Brisbane Premier League Returns Tonight - Our Exclusive Preview

Welcome to the exclusive and Official Brisbane Ultimate Disc Blog BPL 2010 Season 2 Preview. As usual we had grand plans. Several posts. A series of bumper stickers (I Heart Heroes; Don’t Blame Me – I’m Not Dojo; SfcT Happens; Love and Lovers; I’m a Bugger and I Vote). Some commemorative plates. A launch party. A gold plated hovercraft. Ruling the WORLD muhahahah. Ah, the joys of self-delusion.

In the end as the Opening Pull got closer and time was running out, we settled for a single but hopefully grand preview post. Thankfully, the ever gracious (and often verbose) Captains of the teams came to our aid in agreeing to provide exclusive interviews, thereby providing us (and only us!) with some real content rather than us here in the stately mansion just firing up the typing monkeys (who are of course without Will these days). So read on and see how we go with an actual attempt at journalism – bringing together the disparate threads of some keen minds into one hopefully interesting and enlightening piece.

The Bugger in the Room

It’s clear that, with the addition of ex-Lover Buzz Burwell and the full-time return of Australian representative Mike Neild, practically everyone agrees the Moreton Bay Buggers look the goods this season. The Mayor of Gold Coast Ultimate, Stef Rapazzo hates it, but agrees its just the facts, baby. “They are the team to beat.”

Dojo Captain Steve Cameron puts it even blunter: “It's a no-brainer. Bugs are the team to beat this season. Burwell + Neild - need I say more? It's going to be a friggin yawn playing against those guys.”

Ex-Bugger and now Heroes Captain Dan Strelan puts it this way: “Its only the Bugs. They've recruited well (we’re very jealous having tried very hard during the offseason to bolster our own ranks). Yes, the Buzz to Mike combo is massive.”

Bugger Boss Mike can’t help but agree. “Most of the good frisbee teams that I have played on has had at least one pure offensive handler. You know the type, quick, crafty, loves the hammer, a little on the compact side and the kind of player you can build a goal scoring system around. Bringing Buzz Burwell to the Buggers will shape much of the outcome of the league.”

But even the most foggy-minded of BPL followers will recall that Steve enjoys being provocative.

Dan adds more detail ”They're welcoming back Alex 'Chaddy' Chadwick and secured the services of ex-Lover Oscar Hernandez as well. I've gotta pay tribute to the Bugs, playing my rookie season with them and having all our first season recruits coming from the Bugs. Mike Neild believes in all his players and that makes a big difference in BPL” where the successful teams need to have the whole team solid – you can’t just rely on the outrageous talent of a couple of standouts.

The Buggers squad has only a few changes from the team that were a few points short of the Final last season, but there’s been some growth in other ways. Mike draws particular attention to fourth season Bugger Trevor Lovering, fresh from a campaign with the Australian Under 19 team. Sounding slightly like he's writing a report card, Mike writes: “Trev has been a good contributor to the team for a couple of seasons now and I expect his well rounded game and excellent offensive timing will make him a key member of our team this season.”

But Mike adds that ‘the Buzz factor’ is not just something that’s happening with his squad – the formula of aL Don + gang of tall receivers will make the autoerotic UQ Lovers a team that can usually score at will. In comparison, Mike notes the Buggers “have lost a bit of firepower in the tall receiver area with Spinner and Didems taking a season off.” Keen observers will remain aware though that the Bugs’ now longstanding handling/midfield combos of imports, Simon, Stu and Manuel, remain a great steadier.

Mike also notes that “in 2010 the Bugs have had to change our strategy to suit the different group of players who make up the team. Graham 'Special G' Prickett perfectly epitomises the new style of frisbee that we are developing. Hard work, disciplined cutting and control are all hallmarks of our Vice Captain's game. When the team is playing like Special G then we are playing quality Ultimate and will be looking good.

To Love Oneself

The biggest move of the offseason has of course been the merging of the two UQ sides into a single squad, shrinking the League from seven to six teams.

UQ Club Captain and former President Nathan Litzow had this to say. “We have possibly made the biggest waves across the League during the long winter off season.”

“Reducing UQ's presence from two teams to one has led to some hard decisions, some upset players and one mean (at least on paper) looking team.”

“It move may in fact help us think more as being part of a club and representing UQ Ultimate then two teams with some vague and (sometimes) long forgotten links.”

