Season 9 Playoffs!

[IainC]

We're done with the regular season and the following players are through to the playoffs. As there are only two divisions, it's a simple draw; Winner Div1 plays 4th Div2, 2nd Div1 plays 3rd Div2 and so on.

Div 1:
1: Ramas
2: Ruvaldt
3: Ulysees
4: Teleku

Div2:
1: Avaia
2: Lamaros
3: IainC
4: Ingmar

The league is created as f13 Season 9 Playoffs and the password is fearchange. Please quit the main league and join the playoff league as soon as possible.

[Ulysees]

Applied

[eldaec]

Also applied.

Predictions and notes on the playoff draw:

I'd call Ruvaldt, Ulysses and Avaia to make it through the first round, that's no reflection on their opponents beyond the fact they are not on an absurdly good run of results with a hideously good team.

The Ex-Presidents have won 13 of their last 14 matches, and haven't dropped a point to anyone except the Ermine Vermin since 10th August 2012. Ruvaldt's team has 5 level 6 players, and a total of 700 XP. I would rate them favorites in any match up with the exception of the Ermine Vermin, and given how close the Vermin-Presidents season opener finished, that match is basically a coin toss.

Bleating have conceded 1 touchdown all season, and are unbeaten, I suspect they might be too strong for the wood elves. In the semi final they'll likely face a chaos side, which they don't have the best record against, in particular the Ex-Presidents have defeated Bleating twice in their previous match ups. On the other hand, they seem to be skaven specialists, having beaten both playoff skaven teams in prior contests and not having lost to rats in 6 matches since December 2011 - much may depend on how the later rounds open up.

Ulysses is running a relatively young chaos team, with 'only' 17 level ups, his match with Lamaros is possibly the toughest quarter final to call, but I'm going with Ulysses on the basis of him being reigning champion, and the very tight match my team had in the last round of the regular season.

If I get can get past Ingmar (who was the last coach to defeat the Vermin, in season 6 - October 2012) I'd expect to face either Ruvaldt or Ulysses, and while the Vermin are undefeated in 9 matches against Chaos sides, I can't help thinking my luck will eventually run out against Ruvaldt, and Ulysses was a gnat's whisker away from a 3-2 win in our last match. On the other hand, if Ingmar wins, his team's 100% record against chaos could come in handy with 3 of the 8 playoff teams running chaos.

[Megrim]

I'm tipping Ruvaldt to win the whole thing. If he gets even passable block dice throughout, I don't see anyone matching, let alone beating him with bash. Barring a sudden onset of rats - his only real weak point - it will be Chaos for the S9 trophy.

[lamaros]

Yeah this is a crappy season for me to play a bash side. All the other sides are bigger and more experienced, and inducements aint going to get me anywhere against them. However I think I actually have them all on the pitch for this first game, so I'm hopeful I can go a game deep at least.

Game 1: Ramas v Ingmar
Game 2: Avaia v Teleku
Game 3: Ruvaldt v IainC
Game 4: Lamaros v Ulysses

Semi 1: Game 1 v Game 4?
Semi 2: Game 2 v Game 3?

Final: Semi 1 v Semi 2

I see it as:

Game 1: Ramas v Ingmar
Game 2: Avaia v Teleku
Game 3: Ruvaldt v IainC
Game 4: Lamaros v Ulysses

Semi 1: Ramas v Lamaros
Semi 2: Avaia v Ruvaldt

Final: Ramas v Ruvaldt

Though I expect it will be heavily swayed by the injuries picked up in the semis for the two finals sides.

[Ingmar]

I'd feel better about this if I hadn't lost block on a FG or if I had any developed ghouls going into it. Without that developed FG in particular, my line is just so much worse against the Chaos type teams as I saw against Nurgle in the last game of the regular season.

Rats are always hard for me on this team, too - I think I was playing my dwarves still when I squished the Vermin last time.

[Ulysees]

Can we get signed up folks please. If I don't play Lamaros this weekend I will have to hold up the playoffs for 2 weeks cos next weekend I am away and being an Oz v UK match up only realistic playtime is at the weekend for our match.

[lamaros]

I've applied.

[IainC]

Everyone is in, the seedings have been sorted and the Playoffs have begun.