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10-17-2009, 05:52 AM
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#101 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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The final composition of the Arcardian Rugby League Alliance (ARLA) was announced on live television by David Hamilton Smith, acting as a spokesman for the ten owners:
Saltern Bulldogs Calhournbar Crushers Colart Colts Jasperstown Jets Thompson Tigers Elderslie Devils Hamilton Farmers Kierea Cannons Roechester Eagles Charlotteville Saints Courdeaux, Stockland and University refused offers from other clubs to merge, preferring to go it alone. They were shocked when their applications were knocked back on the grounds of unsuitability. "If they thought we were unsuitable, they shouldn't have allowed us in the competition in the first place," growled Garcon Courdouy, whose Courdeaux side won promotion to the old Premier Division in 2011, only to have their dream denied by the "pen pushers of the ARLA aristrocity" All three teams applied to the Arcardian High Court to appeal the decision, but were dismissed after it was ruled that by sumitting a bid in the first place, team owners knew the risk that they may not actually be accepted into the new competition. The Palmerston Eagles and Roechester Rockets combined to apply for a licence in the ARLA, reasoning that neither of them stood a chance standing alone. Charlotteville and St Patricks decided along the same lines of reason, and ended up being accepted as the tenth and final member of the ARLA competition. The ten owners elevated Jake Walsh to the position of commissioner for a five-year term. Walsh's previous involvement in the former ARL was as the coach of the Thompson Tigers between 1998 and 2007.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-17-2009, 07:37 AM
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#102 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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So, after a season where the footballs fell quite and the McCartney Cup gathered dust quietly in the Bulldogs' board room, March 2013 heralded the start of a brand new competition, the ARLA, with ten teams fighting for the 30th McCartney Cup.
There were some new faces, and old faces in different places, in a shake-up necessitated by the change in competition structure. David Shea found himself without a team when the Whalers folded just a season after playing in the McCartney Cup final, but soon signed with the new Roechester Eagles. Angus Ryan came out of retirement to head up the Crushers, who had not retained Peter Klein in the coaches' chair. Klein did have two McCartney Cup wins to point to but would go through 2013 without coaching a side. The Charlotteville Saints had two promising young coaches at their disposal when St Pats merged with the Spiders. In the end, it was the Shamrocks' Sam Sullivan who was confirmed as the Saints' inaugural head coach; the other candidate, Hamish Landsdowne, was snapped up by the Colart Colts who were preparing to compete for the McCartney Cup for the first time since 2008. The Elderslie Devils rehired Mick Porter on a season-by-season contract (rather than the usual four season contract). Porter had previously captained and coached the Devils in the old ARL. The Hamilton Farmers' coach David H. Smith stood down after he was hired by Commissioner Jake Walsh to assist him with running the ARLA competition. Hamilton hired a young (29-year old) relatively unknown coach Luke Allan to coach the Farmers. Allan had previously played two games in the old second division for Colart. His appointment came completely out of the blue and gave rise to speculation that Allan was really Smith's proxy at Hamilton. The Jasperstown Jets, perhaps the most fortunate of all of the ten ARLA teams just on the basis of recent results, revealed 2011 assistant coach Jim Proud as their new coach, replacing Michael Smart whose third stint at J-Town ended in disaster with the Jets relegated at the end of 2011. Yet they fight on in the ARLA... Code:
Semi Finals Calhournbar d. Thompson Jasperstown d. Charlotteville Preliminary Final Thompson d. Jasperstown McCartney Cup XXX Calhournbar Crushers d. Thompson Tigers
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. Last edited by Rawhide : 10-17-2009 at 07:41 AM. |
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10-17-2009, 07:56 AM
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#103 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2014
Three coaches found themselves in the unemployment line at the conclusion of the 2014 season; Patrick Grace, just two seasons removed from a McCartney Cup win, was given his marching orders despite narrowly missing the finals with the Bulldogs in 2014. His replacement is Oliver Crane. Over at Elderslie, Mick Porter was shown the door after a dismal 3-15 season. Ryan Tucker was given his first coaching appointment. Foundation Kierea Cannons coach Steve Parker resigned after an indifferent 7-11 season where the Cannons were rarely in the running. Harry Wilkins is the new man in charge. Two of the past three McCartney Cup winning coaches - Peter Klein and Patrick Grace - are currently unemployed, and odds-on to be recruited in the near future. Code:
Semi Finals Charlotteville d. Thompson Calhournbar d. Jasperstown Preliminary Final Thompson d. Calhournbar McCartney Cup XXXI Thompson Tigers d. Charlotteville Saints The Tigers win their second McCartney Cup! The Saints just fail to become the quickest 'new' team to win a championship.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. Last edited by Rawhide : 10-17-2009 at 08:27 AM. |
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10-17-2009, 08:23 AM
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#104 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2015
Nobody was surprised when Luke Allan was shown the door at Hamilton - his 6-30 record in two seasons did not compare well with the other coaches to have graced the Farmers hallways - and that's saying something! Not even the highly-credentialed Peter Klein or Patrick Grace would saddle up with the Potato Heads...eventually they cajolled former Kierea coach Steve Parker into the role, and even then he nearly didn't survive the season. Angus Ryan retired once again from coaching after two seasons with the Crushers. He has now coached for a total of thirteen seasons (9 with Calhournbar for 2 McCartney Cups; 4 seasons with the Devils). Former Crushers forward Charlie Bartlet becomes just the sixth coach in franchise history. The competition this year was characterised by two very good sides, and three awful teams. Code:
Semi Finals Thompson d. Colart Kierea d. Saltern Preliminary Final Colart d. Kierea McCartney Cup XXXII Thompson Tigers d. Colart Colts The Tigers put the seal on a great season and go back-to-back. There is speculation that Bill Dawson will step aside shortly after his third McCartney Cup success. The Colts fall short in their first McCartney Cup game in eighteen seasons. They haven't won one since 1995. Sam Sullivan is under considerable pressure at Charlotteville following their failure to qualify for the finals with arguably the ARLA's second-best squad. Although, all will be forgiven if the Saints can win the big one in 2016.