Merging the talent of two BPL teams into one has created a team that should by any objective measure really be overshadowing the Buggers in the tipping stakes. As Dan Strelan puts it: “So this is biased, but someone’s gotta stop the UQ powerhouse that strengthened the top of the league!” he notes one of the other outcomes though – Heroes have been able to gain some extra legs, while some players of long-standing have been decided to leave the League.

Steve Cameron is of course only focused on what happens on the field, and sees UQ as pretty straight forward. “Big Change - Julz to, well, um, UQ. Hey - they've pared it back to one team. If I could still see JMac on the roster I would be tipping them as most likely runners-up over Bugs for sure, despite having to carry Gref through the season."

Nathan suggests observers will want to look at more than the established names on his roster, picking up a thread from Mike: “ I can't wait to see what Alex Livingstone brings back from his time at U19 world champs. Plus I've got high hopes for Tyson and Ryan to improve greatly over the season."

One issue will be the loss (at least in the short term) of an avenue for new players to enter BPL. While UQ had two teams, it had space to fill and was constantly motivated to try to blood players from its wider Club into the BPL. With one team stuffed with talent, it’s hard to see that happening in the immediate future. As one person put it, “You can understand where the leadership is coming from and fair enough, but let’s hope in a season or two they decide to get a second team going again.”

Nathan adds one important rider to those who are tipping UQ - “As most of our team are students - the fact that this season goes deep into UQ's exam period has me at little nervous. If we get to finals will be have a team on the line?”

Heroic Stoic

One outcome of UQ’s merge has been the movement of some legs over to the Heroes. All up, the Heroes look to be blooding six new players this season, including ex-Cobra Carl B and ex-sandgroper Adam Dowley.

Dan was also happy to talk up the new crew: “Mike Strelan - no one can get Rick to do something he doesn't want to do, and when he wants to do something, no one can stop him. He wants to play a lot of Ultimate all of a sudden. He busts his ass to make great cuts and often lays out (more often in D).” Also, “our blog says that Carl is likely to make the most impact out of our recruits.”

Many long term Queenslanders are excited at the prospect of Matt Boevink returning to the top level field after a long term injury, a lot of coaching, and a season loosening up with the Griffith Go-Go’s. Dan takes up the thread, “Some have heard the story of Matt Boevink's angry words in the Cobra's revenge match. "Can I be the bad coach now?" Team - "Yes, absolutely!". Matt - "That was fucking terrible!! Chris, what the fuck are you doing?!" I'm expecting to get a hurry along from the opposition as Matt will now be coaching from the seven on the Line.”

Returning to the coming season, Dan adds “Plus we have TomSteve! Some fools don’t rate him (I pity them), but he's gonna be fired up after being axed by his mates (again), but he's gotta pull his finger out and concentrate on the field. Hopefully he'll have more fun with us.”

Many recognise the Heroes are still some seasons of recruitment and development away from regularly threatening the major teams (including the Heroes themselves), but the team has a wider Club outside the BPL, as well as a positive recruitment and sense of fun that will eventually pay dividends. And as the Cobras found earlier this year, on a good night the Heroes will provide the unexpected.

First Rule of the Dojo – Nobody Talks About the Dojo. Second Rule - Except the Dojo.

When interviewing the other Captains in a tight timeframe, none of them got around to mentioning the illustrious Dojo Mojo, one of the more famed teams within the League. But that’s all right, as Sensei Steve Cameron, author of the best (if slightly one-eyed) Brisbane Club blog out there, welcomed the opportunity to get something down on the record.

We asked Steve first about who he’s got high expectations of this season, and he responded looking slightly bewildered: “Andres Cantor - I don't know who he is and only just saw his name on the Dojo roster, but hopefully he'll step up in a big way!”

“Otherwise I have very high expectations of Pete Allen this season - I don't think we saw anything near the best Pete has to offer last season, and we're going to be counting upon him more than anyone to at least make those hucks to Mike 50/50 options...”

Note that this blog agrees that Pete Allen is awesome but can do better.

We also asked Steve to indulge us with some insights into the otherwise inscrutable personalities of the Dojo, possibly with tongue in cheek, possibly without (he is of course, inscrutable himself).

“Sean Flanagan is our wise sage. Without a doubt. Sean has played more Ultimate than the rest of us have had hot dinners - he's seen it all before."

