Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders (2018)

Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders (2018) is the third season of the Network Ten incarnation of the competitive reality TV show Australian Survivor.https://twitter.com/channelten/status/928537037543636993
After 50 days, Shane Gould defeated Sharn Coombes in a jury vote of 5-4 to become the Sole Survivor. To date, Champions v Contenders (2018) has produced nine returning players (Jackie Glazier, Lydia Lassila, Mat Rogers, Moana Hope, Shane Gould, Sharn Coombes, Shonee Fairfax, Steve Khouw, Zach Kozyrski) for future seasons.
==Production==
==Twists/Changes==
* Champions v Contenders: The contestants are divided into two tribes based on their occupations and degree of success in life:
** The ​ tribe is made up of public figures from fields such as (but not limited to) sports and entertainment.
** The tribe is made up of everyday Australian contestants.
* Imported Castaway: Former American contestant Russell Hantz competes as a member of the Champions tribe.
* Shorter Game: This season lasted for 50 days, five days less than the previous two seasons.
* Meager Supplies: Tribes were not given any sort of food rations nor a source of water at their campsites and were only provided with a pot and machete.
* Hidden Immunity Idol: A Hidden Immunity Idol is hidden at each tribe's campsite. Also, for the first time, idols are hidden at Tribal Council.
*Exile Beach: Similar to the American version's , Exile Beach is introduced on Day 18 where the castaway voted out at the Tribal Council and the following one on Day 20 will have to compete to re-enter the game.
*Tribe Switch: On Day 25, a tribe switch occurred.
*Save or Send: On Day 28, the winning tribe would eavesdrop at the losing tribe's Tribal Council, where they would get a chance to vote either send home or save the castaway voted out at that Tribal Council. If the winning tribe chose to save them, they would join that tribe instead.
*Vote Steal: At the auction, a vote steal was put into play. This allows a castaway to steal another castaway's vote before the votes are cast. Should a tie occur, the advantage user is able to steal their victim's vote at a revote, but only if the victim is not involved in the tie vote.
*Moral Dilemma: On Day 33, the Koro Savu tribe had to send one member to make a decision between getting a large bag of vegetables or a smaller bag of vegetables which came with an advantage at the next Immunity Challenge for that member. Another dilemma occurred on Day 47, where the two castaways that checked Tree Mail would get to decide whether to both steal a meal or both split it with the remainder of the tribe. If one person chooses split and the other chooses steal, the stealer will take the entire meal for themselves.
*Dead Man Walking: At the Tribal Council on Day 40, rather than voting someone out, the person who received the most votes would become a Dead Man Walking. This person cannot vote for the next two Tribal Councils, but remains eligible to win Immunity Challenges, use Hidden Immunity Idols, and be voted out. In addition, they will reside at Exile Beach until the final five.
==Castaways==
Contestant	Contestant 	Tribe Affiliation	Tribe Affiliation	Tribe Affiliation	Finish	VotesAgainst
Contestant	Contestant 	Original Tribe 	Switched Tribe 	Merged Tribe 	Finish	VotesAgainst
 	Matt Dyson35, Brisbane, QLDTraffic Police Officer 	 	 	 	 	7
 	Russell Hantz45, Houston, TX, USA, & 	 	 	 	 	13
 	Damien Thomlinson36, Sydney, NSWFormer Special Forces Commando	 	 	 	 	10
 	Steve Khouw58, Sydney, NSWTakeaway Delivery Driver 	 	 	 	 	11
 	Jenna Austin28, Perth, WAFIFO Worker 	 	 	 	 	9
 	Moana Hope30, Melbourne, VICAFLW Player 	 	 	 	 	7
 	Anita Berkett50, Sunshine Coast, QLDSales Representative 	 	 	 	 	2
 	Zach Kozyrski39, Perth, WAPersonal Trainer 	 	 	 	 	8
 	Paige Kerin24, Adelaide, SAMarketing Coordinator 	 	 	 	 	11
 	Jackie Glazier44, Melbourne, VICPro Poker Player 	 	 	 	 	11
 	Tegan Gasior32, Derby, WAManagement Consultant 	 	 	 	 	12
 	Heath Davies33, Brisbane, QLDBuilder 	 	 	 	 	12