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-17-2009, 08:54 AM
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#105 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2016
Bill Dawson retired two weeks after the Tigers' McCartney Cup triumph, surprising nobody and leaving behind a remarkable record; in only seven seasons, he had won three McCartney Cups, lost another three and never had a losing season - his regular season record was 91-33. Only two other coaches in history had won more McCartney Cups - Kevin Jackson and John Conway. After lauding his contributions and declaring Dawson the best coach in franchise history, the Thompson Tigers proceeded to look for their next Dawson. They didn't have to turn far, promoting assistant coach Andrew Latham into the biggest boots in the ARLA. Changes were in the air at two other clubs, but for opposite reasons. Shane Jackson replaced Chris Moore (who replaced David Shea) at Roechester, while Dugald McGrath was handed the task of elevating the Devils off the cellar of the ARLA. Before the start of the season, the Hamilton Farmers and Elderslie Devils gave official notice to the ARLA that they requried emergency assistance in the form of advance funding in order to complete the 2016 ARLA season. Commissioner Jake Walsh duly complied although he stated that in future insolvent teams may be suspended from the ARLA for an unspecified period of time, or lose competition points in future seasons. Code:
Semi Finals Thompson d. Charlotteville Calhournbar d. Saltern Preliminary Final Charlotteville d. Calhournbar McCartney Cup XXXIII Thompson Tigers d. Charlotteville Saints The Tigers confirm their status as the dominant team of this era, as the following table should indicate. Andrew Latham joins a select club of men to have won a championship in his first season as coach.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-17-2009, 09:05 AM
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#106 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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Code:
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. Last edited by Rawhide : 10-17-2009 at 09:06 AM. |
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10-17-2009, 09:34 AM
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#107 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2017
Hamilton and Elderslie both limped into the new season with their front office intact, and their playing roster slightly improved, although still comfortably amongst the worst in recent years. The big movers in the playing market were the Jasperstown Jets - still looking for that first championship - while the Tigers and Saints weakened slightly, yet were still the two red-hot favourites for the 34th McCartney Cup. There were no coaching changes in the off-season, although Hamish Landsdowne could count himself lucky to survive after the Colts lost eleven of their first twelve games. Code:
Semi Finals Thompson d. Charlotteville Jasperstown d. Saltern Preliminary Final Jasperstown d. Charlotteville McCartney Cup XXXIV Jasperstown Jets d. Thompson Tigers "PROUD OF JIM" was the headline in the Jasperstown Misleader on the morning after the Jets' first McCartney Cup win. 50,000 fans crowded Governor Jasper Square at 3am in the morning to welcome the new champions back to their home city. Head Coach Jim Proud crowd-surfed his way to the stage and delivered a post-game celebration speech consisting of only six words - "Ding dong, the witch is dead!" The Thompson Tigers failed by the narrowest of margins to become the first team to win four straight McCartney Cup titles. Coach Andrew Latham shrugged and simply said "We'll get them next year".
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-17-2009, 10:08 AM
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#108 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2018
It seemed it was no longer good enough to simply make the finals - the Saltern Bulldogs exercised a clause in Oliver Crane's contract and put him officially on the hot seat after losing a third consecuitive final. The Bulldogs have now not won a playoff game since the 2011 McCartney Cup - the last game played under the auspices of the old ARL. Also on the hot seat are Hamish Landsdowne (Colart) and Harry Wilkinson (Kierea), and (surprisingly), Sam Sullivan from Charlotteville, following the Saints' dismal exit the season before.. The Steve Parker era wheezed to an end at Hamilton, with a dismal 10-44 record in three seasons. Dugald McGrath also found his time up at Elderslie, with the Devils finishing last for the third season in a row. What would Marcel Courdouy think? Hamilton unveiled Peter Klein as their new head coach, with the former Binghampton and Calhournbar mentor getting his toes back in the coaching pond. The Devils opted for another rookie coach, giving Alec Frost his first gig. The 35th season of the ARL/ARLA was historically the closest on record, at least in the race for the top four positions. The Saints made history with the best regular season record in recent years, whilst the mighty Thompson Tigers fail to make the top four. Code:
Semi Finals Jasperstown d. Charlotteville Roechester d. Saltern Preliminary Final Charlotteville d. Roechester McCartney Cup XXXV Jasperstown d. Charlotteville The Jets prove that last year was no fluke, beating the one-loss Saints twice in two games to claim their second championship. The Eagles record their best season since their establishment in 2013, and went within a whisker of causing the upset of the season in the preliminary final. The finals saw the sensational sacking of Oliver Crane after the Bulldogs once again went "one-and-done" in their exit out of the finals. There is constant speculation that despite taking the Saints to the McCartney Cup game once again that Sam Sullivan will be asked to resign, especially after making the comment "I've squeezed all the juice out of these lemons" after the McCartney Cup game. Watch this space...
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-17-2009, 09:46 PM
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#109 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2019
Oliver Crane (53-37 in five seasons) from the Bulldogs paid the price for four successive exits from the playoffs, and was replaced by Jasperstown assistant coach James Payne. Sam Sullivan (80-28 in six seasons, 3-8 in playoffs) resigned as the Saints coach the day after the McCartney Cup loss, slamming club officials for not offering their total support during his six seasons in charge. He will be replaced by Hamish Landsdowne, who previously coached Colart. Alain Dupee was confirmed as the full-time coach of the Colts after taking over from Hamish Landsdowne early in the 2018 season. The Colts have only made the finals once in the past six seasons. Harry Wilkinson (46-44 in five seasons) left the Kierea Cannons after a disappointing end to the 2018 season. He will be replaced by Bulldogs assistant coach Rob Cohen. Coaches on the hot seat in 2019 - Charlie Bartlet (Calhournbar), Peter Klein (Hamilton), Alec Frost (Elderslie), Shane Jackson (Roechester) Update of Rules I have tightened the rules for contract rewards in the playoffs - call it the "Sullivan Rule", if you like - coaches finishing in the Top Five (as it will now be) must win a playoff game to have their contract extended by the usual year. If a team loses twice in the playoffs without winning (as it is now possible for teams finishing one to three to do) a year is clipped off the coach's contract. A team that wins 16 or more games in the year must win the McCartney Cup, otherwise a season is clipped off the contract as well. Hence, Sullivan walked the plank after going 17-1 but losing the big one. At the other end of the scale, a coach is rewarded with another year if he can double his team's winning record from the previous season (even if it's from one win to two wins!). Also, previously the two bottom teams' coaches had a year clipped; now, it will only be the tenth placed side. The top five rewards teams finishing first to third - they are not instantly eliminated if they lose their first game. Teams four and five must win three elimination matches just to play in the McCartney Cup game. One team nearly pulled it off this year... Code:
Semi Finals Week One Saltern d. Jasperstown Kierea d. Thompson Semi Finals Week Two Saltern d. Charlotteville Kierea d. Jasperstown Preliminary Final Charlotteville d. Kierea McCartney Cup XXXVI Saltern d. Charlotteville Two coaches in their first season with their respective clubs guide their teams to the McCartney Cup, but only one could win - James Payne won more semi-finals this year than the Bulldogs had managed in the previous ten years. Charlotteville lose their fourth McCartney Cup game in the space of six years, the second worst such streak (Jasperstown somehow lost five in six seasons in the 1990s)
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-17-2009, 10:16 PM
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#110 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2020
Alec Frost was the toast of Elderslie after finally lifting the Devils off the foot of the table and increasing their win total from 3 to 7. He had his contract extended until 2021, although he remains on the hotseat if the Devils fall to last place again. Peter Klein left the Hamilton Farmers after only winning six games in two seasons. His coaching career now appears to be over. His replacement is Charlie Bartlet, who left the Crushers after five seasons and one playoff apperance. His record was 47-43 during that time. Bartlet's replacement at the Crushers is former Colts coach Bill Tanks, who last coached in 2008. He has a two year contract. Jim Proud had a year clipped off his contract after the Jets crashed and burned out of the finals in 2019. His job remains extremely safe however, with the contract presently due not to expire until 2023. Shane Jackson is currently on the hotseat, and needed the Eagles to win a playoff game, or win 14 games, to keep his job. Good luck with that! The off-season moves saw the Bulldogs slip away, while the Farmers and Devils improve a little more. Many pundits were predicting this to be one of the most unpredictable contests in years, and then went ahead anyway and predicted a Jets-Tigers finale. Code:
Semi Finals Week One Kierea d. Thompson Colart d. Saltern Semi Finals Week Two Calhournbar d. Kierea Colart d. Thompson Preliminary Final Colart d. Kierea - become the first team from fifth spot to play in a McCartney Cup game. McCartney Cup XXXVII Calhournbar Crushers d. Colart Colts Bill Tanks wins a McCartney Cup against his old team, as the Crushers break the longest drought in their history (only seven seasons, mind you!). It has now been a quarter of a century since Colart has celebrated a McCartney Cup win, with only three apperances in that time.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-18-2009, 09:12 AM
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#111 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2021
Shane Jackson left the Roechester Eagles and walked straight into the vacant position at Elderslie. The new eagles coach is rookie Mark Maule. For the first time in many, many seasons, a new team plummeted to the depths of the table - and the defending champions at that! Code:
Semi Finals Week One Saltern d. Thompson Roechester d. Kierea Semi Finals Week Two Saltern d. Colart Thompson d. Roechester Preliminary Final Colart d. Thompson McCartney Cup XXXVIII Colart d. Saltern Finally, the Colts' drought is over!
