Mayes (97)

Round 14:
B&F:
5. L.Neale (123)
4. O.Wines (99)
3. D.Zorko (94)
2. J.Jenkins (90)
1. H.Taylor (87)

Round 15:
B&F:
5. C.Ward
4. D.Zorko
3. O.Wines
2. B.Grundy
1. B.Hill

Round 16:
B&F:
5. D.Zorko
4. L.Neale
=B.Hill
2. M.Jones
1. B.Grundy

Round 17:
B&F:
5. B.Grundy
=O.Wines
3. C.Ward
=L.Neale
1. J.Polec

[Toga]

2016 Best and Fairest

LACHIE NEALE wins his second consecutive Beijing Thunder Best & Fairest award.

Top 3:
1. L.Neale (53)
2. D.Zorko (50)
3. C.Ward (40)

[Toga]

2016 Trade Period 1

Trade 1:
Beijing trade: Pick 29
Christchurch trade: Mason Cox + Sharrod Wellingham
Notes: Wellingham adds to our backline depth, while Cox completes our Collingwood ruckline.

Trade 2:
Dublin trade: Ciaran Byrne
Beijing trade: Braydon Preuss + Pick 47
Notes: Dublin were after Preuss to complete their ruckline, so we identified Byrne as a player of interest. Despite a recent ACL injury we see Byrne as the successor to Carlton's flankers, potentially as soon as next year.

2016 List Management

The following players have either retired or been delisted by the club:

• Matthew Jaensch
• Ted Richards
• Alipate Carlile
• Tayte Pears
• Cam Wood
• Gach Nyuon
• Danny Stanley
• Xavier Richards
• Matt Jones
• Yestin Eades

2016 Provisional List

Def: S.Mayes, H.Taylor, J.Thurlow, S.Wellingham
J.Hunt, D.Howe (M), J.Scrimshaw, C.Byrne, L.Brown, T.Jonas, M.Talia, T.Clurey, N.Broad, R.Smith, H.Lumumba, T.Williamson

Mid: L.Neale, D.Zorko, C.Ward, O.Wines, B.Ellis, J.Caddy (F)
J.Aish, J.Polec, S.Edwards (F), D.Butler

Ruck: B.Grundy
M.Flynn

Fwd: J.Jenkins, A.Christensen, C.Petracca, B.Hill (M)
K.Lambert, B.Lennon, B.Kennedy, A.Black, M.Cox, T.O'Brien, A.Gallucci, K.LeBois

Rookie List: K.Stewart, T.Stengle, E.Irra, F.Watson, D.Hamilton

[Ricochet]

Good old Sharrod has racked up a few frequent flyers in his career