Tip tippery, tip tippery, tip tip, terree ....

... a sweep is as lucky as lucky can be.

And you the reader and we here at the stately Brisbane Ultimate Blog mansion are extremely lucky today as we've been graced by a range of views from the very best observers of Brisbane Premier League Ultimate that we could find.

We asked each of them:

• Who is going to win this Thursday's smash-em-up-winner-takes-all-prisoners-aren-t-worth-bothering-with-thanks-again-for-all-the-work-TD-Stu BPL 2009 Season 2 Grand Final?
• Why? and,
  
• What do you think the final score will be?

We even promised a prize to any of these observers who picked the correct final score! Don't say we don't ever do nothin' for nobody around here.

So let's start with a guy who's still existing in some sort of strange other-timezone, the sometimes dignified Pete 'Pallen' Allen:

"As I haven't really observed many BPL games this season/year, I'll keep it short and too the point. As for who is going to win, it is hard to go passed the reigning premiers who have only lost 3 finals in the last 10 or something (2 of them against Lovers, just in case anyone has forgotten). Also with DoJo's record of winning finals after taking out the minor premiership I'm going to have to say that Buggers will take out this final. Although I will be heckling on the sideline to help the DoJo out.

On the field I reckon the main players will be Dan, Dave and The Andy Trio from Dojo and on Buggers keep an eye out for of course, Mikey/JRay connection and (wow this is a stella lineup now I see it) also watch Jangles (recently laid out on a beach on camera :O) , Stu and since he is being called the new me, Trevor (who I met last night so there).

The score will be, 15-11 Buggers. One things for sure, I'm looking forward to it."

Seeking a slightly different view, we managed to corner the famous Nathan Litzow, UQ Lovers Captain and newly minted married man, to get his thoughts:

"Dojo might win this season - they have a tight knit line with only 1 or 2 subs, they have the fire in their belly after last season's final loss and they have dug themselves out of a few big holes against Lovers and other teams this season.

They will go undefeated this season with a win - so they will get the job gone on Thursday if they can get to 15 before the light go out ;-) Yeah UQ

MBB won't go down without a fight but I'm thinking Dojo 15-12."

So lets move on to our own in-house expert, the ever-brave and snakey Mr Liam 'Wetnose' Gillions:

"Buggers to win it by 3. Bugs to come out hard early and Dojo to be their usual slack selves early on. Bugs establish an early lead and the rest of the game to go pretty much point for point. If Jray is back from NZ then Bugs to win by 6 and expect a lot of Jray-Mike hucks. If no Jray, the disc will touch the hands of Stu-Jangles-Mike-Manuel-Simon-Cootes-Nandor 95% of throws. The Bugs' experience in the big games should show out, and another Dojo choke will truely be looked upon with humour from many members of the Brisbane Ultimate community. That being said, Dojo will not give up and Watto will have a great game. Phil Stocks to pick up. Steve Cameron to snap his clipboard in frustration.

Thanks, Wettie. Ok, to wash our mental spaces out after that, lets turn to the esteemed Dr Jon Good, for his academic assessment of the situation:

"Who's going to win? Buggers, just.

Why? They'll get more D.

What will the score be? Buggers 15-12 (closer if it is very windy)

I have been impressed by Dojo both times we played them this season. In particular, Leon has been having a storming season for them and seems to be the centerpiece of a (I can't believe I am saying this) stable Dojo offence. I certainly think they will make double figures against the MBB defence.

For me, the game will be decided when Dojo are playing defence: they have a very well structured zone, which frustrates teams into turnovers, but I haven't been impressed by their man on man. Looking down the MBB line up, they have enough stable heads and fast feet to work through that zone, if they are patient. They also have a pretty handy get out clause when Neild goes long, but I don't see them needing to call on this that often.

So, MBB to win, simply because I think they will get more turnovers with their 'straight up force and mark the unders' defence."

