Just want to preface this final edition of Captaincy Candidates by thanking Motts for bringing me on board this year and then the community of readers who have regularly tuned in each week. I’ve often worried at times that people don’t actually read the article and just post their selections below, so thank you to those who have actually engaged with the writing, analysis and statistics – I appreciate it. Takes a couple hours for me to put these together each round, but it’s all worth it if somewhat helps coaches out.
Alright, down to business:
Vice-Captaincy Candidates
KELLY v Roos
- L3 v Roos: 162, 96, 91 (116 av.)
- L3 @ MS: 118, 77, 102 (99 av.)
As the Eagles only inside MID left standing, Kelly was just phenomenal last week: 30 touches, 15 contested, 9 clearances and a goal. North only managed 1202/3300 SC points total last week, so expect Kelly to feast for 140.
KELLY v Saints
- L3 v Giants: 130, 108, 76 (105 av.)
- L3 @ G: 138, 149, 94 (127 av.)
Looked to be the only Giant trying for parts of the game last week. With 20 kicks to only 4 handballs, 707 meters gained and 13 contested possessions, Kelly reminded us why he’s SC royalty when GWS medical staff aren’t performing experiments on him. Shown his ceiling at the Gabba, a look for 135 if Seb Ross doesn’t go to him.
SATAN v Dons
- L3 v Dons: 108, 89, 95 (97 av.)
- L3 @ MS: 100, 177, 175 (151 av.)
Satan’s stats were fine last week, but just abominable with his use. Expect him to clean that up at Metricon, where he’s gone 170+ twice recently. A lock for 125 this week, 150 if the Dees do the Dons dirty.
Captaincy Candidates
GAWN v Dons
- L3 v Dons: 126, 168, 85 (126 av.)
- L3 @ MS: 157, 109, 174 (147 av.)
Not much commentary to provide here: he’s the best SC player in the biz and you’re at a severe deficit without him. Honestly don’t see how he doesn’t go 150 at a minimum this week.
BONTEMPELLI v Dockers
- L3 v Dockers: 95, 132, 79 (102 av.)
- L3 @ CS: 80, 121, 64 (88 av.)
Bont’s become the one constant of the Dogs midfield over the last 7 weeks, leading the Dogs for clearances and contested possessions of late. Might have some work put into him by Serong at CBs and stoppages, but should be able to shake that for 130.
FYFE v Dogs
- L3 v Dogs: 128, 104, 151 (128 av.)
- L3 @ CS: 83 (83 av.)
With the Dogs backing in their own MIDs ahead of the tagging and Freo looking to continue their uptick in form, expect Fyfe to put in 100% to close out the season. A lock for 125.
Steer Clear
NEALE v Blues
- L3 v Blues: 106, 159, 134 (133 av.)
- L3 @ G: 151, 113, 72 (112 av.)
I’d be shocked if Curnow doesn’t latch onto him, so do yourself a favor and steer clear of an imminent sub-ton. Plenty of other great options around.
Smoky Pick
PETRACCA v Dons
- L3 v Dons: 76, 94 (85 av.)
- L3 @ MS: 82, 141, 88 (104 av.)
Harshly scaled last week, but still an exceptional contested possession and ground-ball player. With the Dons letting off large MID scores lately, Racca could close out the season with a 130+.
Verdict
You’d be a fool not to use Gawn this week. So for me it’s VC/C Gawn and one of J. Kelly or Bont.
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Thanks GD! Cracking year of content.
Will be Gawn into Bont for me. Here’s to the last one.
Cheers, Mitch.
Going to play it safe and stick with Hurn into Dev Smith. No need to get creative with the captaincy this late in the season.
You wouldn’t have gone wrong with that VC in hindsight haha
I’m looking at a bit of a hail Mary in my big cash league GF. Telly is a pod at the moment so
T/U Telly/Gawn
T/D Gawn/any of 5 options that play after him.
Telly plays tonight.
Putting the VC on Gawn, if he fails I’ll think about the Captain.
Gawn into Boak or Lloyd
Petracca into Fyfe for me, not a huge fan of all the big names this week, (Don’t Own Gawn who is the clear standout).
OUTSTANDING WORK ALL YEAR GD (clapping emoji’s)
One of the absolute must reads every week for me and to see you not only nail the choices week in and week out, your smoky calls have been bang on a fair amount of the time too.
Thanks for the outstanding amount of research you put in and then the responses you have given in the chat threads along the way.
Going for overall rank, so no need to get fancy in the final round:
It’s Gawn into Bont for me
Thanks, Jam. Really appreciate it.
Yeah, Gawn into Bont for me as well.
Also, congratulations on your monster rank this season! Hopefully you finish strong.
Best of luck.
Thanks heaps, hoping to crack top 25 by end of round… let’s see what happens!
Wow !!
Go Jam.
Very helpful GD
Gawn at VC for me this week, thinking M Crouch if Gawn somehow fails….
TU- Worth a risk
TD- Play safe
Cheers, Troy.
Yeah, Crouch at AO is actually a really solid choice this week. Tigers never put work into opposition MIDs and their system has been to give away CB clearances and then force turn overs, so Crouch should feast. Also helps that the Crows overuse the ball.
Here are his stats:
CROUCH v Tigers
L3 v Tigers: 91, 51, 101 (81 av.)
L3 @ AO: 148, 162, 133 (148 av.)
