BBQ Review: Brisbane, Australia 24 March 2013

Jugger tournaments are a special and strange events those who have never been to one, one part sporting spectacle, one part chaos and one part hectic party. These events attract every Juggers from every level of the sport we love from those who come to try it out and have as much fun as they can to the veterans of the sport who come to try their skills against the best the tournament has to offer. My first experience of a large Jugger tournament was Berlin in 2008 and it is still a memory I cherish, Juggers gave their hardest to win on the field and instantly turned into friends the moment the game was over, some of my best friends in the Jugger community have come from those I faces across the field in some of the hardest games I have played. So in honour of the sweat , tears, chaos and laughter that come out of Jugger tournaments I bring you the first BBQ review.

Action on the field

Photo: A. Nonny Mouse

For this weeks review I hand you over to Tony and Ed of the Canberra Juggers and their thoughts on our recent tournament here in Brisbane.

The Opposition invade Brisbane (Tony)

In late 2012 the Canberra jugger group gained new life in the form of an influx of new players. We had been struggling a bit in 2012 to maintain a big enough player base to hold a game and it was only a handful of stalwart regulars that kept the group going through those dark, distant days. Most of the new additions were recruited through Edwin and Kat’s substantial social network and only required a moderate amount of pleading, blackmail and veiled threats for the new players to take to the field and be hooked. 

Tony on the field

Photo: Christian Garcia

During the following months the skills and bash-lust of the new players increased fast. Over an after-game beer the Canberra group decided it had enough players to have a go at a tourney game. We contacted Adam and Simon and proposed a reciprocal tournament, where we would invade north early in the first part of the year and then we would host in Canberra for the second tournament later in the year. A bit like State of Origin, only not crap. 

So, the Canberra group formed a team called The Opposition, composed of roughly equal numbers of old hands and recent starters and we managed to raise eight players for the trip. Ed and Tony got special dispensation from the Skullduggery shadow council to extend their services to the new team (which only required a donation of bone marrow for Wendy’s “research” and slight amendments to last wills and testaments).

Anyhow, The Opposition fronted up to a hot and muggy Brisbane afternoon and a great turn-out of Brisbane players. The Canberrans played jugger against three great teams of cool peeps: Double Dees, Mountain Men and Rainbow Connection. The games were awesome, a lot of fun and our players learned a hell of a lot from the Brisbane players. Later in the afternoon, with a storm inbound we played a great final against the Mountain Men, who played a sterling game and won the day.

As a follow up Skullduggery put in an appearance and challenged the other teams. The games were not only great but assisted all Skullduggery players present to complete their contractual obligations, whilst avoiding excommunication.

Then it rained. Not like it does in civilized lands, where drops fall out of clouds, but the Queensland way, where some deranged, pissed-off god instantly pours the equivalent of a major lake onto you and screams “Where’s your One True Dogskull now, assholes ?”

Much thanks to the entire Brisbane group for a great tournament day and to Simon, Adam and company for organising it. Canberra will be hosting the next one later in the year. When asked, the month of October was tentatively thrown around, but it’s up to the Brisvegans when they want. So, we expect to see all the Brisbane teams down here then. We can accommodate, entertain and provide decent, normal weather for y’all. There’ll be a trophy, or some such, and if that doesn't grab you there may be cake.

The Brisbane dog town match (Ed)

Ed, Out of his mind right now...
but he'll be back

Photo:Stephen Dann

Up bright and early with all intention to be bright eyed and bushy tailed, but to no avail I had fallen into a trap the night before where the temptresses of the north had cast a spell on me draining my energies for the next day with jumping castles and high grade vodka, how would I have known it would lead to this in the morning, (wait, no!, I should have known it's the same ploy we did when they came down south) but I still fell for it.

We rocked up to the fields, after a hearty breakfast and team meeting where it was decided that our whole team strategy was to tag them first with an awe inspiring feat of skill courage and luck worthy of the One True Dog skull and then pretend we know what we are doing for the rest of it.

The field in place, the "schiris" marking out the lines and circle, we warmed up with a good crowd coming in, each team brought supporters. Just the number of people who were gearing up to take the field and show their skill and challenge The Opposition was incredible to see, it gave us hope that one day we would see similar back in our dog town of roundabouts.

The games, once underway, disappeared into a haze of adrenaline, fun and community. Each game provided its own challenge and each player on the field had brought their own skill to the game and was vastly different to our inbred skills that we honed by ourselves which gave us untold opportunity to learn different techniques.

As the games progressed onward into the afternoon we found we lacked the stamina and fitness to see this through to the end, so we did what any team does dig deeper into our reserves and maybe find one or two who might relish the chance to fight by our sides as The Opposition. Alas we dug deep and we didn't find the ring-in and The turn coat to help us rest and recuperate. In the last hundred stones, to the man, we fought an uphill battle trying to reclaim some lost stones from where our minds drifted for a second only to have it come down to the last point.
The games were fast and good we had a blast!. The drum while not new to some had never been heard before it was so much easier to play with than some we've had. Line refs and event organiser great massive round of applause to them for a well done day. southlanders who haven't play in teams or a tourney before still haven’t shut up about their experiences up north vying for the One True Dog skull.

The teams that survived Brisbane 2013

Photo: Christian Garcia

Results of Brisbane tournament.

Each team played one game against each of the other three teams for 2 x 100 stones.

The final round was the last 100 stones for the last third, played as if the teams were tied.

Round one : 2 x 100 stones
The Opposition vs Rainbow Connection: The Opposition
Mountain Men vs Double D: Mountain men

Round two : 2 x 100 stones
Double D vs Rainbow Connection: Double D
Mountain Men vs The Opposition: The Opposition

Round three : 2 x 100 stones
Rainbow Connection vs Mountain Men: Mountain Men
The Opposition vs Double D: The Opposition

Final round : 1 x 100 stones
The Opposition vs Mountain Men: Mountain Men


and Skullduggery stole some points, just 'cause.
the fiend