After a successful rebuild and consecutive stellar trade periods with the competition’s best medical staff, the Lions continue to be well and truly in the premiership window. Dominant home and away performances at the now feared Gabbatoir have resulted in ladder finishes of 2nd, 2nd and 4th the last three years. Perhaps most impressive about the Lions is their list depth: a multi-pronged forward line that is just about ready to click, a defensive outfit that spreads, intercepts and locks down like no other and, of course, a midfield bursting with All Australian talent and SC points. Let’s get stuck in.
Defenders
Lock and Load: I don’t quite know how but Daniel Rich ($587 200) has become a legitimate, high ceiling SC option in the last few seasons with a career high average of 107 flat in 2021 at the ripe age of 31! The usual knock on veteran defenders in SC is their age and durability, guys like Hurn and Houli for example, however Rich’s injury profile is pretty solid. Had that right hamstring in 2020 but came back the following year for 22 games, several high octane performances and that aforementioned 107 average. Comes in as the 4th most expensive DEF but has a highly conducive SC role, a rock solid scoring stream and, cmon, how can you not like the guy?
Feeling Lucky: Harris Andrews ($517 900) has often found himself caught between the two worlds of accountable lockdown defending and SC lucrative intercepting, producing a high ceiling but an equally devastating floor. The inclusion of Payne and Adams into the side last year however allowed the Lions to rejig their matchups on the fly and let Andrews peel off more regularly. He chalked up a career high 95.1 average, which was +7.1 on his previous best and included 4x scores of 120+. He suckered the Tech Team in a few years back but now shapes up as a genuine smoky option.
Money Maker: At pick #16 Darcy Wilmot ($139 800) has apparently quickly become a Lions fan favourite and an alluring SC option. The medium sized defender was held in high esteem at the Northern Knights for his intercepting ability, line breaking, speed and audacious distribution – music to our ears. Will have to see how they get him into the 22 with Coleman developed last year in a similar role, but should otherwise come in as a nice cash cow.
Midfielders
Lock and Load: It was a disaster for those who paid up for Lachie Neale ($543 200) last season. Opened with 4 subtons, tagged like a vice grip, injured and then barrelled out after Round 6. Tainting what was otherwise a pristine injury record, declining from a 134.4 average in 2020 to 99.8 in 2021 and then the bizarre return to Freo story, coaches now have serious reservations over Neale…but can you say ‘no’ to a Brownlow medalist who’s done back to back 150s like it’s nothing at sub 550k?
With no question marks over him and someone who has just kept pottering along into SC relevancy is Jarryd Lyons ($640 100). Played a full 22 last season with great disposal efficiency and a high ceiling for a 117.6 average to finish up as the #6 MID OA. The fact he somehow stays at POD ownership is also a bonus.
Feeling Lucky: He’d make a deadly POD and did go at 109.4 last year with a great ceiling but it’d tough to start Dayne Zorko ($595 400) without DPP. For 30k~ more you could just lock away a 120 average MID.
Rucks
Feeling Lucky: Enter the inimitable Big O: Oscar McInerney ($509 600). Alright, quick story. After selling off an injured Grundy to finance Miller last season, I ended up with the Big O as my R2 and f*ck me, he was incredible! I thought he would plod around the 85-90 range but a string of soft opponents, honed in H2A work and confidence floating forward saw him average 116 in the second half of the season. That 116 average in the back end included a 120 against a red hot Darcy, 131 against Grundy and an understandable 96 against Nic Nat. Shapes up to be the go-to discount ruck if want to pass on two of the Big Four (G&G, Darcy, Nic Nat).
Forwards
Feeling Lucky: A fair bit of hype starting to build around Zac Bailey ($459 000, MID/FWD) after a dynamic season as a small forward with stints on ball and at stoppages (84.5 av.) and now a flagged increase in MID minutes in 2022. Will definitely need to watch the Lions’ midfield balance, already got Neale, Lyons and Zorko there as constants and a now returning Cam Rayner ($278 600). Before the ACL that ruled him out for all of last season, the Lions had Rayner slated for a permanent MID role but we didn’t get to see that materialize. He’s now reportedly in great condition, “like a new recruit” and the Lions are still determined to develop an on ball dimension to his game. Just a matter of whether he’ll be up to the level and his body will hold – AAMI game will be telling.
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Thanks GD
Oscar Mc Has been my ruck 2 since super coach opened .Great finish to season and burning the track in preseason.. Could be a season defining move if l stick with him as intention. is set and forget with Grundy . however Darcy hard to ignore as well .
Geez I had Darcy/Grundy S&F now im looking at Oscar.
R2
TU O Mc
TD ROB
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Coleman? $263k, scored well in a half back role in the last few games of last season (including finals, he averaged 84). With Birchall retiring, is he going to be given that rebounding role alongside Rich?