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-18-2009, 07:12 PM
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#112 |
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n00b
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Great rookie season by Mark Maule
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10-19-2009, 03:00 AM
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#113 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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Yeah, he did quite well - for Roechester, anyway!
ARLA 2022 No coaching changes, although Hamish Landsdowne was docked a year after the Saints "progressed" from 17, to 14, to 9 to 8 wins - all under his watch. Jim Proud's seat is also slightly warming up - he needs to win at least four games or not finish last to survive this season. With the strength of the squad he has, the Jets should definitely finish in the top three - underachievement could see him exit before his contract is up. The coach under the most pressure heading into this season though was Andrew Latham of the Thompson Tigers, a result of several disappointing playoff results. In the end, the first coach to exit was not one of the three gentlemen listed above, but James Payne, who stood down after the Bulldogs lost their first seven games of the year and the coach reputedly lost the trust and respect of the players. Bill Tanks also resigned before he could be sacked, overseeing the worst ever season in the Crushers' history. In fact, Calhournbar had gone 6-24 since winning the McCartney Cup two seasons ago. For the Crushers and Bulldogs, the season was a complete disaster. Code:
Semi Finals Week One Roechester d. Jasperstown Thompson d. Charlotteville Semi Finals Week Two Roechester d. Colart - Jasperstown d. Thompson Preliminary Final Jasperstown d. Colart McCartney Cup XXXIX Jasperstown d. Roechester The Jets win their third McCartney Cup. Not bad for a coach who was on the hot seat! The Eagles appear in their first McCartney Cup final (as the Roechester Eagles - Palmerston were last in the decider in 1987). The Colts crash and burn, with a year clipped off Alain Dupee's contract. Andrew Latham barely survives at Thompson; had they lost in the finals to Charlotteville, he would have been sacked.
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-19-2009, 06:20 AM
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#114 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2023
Three teams made coaching changes for the 2023 season; two teams which really needed a new start, and one which was farewelling its most successful coach. Saltern pulled the plug on Daly North's aspirations for holding the full-time job when it dismissed him during the off-season. North was warming the seat after James Payne fell on his sword and posted the Bulldogs' only two wins of a shocking 2022, but it wasn't enough. Rookie coach Ben Ryan is charged with the mission of restoring the bite into the Bulldogs. Over at Calhournbar, Paul Howard had even less time than North to get accustomed to his new surroundings. Rookie coach Kieren Phelps, an assistant coach at the upstart Eagles, gets his first job with one of the ARLA's more iconic clubs. Jasperstown farewelled Jim Proud, who decided to retire after winning his third McCartney Cup in ten seasons with the Jets. He holds many J-Town records, including most games coached (180), most wins (108), most playoff wins (9), as well as the first three McCartneys for the Jets. Code:
Semi Finals Week One Roechester d. Kierea Colart d. Jasperstown Semi Finals Week Two Thompson d. Roechester Kierea d. Colart Preliminary Final Roechester d. Kierea McCartney Cup XL Thompson Tigers d. Roechester Eagles Latham bags his second McCartney to go with the one he won in 2016, and buys some valuable breathing space with the win. Mark Maule again takes his team to the title decider but couldn't get them over the line. Will next year be the year? Kierea - always the bridesmaids, never the blushing bride! Ben Ryan and Kieren Phelps are rewarded for boosting the winning ratio of their respective clubs, with two extra seasons each.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. Last edited by Rawhide : 10-19-2009 at 06:23 AM. |
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10-20-2009, 06:50 AM
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#115 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2024
Hamish Landsdowne left the Charlotteville Saints after guiding the team to ninth position in his fifth season. His time at the club had largely been a failure, despite making the McCartney Cup game in his first season. The Saints sprunge somewhat of a surprise by appointing Daly North as his successor. North's experience in the ARLA amounted to 11 games as caretaker coach of the Bulldogs in 2022. The window of opportunity appeared to shut on the Cannons, with many experienced and skilful players either retiring or signing for other clubs, resulting in a much weaker squad. Code:
Semi Finals Week One Jasperstown d. Roechester Elderslie d. Charlotteville Semi Finals Week Two Jasperstown d. Thompson Roechester d. Elderslie Semi Finals Week Three Roechester d. Thompson McCartney Cup XLI Jasperstown d. Roechester Jasperstown win their fourth title in the space of eight seasons. It is the first title for coach John Boyle. The Eagles lose their third straight McCartney Cup in a row, while the Crushers spend another season rooted to the bottom of the table. The Devils make their first playoff apperance since 2008...the team with the longest drought now are the hapless Hamilton Farmers (2011).
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-20-2009, 07:20 AM
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#116 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2025
Demonstrating that there is no loyalty in professional sports - unless you are winning - the Hamilton Farmers dispensed with Charlie Bartlet despite a 9-9 season (equal with the Farmers' best season since 2011). Barlet lasted five seasons and posted a 34-56 record - which sounds dismal until you realise his three predecessors (Luke Allan, Steve Parker and Peter Klein) went 22-104 before Bartlet's arrival at the Potato Heads. Bartlet leaves as the third longest-serving Farmers coach (90 games, after Paul Ingham's 157 games and David H. Smith's 102 games. But unlike the other two gentlemen, Bartlet's record was in one continuous stretch). Curiously, Bartlet's replacement is former Devils coach Alec Frost, whose record of 15-39 in three seasons at Fenton Road does not fill Hamilton supporters with much confidence. Rob Cohen also found his office out of bounds when Kierea gave him his marching orders. The Cannons (3rd in 2023, 9th in 2024) are clearly looking for a new direction, and are searching for only their fourth coach in nineteen seasons. Cohen went 58-50 in six seasons. Kierea found their savour in the Farmers' castoffs, with Charlie Bartlet starting with his third club. He is 81-99 over ten seasons, but has only qualified once for the playoffs. Time will tell whether the Cannons made the right hire. It turned out to be a remarkable seasons, with three teams from last year's top five dropping out...and an unlikely team made a surge towards a first McCartney Cup game in a long time, only to fall just short. Code:
Semi Finals Week One Colart d. Charlotteville Hamilton d. Calhournbar Semi Finals Week Two Roechester d. Colart Hamilton d. Charlotteville Preliminary Final Colart d. Hamilton McCartney Cup XLII Roechester Eagles d. Colart Colts At long last, the Eagles win a McCartney! Fourth time lucky! It is the first cup for the Roechester Eagles proper, and the first McCartney overall for the franchise since Palmerston won in 1987. The Hamilton Farmers and Calhournbar Crushers dominate the plaudits during the season, with Alec Frost (Alec Frost!) taking the Farmers within a breath of the McCartney Cup, while Kieren Phelps improved the Crushers by nine full games.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-20-2009, 08:26 PM
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#117 |
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n00b
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Eagles have actually won! After 3 straight final losses!