 	Lydia Lassila36, Melbourne, VICOlympic Freestyle Skier 	 	 	rowspan="12" 	 	9
 	Robbie Skibicki26, Adelaide, SAConstruction Manager 	 	 	 	11 	
 	Samuel Hinton26, Brisbane, QLDAstrophysicist 	 	 	 	8 	
 	Mat Rogers42, Gold Coast, QLDDual Code Rugby Legend 	 	 	 	6 	
 	Benji Wilson26, Melbourne, VICEntrepreneur 	 	 	 	13 	
 	Steve Willis41, Sydney, NSWFitness Specialist 	 	 	 	5 	
 	Fenella McGowan33, Melbourne, VICInterior Designer 	 	 	 	8 	
 	Monika Radulovic27, Sydney, NSWMiss Universe Australia 2015 	 	 	 	3 	
 	Shonee Fairfax26, Tewantin, QLDPro Skater's Wife 	 	 	 	6 	
 	Brian Lake36, Caroline Springs, VICFormer AFL Player 	 	 	 	9 	
 	Sharn Coombes41, Melbourne, VICCriminal Barrister 	 	 	Runner-Up 	11 	
 	Shane Gould61, Bicheno, TASOlympic Swimming Legend 	 	 	Sole Survivor 	10 	
==Season Summary==
This season began with two tribes of twelve: and . The physically stronger Champions dominated most challenges despite losing three Immunity Challenges before the tribe switch. In those three losses, the tribe quickly dispatched of veteran Russell Hantz with an idol in his possession, and the former athletes plus Sharn and Sam formed a core majority alliance. The Contenders, despite voting out loose cannons Matt and Steve initially, featured various sub alliances such as the younger men, some of the women, and three of the parents in Tegan, Heath, and Jenna. Jenna's injury forced the tribe to vote her out, and the parents alliance suffered and were targeted shortly after. However, with Heath's idol and Tegan returning via a twist, the pair survived the swap. The Champions majority continued their dominance post swap as either Contenders or minority members of the Champions would be picked off.
The tribes merged at 12 with the Contenders in a vast 4-8 minority. Furthermore, Benji and Robbie jumped ship during the swap, leaving Fenella and Shonee as easy targets. Despite that, the Champions immediately turned on their own by blindsiding Lydia for being too big of a physical threat. Two of her allies Robbie and Sam soon followed, before Benji managed to orchestrate the blindside of Mat by both turning Brian and Monika against him and by convincing Sharn to not play her idol on Mat at Tribal Council. Benji's scheming and lying would eventually catch up with him, however, as Brian and Monika turned on him immediately afterwards and sent him to the jury despite Shonee playing her Vote Steal.
At the final seven, two firm voting blocs were in place: the remnants of the old Champions alliance (Shane, Sharn and Steve W.) vs the two pairs of Brian & Monika and Shonee & Fenella. Brian's alliance initially had the upper hand by voting out Steve W., but poor strategic play on Brian's part combined with Sharn finding a second idol saw Fenella eliminated next. Angered by this, Shonee flipped to the old Champions alliance and blindsided Monika in retaliation. After Brian won immunity at final four, the three women were forced to turn on each other, and Shonee found herself voted out after trying to orchestrate a failed 2-1-1 to avoid a firemaking challenge. This left an all-Champions final three of Brian, Shane and Sharn, with the latter winning the Final Immunity Challenge. Despite Brian's arguments to have 'one last showdown', Sharn ultimately took her ally Shane with her to the final two.
At Final Tribal Council, Sharn argued that she played a loyal and honest game, and survived despite being a big target towards the end of the game. Shane explained her under-the-radar strategy and the use of her social connections to her advantage. Sharn's argument, however, was derailed when Brian brought up her role in the Mat blindside as a sign of disloyalty. Shane was also able to demonstrate that she made genuine connections with the Contender women. Ultimately, Shane was able to defend her strategy more effectively and won the title of Sole Survivor in a close 5-4 vote.
==Voting History==
==Reception==
==Trivia==
==References==
AU05
Category:Australian Survivor
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