Vice-Captaincy Candidates
MACRAE v Blues
- L3 v Blues: 106, 138, 97 (114 av.)
- L3 @ MRVL: 113, 154, 116 (128 av.)
A rock solid 39 touches and 133 from Macrae last week. Continues to be the most reliable VC/C going around. Another 130 coming up this week.
GRUNDY v Crows
- L3 v Crows: 100, 123, 141 (121 av.)
- L3 @ MCG: 83, 107, 110 (100 av.)
Don’t expect Grundy to feature as a captaincy candidate as much as he used to this season, but the Crows at the ‘G is an appealing match up. Pies midfield energetic for the time being and the Crows clearance work is pretty poor. Solid for a 120 if you don’t have Macrae or Neale to open.
NEALE v Dons
- L3 v Dons: 157, 157, 140 (151 av.)
- L3 @ MRVL: 96, 89, 79 (88 av.)
And there it was: 31 touches, 6 tackles and 140 last week against Port. Neale’s back. Only had the 76% TOG but clearly the #1 MID and tremendous impact when on the field. Loves to crush the Dons, who are looking pathetic, so pencil him in for another 140.
Captaincy Candidates
MILLER v Demons
- L3 v Demons: 142, 142, 65 (116 av.)
- L3 @ MS: 120, 143, 107 (123 av.)
Even with intermittent tagging from O’Neil last round, Miller beast moded his way to 137 from 29 touches, 18 contested and a goal. The Dees, despite being the best team in the comp, aren’t that restrictive with opposition MID points so we should have a real engine room v engine room battle on our hands. Suns to give it everything with Miller at the helm for 130.
SATAN v Suns
- L3 v Suns: 166, 106, 175 (149 av.)
- L3 @ MS: 177, 175, 83 (145 av.)
Ridiculously high match-up stats both against the Suns and up at Metricon but largely on the back of thrashings. Suns likely to compete but Satan still solid for 125.
STEELE v Dockers
- L3 v Dockers: 129, 87, 85 (100 av.)
- L3 @ OS: 109, 72, 71 (84 av.)
An underwhelming, but understandable, score from Steele last week. 28 touches and 7 tackles but held back by 9 clangers and 70% DE. Of concern though is the total absence of midfield support. Dunstan’s gone, Jones is away due to personal reasons and Crouch and Gresham were absolutely useless. No one there to provide defensive body or positioned well to receive left Steele under the pump – perhaps accounting for his poor use. That said, if anyone can drill down and carry their side it’s Steele. Will reprise his role as Atlas and go 125 if you really need to fall back on him.
Steer Clear
MITCHELL v Port
- L3 v Port: 110, 132, 135 (126 av.)
- L3 @ AO: 130, 71, 120 (107 av.)
Named as the Steer Clear last week and, as expected, went well under par with 80. His role also looks to have changed: no longer a pure inside MID, instead having stints at half FWD and on a wing. Had 12 CBAs behind O’Meara (15) and Newcombe (13), with Ward (11), Worpel (10) and Nash (8) recipients of the Hawks’ expanded midfield mix. Likely condemned to low-tons and out of captaincy calculations for the timebeing.
Smoky Pick
DUNKLEY v Blues
- L3 v Blues: 173, 95, 157 (142 av.)
- L3 @ MRVL: 66, 75, 148 (96 av.)
After bungling their CBA mix last week, expect the Dogs to revert to their OG squad of Bont, Macrae, Libba and Dunks. Has had some large ones at Marvel and could flex that 140+ ceiling as the Dogs look to bounce back.
Verdict
Macrae into Miller on my end, but if you’ve got Neale give him a look.
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Mac Into Miller 125 passmark
Mac Miller Approves.
Im going Cripps as VC for a smokey
CRIPPS v Dogs
L3 v Dogs: 72, 56, 110 (79 av.)
L3 @ MRVL: 57, 73, 88 (73 av.)
God, those scores give me PTSD
Rip Mac Miller
Mac into Neale 130 pls
Me too
Would love to VC butters vs Hawks but don’t really trust the late game options (Miller/Oliver )
So going Neale vs Essendon as my VC and probably won’t use the C
Yeah, would have named Butters the Smoky Pick if Port were playing on the Sunday. Great match up.
Neale 140 against the Dons no questions asked.