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10-21-2009, 05:56 PM
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#118 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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Which is proof, I guess, that consistency eventually breeds success.
Just to fill everybody in on what is going on behind the scenes - over the past ten seasons the "performance points" (what I use to determine who wins in a head-to-head matchup) have fluctuated wildly. It is totally random as to how much points increase or decrease in a given season, except that teams outside the top five have a better chance of a increase, and teams in the top five have a better chance of a decrease. It's my version of parity. I guess another way to look at this is to track the best and worst rated teams each year and see how they ended up. As the table will attest, the best team hasn't always won the McCartney Cup! (Or even made the Top Five!) Best Rated Team Each Season (Performance Points in brackets) 2013 - Thompson Tigers (14) - 13-5, runners-up 2014 (tie) - Thompson Tigers (14) - 14-4, champions 2014 (tie) - Charlotteville Saints (14) - 12-6, runners-up 2015 (tie) - Thompson Tigers (20) - 16-2, champions 2015 (tie) - Charlotteville Saints (20) - 11-7, fifth 2016 (tie) - Thompson Tigers (20) - 15-3, champions 2016 (tie) - Charlotteville Saints (20) - 14-4, runners-up 2017 - Thompson Tigers (19) - 16-2, runners-up 2018 - Charlotteville Saints (18) - 17-1, runners-up 2019 - Thompson Tigers (16) - 9-9, fifth 2020 (tie) - Thompson Tigers (15) - 11-7, fourth 2020 (tie) - Jasperstown Jets (15) - 8-10, seventh 2021 - Jasperstown Jets (18) - 9-9, sixth 2022 - Jasperstown Jets (22) - 14-4, champions 2023 - Jasperstown Jets (22) - 12-6, fifth 2024 - Jasperstown Jets (24) - 12-6, champions 2025 - Jasperstown Jets (26) - 9-9, sixth So, despite the most talented roster historically, the Jets should have won far more than four championships - yet they have missed the finals in three of the past six seasons! Inconsistent or what? Best Team Rating divided by Worst Team Rating The lower the more, the more even the comp...perhaps? 2013 - 4.7 2014 - 3.5 2015 - 20.0 2016 - 20.0 2017 - 19.0 2018 - 6.0 2019 - 4.0 2020 - 2.1 2021 - 2.6 2022 - 3.1 2023 - 3.7 2024 - 3.0 2025 - 3.2 Between 2015-17, the weakest team was rated one, meaning that if they lost any more points, the franchise would have been folded. The weakest teams are now rated 8. Also during 2015-17, the weakest team only had a 5% chance of beating the strongest team, all things being equal. Now, the odds are 31%. The final table - what were the odds of each of the McCartney Cup champions winnings? What could be considered the biggest upset? This was worked out by dividing the winning team's strength by the strength of both sides. The lower the percentage, the bigger the upset. 2013 - Calhournbar 44% 2014 - Thompson 50% 2015 - Thompson 71% 2016 - Thompson 50% 2017 - Jasperstown 42% 2018 - Jasperstown 45% 2019 - Saltern 46% 2020 - Calhournbar 48% 2021 - Colart 60% 2022 - Jasperstown 56% 2023 - Thompson 47% 2024 - Jasperstown 57% 2025 - Roechester 56% Historically: 1985 - Elderslie 40% 1986 - Palmerston 42% 1987 - Palmerston 41% 1999 - Stockland 40% 2000 - Calhournbar 42% Favourites are 4-6 in the McCartney Cup in the ARLA era (with the two 50% results discounted).
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-22-2009, 06:19 PM
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#119 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2026
Two coaches found themselves out of a job at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The Thompson Tigers released Andrew Latham after ten seasons and the longest tenure of any coach at Riverside Park. Latham inherited a red-hot squad from the legendary Bill Dawson and won two McCartney Cups in his time with the Tigers, but a series of disappointing finals results saw patience from management grow shorter and shorter. Latham leaves as the winningest coach in Thompson history, with his 116-64 record 15 games better than Jake Walsh. Latham will be replaced by his assistant coach, and the Tigers' first ever McCartney Cup winning captain, Daniel Forbes. Shane Jackson was given the flick by the Devils after five seasons, including Elderslie's first playoff apperance in nearly two decades, but a 3-15 season left the writing on the wall. He departed with a 33-57 record, the most successful Devils coach since Mick Porter. Sliding into the Devils' job will be Andrew Latham. (Results to follow)
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-24-2009, 05:56 AM
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#120 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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Code:
Semi Finals Week One Charlotteville d. Thompson Roechester d. Elderslie Semi Finals Week Two Jasperstown d. Charlotteville Thompson d. Roechester Preliminary Final Thompson d. Charlotteville McCartney Cup XLIII Jasperstown d. Thompson The Jets deservedly win another McCartney Cup, their fifth in history.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-24-2009, 06:25 AM
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#121 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2027
Kieren Phelps paid a heavy price for "winning" three wooden spoons in his four seasons at the Crushers, having his contract torn up. He went 20-52 with one playoff apperance. His replacement is a familiar name to the ARLA, with Hamish Landsdowne resuming his coaching career after four seasons "on the outer". Landsdowne is 95-89 with two McCartney Cup apperances in ten seasons of coaching. This is arguably his toughest task yet - to make Calhournbar competitive once more. Andrew Latham suddenly announced his retirement, after eleven seasons of coaching in the ARLA (ten with the Tigers, and last season with the Devils). His replacement is former Jets assistant coach Thomas Nash. The ARLA announced in the off-season that the competition structure would change once again, over a period of five seasons: - Two new clubs would be admitted in 2029 to bring the competition up to twelve, - Starting in 2027, teams would play an extra number of games against teams which finished in their "half" of the competition the year before (for example, the Top Five teams from 2026 would play each other three times in 2027, and vice versa for the Bottom Five). That would mean a 22-game schedule in 2027, rising to 27 games in 2029. - The Top Six system would make a return, in 2029. - To compensate for the increased number of games, the length of each game will be shortened from 80 minutes to 60 minutes. "We hope that these changes will make the ARLA stronger and more appealing to those supporters of the game," commented commissioner Jake Walsh. Code:
Semi Finals Week One Saltern d. Roechester Colart d. Charlotteville Semi Finals Week Two Jasperstown d. Saltern Roechester d. Colart Preliminary Final Saltern d. Roechester McCartney Cup XLIV Saltern Bulldogs d. Jasperstown Jets The Bulldogs pull off one of the biggest upsets ever in McCartney Cup history, defeating a heavily favoured Jets team.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-24-2009, 07:40 AM
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#122 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2028
The Charlotteville Saints were unhappy with Daly North's performance as coach - despite taking the club to the playoffs in every one of his four seasons, his record in the playoffs was a dismal 1-6. Enter the axe, exit the coach. In his place, the Saints recalled former coach Sam Sullivan, who had not coached in the ARLA since getting the sack himself ten years previously. Charlotteville, Saltern and Colart - all finalists in 2027 - fell away badly in the new season. Saltern became the first champion team to finish last the following season. A surprise team sat upon the top of the table, having nearly conquered all before them. Would the Kierea Cannons finally win their first McCartney Cup, after twenty-two seasons of effort? Code:
Semi Finals Week One Jasperstown d. Roechester Thompson d. Hamilton Semi Finals Week Two Kierea d. Jasperstown Roechester d. Thompson Preliminary Final Jasperstown d. Roechester McCartney Cup XLV Kierea Cannons d. Jasperstown Jets Charlie Bartlet wins his very first McCartney Cup as a coach, in his fourteenth season! The Cannons win their first McCartney Cup in club history, and at their first attempt.
