Top 10 of 2009 Part 1

Well, its that time of year when we in stately Brisbane Ultimate Blog mansion like to roast a few chestnuts over the fire while turning the air conditioning up full boar, and contemplate the year that was. Of course, the rain has been handy too. Last year we stumbled upon the handy number 10 as the tally of big events for 2008, and we figure we might as well do the same this year.

So here's part 1 of the Top 10 most interesting things that happened in 2009 that we barely otherwise covered here at the Brisbane Ultimate Blog.

10. Matt Boevink Strikes Back

Former QUDA President (2003-2005) Mr Matt Boevink gave everyone one of his ‘well, why the hell not’ smiles at the Association’s AGM in March 2009, stepping back into the toughest job in Queensland Ultimate, and heralding the next phase in the overarching administration of Ultimate and Disc Golf in Queensland. 2009 was another big year for QUDA.

9. The Crawford Report

If you’re a policy wonk like those of us who hang out in the massive library and research labs here at stately Brisbane Ultimate Blog mansion, then you’ll have read the Crawford Report from cover to cover and be excited about what this could mean for the future of Ultimate. But you’re probably not. Nonetheless, we’re slotting this one in, so that if we look back in a few years time, if the future goes as it might, you’ll be able to look back here and say we had it right.

8. Passion Bounced

Its hard to avoid passing judgement, particularly on the friendly Brisbane Ultimate Blog, but its hard to go past tipping the scandal of the Brisbane Ultimate year being the UQ Passion’s disqualification from playing in the BPL Season 1 Finals. Passion’s failure to fill in enough roster sheets to qualify any of its players to play in the Finals series led League Director Stu to forfeit them and invite 5^th place Old School Buggers to play in their stead against 1^st place Dojo Mojo. Many felt this against the spirit of the BPL, which emphasises competitive play over ‘off-field rule mongering’, and were disappointed that if roster sheet-filling were of such importance then it could’ve monitored it during the season and had a quiet word passed on pointing out that Passion would be in breach of the rules. On the other hand, compliance with the agreed rules is also central to spirit of the game, and reams of email saw Stu stick to his guns and point out that the rostering rules were well known to everyone as an important part of ensuring the integrity of the Brisbane Premier League.

The year seemed to go further downhill for the Passion from there – their leadership’s apparent rigging of the BPL Season 1 Most Valuable Player voting (begun much earlier in the year) may have been meant to be a silly prank (no slander to Tomsteve Daley though, who did have a great year on the field in 2009), but in the context of what had gone before, seemed to make the team lose what sympathy they had. An effort at a new start and new look for Season 2 sadly saw the team burning some bridges with the folks at QUDA by taking forever to repay a loan to buy shirts, and the season ended with them missing the Semis again. Passion reps have ignored an invitation to visit the stately Brisbane Ultimate Blog mansion for interview (it is exam time though), but perhaps the New Year will bring a new vibe and a new Passion.

7. JFOG and QUDA Storage, Signage at AJSC

As usual, there were all sorts of adventures with fields this year (let us not speak of the AJSC lights), but a few standout moves this year were the putting up of some signage at AJSC, and gaining some permanent storage (and regular tournament use) of the JF O'Grady Fields in nearby Fairfield.

6. Women Break Out

Some people may not have notice it, but 2009 was a big year for Women’s Ultimate in Brisbane, at least in terms of the turnout to Northern Regionals. For the first time, Northern Regionals had a real women’s division (previously involvement had mostly involved two squads of Sultry ladies having a hit out), with four teams battling up and down the JF O’Grady fields. Can this be matched next year, despite the and will these numbers of tournament ladies

It’s worth noting that while the Open Division at Northern Regionals featured only five teams (down from six the previous year), these were five bigger and better teams, leading to a much more challenging and entertaining event for the lads.