AFL Ontario fans, footy is back and so is the Phantom!! Back for another season…..
The AFL Ontario season kicks off this coming Friday night with a Grand Final Rematch between reigning back to back Premiers Etobicoke Kangaroos and the Broadview Hawks at Colonel Samuel Smith Reserve in Etobicoke. The first round consists of 5 games playing off in order of finishing place in the 2012 season with games in Toronto, Guelph and Hamilton. It should be a cracking weekend of footy in Ontario!
Etobicoke Kangaroos v Broadview Hawks
The Grand Final rematch should be a cracking game. Rumours a plenty are floating around the league that Etobicoke could be in for a tough year following the departure of some quality Aussies. Whether this Phantom Writer believes everything on the grape vine or not is another story.
But the fact that Etobicoke have pulled out of the Division 2 comp raises some serious question marks about their depth this season. Particularly in the Canadian stocks which has traditionally been pretty strong for the Roos. Broadview are reported to have lost a few Aussies too, but no doubt will still have a solid Canadian base and still have reigning OAFL League Best and Fairest Winner Connor Dullard.
Phantom prediction for this game is a hard hitting first half with the Hawks to run over the Roos in the second and win fairly comfortably - over 4 goals.
Guelph Gargoyles v Toronto Dingos
Last years 3rd and 4th placed teams loom to be serious Top 3 contenders this season with the Dingos having recruited very well in the off season.
Justin Robertson has taken the coaching reigns at the Dingos and Andy "Kerm" Matthews at Guelph, so this should be a cracking first encounter for the new coaches.
Unfortunately for Guelph, Matthews is suspended for the 1st game and will sit out while reports are that some of their quality Canadians are also injured. Once again, the Phantom doesn't believe everything on the OAFL grape vine.
The Dingos had a solid hit out in Hamilton in the preseason, taking out the Hawks and Guelph played probably the best footy of all teams on the day in Guelph so the outcome of this game is a tough one to call.
Phantom prediction for his game is Toronto Dingos in a close one - maximum 3 goals.
Hamilton Wildcats v Toronto Rebels
These two teams rounded out last years Top 6 finalists and were both eliminated in the first week. The Rebels are reported to have lost quite a few over the summer, most notably Canadian midfielder Cameron Stark who was highest vote recipient of all Canadians in the OAFL League B&F for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Stark's departure is no doubt a huge loss to the Rebels who have been working hard on rebuilding the past couple of seasons.
The Cats also lost a few over the summer with one of the clubs stalwarts Justin Johns returning to Australia and Charles "Chucky" Thompson retiring mid 2012. But again the grape vine is full of rumours and Johns is in town for the weekend. Will he pull on the Wildcats jumper after getting a few games in Australia under his belt already this season?
The Cats are known to play with a lot of passion and when one of their favourite sons returns, ex-players may come out of the woodwork to get in on the action.
Phantom prediction for this game is another tough one to call - Toronto Rebels to take it by less than a kick!
High Park Demons v Central Blues
Having finished 7th and 8th respectively in 2012, these two teams are the only teams playing this weekend to have faced each other a week ago in the preseason carnival. The Demons did not look all that solid on the day, but were missing Paul Loughnane as playing coach and Xavier Quigley who both add a lot of depth to their side.
The Blues have been training solidly all pre-season at Monarch Park and have a new coach at the helm, which may make things easier for their play maker ex-Coach Daniel Wills on the day. The Blues have a fairly strong Canadian content with Riley Armstrong a leader of that bunch which adds a lot of the depth and a few Aussies returning from 2011 so it should be a quality game.
Phantom prediction for this game is the Blues again, but in a much tighter game than in Guelph during preseason - less than 20 points.
Toronto Eagles v Ottawa Swans
Rounding out the bottom of last years ladder, these two clubs are both very keen to make amends in the 2013 season.
Ottawa have just come off a tournament in Montreal two weeks ago where they fielded two mens teams that went thru undefeated against outfits from Montreal, Halifax, Boston and New York - so they will be full of confidence for their first of only 3 trips to Toronto for the 2013 season.
The Toronto Eagles were bitterly disappointed in their 2012 season and have been working hard behind the scenes to make amends in 2012. They were unimpressive at Guelph in the preseason but there's zero doubt in this Phantom's mind that they kept a few of their new recruits under wraps for the real stuff.
Prediction for this game is a game that will go right down to the wire - Toronto Eagles with by less than 10 points.
WOMEN'S FOOTY
The AFL Ontario Women's Division kicks off on Saturday in Etobicoke with 2 games at Colonel Samuel Smith Park. The Women's Division features 5 teams again this season with last years runners up Hamilton Lady Wildcats being the first to have the bye.
High Park Lady Demons v Central Lady Blues
The Lady Demons and Blues played a high quality, close encounter in Guelph in the preseason utilising the full field in a 15 per side game. The encounter was won by the 2011 and 2012 Women's Division Premiers the High Park Lady Demons who have come off a strong preseason. The Lady Blues have also had a solid preseason and appear to have recruited very well. This encounter should be no different to Guelph two weeks ago, with both sides expected to field solid numbers in what should be a great first up hit out.
High Park stalwarts Erin Loughnane and Sarah Ennor will be looking to help continue their team on their current streak of wins. But there is no doubt that Lady Blues like Renee Tong, Rochelle Allen and Vera Fernandez have the ability to cause some problems for the Lady Dees and will plan to do just that.
Phantom Prediction for this game is a solid hit out with the Lady Demons running out 15 point victors.
Etobicoke Lady Roos v Ottawa Lady Swans
The Ottawa Ladies make their first of several trips to Toronto this weekend and will be no doubt lead by 2012 OAFL Rookie of the Year Award Winner Emma Dickinson. Following a clean sweep in a Montreal tournament featuring teams from Boston, New York and Montreal, the Swanettes will be up and about and ready to have an even better year than last year, where they definitely suprised quite a few teams.
While the reports around Etobicoke are not great for their men, reports about their women on the grape vine are only good! Will Sylvie DeBrabandere and the Amaral sisters take the next step in their development and help hard hitting Lady Roos such as Ashley Walker to get them over the line in Round 1?
The big question on the Phantom's mind is - Will any "Angels" be making the trip down the 401 to play with the Swans?
Phantom prediction for this game is a close one, coming right down to the final few minutes - Ottawa to sneak a victory by less than a kick.
So there you have it! Footy is back, enjoy the weekend folks and I will certainly be watching from above…… Be safe my friends!
The Ghost who Handballs!!
Last Modified on 01/06/2013 04:19