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-24-2009, 07:59 AM
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#123 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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I'm going to wrap this one up...it's been a good little bit of fun on the side, but I have a new franchise in the wings. Excel rugby league will have to go on the backburner for a while.
This new franchise is going to be...well...quite different, and strange!
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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10-24-2009, 01:52 PM
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#124 |
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n00b
Join Date: Sep 2009
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to bad
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10-25-2009, 01:54 AM
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#125 |
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College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Osaka, Japan via Honolulu, Hawaii via Birmingham, Alabama
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Very sad... I was just starting to get into this!
__________________
U of Hawaii | U of Alabama | Montreal Impact | Montreal Canadiens | West Ham | West Indies cricket | Portland Trail Blazers |
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11-01-2009, 06:05 AM
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#126 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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Well, cricket turned out really well, because the program file corrupted itself!
Hence, back to the ARLA, and it's larger-than-life 27 game season. Two new teams were to join the competition in 2029, with Stockland making a return to the competition for the first time since 2012. This time, rather than being known as simply "Stockland Football Club", they would adopt the name Stockland Sharks. The other team would be the oddly named "Western Wave", based out of Mandrasharm, a new satellite city on the outskirts of Calhournbar.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-01-2009, 07:00 AM
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#127 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2029
Ben Ryan paid an obvious price for becoming the first coach to take a team from the championship to last place in the space of one season. He leaves the Bulldogs with a 49-67 record over six seasons, but with one McCartney Cup as well. The new coach is Jack Kelly. Alain Dupee, the longest-serving and "winningest" coach in the history of the Colts stood down after ten-and-a-half seasons in charge. "I'm doing something that the Colts couldn't do in all my time. I'm sacking myself," he laughed at his farewell press conference. Dupee took the Colts to three title-deciders, winning in 2021. His record is 107-95. To put his numbers in context, Dupee has won nearly as many games than the second- and third-placed Colts coaches in history put together (Tommy Tanks, 63, and Hamish Landsdowne, 47). New coach Tony Hillman has been given a four-season contract to try and lift Colart back up at the top. Alec Frost was released from the Farmers, despite Hamilton winning a record number of games in a single season; he needed a playoff victory to secure a further year. His replacement and the fifteenth coach in Hamilton's sorry history is Harry Wilkinson, who previously coached the Kierea Cannons between 2014-18. Sam Sullivan's return to coaching was not a success, lasting only one season with the Saints. His overall record is largely untainted despite a 6-16 season. His replacement is rookie coach Chris Ryan (a cousin of Ben Ryan, the now-former Bulldogs coach) The Western Waves announced former Kierea mentor Rob Cohen as their inaugural coach, while the Stockland Stars went for a fresh look with Tom Watson as their first coach. Watson earned a reputation for hard play during his playing career with the Tigers, earning the nickname "Iron Guts". With the longer 27-game schedule, it was expected that apart from the Wave and Stars, the teams would be fairly close to each other in terms of winning records. However, like the Cannons last season, a team stepped forward to scream out their title aspirations as loudly as they could: Code:
The playoffs reverted to the six-team system used extensively in previous seasons of the ARL and ARLA. Elimination Finals Kierea Cannons beat Roechester Eagles Colart Colts beat Jasperstown Jets Qualifying Finals Calhournbar Crushers beat Hamilton Farmers Kierea Cannons beat Colart Colts Preliminary Final Kierea Cannons beat Hamilton Farmers - Hamilton exits out of the finals with two straight losses. Are the Farmers cursed? McCartney Cup XLVI Calhournbar Crushers beat Kierea Cannons Hamish Landsdowne wins a McCartney at his third attempt (having taken the 2015 Colts and 2019 Saints to the big dance without success). The Cannons proved to be worthy defenders of their title, winning three straight finals just to make the Mccartney Cup game, where their efforts came up short.
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-01-2009, 09:09 PM
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#128 |
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College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Osaka, Japan via Honolulu, Hawaii via Birmingham, Alabama
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It's back!
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U of Hawaii | U of Alabama | Montreal Impact | Montreal Canadiens | West Ham | West Indies cricket | Portland Trail Blazers |
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11-02-2009, 05:02 AM
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#129 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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Haha, glad you enjoy it.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-02-2009, 05:14 AM
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#130 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2030
The ARLA Commission introduced two innovations to the competition in 2030. The first of these was an award created to honour the best coach of the season, named in memory of the first coach to win four McCartney Cups - the Kevin Jackson Medal. The medal would be decided by a pure mathematical model, with the coach earning the highest number of points winning the award. The formula was kept a secret but thought to slightly favour those coaches who improved their squad's performance from the previous season rather than simply the coach whose team finished first. The second innovation was the introduction of a representative match, not unlike an American baseball all-star game. Arcardia would be split into two "zones", with East facing off against West in a match played in the middle of the season. The coaches of each team would be selected at the end of the previous season and got to choose their own assistant coach. The players would be selected for each team after Week 11. The match itself would be played after Week 16, and hosted by the team that won the McCartney Cup in the previous season. The concept would be called the League of Legends. Eastern Zone - Hamilton, Calhournbar, Stockland, Roechester, Elderslie, Jasperstown Western Zone - Saltern, Colart, Thompson, Western Waves, Kierea, Charlotteville 2030 League of Legends at Hamilton Eastern Zone coach - Harry Wilkinson (Hamilton) Eastern Zone assistant coach - Hamish Landsdowne (Calhournbar) Western Zone coach - Charlie Bartlet (Kierea) Western Zone assistant coach - Daniel Forbes (Thompson)
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-02-2009, 06:06 AM
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#131 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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Weeks 1-11
Code:
The League of Legends teams were chosen, with the East being installed as 54% favourites, largely helped by the presence of four of their teams in the top six. Week 12-16 Code:
League of Legends - West beat East Winning coach - Charlie Bartlet Weeks 17-27 Code:
Elimination Finals Hamilton d. Kierea Roechester d. Thompson Qualifying Finals Jasperstown d. Elderslie Roechester d. Hamilton Preliminary Final Elderslie d. Roechester McCartney Cup XLVII Jasperstown d. Elderslie The Jets win their sixth McCartney Cup, and in their sixth apperance in the championship decider in nine years. Not a bad little trot! John Boyle wins his third McCartney Cup, moving level with Jets club legend Jim Proud in that regard. The Devils enjoyed their first winning season since 2024 (when Shane Jackson went 11-7) and their first trip to the McCartney Cup since 2003 (when Marcel Courdouy won four straight playoff games to prevail over Jake Walsh's Thompson Tigers). Kevin Jackson Medal 1st - Thomas Nash (Elderslie Devils) 2nd - John Boyle (Jasperstown Jets) 3rd - Mark Maule (Roechester Eagles)
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-02-2009, 07:58 AM
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#132 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2031
Mark Maule announced his retirement after ten seasons of coaching the Roechester Eagles, during which the franchise won their only McCartney Cup. He will be replaced by his predecessor, with Shane Jackson taking over the role. Jackson has previously coached at Colart (2004-06), Roechester (2016-20) and Elderslie (2021-25). He has signed a two year contract. Maule ranked well upon his peers at retirement, ranking second on the all-time list of wins at a single club (129 - behind Kevin Jackson) The ARLA announced that a new playoff system would be introduced for this season. After a 33-game season, the top seven teams would qualify. Teams ranked second to seventh would face off in a single-elimination game, leaving three qualifiers for the semi-finals. The team that finished first would receive a bye, and choose whom they would play in a knockout final to qualify for the McCartney Cup. The other two teams would face off in the other knockout final. The coaching staffs for the second League of Legends match (to be played in Jasperstown) was announced in the pre-season: East - Thomas Nash (assistant John Boyle) West - Daniel Forbes (assistant Rob Cohen)
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-02-2009, 08:23 AM
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#133 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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As it turned out, Shane Jackson didn't last one season.
