Story The Manager's Diary: The Journey of Adelaide Lions. Draft & Schedule.

[Prithvi]

The Manager's Dairy: The Journey of Adelaide Lions in APL
​

I came across the start of APL season 13 in the Herald Sun, and I was hoping that some or the other team would appoint me as their manager. I managed Hobart Heroes in the very first season of APL, then I got a better offer from Southern Vanishers, a team from Southern Melbourne. Due to lack of proper fanbase at Southern Melbourne, the team was shifted to Geelong, what played the Trans Tasman Premier League, what couldn't see an end due to serial bomb blasts in all the venues of TTPL.

Then started my journey with Adelaide. I got my career best offer from Adelaide Razorbacks, who contracted me for a big amount (amount undisclosed), and they had good expectations on me. With we ending that season with 5 wins in our pocket, I was pretty confident about the next season. Player transfers, and Releasing players was about to start, when I had to fly to India due to my marriage. I was forced to stay back at India for eight weeks, what kept me away from fifth season of APL. My request for one season off was granted by the board managers, what let me in for the sixth season of the APL.

Sixth Season was the best season of mine. We finished sixth in the league table, what let us into the further rounds. We won against Mighty Melbourne at their home, to enter the preliminary finals. We trashed Crains out of the tournament at their home ground, what let us host the final. But unfortunately, the Away Team win streak continued as Melbourne won against us at our very own home.

With me being gifted with twins, I decided to play back to India, spend some time with family, I requested directors about my short time retirement, for what they agreed. Brendon Hedger was appointed as the manager of Adelaide, and I left. He continued till season 12, and the team stood second once again in ninth season under Hedger.

I got a mail from Adelaide Lions asking if I would return. I decided to go down under and manage APL team once again. The contract was for two seasons, and I said I was ready to manage. I went down under, signed the contract with Adelaide. The teams were emptied, as the APL will have a fresh draft to start on with.

Current Squad

###|Nat|Player Name|Role
19||Rahul Dravid|
||Jason Floros|
29||Daniel Harris|
||Steve Paulson|
99||Owais Shah|
31||David Warner|
57||Brad Haddin|
||Dinesh Chandimal|
47||Dwayne Bravo|
3||Jacques Kallis|
||Azhar Mahmood|
||Nick Buchanan|
37||Shane Harwood|
||Ian Moran|
||Nathan Rimmington|
8||Dale Steyn|
71||Brad Hogg|
||Michael Beer|

 

[6ry4nj]

Someone please fix the thread title (ie. 'dairy' -> 'diary'), or move this thread to the exciting 'Agribusiness Stories' section!

Good writing otherwise btw!

 

[Prithvi]

Someone please fix the thread title (ie. 'dairy' -> 'diary'), or move this thread to the exciting 'Agribusiness Stories' section!

Good writing otherwise btw!

"Darling, I always remember you" spelling noted. Thankyou.

 

[Prithvi]

Draft- Phase 1​

The first phase of draft was scheduled on the second day I arrived at Australia. I went in the Adelaide Oval, checked out the newly constructed stands, what I could just see when they were yet to receive a final touch. Adelaide Lions directors were surprisingly found at the very same place, with the instructions to the contractor on how to decorate the ground on account of our home matches. The ticket costs were increased and we the team crew were given three passes for our personal uses. Directors asked me to take a call on coach, for what, I asked them to wait until the first phase of draft was done. This was to ensure that we could take someone as coach, when we have around 80% of playing XI confirmed, what can assure that we need to go for a coach with particular strengths.

These stands were covered with blue polythene when I last visited this ground.​

The drafts was a pretty simple thing, all the managers/owners/coaches would be invited to a hotel, everyone would be given a table, and each team would be given a number on random. The one getting least number would start the round, and the round ends with the one getting highest number- probably the best way to hold the drafts, what I felt. Everyone would be provided with the list of players on the special software designed for the draft, and whenever the player is picked, the list gets updated on all laptop screens present out there, what made the stuff easier to manage. I had few names in my mind, like Watson, but at the end of the day, it all came down to luck.

So, with a tactical mind, I returned to a room, just beside Adelaide Oval, what I hired. I called it a day after having three shots of tequila shots, what kept me away from tension.

 

[Prithvi]

Unlucky, yet somehow happy.​

I woke up the next day morning to a phone call by Mr. James Robinson, the activity manager of Adelaide Lions. He asked me to get ready by 9 AM sharp, a car would be sent to me at 9:15 AM. I was ready by 9:10, using the two thirds of buffer time left by Robbie -yeah that is how we call him. The owners of Adelaide Lions were in the car, and we greeted each other with casual good mornings. By that time, Robbie was at the airport, waiting for us.

