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jprockbelly
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 Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:32 am Post subject: |
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All right then, xmas is over the new year is rung in, and with the boxing day test match done and dusted, cricket has become boring again. But never fear, hope is as omnipresent as hype in the eternal Australian sporting cycle. And a big hope is on the horizon. Only 45 days till footy is back..... granted it's only the NAB cup but it's footy none the less.
As a Richmond supporter my hope is usually confined to the off-season, where it flourishes only to be crushed in round one. However with the new footy season comes a new SUPERCOACH! (a welcome distraction from the tiges on field performance)
Once again I’ll be organising a PALGN supercoach league for those that are interested. This is the advanced, advanced warning just to build some hype and get as many people as possible on board.
To kick things off here is an article about a few slight rule changes.
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Spacecow
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:46 am Post subject: |
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| jprockbelly wrote: | All right then, xmas is over the new year is rung in, and with the boxing day test match done and dusted, cricket has become boring again. But never fear, hope is as omnipresent as hype in the eternal Australian sporting cycle. And a big hope is on the horizon. Only 45 days till footy is back..... granted it's only the NAB cup but it's footy none the less.
As a Richmond supporter my hope is usually confined to the off-season, where it flourishes only to be crushed in round one. However with the new footy season comes a new SUPERCOACH! (a welcome distraction from the tiges on field performance)
Once again I’ll be organising a PALGN supercoach league for those that are interested. This is the advanced, advanced warning just to build some hype and get as many people as possible on board.
To kick things off here is an article about a few slight rule changes. |
Looking forward to it as per usual. 
In all seriousness though, the Tigers are looking the goods for this season and I wouldn't place a 9th spot finish beyond the realms of possibility for them.
In all seriousness of seriousness though Cotchin and Martin are both guns and their natural improvement will make the Tiges midfield quite a good one. Hard to believe this is just Martin's 3rd preseason.
Liking the rule change of swapping players from different positions, I had a bunch of DPP in my team last year which really aided me well. I did kinda lose interest during the latter parts of the season but that was partially because of the whole haphazard nature of the season with byes every round.
Looking for no less than a top 4 finish from the Blues. With the midfield clearly taken care of, the defence basically taken care of (Jamison is an excellent FB and Henderson showed some really positive signs at CHB towards the end of the season, and Carlton is Half-Back Flankers galore at the moment) that only leaves the forward line. Smalls/Mediums are also taken care of by virtue of Garlett, Betts and Walker. It's just KPP that we need. Waite is an athletic beast and talented beyond measure but is too inconsistent with his occasional injuries and continual suspensions. If he steps up and fills either CHF or FF (preferably CHF) then we just need one of Hampson, Mitchell or Rowe to step up and make FF their own and I think we'll be genuine challengers. Even if only one spot is with a player that consistenyl produces it would still improve us by a large degree. Last season we had no continuity in our KPF at all. Hampson didn't play the second half of the season, Kreuzer was out of sorts and too bulky after coming back from an ACL (and they're both ruckman). Henderson ended up going to CHB and Waite was continually out of the team due to injury/suspension. We had Thornton and Kreuzer for the most part being our KPF with a smattering of other players when they were available.
The one other thing that would help though isn't perhaps as much of a priority is a bulky and hard nosed inside midfielder to help Judd. Essentially what Mclean was recruited to do, I do still have faith in Mclean though. I think he's been mismanaged a bit. Too bulky in his first year with us, which resulted in him slimming down a crapload for last year. I think he just needs some consistency with his body to start playing some good football again. Add to that he hasn't been given an extended run recently then I say we just haven't managed him properly. Get him to work on his speed and agility in the off-season and I think he'll turn out to be more than servicable. Robinson is an inside beast but he's a diffeent creature to the type we somewhat lack at the moment. He's a charge and bash and crash type, we need a sturdy, resistant guy to dish out the ball from stoppages. Judd was clearly either injured or tired at the end of the season and it was clear his performances dropped.
