2023 has been a sparse year when it comes to Injustice League previews and write-ups, with life getting in the way and the league left to fend for itself via Facebook Messenger and shudder real life to figure out what's going on. But where I have failed for most of the year, on the eve of the biggest game of the year, I am here to redeem myself at last, with a Grand Final Preview. But before we move on to the main event, a quick recap of the seasons of the two preliminary finalists.
JingleAllTheMcStay (Gav)
So it seems lightning doesn't strike twice. Gavin is currently the only previous winner of an 18 man Injustice League season - a statistic that will only remain correct for one more week, after he scored the second highest score of the round but still went down to Kaan. He can take solace in knowing he went down fighting - but of course you get no points for fighting and his season is still just as over as almost everyone else's. Fortunately we already somehow have footage of Gavin watching the IJL Grand Final this coming weekend. Also, with Gavin still asking where the Grand Final preview is for his 2021 win, he’ll be glad to see one going up for this week instead. You’re welcome, Gav.
Weddledthebed (Mark)
Mark, Mark, Mark. The closest thing the league has ever seen to pure self-destruction. Halfway through the season Kaan and Mark seemed locked in for a date in the Grand Final, with both of their teams easily outperforming everyone else. And then around the time that Kaan started dropping off, Mark decided to get 'inventive' with a team that was already dominating. And to his credit, he still finished first in both ladder position and total score. But he also lost his prelim final by 33 points after trading out Treloar for De Goey. Treloar scored 120 this weekend, and De Goey scored 0.
So, you know, there's that. Still, we look forward to seeing what trades he can use to unravel his own team next season!
The Injustice League Grand Final (2nd) The Adams Family (Kaan) Vs (7th) Tsatasfaction (Brenton) H2H History: Kaan 1, Brenton 0 (22 points).
LAAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN. ARREEE YOU RRRRREADY TO RRRRRUUUUMBLLLLEEE?
In one corner, we have the newcomer. The brash rogue who won Dirt League in his first year and has now made the Injustice League Grand Final the very next year. Kaan absolutely dominated in the first half of the season, achieving the longest winning streak in IJL history before seemingly changing tact and deciding to see what losing felt like for a while. Still, he has returned to form when it has counted, top scoring last weekend to race into the Grand Final. There’s never been a more dominant first year performance by a former Dirt Leaguer, and all he needs to truly make history is to get through his opponent….
Brenton!
So tune in this week, for what’s sure to be quite a match!
No, I jest, Brenton deserves his own intro. Especially since if he wins next week he’ll become the most successful Injustice League player in the overall rankings (taking full advantage of the newly revamped scoring system, which is more than some of us can claim…….). Brenton may have only snuck into the top 8 literally by winning the final home and away game, and he may have been ranked only 7th for overall score before finals, but Brenton has shown he can hold his own in the finals and has certainly been on the rise. If he is to win, however, and defend the honour of the IJL Old Guard against this rising new Dirt League scourge, he’ll have to make history to do so by winning from 7th (beating the current record for the lowest ever winning position - Gabe from 6th).
And speaking of stats, I have asked for some stats for this match from our entirely unbiased Master of Records, Brenton, to truly hammer home what we’re looking at with this match and what records are looking to be continued or smashed with either result, so here we go.