It was 10:00 by the time we reached the airport and the flight was at 10:20. We checked in, waited for few moments when the flight arrived. We walked into it and took our seats. Just next to me was someone from India. I hoped that they would recognize me, I appeared few times on TV in IPL, but they didn't. It was a journey within one and half hour, and by the time we reached Melbourne, it was raining out there. There was a car sent by APL, the driver was waiting with a placard.

And by the time we were present ourselves at Grand Hyatt, almost all managers were present. We came second last, with my old friend, Hedger, who arrived last. A little girl randomly picked up a slip, placed it on our desk. I took it out, it was 11. Mr. Davidson explained everything in short, first round would be ordered in ascending order, second round in descending order. For the first two rounds, we needed to pick up local AUS players and in the third round, we we will be given the numbers again.

Without any delay, Brendon Hedger, the one who came at the end, announced that he was signing in Watson. I was in absolute shock. The only paper left out was the paper given to Hedger, and it contained the BOMB. And after players were taken by others, we finally got our chance. We had to pick the best player among them, we had no doubt to pick up DAVID WARNER, the best available choice. We were stuck between Haddin and Warner, but we went with Warner, because the name "Haddin" was listed at midst of all local keepers and no manager might observe it, added to that, we were picking early in the next round.

Yes, this guy was going to play for Adelaide Lions.​

The draft went on, we managed to pick Haddin in the second round. At the end of the day, we had these names on the team sheet:
David Warner, Brad Haddin, Callum Ferguson, Daniel Harris, Dwayne Bravo, James Franklin, Jacques Kallis, Azhar Mahmood, Trent Boult, Stuart Broad, Ian Moran, Nathan Rimmington, Michael Beer, Brad Hogg.

We were escorted to the rooms in the very same Grand Hyatt, reminding us the plan for the next day, few more players would be added.

 

[hedger_14]

he was singing in Watson

Hmmmmm

Anyway, nice update

 

[Prithvi]

Hmmmmm

Anyway, nice update

Hehehe. Correct though.

 

[Prithvi]

Done, but ain't Dusted!​

After decent sleep over, I had a superb breakfast. Yes it was something what reminded me of my home, as soon as I woke up, I was served with a strong coffee, then the breakfast was Idly Sambhar and Vada Sambhar. It was so amazing, I felt like I was at home. Then, after fresh up, I met Robbie, who escorted me to the hotel. Directors left Melbourne, leaving me and Robbie at Melbourne.

Melbourne Mayhem manager Mr. McDaniel was sitting right beside me. After we bagged in few locals and internationals, the trading was set open. And no soon that was done, McDaniel came to me, asked for few trades. He offered me Dale Steyn for Stuart Broad, Shane Harwood for Callum Ferguson and Dinesh Chandimal for James Franklin. Well, I was actually impressed with the deal, what made me move ahead with the deal.

After ending the day of drafts with handful of players, I just thought about team strategy. We needed an extra batsman. Local bowlers are very weak, so I knew no one was going to give decent batsman for a fairly inexperienced chap. I decided to give away Trent Boult for Rahul Dravid, so that we could have some reliable batsman in the XI.

We ended up with Rahul Dravid, Jason Floros, Daniel Harris, Steve Paulsen, Owais Shah, David Warner, Dinesh Chandimal, Brad Haddin, Dwayne Bravo, Jacques Kallis, Azhar Mahmood, Nick Buchanan, Shane Harwood, Ian Moran, Nathan Rimmington, Dale Steyn, Michael Beer, Brad Hogg. Without any delay, I named Brad Haddin as the captain of our team.

While we were leaving, we were handed over the schedule, with the home and away matches of us highlighted with green and pink respectively. We had to start our season with the first warm up at Gabba, against the Bandits, then host the second and final warm up against Sunshine Coast.

League Matches:
Match 1 at home against Sunshine Coast Kings
Match 2 at MCG against Melbourne Mayhem
Match 3 at Makuna Oval against Canberra
Match 4 at Darwin against the Dukes
Match 5 at Metricon against Gold Coast Crusaders
Match 6 at home against Bandits
Match 7 at home against Cairns
Match 8 at home against Geelong Eagles
Match 9 at New Castle against Knights
Match 10 at Perth against Perth Heat
Match 11 at home against Sydney
Match 12 at home against Sharks
Match 13 at home against Hobart Heroes

7 home games, 6 away games, lucky enough to have an extra home game, board directors will have some profit and we will have some strong home support.