End of Season Review: Golden Boot

Safe to say the GB comp this year was very open with numerous participants leading the line at various stages. Towards the end 3 players emerged from the pack with Chris V and Neil E both finishing in joint 1st place with a superb score of 98 goals from a possible 2023, giving them a strike rate of 48.3%

Just behind them in 3rd place with 97 goals is Nick G, another incredible performance to follow on from last year's 2nd place finish (99 goals). Special mentions also go to Mark T (94 pts), Peter K (93) and David A (92) for their respective top 6 finishes.

Looking at the bottom, this year's wooden spoon goes to Mark H with a sorry 35 points. On the plus side, the only way us up from here!

Official Results
Joint Winners: Chris Vlachos and Neil Edwards (98 points each). Prize Money: $45 each
3rd Place: Nick Gargula. Prize Money: $35
4th Place: Mark Tippins. Prize Money: $30

End of Season Review: Alfalfa A-League

Klopp of the Pops were well and truly the dominate force in the A-League this season, taking out both the Championship (by an unprecedented 13 points) and the Premiership with a 5-3 Grand Final success over Middleton Academicals. Coupled with a 3rd place finish in the Golden Boot competition, they can consider themselves the top dogs! All hail King Klopp!

The aforementioned Academicals picked up two runner-up medals (League and Grand Final) but despite the disappointment of the final, it has to be considered a successful season for the 4-time champs, in fact it was their best season since their 2016 title win.

Speaking of successful seasons, The Yahoos have to be happy with their 3rd place finish in the league, following on nicely from their B-League title last season. They'll be looking to kick on next year and challenge for the top honours. Rounding out the top six were White Line Fever, Pistol Knights FC and InThain FC. All 3 sides can consider themselves solidified and stable A-League Clubs.

Just missing out on the finals were Max Power, and NFI United. Last years Champs Power had another good year in front of goal but it was at the other end of the pitch were their form dipped. However they made up for this with success in the Cup. On the flipside, NFI were along way from their best all campaign, however showed grit and determination to get the results when it mattered to secure, in the end, a comfortable mid-table finish. Just below them in 9th and 10th were Sparky United and Invincible Eleven. Both clubs will be happy to to have retained their A-League status and use it a springboard for greater things next season.

And what about the relegation drama on the final day? Holy smokes! In what is most likely to be an Alfalfa first, PetrolHead Town retained their bragging right status as the only club to have played in every single Alfalfa A-League season by the smallest of margins. With Town, Tartan Soup Thistle and Power Rangers all finishing on 28 points, Rangers were the first to fall with a minus 10 goal difference, and then with both Town and Thistle on a goal difference of minus 7, it came down to Goals Scored as the reason that Town stayed up and Thistle went down. Agony for one and ecstasy for the other. This meant that Thistle and Rangers joined the disappointing Norfolk Inchance in being relegated to the B-League.

Official Results
Champions: Klopp of the Pops (Nick G). Prize Money: $50
Premiers: Klopp of the Pops (Nick G). Prize Money: $40
Grand Final Runners-up: Middleton Academicals (David A). Prize Money: $35
Losing Semi-Finalists: Pistol Knights (Chris V) & InThain FC (Kris O). Prize Money: $30 each
Relegated to 2024-25 B-League: Tartan Soup Thistle, Power Rangers, Norfolk Inchance

End of Season Review: Alfalfa B-League

The B-League never fails to deliver the drama with stories from top to bottom. Beercelona Citeh was the main story, blasting their way to the B-League title with a league high 73 goals which saw them pick up 13 wins, 9 draws and just 4 losses. This sees Citeh return to the topflight for the first time in 5 years.
Speaking of A-League returns, FC Reality are also back in the big time after securing a 2nd place finish on the final day. They finished on 45 points, just one point clear of chasing pack to end their 3-year exile from the A-League. The best kind of Reality check!

Meniscus Kickers, Father-in-Law FC, Molineux Mixers and Melchester Rovers were the 4 sides who finished in the promotion playoff places. And in what was a huge shock, it was 6th placed Rovers who swept the more fancied Kickers in the Semis and FIL in the final to claim the 3rd and final promotion place. The Final was incredible as both teams were locked at 5-5 at the end of the regulation 90 minutes, meaning that extra time was required. In the end, Rovers got up 7-6! What is more incredible is that they finished 9 points behind Kickers and FIL at the end of the regular season. Just shows it isn't over until it's over!