Intrigued as to how Fremantle will go this year, Lyon has switched to a team that I would say has more natural talent than his previous teams and also has a completely different complexion. Freo is speedy and fast, whereas the Saints were more of a lock-down and squeezing team. They could be a wildcard as Lyon is at least a 'very good' coach and with him at the helm things could potentially be going upwards fairly quickly. Collingwood will be interesting to watch, a fairly large-ish sort of 'exodus' of coaching staff and an excellent player could mean fresh ideas brought to the table by Buckley and co. or it could mean a season or two of 'floating' while they gather their bearings again. They've got enough brilliant players these days though that it's no longer about Malthouse coashing a team to play above themselves but the individual brilliance of the players also being a major factor. Swan is a gun and I can' say enough good things about Pendles (he comes into the Coles I work at usually once a week and he's got his hot model girlfriend with him sometimes and he buys mushrooms; he's just awesomely awesome). Add in Cloke, Thomas, Reid, Tarrant, Shaw and a few emerging players such asSidebottom and Beams and they're clearly a talented list. So saying that they should still be up there and challenging.
Individual player wise, I want to see some of Majak Daw. His third season on the rookie list this year I think, so he's essentially guaranteed to get some games. Want to see some more of Jonathan Brown after his season was essentially a whitewash last year. The one player I want to see the most of though is Yarran, this kid is just sublimely skilled either side of his body and has got a bag of tricks so deep that it would make ... wait I won't go there, it's quite deep, that much I'll say. I expect him to play some wing/midfield this year as he makes his natural progression from the backline into the middle.
Suffice to say the weeks are boring without footy...
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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Whats this! A 5000 word post about Carlton and not one mention of your hero Murphy  As much as I hate to say it I might have to pick him in the team this year, made more SC points than Judd last year.
Yeah, I'm excited about Cotch and Martin too.... but they can't hold the team up by themselves. Need some off the young'uns to come good too. Vickery showed some good promise last year, lets hope he can build on it this year and give jack some support up front. Hopefully the new ruckman will improve things, we don't need to add yet another spud to the sack of potatoes known as the Richmond rucks.
But the biggest issue for us last year was a backline made of wet spagetti. Aside from Newman there is precious little talent back there, which means that Delideo has to constantly go back and help them out. Which is shit cos he's needed in the middle. We recruited a bunch of young backmen but they won't be ripe for a year or 2.
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Spacecow
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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| jprockbelly wrote: | Whats this! A 5000 word post about Carlton and not one mention of your hero Murphy As much as I hate to say it I might have to pick him in the team this year, made more SC points than Judd last year.
Yeah, I'm excited about Cotch and Martin too.... but they can't hold the team up by themselves. Need some off the young'uns to come good too. Vickery showed some good promise last year, lets hope he can build on it this year and give jack some support up front. Hopefully the new ruckman will improve things, we don't need to add yet another spud to the sack of potatoes known as the Richmond rucks.
But the biggest issue for us last year was a backline made of wet spagetti. Aside from Newman there is precious little talent back there, which means that Delideo has to constantly go back and help them out. Which is **** cos he's needed in the middle. We recruited a bunch of young backmen but they won't be ride for a year or 2. |
I thought Murphy's elite status of awesomeness (Read: Not Douchebaggery) went without saying. Really stepped up last year with his inside game and was for mine one of the most damaging players in the competition. Was a shame he ended up on the HFF of the AA as he really deseved a starting midfield spot. Don't even start me on the shambles that the AA team was (Robert Murphy ahead of Heath Scotland on the HBF? I swear I felt like I was being trolled).
Maric is a trier but ultimately he's not very good. Comparitively though to Graham and Browne he's perhaps a tad better though that's not saying much. Vickery I really like, kicked 30ish goals last season I think as a relief ruck and secondary forward target. Good mark of the ball and has a humongous size on him. Riewoldt will also be back to his best after having 5? operations/cleanups at the end of the season.
Backline wise Rance seemed to come along well during the latter parts of the season. His defending is now more than competent but his kicking and decision making still leave a bit to be desired. He trieds hard and puts his body on the line at all times though and that's what you want from a backman. One to persevere with for sure. Newman is a good player but maybe it's just me but his leadership doesn't *seem* to be all that great. Of course after Kane Johnson retired candidates were far and few between but Cotchin should take the reigns in the next few seasons and he just oozes leadership. Perhaps it's the fact Richmond's backline is massacred game upon game so Newman doesn't get a chance to impose himself.
