It was Grilled International's turn at the league-winning schtick, as they conquered V.231, even if they did not ultimately promote. As for the Farmer Bunnies, it was so nearly a repeat, and they held on to their title hopes to the very last day. Things weren't as rosy for Grilled Birds as they ended in fifth, but it could be considered that they were within reaching distance of second, after littlehorse galloped away with it.

If the Birds had to have a theme for the past season, it would have to be consolidation, as they set about establishing themselves as belonging in the second division. There would be an indifferent start as their early impetuousness was blunted by Mia San Toa Payoh and littlehorse, and it got worse with four straight defeats to begin the second half of the campaign. Noubaryan steadied the ship somehow, and Grilled would earn themselves another go in II.2 by hammering Batok Earthquakes in the qualifier.

At least part of the Birds' failures might be laid at the feet of generally below-average form, with key players unable to hit the heights that they had previously shown themselves capable of. Moey Xin Seng perhaps best represented this trend, as he found himself benched despite his immense influence, before getting injured to boot. Ho Dong Ze's near S$10 million sale did at least replenish the Grilled treasury, and Noubaryan must have more than a few ideas on how to reinforce this squad.

The Buns in contrast did very little wrong in coming within a point of the II.3 title and within a goal of the Sapphire Challenger Cup semis, and if there was a lesson to be learnt, it was - don't draw. Farmer Bunnies would lose just the once in the league, to eventual champions Oneteamtoplay, but had they converted any of their five ties to a win, it might have been them bursting into the S-League instead.

Some of this should be laid at the feet of their forwards, none of whom have exactly inspired great confidence, but it is also hard to see anyone less than a bona-fide international superstar having a near-guaranteed impact. Defensively, the Buns were next to unimpeachable, as might be expected for a club supplying half of the national team's defence.

Grilled International went on developing steadily, and their successful title challenge was probably most notable for how uneventful it was in retrospect. Individually, none of the International players had a true breakthrough season, though their collective potential was put on show in the memorable 3-1 win over Black Trapper.