Yeah, lotta a buzz about Coleman right now. Switched into that HB in R23 and then 2x finals for scores of 87, 90 and 77.
Small sample size, so would want confirmation he’ll be in that role again in 2022. They’re also always going to want it in Rich’s hands and Wilmot, whenever he’s B22, would be in that exact role.
Fagan says ANSWERTH is in the B22 and a very very good player Well over his injury
A word of caution, Answerth has not participated in any match sims and with his history of injuries it would not surprise me that he starts in the twos.
I would need to see evidence during practice matches that he is in the best 22 at this stage.
It is still early in the preseason and anything could eventuate?
I was going to say the Coleman war drums are starting to beat louder and louder
Played well in that role in a recent scratch match. There is some talk of Zorko spending time in the backline plus new recruit Wilmot. I think Kiddy gets first crack at it, he played in the probables V possibles recently.
Ah, good intel. Thanks, David.
Yeah, think he’ll hold that role then.
Hmm, interesting.
Coleman is a similar price to Bowey. Melb coaches love Bowey’s decision making and his kicking is superb…..probably a better kick than Salem. I think I would lean toward Bowey if looking at that price bracket.
Thoughts on Jarrod Berry? $279,600 MID only, who averaged 97 in 2020 and is only 23, after suffering from injuries most of last season. From what I have read, he is in the midfield rotations, however not as a starting mid. A brave move to pick him but the scoring history is there for a stepping stone.
Oh, f*ck. Completely missed him in my write up. Apologies, all. Great catch, KB.
Yeah, ofc Berry’s heavily in consideration as an M6 midpricer. Reportedly trained well with the midfield the other day.
Had Lyons the last two seasons and spruiked him far and wide. He’s just so consistent. Love being able to lock in his 110 each week. I’ve selected Neale purely on his cheaper starting price but I can see Lyons making the final cut for my team. Just love him in SC.
Lyons and Macrae had the longest runs of tons last year with Macrae ultimately winning out.
Great stuff GD.
K Coleman in my side at the moment. All the best cheap Forwards last year. ( Ziebell, Impey ) played in defence. DPP super handy too. He’s D4 atm.
Rayner keeps ticking boxes and will be in contention for a Forward spot.
I love Rich, but he’s top priced. Crisp and Dawson are cheaper and will most likely get a fair bit of Midfield time. Hopefully Dawson gets DPP.
J. Berry on the watch list.
I think the Big O could really surprise a few this year. It will be interesting if they give Darcy Fort a go early while Hipwood is still missing.
Thanks again for a great review.
Nice one GD,
Can you say no to Neale? The SCT community speaks a lot of sense when comparing fallen premiums to currently priced premiums. When applying that advice to this case, the question is:- if Neale and Walsh are the same price, who are you going to want as your keeper?
You mention the tagging, and it seems most teams have cottoned-on now. He’ll be getting no peace. Is he up to it?
The Neale question shapes my team’s conundrum:- take something like Ridley D4 & Neale M5, versus Sicily D4 and Walsh M5…
WW.
I love Walsh and am leaning g towards starting him myself. His early fixture is very juicy.
I still think Ridley and Neale are a better combo as starting picks.
Both are capable ,if not likely, to finish towards the top on their respective lines. Sicliy is cheap but unlikely to average enough to be a keeper, so will probably require a trade at some stage.
Happy planning. FT.
Thanks FT,
Agree with Ridley versus Sicily – that’s what makes it such a hard call. Would you entertain Dangers instead of Neale if he resumes on ball? So much stronger WRT a tag, and a better ceiling at his best – it’s just that old man’s body and how hard he goes at the footy.
Wow Ridley at D4 is blowing my mind. You’ve clearly invested a lot of cash down back.
Yep – I’ll post it on the rate my team page Roo Bloke for your critique. My past rankings show that I need all the help I can get 🙂
And my past rankings would say I’m not the one to give it!!
Ha ha, that gave me a laugh – as much as I’m learning here, I still reckon come season’s end most people on SCT will have me covered….
Walsh is no doubt a superstar. But I believe neale (94k cheaper) is still a top 8 midfielder. Has potential to be top etc as shown 2020. #1 So, I would risk him if injury free. Especially with zorko playing down back. Shows me neale is fully fit. Ps: Walsh, Mitchell same price. Mitchell 128 post bye. Full pre-season.
Due to a new article about the Lions midfield on the AFL site, I begin to have doubt on playing the nice consistant Lyons in my team.
Fagan has just stated, “Probably Lyons is probably more of a forward, and Lachie is a pretty handy player out on the wing, as well as a forward, so we have a few different options there.”