Another I haven't mentioned in regards to Carlton is Gibbs. He's been more than servicable in his time thus far but he just seems to threaten to take games by the scruff of the neck but hasn't yet. He's an atheltic specimen, excellent kick, brilliant vision and strong mark but he doesn't seem to make full use of them yet. Hoping for a breakout season this year and from the training reports I've heard he's well on track.
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Cro
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Spacecow wrote: |
Another I haven't mentioned in regards to Carlton is Gibbs. He's been more than servicable in his time thus far but he just seems to threaten to take games by the scruff of the neck but hasn't yet. He's an atheltic specimen, excellent kick, brilliant vision and strong mark but he doesn't seem to make full use of them yet. Hoping for a breakout season this year and from the training reports I've heard he's well on track. |
I see him as someone similar to Goddard in that he can play anywhere on the ground and be BOG on his day, but it just doesn't always click for him. Over 09 and 10 it clearly came together for Goddard, and I would think if Carlton are to take that next step Gibbs needs to find that consistency to his game as well. Not easy when you're tagging Goodes one week then thrown in the forward line the next.
This is a hard season to predict, Hawthorn look to have the best all round team, IF they can stay fit, which has been issue since the GF success.
Geelong will be much the same, they hit form at the right time of the season, just as Collingwood lost that 5% in their game.
Collingwood with a new coach, I wouldn't expect much difference, just a few subtle changes to the gameplan, as Scott put in for the Cats.
St Kilda have recruited some speedy small to mid type fwd/mids, I would expect a more offensive game this year. Question marks on Riewoldt, was it a bad season or is he a bit passed it? Like his cousin he was injured so I'm not wiriting him off. Can Lenny Hayes come back from another ACL.
Freo I don't know about, Ross Lyon was very good, but then ran out of ides with St Kilda, you could argue there is more talent at Fremantle, but he has even less of a forward line to work with, so I wouldn't be surprised to see another defence first focus there.
Another team missed here, will WCE back up the form of last season and be a top 4 side again?
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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Go the West!
Personally I've always like Freo, and like you two am keen to see how they go this year. I think the outcome will be a lot less dependant on Lyon and a lot more on how many players they can keep fit. What was it last year? A third of their playing list injured  The forward line is a bit lacking but I reckon there is pleanty of mid field talent to make up for it.
Spacecow, you were talking about Dusty only being in his 3rd season, what about Fyfe. Also entering his 3rd year and an absolute ball magnet. Imagine if him and Barlow are fully fit, running along side the Pav in the mids and getting easy ball from sandilands.
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Spacecow
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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Yep, Goddard took about 5 seasons to get to what he is now.
I don't seem to rate Fyfe as highly as most though. Perhaps I just don't watch enough of him as Freo don't tend to get too much airtime here in Melbourne but he seems to be quite a good player, but not this whole 'amazing' that I keep hear people raving about him.
GWS will be interesting to keep an eye on too. They seem to have gone super young with a smattering of very experienced players whereas Gold Coast went down the track of young but with some mildly experienced players. It'll be good to see which team makes a legitimate flag challenge first.
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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If GWS and GC both hold onto their players it is frightening to think about how good they might be in 3-5 years. Imagine a whole team of talented players all peaking in the same season!
I'll go on record now to say that GC will play finals within 4 years.
As for GWS I'll wait and see.... however I secretly hope they suck. Looking forward to seeing them get thrashed by Sydney in the season opener, will be a welcome change from the usual opening game
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Fly
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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As has become a little bit of a tradition I will of course be partaking of the coaching of supers in a manner where said supers are not actually coached and instead chosen for other reasons, be them unnatural, absurd or based on who has the hottest WAG going around. As such, I require something you would like to see, since I don't think I have the patience to sort through who's a ranga and who isn't into a shortlist.
| Cro wrote: |
Freo I don't know about, Ross Lyon was very good, but then ran out of ides with St Kilda, you could argue there is more talent at Fremantle, but he has even less of a forward line to work with, so I wouldn't be surprised to see another defence first focus there.
