2019 Team Reveal – Chillo

Written by Chillo on March 12 2019

Short back story: before the weekend just passed, I fully intended to run with a traditional “guns and rookies” team this year. The only players I had priced in the $200K-$500K bracket were Sam Walsh and Zac Williams. But….after watching JLT2 very closely, it hit me just how dry the rookie well is this year, particularly in the forward line. So I tore the whole thing down and started from scratch.

DEFENDERS

Simpson is the type of safe, boring pick I usually avoid and then regret not making. Hurn was a sound performer for me last year and should benefit from the kick-in rule, and Williams is an obvious choice that I see as a potential top 10 defender at season’s end. Brodie Smith has burnt me before, but after seeing the way his teammates are looking to get him the ball up close last Friday night, he’s finally made his way into my team too. I think the rookies I’ve selected are all in line for a game in round 1, although a couple are looking a little shakier than they were a week ago!

MIDFIELD

I originally had Macrae, but the rookie drought unfortunately meant I had to find cash somewhere, and I think I can target him as an upgrade option. Cripps and Neale didn’t require much thinking, and I expect big seasons from Coniglio and Matty Crouch. I’ve gone with only four premo mids because I trust the midfield rookies more than the other lines, and I’m following Father Dougal’s mantra of letting the cows determine structure. Not totally convinced on James Cousins, and he’ll be the one to go if I need to splash some cash elsewhere at the last minute.

RUCK

No mucking about here, I’ve gone for the two Big Kahunas. Grundy allayed any injury fears I might have had, and he’s a lock. Based on his preseason, Preuss is going to struggle to crack best 22 at the Dees, so I have no qualms at this stage in picking SuperMax. I’ve gone for Bines as the R3 loophole option, as he has the R/F flexibility I’ll need if I decide to grab some ruck cover later on.

FORWARDS

Can’t remember why I picked Dangerfield….
Heeney has finally had an uninterrupted preseason and should hit the ground running this year. Mundy and Boak are proven performers that I predict will spend more time in the midfield this year, and they help my bye structure as an added bonus. Rookies are problematic on this line, hence the four premiums, but Setterfield and Drew should score well enough.

BYES AND OTHER STUFF

I count 13 “keepers” in my team (including Williams), with the bye split at 2-6-5. Not ideal, and Hurn or Neale may be swapped for a round 14 bye player if I end up deciding that I care enough about bye structure.

OVERALL STRATEGY

I think this will be my team for round 1, pending team sheets. The only changes I may consider are Brodie Smith and Cousins out, Collins and Libba in. I have tried very hard to ignore midpriced players this year, but the cornerstone of the GnR strategy is having reliable R’s, and I’m just not convinced by most of this year’s crop. Very few seem to have that vital combination of job security and scoring power, so I’ve had to relent and include Smith (at this stage) as a compromise in my backline. Don’t let me down, Brodie!

36
0


Leave a comment / Scroll to bottom

23 thoughts on “2019 Team Reveal – Chillo”

  1. Nice team,
    What do you think about going cheaper in the midfield, even though the rookies are better i still feel like a lot of points will be lost without another Macrae/Oliver type
    I went cheap in defence as most premiums and midpricers will score fairly close with eachother whereas the midfield gap is bigger
    Also, Boak was one of my sneaky PODS at f3 with Lincoln McCarth F4

    5

    0
    1. Would love another premium in the midfield, especially another captaincy option. I was pretty upset when I cut Macrae, but what can you do? I would love the powers that be to make trades a commodity you could buy and sell!

      1

      0
  2. I agree 100% with the lack of rookies and i believe you have chosen the best possible to start the year but looking at the better options theres still some major concerns. Are clark, duursma & drew only in line to play the first couple of rounds with Bews/Tuohy, hartlett & Wines all expected back early in the season? The 3 players mentioned seem to be filling in for those experienced players and then come round 2/3 when they are all back, we are left with our better rookie options missing out on a game before they have even increased in price. We also have no other option but to play them and hope for the best case because there really isn’t any others jumping out and screaming pick me .
    Unfortunately i think this isn’t the year for guns and rookies, picking the right mid pricers is going to be huge. Good luck!

    12

    0
    1. I think Clark is good enough to hold his spot, Scott has a reasonable history of giving the kids a run, but I agree with you about the Port boys. I’m sure they’ll be named next week, but after that who knows?
      It’s got to the point where I’m even seriously considering Darcy Moore. Somebody call somebody.

      4

      0
  3. Weak midfield but I think that’s how we will all end up structuring our teams. I know I have.

    Good job, Chillo!

    4

    0
    1. Thanks Huttabito, but I’ve already made all my charitable donations for the year! Looking forward to seeing your bois later this week.

      1

      0
  4. I would have turfed one of Mundy or Boak for a fwd rook and then switched Cousins for a premium mid with the extra cash.

    4

    0
    1. That’s all well and good in theory, but what forward rookie do you go down to? Balta? The forward rookies are so weak I think Chillo is on the right track (although I’ve made the sacrifice in the backline rather than my mids.)

      6

      0
      1. Mid premiums historically avg more than fwd ones, pretty easy to move Petuccelle on to the ground and get a fwd rook that gets named onto the bench.

        2

        0
        1. I agree PA, as long as forward rookies are named. If a few surprise rookies lob, Chillo can easily switch Boak and Cousins for a forward rookie and Jack Steel…

          2

          1
    1. Me too, Catta. Then Father Dougal slapped me in the head and yelled “Rule four Chillo, you dill!”

      Do not upset the reverend.

      3

      0
  5. Out of curiosity, what’s Cousins’ job security like? And what do we expect him to average?

    2

    0
    1. Ideally he steps into Titch’s role, although not nearly as effectively of course. Looked great in JLT and has been killing it in the VFL for a few years now.
      I like him but he’s expensive, might only make 150K. Any other year that wouldn’t be enough…

      2

      0
  6. ATM We have 2 def, 2 mid field and 2 fwds different.
    From one swanneez to another…….how come?????

    Ps I still have 280k itb awaiting team selections, then plan/try to hold to end of rd 2 for amendments/adjustments/cursing/swearing/tantrums.
    (Not necessarily in that order, and definitely not in public….l hope)

    0

    0

Leave a Reply to Chillo Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *