The 2013 Men’s F-League has been all but decided after a fascinating round of results at the AIS in Canberra on the 3rd and 4th of August.
Two critical matches went the way of Vic Vipers, putting them in the box seat going into the last round of games before the finals on the weekend of 17/18 August. Their two wins – against other premiership contenders Dural Warriors (4-3) and Sydney Scorpions (8-5) – have placed them two points clear of the Warriors with just the one round remaining. And with the top four teams on the ladder playing against the bottom four teams (and a significant gulf between the two), it is hard to see Vic Vipers getting rolled by St Albans in Round 14 to lose the title.
The AIS Series was also an unprecedented goal fest, seeing 106 goals scored across the eleven matches played.
For the Boomerangs, three wins from their three outings makes it three consecutive seasons that the Canberra team has come away from their home court with a 100% record — the only F-League side in its short history to maintain that record. The nine points has also seen the Boomerangs lock down fourth position on the ladder, which could improve to third should they defeat Melbourne Heart in Round 14 and the Sydney Scorpions suffer an unlikely defeat to cellar dwellers the Jaguars. (For the Boomerangs results, match reports and video highlights – where available – click HERE)
More likely though will see the ladder remain unchanged after Round 14 (Saturday 13th afternoon), which would see a semi final match up for the Boomerangs of the table toppers Vic Vipers. This shouldn’t worry Coach Aitchison too much though, as the Boomerangs were one of only two teams to have defeated the Vic Vipers this season to date. Round 3 (Series 1) in Sydney saw an undermanned Boomerangs defeat the Vipers 5-2 in a frenetic, fast paced game that saw the youth and enthusiasm of the Boomerangs outplay and outscore the more experienced older heads of the Vipers.
The scene is then set for the final round of games on Saturday 17 August at Dural and the two semi finals at 6.30pm culminating in the Grand Final on Sunday 18 August at 2.00pm.
(The Women’s team also play that weekend – a preview of that Series and Finals will follow shortly)