Beyond Regulation 
Written by James Woite

In the first edition of Beyond Regulation for 2014, we discuss “that team” in the men’s and women’s competitions, the Comeback Kings, and the Streak-buster Club of the Month. Also, the Teams of the Month and Power Rankings are back.
 
There’s (at least) one in every league
 
No matter what the sport, no matter what the level, there is almost always “that team” who goes from regular cellar dwellers to someone that no one wants to play. In the men’s competition, the Southern Tigers have emerged as “that team”. For the women, it is the South Adelaide Panthers.
 
The Southern Tiger men have registered the following season-by-season win totals from 2005 to 2013: 5, 8, 6, 7, 7, 4, 2, 6 and 8. The stats speak for themselves.
 
The Panthers women have had the odd good season, making the finals three times in the past nine seasons. Their season-by-season win tallies are: 14, 4, 9, 5, 12, 6, 8, 2, 2.
 
But the history of each club has meant nothing, with both looking like early fancies to still be active on the final day of the CABL season. The Tiger men have started 3-0 – never has this happened in the past decade. Two of their wins have been by double figures. The same goes for the Panthers women. 3-0, with two wins by over 10 points.
 
So what’s so different about these teams this season?
 
We will start with the Tigers, where the answer is... depth and unity. The Tigers’ roster is very similar to the one that went an improved 8-10 last season. Through development from within, they have established themselves as the best Tigers team in some time.
 
It has been a total team effort at the offensive end, with only Todd Davies (12.7 ppg this season, up 5.2 points on career average of 7.5 ppg) and Matthew Williams (7.7 ppg in 2014, up 3.1 points on career average of 4.6 ppg) raising their individual scoring significantly.
 
Young gun Codey Ellison (9 ppg) is actually scoring the fewest points since 2011, while Michael Florance, the heart and soul of the club for the past few seasons, has only scored 6 points in the two games he has featured. Florance has averaged at least 9.2ppg since the start of Season 2008.
 
The fact the Tigers have proven scorers who can take on a bigger role when needed suggests the Tigers’ 3-0 start is not a flash in the pan; rather they are for the long haul to at very least finally achieve a top five spot. 
 
Development from within is one way to build a team. Another is to recruit star players. And that is exactly what the Panthers have done in signing American scoring machine Janae Howard and playmaker/defensive ace Jessica Mahony.
 
Howard has been incredible offensively, with games of 30, 38 and 24 points. This includes a buzzer beater from down town to nip the Warriors in overtime. If Tess Madgen was still in the league, it would be fascinating to see those two competing for the scoring title.
 
As far as the assists title goes, it seems (I know we’re only three rounds in) Jessica Mahony has it in the bag. She was limited to three dimes against West, but posted a total of 25 over the first two games. Mahony is a proven winner, having won titles with Sturt and Forestville, while also leading Centrals to its only two finals appearances in the past 15 years.
 
Despite the offensive prowess of those two players, they alone cannot win games for this team. The Panthers’ supporting cast has done an excellent job of fulfilling their roles, particularly defensively. It must also be noted that Teresa Kinross snuck under Forestville’s guard in Round 1 and went off for 30 points. If too much attention is being paid to Howard and Mahony, then to have a third player who can have a big game on any given night is vital. Obviously, the Panthers have just the player.
 
Things are looking very bright for the Panthers. It is only early days yet, but with the likes of Eastern (Madgen, Alex Wilson), Forestville (Olivia Thompson and Tamika Dukes), Sturt (Hannah Bowley, Molly Lewis) and Centrals (Tamika Dukes) reeling from the loss of key personnel, the path is wide open for a Panther flurry.
 
Who’s had the biggest impact on their return to the league?

In the offseason, the CABL lost a lot of stars looking to take their next step towards their dream of playing at the highest possible level they can. A number have been replaced by players returning to their club after a year or more absence. 
 
Some have taken on fewer minutes to what they had previously. Others have resumed their duties, or even increased their role.
 
One player who has jumped straight back into the thick of things is Norwood’s Todd Matthews. After a year’s absence, the five time Defensive Player of the Year posted the following numbers in Round 1: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, 5 fouls, 1 turnover. Nothing like making a statement that you have not lost a beat. Matthews missed the Round 2 loss to Southern, before posting 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers in Round 3.
 