Code:
Kevin Jackson Medal 1st - Charlie Bartlet (Kierea Cannons) 2nd - Hamish Landsdowne (Calhournbar Crushers) 3rd - Jack Kelly (Saltern Bulldogs) Quarter-Finals 2 v 7 - Kierea Cannons lost to Jasperstown Jets 3 v 6 - Hamilton Farmers lost to Charlotteville Saints 4 v 5 - Calhournbar Crushers beat Saltern Bulldogs Devils coach Thomas Nash chose the Saints as his semi-final opponent Semi-Finals A - Charlotteville Saints d. Elderslie Devils - well, that certainly backfired! B - Calhournbar Crushers d. Jasperstown Jets McCartney Cup XLVIII Calhournbar Crushers d. Charlotteville Saints The Crushers (fourth overall) become the champions without having to face the top three teams in the finals, beating fifth, seventh and sixth on the way to another McCartney Cup title.
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-07-2009, 02:16 AM
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#134 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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Nash slashed
Elderslie have sensationally dismissed Thomas Nash from the position of head coach, following their failure to qualify for the McCartney Cup final last season. "We believe we have given Thomas every chance of succeeding with our squad," spoke chairman John Connons. "In some cases, we have given him too much support. Ultimately, Thomas chose his own fate when he made the wrong selection of semi-final opponent last season. I have no doubt that we should have played the Jets, not the Spiders. He may believe we are being too harsh, but that's the way the mop flops in my view." Nash went 77-51 in five seasons with the Devils, taking them to two consecuitive finishes at the top of the ladder. He was the coach of the East squad in 2031 which ended up winning the second League of Legends. "Grandpa" in charge In a decision nearly as confusing as the dismissal of Nash, the Devils moved to replace him with a club stalwart old enough to be eligible for the pension. Mick Porter returns to Fenton Road and immediately becomes the oldest coach in the competition at the ripe old age of 67. Porter previously coached Elderslie between 2004-09 and also in 2013. His overall record is 65-70, including 2-4 in the playoffs. Eagles rebuild for the future Markus Wilson was revealed as the new coach of the Roechester Eagles, replacing caretaker Tim Chisholm. Wilson is one of the youngest coaches in the history of the ARLA, and will be just 31 when the season kicks off. Chisholm will stay on the Eagles staff as an "adviser". Change at Stockland Stockland today confirmed that Thomas Nash would be their new coach following the resignation of Tom "Iron Guts" Watson, who guided the Stars through their first three seasons in the ARLA. Stockland also announced a name change, with the team now being known as the Sharks. "Stars was a bit of a silly name," conceded captain Mark Frye. League of Legends coaches revealed The now-annual League of Legends match is developing its own unique place in the ARLA, with the East and West sharing the honours in the first two seasons played. The concept will become a fully-fledged series this year, with three matches being played to decide the island's champion region. Charlie Bartlet will coach the West zone, with Jack Kelly as his assistant, while for the reigning East zone, Thomas Nash will retain his position while the rookie Luke Wilson will act as his assistant.
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-07-2009, 02:42 AM
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#135 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2032
League of Legends - West wins the series 2-1 Code:
Kevin Jackson Medal 1st - Harry Wilkinson (Hamilton Farmers) 2nd - Thomas Nash (Stockland Sharks) 3rd - Hamish Landsdowne (Calhournbar Crushers) Quarter-Finals 2 v 7 - Elderslie Devils beat Colart Colts 3 v 6 - Stockland Sharks beat Calhournbar Crushers 4 v 5 - Saltern Bulldogs beat Kierea Cannons Hamilton chose to play Stockland as their semi-final opponent. Semi Finals Hamilton Farmers beat Stockland Sharks Saltern Bulldogs beat Elderslie Devils McCartney Cup XLIX Hamilton Farmers beat Saltern Bulldogs The Farmers have FINALLY done it! They have won their maiden McCartney Cup title in their forty-ninth season and are the talk of Arcardia. Harry Wilkinson receives the keys to the city, along with the rest of his victorious squad. There would be a mass of coaching changes for the ARLA's fiftieth season, with the Cannons, Colts, Tigers and Wave all signalling future developments in this area.
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-07-2009, 03:21 AM
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#136 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2033
Coaching Changes The four changes for the upcoming season each had an interesting storyline behind it. The Kierea Cannons said farewell to longtime coach Charlie Bartlet after he decided to retire. Bartlet went 115-85 during his Cannons career, winning the club their only McCartney Cup. He also coached Hamilton and Calhournbar for a combined ten seasons. As we shall soon see, he is one of the most experienced coaches in ARLA history. His replacement is former Stockland coach Tom "Iron Guts" Watson. The Colart Colts decided to dispense with Tony Hillman, and in a unique sign of nostalga re-signed their most successful coach in history, Alain Dupee, to a special "farewell" contract. Dupee will coach the side for this season only, before the Colts turn the team over long-term to his successor...whoever he is. Rob Cohen was dumped by the Western Wave after four years without a playoff apperance. His replacement is David Kerslake, who has promised Wave fans a playoff apperance this season. The final coaching change concerned the Thompson Tigers, where Daniel Forbes left after seven unsuccessful seasons. Forbes in fact became the first Tigers coach in over thirty years to leave with a losing record (86-96). His replacement is a second-generation coach, with Will Dawson following in the footsteps of his father Bill Dawson, who is still fondly remembered by Thompson fans for delivering their first three McCartney Cup titles. The actual competition is quite even this year, with Hamilton, Kierea and Saltern all consistently rated as the best sides, while Roechester is probably the only team that has no real chance of playing in the finals, such is the levelness of the field. Hamish Landsdowne (East) and Jack Kelly (West) were appointed coaches of their respective representative squads, and West proceded to win the series 2-1. Code:
Kevin Jackson Medal 1st - Jack Kelly (Saltern Bulldogs) 2nd - Will Dawson (Thompson Tigers) 3rd - John Boyle (Jasperstown Jets) Quarter Finals 2 v 7 - Charlotteville d. Jasperstown 3 v 6 - Stockland d. Calhournbar 4 v 5 - Thompson d. Hamilton Saltern chose to play the Sharks. Semi Finals Saltern d. Stockland Thompson d. Charlotteville McCartney Cup L Saltern Bulldogs d. Thompson Tigers The Bulldogs win their first championship since 2027, and their tenth in club history. Will Dawson narrowly fails to bring a championship back to Thompson and emulate the deeds of his father. Coming up - a fifty year review of the ARLA.