Just to show how competitive the B-League was this year, 3 sides missed out on playoff action on goal difference. Citydale United, Winterfell FC and Edwardstown Thistle will be rueing any missed opportunities but need to channel that frustration into stronger performances next year. Same goes for 10th placed SWeeP and 11th placed Beaza Boys were just just one and two points off the playoffs respectively.

Down at the bottom, Real Mince and Burra Boys were cu adrift early on and never recovered. While the biggest shock came with the relegation of West Boinging Albion. The Baggies had suffered promotion playoff heartache in the each of the last 3 seasons and clearly it has finally taken it's toll. Such a shame! Here's hoping the club can bounce back next season and return at the first time of asking.

Official Results
Champions: Beercelona Citeh (Neil E). Prize Money: $70
Runners-up: FC Reality (Sergiy S). Prize Money: $50
Promotion Playoff Winner: Melchester Rovers (Dave M). Prize Money: $35
Promotion Playoff Runner-up: Father-in-Law FC (Lynn D). Prize Money: $30
Promoted to 2024-25 A-League: Beercelona Citeh, FC Reality, Melchester Rovers
Relegated to 2024-25 B-League: West Boinging Albion, Burra Boys, Real Mince

End of Season Review: Alfalfa C-League

The C-League is always a league of the unknowns, particularly this season with so many new faces. There were many sides flexing their muscles through various points of the campaign, however it was Tobs FC and Canucks United who shone through at the end of the 26 rounds, both finishing on 48 points to claim automatic promotion to the B-League. The former also claiming the Championships with a +18 goal difference over Canucks who finished with +14. Congratulations to both sides!

Just missing out on automatic promotion was Koan United FC. However, they didn't let that disappointment hold them back in the promotion playoffs, producing near flawless performances both in the semi finals against FC Metal and in the final against Baterbombs FC. Couple with a Cup final appearance, the future looks very bright for Koan.

Special mention to the aforementioned Baterbombs, Metal and also Connor's Quay who all reached the playoffs this campaign. While it didn't end in promotion, the building blocks are well and truly in place for future success.
Looking at the mid-table finishers, a pass mark can be given to new clubs Konnerloby FC, Fraser's Gentlemen, Harry's Legends and the return Short Skirts FC. If they can use this year as a learning curve, the future could be bright for all these clubs.

One side who will be soul searching are Hat Bitt United. Their debut season showed tremendous promise and they were very unfortunate not to achieve promotion. However, their second campaign fell very flat and saw them finish way down in 10th place. Here's hoping they can rekindle their spark and contend once again next season.

New sides Mortadella FC and Relentless FC had debut seasons to forget. In particular Relentless who really fell away in the 2nd half of the season. As for Mortadella, it was the opposite for them as they took a very long time to get going, however they did find their feet in the 2nd half of the campaign and also had a decent cup run, so if they stick at it they could produce the goods in years's to come.

This year's Wooden Spooners are Hockeroos who managed just 3 wins in 26 games. It is clear that a whole club review is required if this once proud club are to return to the kind of form their fans, and themselves, would expect.

Official Results
Champions: Tobs FC (Toby A). Prize Money: $70
Runners-up: Canucks United (Steve Mir). Prize Money: $50
Promotion Playoff Winner: Koan United FC (Steve Mer). Prize Money: $35
Promotion Playoff Runner-up: Baterbombs FC (Jack B). Prize Money: $30
Promoted to 2024-25 B-League: Tobs FC, Canucks United, Koan United FC
Wooden Spoon: Hockeroos

End of Season Review: Alfalfa Cup

Max Power and Koan United FC played a very memorable Cup Final with plenty of goals and drama for both sets of fans and neutrals. After 90 minutes the teams could not be separated as they shared 4 goals amongst themselves. An additional one goal each in extra time saw the game end 3-3 and thus penalties were required to determine a winner. Power used their experience when it mattered to win the shootout 4 goals to 2 and claim the trophy! It was a fine end to the season for outgoing A-League champs Power who just missed out on A-League Finals action this season. As for Koan, they announced their arrival in a big way in their debut season and no doubt they'll be back bigger and better next season.

Special mentions to InThain FC and Power Rangers who both reached the Semi Finals and Quarter Finalists Father-in-Law FC, FC Reality, Mortadella FC and Hat Bitt United.

Official Results
Winner: Max Power. Prize Money: $50
Runner-up: Koan United FC. Prize Money: $30