Another team missed here, will WCE back up the form of last season and be a top 4 side again? |
Won't work for Freo IMO, Subi wasn't a ground conducive to lockdown plays due to the wide barge like conditions in comparison to Etihad and they have less "hardy" players to pull it off as theirs are more prone to running all day rather than locking down and rebounding. Sure they'll increase their defensive pressures, but it'll hardly be a carbon copy of what the Saints went through and I honestly doubt they'll reap the same rewards since largely their problems have been in the forward half which coincides with Lyons problem being the forward half, hence it all turning to shit as soon as Tudor left.
My smokey is Melbourne, their problem was largely between their ears in that they really didn't train or play to win, they trained and played to complete personal goals and earn contracts, they'll benefit more from the change of coaching structures, though it might take a while to see results, but they could surprise a few.
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Cro
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| Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| jprockbelly wrote: | | Go the West! |
Haha no, screw the west! Hope it all falls apart for both of them. 
Nat Fyfe is one of the best overhead marks in the game, came from nowhere to average over 20 touches a game, and frequently hit the scoreboard. He's one of those X Factor mids like Martin is.
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| Fly wrote: | | My smokey is Melbourne |
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Fly
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| Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Yup, I like living on the edge, which is why I'm going to spruik me being right if Collingwood drop out of the 8.
Poetic justice.
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kartanym
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| Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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I'm backing the Gold Coast to ... not be the worst team in the league!!
Also, looking forward to a more entertaining fantasy league. Less bye rounds means more points to score!
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DancesInUnderwear
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:32 am Post subject: |
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Port Adelaide Premiers 2012
...Port Adelaide to win a game in 2012
...Port Adelaide to win a quarter in 2012
Expectations are in check.
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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^Clearly they should change their name to Port Radelaide.
Just had a peak at the fixture and realised that there are only 3 byes this year but 6 teams out for each bye. I'm guessing that these will be non supercoach league weeks, but will no doubt be a headache for anyone having a tilt at an over all highscore.
Also, I'm not the only one excited about supercoach. Tooserious has got a team plan up already
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Cro
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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^ While that is a headache, it's nowhere near as bad as last year, especially being middle of the season you would have less rookies in your squad.
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DancesInUnderwear
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| jprockbelly wrote: | ^Clearly they should change their name to Port Radelaide.
Just had a peak at the fixture and realised that there are only 3 byes this year but 6 teams out for each bye. I'm guessing that these will be non supercoach league weeks, but will no doubt be a headache for anyone having a tilt at an over all highscore.
Also, I'm not the only one excited about supercoach. Tooserious has got a team plan up already |
I don't know how Supercoach is doing it, but Dreamteam still has games those weeks, but you can use 3 trades those weeks instead of two. I imagine SC will be similar.
DT also has a new 'Undo' feature which reverses all of that week's changes, which I hope SC is going to rip off, too.
EDIT: Yep, SC is doing both of those things. 3 trades in the bye weeks, kickass undo button feature. Good good.
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:48 am Post subject: |
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So supercoach opens tomorrow!
So far I have the following people penciled in
spacecow
cro
fly
DIU [?]
kartanym
me
Hopefully we will get a few more.... Still no sign of reigning champ Cerebral?
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Spacecow
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| Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:25 am Post subject: |
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That lookalike originated from the Bigfooty forums. It was orignally the full pictures:
Which makes it even funnier because of Abott and Murphy's derpy face lookalikes and the half covered faces of James Kelly and some random politician.
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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Since I can't be arsed PMing everyone I'll just post the league code here:
PALGN
invite code: 403793
Make sure to post your team name in this thread so I know who is a legit PALGN member. Otherwise I won't know who is who and you might get kicked out.
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embersilvermoon
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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Hope you guys don't mind me joining in - I played for the first time last year in a work league and managed to win it (beginner's luck ^_^). We'll see how I go though this year.
Team: Charter Vanguard
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome!
I just hope you are worse at supercoach than you are at Frozen Synapse 
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embersilvermoon
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe...
As long as Carlton beat Richmond first round... again 
Yes I am a Carlton supporter
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jprockbelly
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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Christ, not another blue baller
Check the calendar, it's the year of the Tiger
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Fly
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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wait wait wait, sign ups / relogins are open?
Christ almighty I'm going to have to come up with shenanigans asap!
Edit: When in doubt, go Spelunking. (as in, team name is Spelunking)
Last edited by Fly on Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total
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