Bytel the only player in my squad not playing, so am forced into going:
Gaff into Gawn
Thanks GD for all the work you put into this each week. First year playing and using this site and it has helped me reach the league grand final…
As for this week, too scared of Jelly getting tagged so going to VC Oliver
What do you think about Boak as a sneaky C in the last game if needing the points, I remember reading something about Collingwood leaking points to opposition MIDs.
Don’t have Neale or Gawn 🙁
Hey, Al.
Yep, Satan into Boak sounds good. Already given Satan a mention above, here are Boak’s stats:
BOAK v Pies
L3 v Pies: 102, 117, 73 (97 av.)
L3 @ G: 104, 98, 133 (112 av.)
Pies, like you correctly mentioned, do leak MID points and Boak steps up when Port are challenged. Solid for 120 .
Thanks!
Hoping Oliver can come close to Gawn’s output
Thanks GD
Outstanding work all year !
Tim Kelly into Gawn for me.
Hopefully Kelly can go large again this week v North.
I’m somehow left in two Minor Finals, and need to improve 500 spots to crack the top 10K. I’m not really liking my chances with no trades and Rivers covering Doc at D6. I guess many are in the same boat.
Once again I want to thank Gunboat and and all the contributors on this great site. Yet somehow, even with a sh#t load of extra trades and the best SC advise on the planet…
I still manage to stuff it up 🙁
Ahh well, there’s always next year.
Right back at you, FT. Appreciate the energy and insight you bring to the site as well.
Will be rooting for Kelly to explode for both your sake and the Eagles, good luck!
Cheers GD.
Good luck to you too!
I have been so torn over this same choice. Finally decided against it. If Telly goes off again he is still a great pod, but will he score more than Gawn v bombers ? If he spuds it on the other hand, and being first game, its a long way back.
The Gawn v still allows another hail Mary choice later in the round.
Telly….I’ll still be happy with another 180 !!
Definitely going Gawn in some form. By which way though?
TU – VC Steele, C Gawn
TD – VC Gawn, C Lloyd
Surely De Boer gives Steele some attention?
Ah indeed. Forgot about De Boer.
If GWS do want to win de boer will definitely go to steele
Gaff into Gawn for mine.
Would have probably gone Gawn into Neale or Lloyd, but Williams being named for WC has nixed that.
Going Gaff / Gawn with Gaff performance last week its time for me to VC him and they are versin North so big score coming
At your advice in another post I’ve picked up T.Kelly, GD. Going to trust the system here – VC for Kelly into Bont/Fyfe, will flip a coin depending on how the rest of the games unfold.
Thanks for the excellent content. You’ll see me back next year.
Wouldnt be surprised if Cogs came out with a point to prove and went 150 tbh, we all know he has a ceiling.
Done it against lions when he copped the criticism with a 141
A massive Thank You GD …. your write ups each week are a “Must Read” & dare I say ,Invaluable to each & all of us ! So greatly appreciated.
To All those whom have freely given their sage advise each week… Ive finally cracked it inside 4750… Stoked ! hope to better it this week. So a Huge Thank You , ALL of YOU.
To all the coaches that have a gig in the Granny this week ….” may Dame Fortune Smile Upon You ”
See you back on this marvelous site next season …… can’t wait !!!
Gawn into Bont
Carn The Dons !!
Right behind you with the dons Syringe !!!
Are we going for the trifecta…..three 50+ loses in a row ??
Crickey Wighty ! ….I shudder to think ……Hope Truck can pull a bloody big rabbit out of his hat
…either that or there’s a good chance of a couple of high order Draftees headed our way !
All the Very Best Wighty
Carn The Mighty Dons !
Truck has a huge job, We lost 20k members this year…that might be $4mill. And we have a coach who none of the members know much about, and is hardly a bombers man. He is a career coach and not passionate…that is what we are missing and was so well summed up by Dean Wallis recently.
I fear our three year plan to get out of this might take ten years !!
Strewth !!!
Wighty ,You’re right. All I know of him is he was an imposing backman at the Crows & a co partner to Blake Carracella’s drive for Dimma & Richmond. So Yeah, nothing other than what you can google on Truck.
Unfortunately buddy, I missed the Dean Wallis interview. Do you know if there’s a podcast or something I could catch it on ?
I heard the Old Master Sheeds refer to Wallis as “The Biff Factor” haha
Id love to know Sheeds thoughts on it all right now !
Just saw the kind words now, Syringe. Thank you.
I need a hail Mary, so leaving Maxy out of it.
Can v Zerrett, Trac, Satan, into Neale, Titch, Macrae, Seagull.
Thoughts ??
Aww GD, thanks so much for all your writing this year. Spot on every time. The 2 times I went against your advice to be creative ended up badly.
Thanks so much for the effort you put in considering the short turn around. My season is done but I wanted to say thanks.
Keep it up and looking forward for a normal season.
Thanks, Jeannot. Appreciate it.
Not to worry, rough season for all. Catch you next year.
Take care.
If Gawn doesn’t come thru.
Tu= McRae
Td= Lloyd
I’ve always picked my own C/vc but really torn in grand final as to who to pick. Also have Neale Boak Mitchell Fyfe Cripps and Duncan, but not keen on any of them. Any thoughts appreciated
If gawn flops
TU Laird
TD Bont
Best option:
TU MCCRAE
TD LLOYD
Thanks!
Not really keen on taking Gawn’s score
TU Chuck the C on Macrae
TD Chuck the C on Fyfe
Comment: Chuck it on Lloyd