I guess one could argue that he’s shown the good (Round 1’s excellent stat-line), the bad (Round 3’s stat-line) and the ugly (missing a game, team loses by 2). Regardless of what his individual stat-line might say, his impact on the team is undeniable. The Flames lost by 14 to Sturt at Pasadena last season, this year in Round 1 they lost by two in overtime – so a 12 point turnaround. Meanwhile, their 17 point win over Centrals in Round 3 was a 37 point turnaround from 2013’s 20 point drubbing.
 
In Matthews’ last three seasons with the Flames, his team went to a Grand Final once and made two Preliminary Finals. Last season they finished eighth. Although just 1-2, the Flames have a percentage of 104.98 – that is up from 92.24 in 2013. There is still so many games to come, but with Matthews’ presence, a positive start, and the return of Matthew Lycett (30 points against Centrals in his second game back from injury), the Flames should be feeling much better about their chances of success this season.
 
After a year off  from basketball for Australian Rules Football, Tim Klaosen has returned to Sturt – though it is a much different team to the one he last played for. Back in 2012, Klaosen was the third offensive option on a Tom Daly/Darren Ng led team that came within a whisker of a flag. He returns this season to a side that just missed the finals in 2013, and one without its three emerging stars (Sam Daly, Matthew Dougherty, John Marriott).
 
So now, Klaosen is really the Sabres’ number one option - and so far he has shown he is equal to the task. His first game was in Round 2 against the Mavericks, where he posted 17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 0 turnovers. With the Sabres out to a huge lead against North, Klaosen had some extra time on the pine in Round 3, but still racked up 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 turnover.
 
Klaosen’s 2012 campaign was a career year for him, doubling his assists and scoring from 2011. At this point, he looks set to improve his numbers again. The Sabres would sure love him to do so. At 3-0, Klaosen and the Sabres are in a great position to put the misery of 2013 behind them and threaten for another title.
 
I didn’t see this coming (Part 1)

I am not psychic. And this month, the club that has proven this above all else, is South Adelaide.
Take, for instance, my preview of the West Adelaide v South Adelaide Men game.
“Having won just two of their past 30 games, the Panthers have a mountain to climb in their attempt to overhaul a Bearcat team that has won 19 of its past 22 matches.”
“The margin, rather than the result, looks like the biggest question here.”
Sounds like the game’s already won, doesn’t it? Well, it wasn’t!
Based on my own writing, it is fair to say the margin in question is minus-one. Oh, and if the Panthers did climb a mountain, I was not expecting them to do so. Congratulations to the Panther men.
 
And although this was not so evident in my preview, I really did not think the Panther women would beat Forestville at Wayville. Forestville had not lost to South since March 24, 2007. 13 straight wins, 12 of which by 10 or more. An average margin of 22.5 points. History definitely said Forestville, and I was inclined to follow history.
 
But the South women won! By 20 points! And so without hesitation, South Adelaide is my Streak-buster Club of the Month.
 
Women Team of the Month                           
Janae Howard (South)                                    
Jessica Mahony (South)                                   
Jess Fergus (Forestville)                                   
Amy Lewis (Norwood)                                    
Jo Hill (North)                                                 
 
Women Power Rankings
1. Norwood (1^st)                     
2. South (3^rd)
3. North (2^nd)
4. Forestville (4^th)
5. Woodville (8^th)
6. West (6^th)
7. Sturt (7^th)
8. Southern (5^th)
9. Eastern (9^th)
10. Centrals (10^th)

Men Team of the Month                               
Kyle Miller (Centrals)                                       
Alexander Starling (Woodville)                         
Trent Fildes (Forestville)                                 
Samuel McDaniel (Southern)                           
Bradley Reid (South)                                       

Men Power Rankings
1. Southern (1^st)
2. Sturt (2^nd)
3. Forestville (5^th)
4. West (3^rd)
5. Woodville (4^th) 
6. Norwood (6^th) 
7. Centrals (7^th)
8. South (8^th) 
9. North (10^th)
10.Eastern (9^th)