“Pete Allen may be our Young Gun (comparatively speaking) but when I think weapons I think loose cannon, and that’s Matt Eastburn. His hammers either make you weep or rejoice - you can never tell what it's going to be until it's too late."

“Dan Walls is our iceman. Does something awesome, maybe accepts a quiet pat on the back, and then gets right back to work. Rohan Ferris is our brooding loner. He's about as much into twitter as George Salisbury."

"Andrew Lankowski is our team guy. Only guy at the Dojo who realises it's a team sport. Golden Child - Leon McIntyre. Impeccable spirit, impeccable competitor. Virgin - Darren Shi. All that urgent running...Geeky-but-cool Guy - Dave Watson. He's like Napoleon Dynamite and the kid from Juno rolled into one. Wiseguy - Ryan Black. You just know he's going to have the last laugh."

Steve concludes: "Pete and Andres have already got a mention above, and I've been tagged with enough cliched stereotypes over the years to sink the cliched Titanic stereotype."

As with seemingly every season, the stable Dojo look the goods. It'll come down to the week by week grind of the BPL - the Dojo will win enough games to make the Finals, and then its up to their gods.

Silent Strikes the Snake

In contrast to the Dojo’s fantastic propensity for self-hype, silence has reigned with regards the Cobras. Perhaps it was their coming within a forked tongue of winning last season, but all is quiet at the Swamp.

Despite this, the slippery serpents are still on Mike Neild’s radar: “[They’re] looking really good. I expect that the Cobra team will continue to play the kind of frisbee they found in the second half of last season. If they do they will be a difficult team to beat.”

Stef Rappazzo is also paying attention – noting the addition of Kailin Thomson to the Cobra roster. “Adding a tall well rounded player adds to depth.” The Cobras have also gained Erhart Stockhausen, who will be keen to beat UQ at any opportunity.

The key for the Cobras staying up strong will no doubt be Abra Garfield, but the overseas trips of several players during the Winter break will also be fundamental. Expect Liam ‘Wetnose’ Gillions to be ‘fanging’ for it after a tanning holiday, while Aussie u19 Captain Reece Stewart will be looking to apply what he’s learned on the tough international Ultimate scene. If Cobras can get into gear quick and avoid the early season meltdowns of February-April, big things will be expected.

Slamming Down the M1

Rounding out our preview, we have a look at the Gold Coast’s (and northern NSWs) Slamtown Flatball Club, the one team (aside somewhat from UQ) that has a clear geographic area and mission aside from being ‘a gang of friends who don’t like anyone else’.

Stef was quick to point out some of the talent on the team. “Mike Morgan - If he can get through a season without injury, he will be lethal on both sides of the disc. And Troy Zernike - relatively new to the game has been logging in the hours and is poised to have a break out season. Our new Canadian recruit ... The Beanstock … will be a gun.”

Many Brisbane-based players will be reconsidering their view of a few Slamtowners, after getting to sit back and watch Badman and Kevin put it on during Byron Bay’s recent visit to the Halibut Grand Final. Said one correspondent: “Badman’s game is a lot bigger than I thought. I always figured he was pretty lazy and hucked spekkies because he couldn’t be bothered running any more, but Halibut showed another side. He can be a workhorse, and smart too.”

The Mayor adds: “After the success of his first captaincy role at Halibut, Kevvy is full of confidence and THC. One for everyone to watch out for.”

The travel remains the biggest barrier to Slamtown consistency – the Flatballers are much more likely than other teams to have roster changes from week to week. On the other hand, they may be the hungriest team in the competition. An anonymous member told us “We need to be able to go home and report success. Unlike other teams, we have fans and a solid group of smokin’ hot wives and girlfriends willing us to succeed.”

Captain Rappazzo also noted that getting it together would be a key for Slamtown this season. “We plan to get everyone on board to the same plan, and to believe in one another. Last season exposed some internal combustion, and it was because some of our players had their own ideas of what needed to happen. This season, we hope to be firm with direction, though adaptable to game situations.”

He also added: “As always I intend to swear and scream and to have my men splitting with adrenaline come the first pull.”


Well, we’re out of time for this week – and we’ve still got material to run, but we’ll save that for a bit. Thanks to all the Captains for their input, well done League Director Stu Austin in getting everyone back on the field again, and best of luck and spirit to everyone playing BPL Season 2 2010.