Drunk on a ladder - Round 1

And we're off.
35 Drunks took up their spots to commence the tussle for the world's most sought-after sporting trophy. The PunchDrunk Chalice. The Cup of Dreams. Ye Aulde Mugge.

This year we've got 2, count them two, brand new Drunk challengers... the already slightly introduced Andy "Logger" Lloyd, and also the as yet un-introduced, but statuesque Garth Oriander. Welcome chaps, but don't expect to get things your own way. There is a long list of Drunks who have been trying for decades to get their name scratched into the cup's mottled silver-plate surface, not to mention a shorter list who have been there before, but want more.

A quick scan of the talent following an opening round of close encounters shows, the possibly very aptly named, Leah Champion sitting out in front with a 7, just a nasal hair to the good of that Danish bloke who's very rapidly trading his love of the round ball for a deserved fascination with our beautifully out of whack elliptical kangaroo-skin.

Last year's champion, Franco, is sitting second last and the new boys 11th and 12th. If you click on the table above it'll get real big so you can actually read it.

DreamTeam

The supplementary, but incredibly, massively important League of Drunks DreamTeam league is for the first time full to the gills with domestic teams. No strangers, no highly paid celeb coaches who end up walking off with the prize, like that handsome mate of yours who keeps pinching your best girlfriends.
All are Drunks, with the exception of two Drunk invitees, Ben and Mark, who sit beside me every week while I rant and spit chips at the yellow maggots from my leather upholstered seat in The Members.
Early days yet, Kurtz' NSW's have taken an opportunistic lead, but the perennial great form of Jim Richo's boys from Cheesetown looks to be holding up, with Mark just pipping his score.

Welcome fellow Drunks to another season of pure Drunkness.

As I've said elsewhere, this years Drunk looks like being a tad leaner and meaner than previous years.
For one thing, my input will be reduced a little under a new father/son rule. This is a good thing for all of us. I've been assured of editorial comment from other Drunks, which I'm really looking forward to.
There'll be no Celebrity Head this year, in its place I've settled on a masthead featuring what has to be the best footy shot ever. Smokin' Robbie McGee. The classic shot by Renie Ellis, used totally without permission, but at least with this acknowledgment.

Stripped back a little also in terms of number of Drunks this year.
33 Drunks have come through the turnstiles this year, down, I think, from 39 last year.
One new chap this year, welcome Andy 'Logger' Lloyd, who's already provided safe haven for a few slow Drunks who failed to make the cut in the League of Drunks DreamTeam league, in his league.

The first game is down, we have about 180-odd to go. If we take them one game at a time we'll be here all year, and that's good enough for me.