Thanks Jon! Let's put one rose amongst the thorns, and see what Eireann Gilligan has to say:

"Buggers to win because Dojo have a tendancy to choke when it matters. I think it will be Buggers by 5. That said, I haven't seen men's Ultimate played in a few seasons, so who am I to say!"

Speaking of someone who's benefit a bit more from watching the women's game, now onto the pipe smoking and leather-jacketed Mr Will Churchill Esq:

"Like the assault on Klendathu the Dojo Season 2 2009 Final may be yet another failed offensive against the Bug stronghold.

Simply, they are a very, very strong team.

I thought that it would be the Cobras in the final but the Dojo are just too wise and experienced.

Sadly wise and experienced goes hand in hand with unfit and fragile. I call Stephen Cameron injured within the first 10 minutes with yet another game ending "injury" before Dojo come back from a 7 point slump caused by Stephen.

Final score? Buggers 17-12."

Clever of Will to recall that BPL Finals go to 17 (I think?), but points off for reminding us how much he and Stephen have that love-hate-love-indifference thing going on (but hey, doesn't everyone?). We figure by now you've probably settled right back into your armchair and are deeply considering the different ways this game will go - so its an excellent time to invite the views of strategist and colour-man John McNaughton what he thinks:

The Buggers have to be strong favourites going into this game. They have the wood over the Dojo in recent times, as well as an unmatched record in finals. Everyone knows the Jason to Mike show is a powerful weapon for the Bugs, but having won their semi without the aid of Mr Ray, there's clearly more to the team than just that. Silent George looks like he's moving better every week (he'll be in cleats this week, for a start), Jangles is back from an overseas party, and Stu Austin will cause matchup headaches.

Dojo bring a strong team game, as they've done for quite some time, without the same big name Ultimate. Their depth is unrivaled in BPL, in terms of average playing experience, but many of these experienced players have lessened their Ultimate involvement over the years. If this game turns into a competition of wit and wiles, the Dojo will be well positioned; a game of athleticism will not be to their favour.

For the Dojo, I think their keys to victory will be:

- Offence: need to use their full depth to open up the field, catching defenders out of position and giving their cutters easy opportunity. They will not be as strong if their cutters have to try to win battles on the open side.

- Defence: similarly, if they try to defend the Buggers in one-on-one-cutting, or try to challenge them in footraces, they will lose those battles. Their defence needs to make the Bugs cutters stop and think, something that the MBB offence has never been particularly well equipped for. Obviously, the other key will be limiting the damage from the Jason to Mike show, which will need strong defenders at both ends to have a chance. If it's a windy night, this will favour the Dojo.

For MBB:

- Offence: against man defence, the Buggers spacing and clearing will be their biggest key. As stated, they will win one-on-one cutting battles, so they need to free up their team mates to have those battles without interference. The other key will be the Bugs' ability to penetrate the Dojo zones, which will no doubt see plenty of use to combat the speed of the Bugs.

- Defence: don't get broken; don't get beaten under. That will be the Buggers' mantra, as always, and will sit them in good stead against the Dojo. If they can contain the movement of the disc, that will set up their defenders in strong positions, and the Dojo hucking game is not precise enough to consistently give their receivers uncontested goals. A few easy goals may be given up, but we should also see a number of contested discs - exciting for the crowd.

My tips?
- Buggers 15-12
- Mike to score 6 goals, 4 off Jason backhands of 50m or more
- heckling to be of sub-standard quality
- 19 foul calls for the game, 6 of them contested."

Give that man his own newspaper column! Although in making several tips, he's generating just a bit too much work for us to track these things ....


Thanks thanks three times thanks to all our tipsters for engaging in the fun, and hope to see you all at the BPL Final, Oval 7, University of Queensland, Thursday night from 7pm or so.

So - the Moreton Bay Buggers go in as clear favourites - but maybe the strengthened and streamlined Dojo can deliver and upset? The comment lines are open!