Mitchell is an interesting one, still had it 29 times against North but 6 clangers and low TOG didn’t help. Keen to see how he goes this week.
Smokey Pick: Josh Kelly
Last 3 v Tigers: 132, 148 & 195
Dunkley into Neale for me though. J Kelly – smokey with maybe Dusty out?
Yeah, Jelly great into the Tigers. Either goes massive or low tons. Tigers always a great side to VC/C a MID into.
Just a bunch of rock solid options before him.
Would drill the VC early and just take it as a cherry on top if Jelly goes large though.
If you still fancy him though, here are his stats:
KELLY v Tigers:
L3 v Tigers: 148, 132, 195 (158 av.)
L3 @ MCG: 118, 103, 90 (104 av.)
If I could vc jelly I would. But I can’t so not risking him as C, only VC.
Great work as usual GD, Macrae into Oliver for me
Macrae into Neal for me.
Neale into Miller for me this week.
As it stands, the latest non playing player I have is Nick Martin (Ess) and without starting Macrae, I have really only Dunkley or Grundy as my two VC options this round. I’m pretty happy to go Touk as captain again, but which one of these guys is more likely to go 125+.
TU – Dunkley v Blues
TD – Grundy v Crows
May as well chase a ceiling with a safe C option, Dunkley for me seems the best until we see Grundy post a big one again
Some safe options. I’m more adventurous so thinking Heeney as vice into Neale. Good luck everyone.
Dunks-oliver.
Any love for Trac?
Yep, Petracca a great option. Can’t fit them all in each week.
Petracca a double edged sword though, in that he gets the raw numbers each week to go large – just a matter of his use.
Here are his stats:
PETRACCA v Suns
L3 v Suns: 148, 104, 92 (115 av.)
L3 @ MS: 130, 82, 141 (118 av.)
Great post, as always, GD. Love your work.
Top 5 highest C/VC selections for this week, as of now.
Most C
1. Jack Macrae 16.5%
2. Lachie Neale 11.1%
3. Touk Miller 10.1%
4. Jack Steele 9.6%
5. Clayton Oliver 9.1%
Most VC
1. Jack Macrae 25.3%
2. Max Gawn 11.3%
3. Clayton Oliver 6.7%
4. Jack Steele 6.5%
5. Brodie Grundy 4.6%
Thanks, CT.
No surprises with those numbers. Captaincy landscape pretty easy to navigate currently. Start of the season, bunch of reliable high ceiling MIDs with good fixtures.
When the tags, rolling fixtures and match ups become more relevant, that’s when VC/C will be critical.
Easy days now.
Great read as always GD. Thoughts on Gawn as a smoky? Was good last week on the eye test just gave away a lot of frees. With Melbourne expected to dominate suns and perhaps an undercooked Witts taking on Gawn and Jackson he could monster them. Shame hes too late for a VC but could be an option if Macrae fails and an outside the box pick.
Thanks, Tom.
Maxxy interesting. Does tremendous work across the ground, obviously great HO when at CBs/stoppages and got a great engine room to work with but always going to have his ceiling clipped by Jackson. I personally wouldn’t straight C him.
That said, the Suns are a pretty poor marking team at both ends so could definitely see Gawn taking a few.
Here are his stats:
GAWN v Suns
L3 v Suns: 138, 153, 109 (133 av.)
L3 @ MS: 121, 157, 109 (129 av.)
Previous figures look good but not brave enough for a straight C. Shame he isnt an early game as would have loved him as a smoky VC. Macrae into Oliver for me
Yeah, VC maybe but not straight C.
Macrae into Satan rock solid, no worries.
Tossing up GD, Dunks or Macca. Going into Neale if they flop.
Leaning Dunks atm
Aaron Hall – is he now relevant as a smokey captain?
What are his last 3 scores v Eagles?
Covid Protocols have now put West Coast’s team in disarray, as new top-up players have not even trained with the Eagles squad!
Great option, yep.
Last three scores v Eagles not relevant as he’s only been in that juicy HB for one season. Only thing to go on would be his 116 v Eagles last year.
Then:
L3 @ MRVL: 127, 124, 110 (120 av.)
who’s liking the look of Jelly for Capt?
No Richmond midfield.
Super coach friendly game style.
Massive ceiling.
Flat track bully.
Good pre season.
Daicos or Grundy 4 vC