__________________
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-07-2009, 06:43 AM
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#137 | |
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College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Osaka, Japan via Honolulu, Hawaii via Birmingham, Alabama
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Quote:
Cannot wait for that! 
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U of Hawaii | U of Alabama | Montreal Impact | Montreal Canadiens | West Ham | West Indies cricket | Portland Trail Blazers |
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11-07-2009, 06:53 AM
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#138 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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In 2033 the ARLA set up a Coaching Ring of Honour to salute those who have etched their names at the forefront of rugby league coaching in the past fifty years of the ARLA. The historians poured over the records and set the following criteria for admission into the "Ring". Fulfilling one of the following will gain a coach admittance:
* Winning 100 games at a rate of better than 60.0% during their careers * Winning at least three McCartney Cup titles, or qualifying for six finals. * Coaching in at least 300 games (200 games for those whose careers finished before 2013) * Five Kevin Jackson medals (coach of the year award) In addition, the coach must have been retired for at least ten seasons. After deliberation, it was announced that the following were the inaugural members of the Coaching Ring of Honour: Kevin Jackson Calhournbar Crushers 1984-1996 Record - 156-53 (74.6%) McCartney Cups - 4/8 Angus Ryan Elderslie Devils 1995-99, Calhournbar Crushers 1999-2005, Elderslie Devils 2015 Record - 156-53 (74.6%) McCartney Cups - 2/5 Jim Proud Jasperstown Jets 2013-22 Record - 108-72 (60.0%) McCartney Cups - 3/3 Bill Dawson Charlotteville Spiders 1999-2000, Thompson Tigers 2008-15 Record - 107-49 (68.6%) McCartney Cups - 3/6 David Franklin Saltern Bulldogs 1983-87, 1992-93, 1999-2002 Record - 105-65 (61.8%) McCartney Cups - 1/2 John Conway Saltern Bulldogs 2003-08 Record - 91-26 (77.8%) McCartney Cups - 4/4 Marcel Courdouy Colart Colts 1995-96, Charlotteville Spiders 1997-98, Elderslie Devils 1999-2003 Record - 85-59 (59.0%) McCartney Cups - 3/4 ! Coaches who currently are eligible to enter the Ring but cannot due to the ten year cooling down period are: Hamish Landsdowne (497 career games coached, 2/6 McCartney Cups; still active) Charlie Bartlet (380 career games coached - eligible in 2043) John Boyle (3/5 McCartney Cups - eligible in 2043) Harry Wilkinson (153 wins at 63%; still active) Mark Maule (129 wins at 62.6% - eligible in 2040) Andrew Latham (125 wins at 63.1% - eligible in 2036)
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. Last edited by Rawhide : 11-07-2009 at 08:46 PM. |
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11-07-2009, 07:29 AM
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#139 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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All Time Winning Coaches
* Still active 281 - Hamish Landsdowne* 196 - Charlie Bartlet 156 - Kevin Jackson 156 - John Boyle 153 - Harry Wilkinson* Most Games Coached * Still active 497 - Hamish Landsdowne* 380 - Charlie Bartlet 269 - John Boyle 243 - Harry Wilkinson* 235 - Alain Dupee Best Winning Percentage Qualifier - Coached two or more seasons * Still active 77.8% - John Conway 74.6% - Kevin Jackson 71.9% - Ben Wellington 69.9% - Harry Taylor 68.6% - Bill Dawson McCartney Cup Records Based on 3 points for a win, 1 point for a loss. Actual record is in brackets * Still active 16 - Kevin Jackson (4-4) 12 - John Conway (4-0) 12 - Bill Dawson (3-3) 11 - John Boyle (3-2) 10 - Marcel Courdouy (3-1) 10 - Hamish Landsdowne* (2-4) The Honour Roll - McCartney Cup Champions Period One - Establishment (1983-1995) 1983 - Colart Colts (George Young) 1984 - Calhournbar Crushers (Kevin Jackson) 1985 - Elderslie Devils (Martin Moore) 1986 - Palmerston Eagles (Rob Riordan) 1987 - Palmerston Eagles (Rob Riordan) 1988 - Colart Colts (Tommy Tanks) 1989 - Saltern Bulldogs (Charlie Grace) 1990 - Calhournbar Crushers (Kevin Jackson) 1991 - Colart Colts (Tommy Tanks) 1992 - Colart Colts (Marc Bonaparte) 1993 - Colart Colts (George Young) 1994 - Calhournbar Crushers (Kevin Jackson) 1995 - Colart Colts (Marcel Courdouy) Period Two - Expansion and Collapse (1996-2011) 1996 - Calhournbar Crushers (Kevin Jackson) 1997 - Calhournbar Crushers (Ben Wellington) 1998 - Calhournbar Crushers (Ben Wellington) 1999 - Stockland Football Club (Sam Gibson) 2000 - Calhournbar Crushers (Angus Ryan) 2001 - Saltern Bulldogs (David Franklin) 2002 - Elderslie Devils (Marcel Courdouy) 2003 - Elderslie Devils (Marcel Courdouy) 2004 - Saltern Bulldogs (John Conway) 2005 - Saltern Bulldogs (John Conway) 2006 - Calhournbar Crushers (Peter Klein) 2007 - Saltern Bulldogs (John Conway) 2008 - Saltern Bulldogs (John Conway) 2009 - Thompson Tigers (Bill Dawson) 2010 - Calhournbar Crushers (Peter Klein) 2011 - Saltern Bulldogs (Patrick Grace) Period Three - Stability and Renewal (2013-2033) 2013 - Calhournbar Crushers (Angus Ryan) 2014 - Thompson Tigers (Bill Dawson) 2015 - Thompson Tigers (Bill Dawson) 2016 - Thompson Tigers (Andrew Latham) 2017 - Jasperstown Jets (Jim Proud) 2018 - Jasperstown Jets (Jim Proud) 2019 - Saltern Bulldogs (James Payne) 2020 - Calhournbar Crushers (Bill Tanks) 2021 - Colart Colts (Alain Dupee) 2022 - Jasperstown Jets (Jim Proud) 2023 - Thompson Tigers (Andrew Latham) 2024 - Jasperstown Jets (John Boyle) 2025 - Roechester Eagles (Mark Maule) 2026 - Jasperstown Jets (John Boyle) 2027 - Saltern Bulldogs (Ben Ryan) 2028 - Kierea Cannons (Charlie Bartlet) 2029 - Calhournbar Crushers (Hamish Landsdowne) 2030 - Jasperstown Jets (John Boyle) 2031 - Calhournbar Crushers (Hamish Landsdowne) 2032 - Hamilton Farmers (Harry Wilkinson) 2033 - Saltern Bulldogs (Jack Kelly) Most Championships 13 - Calhournbar Crushers 10 - Saltern Bulldogs 7 - Colart Colts 6 - Jasperstown Jets 5 - Thompson Tigers 3 - Elderslie Devils 2 - Palmerston Eagles 1 - Stockland Football Club 1 - Roechester Eagles 1 - Hamilton Farmers 1 - Kierea Cannons Second Division Champions 2009 - Westlands Whalers 2010 - Hamilton Farmers 2011 - Courdeaux Cockerels Third Division Champions 2011 - Brentwood Browns Kevin Jackson Medal (Coach of the Year) 2030 - Thomas Nash (Elderslie Devils) 2031 - Charlie Bartlet (Kierea Cannons) 2032 - Harry Wilkinson (Hamilton Farmers) 2033 - Jack Kelly (Saltern Bulldogs) League of Legends Series 2030 - West (Charlie Bartlet beat Harry Wilkinson) 2031 - East (Thomas Nash beat Daniel Forbes) 2032 - West 2-1 (Charlie Bartlet beat Thomas Nash) 2033 - West 2-1 (Jack Kelly beat Hamish Landsdowne) ARL/ARLA administrators 1983 - John R. Stephenson 1996 - Catherine Ryan 2008 - Jack Schitt 2012 - David H. Smith 2013 - Jake Walsh
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. Last edited by Rawhide : 11-07-2009 at 07:31 AM. |
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11-10-2009, 07:58 AM
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#140 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2034
