We’re back!

After a very long hiatus, the blog is back. Will it be better than ever? Doubtful, haha. But I will try to post more often.

Mostly GV news here, though theres some GA mews to report. The Outback squad was beat 35-0 by the Samoans in a rematch from last year. Hard say if it was a step forwards by the team, but we’ll know if the new approach to the squad is successful by 2012.

GV has added 4 (count them FOUR!) new clubs for the 2011 season: Ballarat Pioneers, Gippsland Gladiators, Northern Raiders and as of yesterday, the Melbourne Uni Royals. The One HD ads that you may have seen will have resulted in a doubling of the Victorian competition, and if all teams are entered as expected, Victoria will from from the smallest to the largest competition in the country in the span of a year. Amazing what a little TV advertising can do!

Rangers Junior Vic Bowl Champs

The Croydon Rangers beat the Monash Uni Warriors 32-14 in a fairly one-sided Vic Bowl on Sunday.  The Rangers jumped out to a 26-0 lead in the first half before cruising to to victory.  The Warriors made a game of it late, tacking on two scores in the 4th to give themselves a chance, but down two scores they were intercepted on a 4th down attempt to seal the game. 

Game MVP Jake Wood had a ripper of a game, 2 TD catches, an INT return for TD and the last INT to seal the win.  Great win by the Rangers, as they’ve earned their first flag since 2005.

GV Juniors Week 7 Round Up

Warriors over Bucs 20-12, but the real game was the late upset, Cru over Rangers 27-16.

In a game that no one expected the outcome, the Cru dominated the Rangers from the opener, playing with a reckless abandon on defense and big plays on offense.  It looked like a totally different team from the one 7 weeks prior – just a shame they couldn’t put it all together before now.  The game looked like it was going to be all-Rangers at one point, until the greatest play I’ve ever seen in Gridiron Victoria happened.

#41 for the Rangers broke into the open field on a kick return.  From the other side of the field, #89 for the Cru is motoring to stop him.  At the goal line, #89 karate chops the ball from #41, steals it, and runs the other way for a 40 yard gain or so.  Just incredible.  That kind of hustle and determination was unbelieveable.  Completely swung the game.  Hats off to him and the Cru for ending the season on a high note.

Now we have a Vic Bowl rematch, but really, it’s anyone’s guess.  Rangers won both meetings – barely.  And now lost to the previously winless Cru.  Game is in Croydon, which helps the Rangers, but how much?  Warriors missing their best player, Adam Gotsis, with a broken collarbone.  Rangers banged up as well.  It’s really anyone’s game at this point.  Good luck to both teams next week.

Gv Juniors Week 6 Round Up

Well, we’re reached the last weekend and the Vic Bowl is shaping up to be a cracker.

Rangers beat the Warriors again by 2 point. Adam Gotsis broke his collarbone and won’t be available for the Vic Bowl. The Rangers enter the Vic Bowl unbeaten and the prohibitive favorite, though they’ve only won those games by a combined 4 points and the Warriors were in position to win late in both games. Should be great fun to watch.

Bucs womped the Cru in a one-sided affair 48-0. Shame to see the Cru take a step back after a number of steps forward later in the season. Essentially games just for pride and stats this weekend, with both Vic Bowl teams trying to stay healthy. All eyes on the 28 of Nov.

GV Juniors Week 5 Round Up

Was away attending a GA Board meeting in Adelaide, so I couldn’t get to the games. Warriors earned a berth in the Vic Bowl after besting the Bucs 44-16. Rangers continued unbeaten against the continually improving Crusaders 55-22. Cru are really starting to move the ball and score, but just need to tackle better to keep other teams off the board.

Vic Bowl preview this weekend as Rangers take on Warriors, with Cru still looking for their first win taking on the Bucs.

GV Juniors Week 4 Round Up

Ok, forgetful again. Sorry.

Warriors cleaned up the Crusaders 58-12, though the Cru apparently made a game of it in the early going. Warriors now have to win one of their next 3 games to clinch a Vic Bowl berth.

The Rangers essentially secured their trip to the Vic Bowl with a 14-6 win over the Buccaneers. A big improvement by the Bucs given their 30-12 loss a few weeks prior. Will they turn the tables against the Warriors this week? Stay tuned…

GV Week 3 Juniors Round Up

Ok so I got lazy this week:

Rangers upset the Warriors after trailing 14-0 in the 2nd quarter to win 26-22. Warriors had a chance to win in the dying moments, but a 4th & 1 pass fell short.

In the second game, the Bucs won 30-0 over an improving Crusaders team. They’ve reduced the margin of defeat by 30 in each of their last 2 games. Statisically, this next game against the Warriors should be a nil-all draw. Maybe?

GV Juniors Week 2 Round Up

Week 2 down, and it’s a whole new competition.

Last years’ champs, the Warriors, won in suprising fashion 38-0 over the always tough Buccaneers group.  Led by tailbacks Ritchie Truong and Jon Vercoe, the Warriors opened a 20-0 lead in the first half.  A strong defensive effort by Adam Gotsis and Luke Balassis saw the Bucs QB pressured early and often, and bottled up running game. 

In the early game, the Crusaders put some points on the board but it wasn’t enough as the Rangers sped to a 66-6 victory.  A sign of the beast?  Possibly, as Kit Ng returned to form for the jr Rangers, running over, around, and through the Crusaders defense.  While the game marked a considerable improvement for the young Cru side, they still show they’ll have a fair bit of work yet left to do.

Next week is a pivotal week for the comptition, as the 2-0 Rangers and Warriors meet in a rematch of last year’s Jr Vic Bowl.  Both the Bucs and Cru will meet looking for their first win of 2010.

2010 GV Juniors Week 1 Round Up

Just as Seniors closed, juniors opens up with a bang.

With neither the Miners nor Seahawks (folded) fielding a team, the competition has been shrunk to 4 teams, but there was still plenty of fireworks to be had. 

In the opening game, the defending champ Warriors obliterated the Crusaders 110-0, in what may have been the largest margins of defeat in Australian history.  The Warriors were up 20-0 within the first 3 series of the game, after scoring on their opening drive, intercepting the Cru and recovering a fumble on the next two cru posessions and then the rout was on.  This represents the third time in 3 years a team has lost by 100 points or more – Seahawks seniors in 2008, Miners juniors in 2009 and now the Crusaders juniors in 2010.  Two of those three teams aren’t playing in 2010 (Seahawks, Miners jrs).  Food for thought.

In the second game, a much closer affair, the Rangers outlasted the Bucs 30-12 on the strength of their passing game.  The Bucs came into the year with few returning players, so they were expected to be somewhat down, but few expected a convincing Rangers win.  The score was 16-12 Rangers at halftime, but a solid second half saw them pull away. 

Bucs get Warriors, Rangers v Cru in round 2.  Should be a very interesting week of games.

Vic Bowl 26

Wish I had a better post, but I’ve been out of the country for the last 2 weeks on holiday.  Warriors proved once again why they’re the most successful club in Victoria, beating the Bucs 23-14 for the Vic Bowl trophy.  The Bucs entered the grand final with a 11-1 record and a bye, but couldn’t overcome the Warriors, though they made it interesting, pulling within 2 late in the 3rd quarter.

Junior season coming up quick, check back for all the interesting information in regards to it.

Oh yeah, GV has a new webpage – www.gridironvictoria.com.au

Check it out.