Impressions of a BPL Final

So out usual BPL correspondent Wetnose was busy on Thursday night and asked me to sit down and write some impressions of the BPL Final. And as usual my hair was on fire for most of Friday and Saturday, and here I am now. Writing match reports is very challenging for me because I live in the moment and hence the memory can be short-lived (either that or alzheimers is setting in). And of course things can be tested by the extensive video that's like to be posted soon to the Dojo blog.

Anyway, enough preamble. First, let me take a lead from another sensible blogger, and say that Stu Austin has once again done a great job in running the Brisbane Premier League (with the support of team Captains Nathan Litzow, Stefan Rappazzo, Mike Neild, Stephen Cameron, Gref, Goranson, Daniel Stelan and of course Liam Gillions). We are extremely lucky to have him and them doing all the work for us. You're the tops Stu! Stu even packed up the portafield after the Final. What a guy!

It was also great to see Trevor and Matt B firing up the BBQ and hovering over an esky of cold ones, as well as a sizable crowd (although perhaps not the size of what is usually pulled when the Buggers make the Final!).

On the field this BPL Final was a match for spectators who like it tight. The disc flew well on a beautiful evening, although there were plenty of turns to keep it interesting. The turns seemed mostly to be the result of poorly directed passes ... although Julz for the Passion and Finn for the Cobras worked hard to get themselves in the right places (Finn's theme song would surely be the Jaws theme).

Mostly the teams were trading and turning with nobody getting more than a couple of points ahead at any one time. Passion took half 8-7.

Things got interesting once the game was tied up at 10-10. Passion scored to make it 11-10 and seems to be feeling pretty good about things. But oh how quickly that can change, with the Cobras scoring twice to lead 12-11 and then LD Stu confirming time cap and game to 14. The snakes got a turn and scored again to make it 13-11 with three chances to win the game and confidence very high.

The end of the game was marked by a lack of controversy. There was potential with an endzone strip and aL was ready with some boos (even though the action was far from the crowd), but agreement on an uncontested score smoothed things out. Passion got to 13-12.

Then rasied fits got to 13-13 and everyone was excited about Universe point. Cobras received the Pull but somehow gave it away half way down the field. Cheese headed for the endzone and someone threw something laughable in his direction ... and he plucked it in to win the game for the Passion.

The post-game presentations were very interesting, with Stu using the wrong pre-prepared speech and congratulating the Cobras on their win. The crowd soon corrected him (probably his only slip up of the season) and Passion picked up the RC Dog Cup, with a bit of gentle waving of the trophy in front of the other teams (well, Dojo, but we'll be kinder here, and Gref has since refound his natural generosity - he was exhausted (not buggered) after all).

Stu also updated us all on this season's Most Valuable Player, and the all important Spirit Champions, as below:

Congratulations also to Adam Beu 'Jangles' who won the season MVP trophy. The MVP all star team was:
1. Adam Beu 'Jangles' - 11pts (Heroes)
2. Mike Neild - 8pts (MBB)
3. Graham 'Special' Prickett - 7pts (MBB)
3. Abra Garfield - 7pts (Cobras)
3. Peter Allen - 7pts (Dojo)
3. Geoff 'Gref' Grundy - 7pts (Passion)
7. Al Don - 6 pts (Lovers)
7. Leon 'Fatty' McIntyre - 6pts (Dojo)

Overall spirit winners were the Heroes. Average spirit scores for the season were:
1. Heroes - 8.67
2. UQ Lovers - 8.63
3. Dojo Mojo - 8.25
4. UQ Pasison - 8.21
5. Moreton Bay Buggers - 8.17
6. Stamtown Flatball Club - 7.29
7. Cobras - 7.00

And that's it. Start pestering Steve C for some video now, or put your own reminicing in the comments.