Three clubs adopted new coaches prior to the start of the season. Alain Dupee departed the Colts, paving the way for new coach Grant Forbes. John Boyle retired from the Jasperstown Jets after a twelve year association; he is replaced by Alexander Barclay. Luke Wilson got the chop after taking the Eagles to 12-50 over two seasons. His replacement is Mitchell Brent. All three coaches are in their thirties, representing the new wave of head coaches replacing the old guard. It was the old guard, however, that retained their positions for the League of Legends fixtures; Hamish Landsdowne (East) and Jack Kelly (West) retained their positions. West went on to sweep the series 3-0. Code:
Kevin Jackson Medal 1st - Thomas Nash (Stockland Sharks) 2nd - Tom Watson (Kierea Cannons) 3rd - Mitchell Brent (Roechester Eagles) Quarter Finals Kierea Cannons d. Colart Colts Saltern Bulldogs d. Calhournbar Crushers Elderslie Devils d. Hamilton Farmers The Sharks chose to play the Bulldogs Semi Finals Kierea Cannons d. Elderslie Devils Stockland Sharks d. Saltern Bulldogs McCartney Cup LI Stockland Sharks d. Kierea Cannons The two best teams all year meet in the McCartney Cup game; Thomas Nash wins his first cup while Tom "Iron Guts" Watson lifts the Cannons from tenth to second in the space of a season. It is the Sharks' first McCartney Cup win as a resurrected franchise (although the original Stockland side won way back in 1999). The Cannons played in their third McCartney Cup game in the space of six years - they have only won once (2028).
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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11-13-2009, 09:35 PM
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#141 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Australia
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ARLA 2035
After many years of running the ARLA and overseeing its return to a stable competition, Commissioner Jake Walsh announced his retirement effective January 31st. Walsh - a former coach of the Thompson Tigers - stayed in the Commissioner's seat for 22 years, a record tenure in the combined history of the ARL/ARLA. The race to succeed him came down to two respected figures in the circles of Arcardian society, but two figures who offered starkly different views about the future direction of the competition. David H. Smith was the great survivor of the ARLA, having been involved in the administration of the Hamilton Farmers for forty seasons, and also coaching the side in three seperate stints. He was the Al Davis of the ARLA, but without the craziness. Under his guidance, the Farmers had survived the ARL crash of 2012 and developed to a point where they eventually broke the longest drought in the ARLA and won the McCartney Cup in 2032. Aged 73, Smith could be considered a safe pair of hands, but a short term successor. He promised to maintain the integrity and structure of the ARLA as it presently stands. On the other hand, Mark Maule represented a younger generation. He was a virtual unknown when he took over the Roechester Eagles in 2021 - a team which had just one playoff game to its name. By the time he retired in 2030 the team had played in four championship deciders and made the playoffs in each and every season. Aged 45, Maule was still good enough to coach, but yearned to occupy the Commissioner's seat and make what he perceived to be the brave decisions that would guide the ARLA into a new era; reforming the ARLA into a virtual "Champions League", allowing each of the 60-or-so clubs throughout Arcardia which played the funny old game of Rugby League access to the game's greatest prize. He would also do away with the League of Legends concept. Delegates from each of the 12 teams met at Stephenson House on January 31 2035 to make a momentous decision, and it was about as emphatic a decision as could be expected: By a vote of 9-3, the ARLA had decided that the present course was just fine, and installed David H. Smith as it's sixth commissioner. The vote was as much a referendum on Mark Maule as it was an affirmation for Smith; one delegate, speaking on condition of secrecy, said that the Maule Plan "scared the shit out of me". Nonetheless, by a vote of 9-3 also, the League of Legends concept was scrapped. Coaching Changes Hamish Landsdowne received his marching orders from the Calhournbar Crushers after three straight seasons of playoff blowouts. He went 129-101 during his time with the Crushers, winning two McCartney Cups. Landsdowne announced his retirement from coach effective immediately, and endorsed assistant Craig Collins as his successor. In pre-season betting, Stockland, Kierea and Hamilton were the early favourites, while most pundits predicted another long season for Jasperstown and the Eagles. It turned out that there was quite a lot of changing coaches during the season, with three coaches losing their jobs. David Kerslake resigned as the coach of the Western Wave after a 1-8 start to the season. He was replaced by Callan Rofe. The Saltern Bulldogs made the semi-finals last season but stumbled out of the blocks badly, with Jack Kelly being axed after a 0-12 start. Oliver Crane, a former Bulldogs coach, stepped into the breach. Over at Jasperstown, Alexander Barclay saw the writing on the wall and cleared out his office after starting 1-13. Sam Jackson is the new man in charge. Code:
Kevin Jackson Medal 1st - Tom Watson (Kierea Cannons) 2nd - Chris Ryan (Charlotteville Saints) 3rd - Harry Wilkinson (Hamilton Farmers) Quarter Finals Hamilton d. Colart Stockland d. Calhournbar Charlotteville d. Elderslie For the first time in many, many seasons, the top four teams had progressed to the semi-final stage. Tom Watson made an unexpected and shocking decision when he chose the second-placed Hamilton Farmers as Kierea's opponents, pitting first against second in a knock-out final, while third would play fourth for the other place in the McCartney Cup game. Cannons fans - expecting to play Charlotteville instead - were outraged and petitioned Commissioner Smith to veto the decision. He refused saying that to do so would be an abuse of his office, and not to mention a potential conflict of interest. Those Cannons fans would be doubly outraged a few short days later when Kierea bowed out of the competition. Semi Finals Hamilton d. Kierea Stockland d. Charlotteville McCartney Cup LII Hamilton Farmers d. Stockland Sharks The Farmers therefore won their second McCartney Cup in history, with Commissioner Smith handing the trophy to his son Charlie Smith (now Farmers owner) and Harry Wilkinson. The Potato Head fans were overjoyed and packed the streets of Hamilton until the wee hours in celebration. The ARLA would be shocked two days later to learn that Commissioner Smith had passed away after suffering a massive coronary while working in his office. Tributes flowed in from every corner of the ARLA universe, while Hamilton Cathedral was packed to overflowing, with every surviving Farmers coach acting as pallbearer for the father of their club. Attention then turned to electing the seventh commissioner. While it seemed assured that Mark Maule would make another run at the top job, more than a few wondered whether he had watered down his plans sufficiently to not "scare the shit" out of the other owners.
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Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that, when I wak'd, I cried to dream again. |
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