The Big Bad Brisbane Premier League

In 2009 when LD Stu Austin lead the league away from three back to back seasons a year to the current format of two seasons with a long winter break I’m sure part of the aim was to build significance of achievement into each league, and to enhance the anticipation and excitement at the beginning of each new season.

The beginning of a new season of the BPL is here and I’m know there are many excited players out there busting to get right down to business on Thursday night.

The 25^th season of the Brisbane Premier league kicks off at 7:30pm and it will be the largest in the competition's history. Matching season 20 (Autumn 2010) and season 23 (Spring 2011) the league is again back up to 7 teams, and on the shoulders of huge Slamtown and Heroes rosters there will be 97 men vying for the R.C. Dog Cup this season.

All the familiar teams are back this year with Dojo Mojo attempting to defend their title against Slamtown Flatball Club, Moreton Bay Buggers, Heroes, Northside Cobras, Blitz and back after 3 seasons away the storied UQ Lovers.

As always competition will be fierce and under the direction of League Director Adam Baker in his second season in the top job there will be much to enjoy as either player or spectator of Australia’s finest Open division league.

Here are some thoughts on what to watch for during the BPL Spring 2012:

Dojo Mojo

The Dojo is the oldest club in the competition and the bench mark for on field performance over the past 2 years. The Dojo has contested the last 4 grand finals and has won 3 of those, with the only loss against Slamtown FC in the Spring last year.

The Dojo roster will look very familiar to BPL followers with almost all the likely types registered. The team is 2 players larger than in season one and looks to have a really healthy balance of veterans and new faces. The one glaring hole in a roster that again looks grand final worthy is the absence of Frisbee weapon Dan Walls. In the past when the Dojo needs to get themselves out of a tight spot it has often been Dan who produces the big play. 

A Dojo without Wallsy is still a strong looking team and they start the season as the outfit to beat for all ambitious teams in the league.

Slamtown Flatball Club

In its 6^th season in the BPL the Slamtown Flatball Club will hope to continue on their impressive path of consistent improvement. The boys from the Gold Coast have competed in the last 3 grand finals and notched their first championship in their 4^th season in the competition.

The recent strength of Slamtown has come from blending a solid base of local Gold Coast talent with a few choice Brisbane based elite player additions to their roster. The Spring 2012 team follows this pattern with a few big name Brisbane residents slapping on the orange.

In fact the Gold Coast has nearly returned all of their season 1 players and added 5 extra players to line up with a massive 16 names on the books. It will take some significant organizing for this huge player list to be a strength and not a hindrance, however the Spring 2012 Gold Coast could be split in half and both teams would be competitive, quality and experience across the whole list.

This team has all the makings of a very dangerous opponent.

Moreton Bay Buggers

After joining the league in Winter 2006 the Buggers played in 11 straight grand finals, however since the beginning of 2010 the end of season drought has been glaring. 5 consecutive semi final oustings has been a harsh lesson in consistence and big game pressure play for the Bugs.

In the Spring of 2012 the Buggers play their second season under captain Mat Ryan and with a very consistent roster over the last few seasons will be relying on connections and chemistry to help them return to the top of the competition leaderboard.

The return of Graham 'Special G' Prickett to the team after a season off is a significant addition to the team. Special G epitomises the hard working no frills style of play that the Bugs will look to make their blue print to success this season. With a good crop of season 1 BPL rookies returning and all of the old firm lining up again the Bugs hope to start this season with more momentum and team understanding than in any season in resent memory.

The same challenges of matching skills and stars with the top teams in the competition remain for the Bugs, however with the right plan the Moreton Bay Buggers could get it right this season and take those last steps back to the top of the competition.

Heroes

After joining the competition in Autum 2010 as a group of optimistic newcomers the Heroes have battled manfully though 5 seasons of the BPL and are now a team with 2 semi final appearances to their credit and the experience to be able to mix it with the best teams in the competition.

With arguably the best recruiting ground and feeder team structure underneath them of any team in the competition the Heroes have always threatened to suddenly emerge as a BPL powerhouse. With an enormous 16 man roster Spring 2012 could be the season that the Heroes giant finally realises its own strength. 

The task for the Heroes team will be to find ways to use their large roster to outwork opposition teams. The team has a good mix of experienced solid players and batch of rapidly improving guys with a season or two in the Firestorm program driving them on.

The move back to a big and enthusiastic roster of 16 from the skeletal 10 during season 1 looks like the right one, and the Heroes should have their sights set on getting back into the semi finals for a third season in a row and then letting the dice fly high.

Northside Cobras

When looking at the Cobras' BPL history the strongest theme could well be underperformance. After bursting onto the scene in the Spring 2009 season the Cobras shook the competition and played in the Grand final in their second year.

Ever since Cobra teams have looked great on paper and have failed to produce when it counted on the field. Missing the semi finals the last two seasons must rival the pain of being the only team to loose to the fledgling Heroes team in their first season in Autumn 2010.

The Spring 2012 roster again looks potent on paper. The Cobra starting 7 looks as good as any other teams and is loaded with Firestorm weapons. The core of the team list is the same as season 1 this year and with an almost ideal 12 players on the books the Cobras could be lean and very dangerous if they work out how to play their best.

A key factor this season could well be the return of team co-founder and general polarizing force Liam ‘Wet Nose’ Gillions. Wet Nose brings a level of tenacity and competitiveness to the team that might have been the missing link over the past few seasons.

If the Cobras find their best they are capable of beating everyone and winning it all. The question is how big is that ‘if’?

Blitz

Blitz joined the competition this time last year and pushed the league up to 7 teams with a highly inexperienced roster. Not much has changed for Blitz except that the team is now 2 seasons more experienced and by this stage they will have had enough of being the league punching bags.

At times during season 1 the Blitz team showed some excellent form despite playing without their two chronically injured Australian representatives.  The Blitz boys will be working to maintain that unbowed spirit and pair it with a healthy roster and a quickly developing skill set.

Spring 2012 could well be a breakout season for the Blitz team, and with oppositions potentially distracted by the big names and reputations of other BPL clubs there could well be some upsets in the making for the unwary.

UQ Lovers

UQ teams first appeared in the BPL in Winter 2004 and seeing a UQ team back in the mix after a few seasons absence will warm the hearts of all Frisbee players who think back to the cradle of Ultimate in Brisbane.

The Spring 2012 UQ team looks to be a group of fresh and ambitious players who are keen to take on the new challenge of open Ultimate in the BPL. Lead by the top notch Brenton “BW’ Williamson the mostly unknown team should set their goals on taking risks, being aggressive and making the most of opportunities presented to them point by point and game by game.

The UQ v Blitz match up in the first half of the season should be a great battle and its all going to be about getting better quickly for the University boys.

The BPL continues to go from strength to strength and this 25^th season promises to have all the elements of a great battle and spectacle. Keep your eye on the BPL blog for updates and action and get out there and enjoy the struggle.