Hi Everybody!
I am sure everyone will be shocked that I am going with Keepers and Bargains this year. Cowpocalypse and all that. Let’s get to it!
As always I start with the cows. Who looks good and seems to have decent job security? Price less of an issue than normal. I hate high priced cows, but I hate having no cows more!
I have learned from experience that I want at least two cows on field for forward and defense, in order to be able to get in players mid season that I want. Having just one spot is too restrictive. In the mids I’m good with two or three open spots, although this year it will be hard to avoid three. In the ruck, I traditionally look for a cow, and there isn’t one and I get a fwd/ruc loophole. I do love ruck cows, since I love ruck backup. One way or another I will have ruck backup this season!
As always, players named on field will change the cows.
So:
In defense, there are only two cheap guys I feel safe about now, those being T. Watson and B. Williams. And those are only mostly safe but enough so to have now. If Gould is named I probably bring him in, but for now I am playing it safe and not counting on him. But that is just two, and I need two more. There looks to be two good expensive options. J. Noble and B. Zerk-Thatcher. I worry about the job security of Ash, although he is an option if you think he has it.
Up Forward, I am glad that J. Brander can play up front. In he goes, on the field. For now C.Taylor joins him. I sort of want to go with Rankine, but perhaps not Round 1. Max King, the safest JS pick is last. If Xerry starts, I’ll have him in, I think, but for now he’s not included since he might be a downgrade target, and I hate to waste those.
In the ruck, Well, Xerry as mentioned, is not certain enough to take, nor is Cameron. Tentative loophole. So close to many rookie rucks, but no….
In the mids, On field I have the same as just about everyone else for the same reasons. Rowell, Picket, and Green. Nervous about Green, but again, best for now. On the bench, the pickings are sadly slim. Budarek for sure, with Mahoney and D. Robertson taking the last two spots. I note with horror I need to use fwd/mid cows in the mids to have enough midfield cows. That is a sign of the end times!
So, now for captain options. Grundy, Gawn, and Macrae. Probably end up with more, but those for sure.
Next is Cow-like objects. Dylan Roberton is in lots of teams for good reason, into defense (?) he goes. After that….I have seen cow-like objects you wouldn’t believe: The interceptions of Tom Doedee off the shoulders of forwards, the flexibility of Hill, Quaynor in back, Sier starting in the mids for just $243K, Twilight Narkle all a-sparkle near the Tannhäuser Gate. Now they are all lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to look for bargains…..but wait….I forgot the rucks…and lo and behold, Naismith, starting in the ruck for just $251,500. A playing R3 who can make $150k+! I am happy. In he goes.
Now I still need 3 Defenders, 4 midfielders, and 4 forwards.
Gonna do the mids first, since they are the worst place to go cheap. Dunkley. I wrote a whole freaking post about (mostly) him, and he is Mr. Lock as far as I’m concerned. Oliver next, should score over what he is priced to average and maybe a lot over it. Two more spots. Who is young and durable and hopefully has some upside? The Bont. Ok, who else is young and durable and hopefully has some upside….Young and durable, well Cripps. He only played 20 last season, but I feel better about him than the other available top mids, who I feel have more downside risk, or are historically fragile. My big five missed only 2 games between them last season, and that I like. They are also all 22-25, which I like too.
Defenders next, because I know I want Docherty. He did what he needed to in the pre-season. With cash so short, I’m in. Next is Brodie Smith. He was one of those guys I was aware of during the per-season, but wanted to see in the Marsh Series. It looks like he is a full time mid under the new coach. Let’s see, full time mid playing in defense, costs just $481,300? In. There are a lot of guys I think will score about the same, so I will take the cheapest, meaning Laird. There are a lot of defenders I like, but I don’t see spending more to get someone who may not be much better, or is probably overpriced. All the guys I picked should hit what they are priced at as a worst case.
Forwards, so, I should look at my cash left. I have $1,491,400 for four players which is $372,850 per spot. Oh dear. Well, I already ruled out starting with Whitfield, Dusty and Heeney, although I did leave room for Whitfield and Dusty to join the team later. So, looking at the list of forwards starting at $400k and below, are there four guys I like, or at least am ok with? I have looked at a lot of players so if they are on the watchlist, good if not, then not good. Tom Lynch, yup, underpriced and probably the best option for the KPF stock market. Andrew Brayshaw, yeah, on the list, looks like a midfielder with the new coach. Jack Steven and Devon Smith. Well, both of them have been talked to death.
I’m left with $22,300. That’s a bit lower than I would like, but not bad.
I have no loophole. Yet. That will happen. If it does not happen, well, that’s not so bad. It is also possible that once teams are announced I’ll end up taking on. I’ll manage.
So, what is the purpose of everyone in my team?
All The Cows and Cow like Objects: Make money and be sold. Hopefully with points:
Everyone else: Score points.
Ok, that was fast, but there is nobody I have issues with individually.
As a group? Well, I only have 10 firm keepers. That is not so good. I also have 4 possible/probably keepers. That is better. As best as I can tell, I have pretty good overall cash generation, and that does not count F1-F4. In practice, barring injury, I may well have F1-F4 stay in the team a long time, as I will have better things to spend on than improving them, assuming they need improvement. I am very happy with the 5 mind keepers and 2 ruck keepers. Those are players that would be hardest to bring in during the season. The forwards are so discounted that they should all do better than their price even if they end up not scoring 90 or more. The only real risks to score below their prices are the Premium rucks, Macrae and Cripps, and I don’t think they are big risks.
This is actually the most stable set of non-cows I have ever had, which is good, if odd. Everyone one for a reason, and nobody I have bad feelings about. Not tempted to fiddle. Will, of course, react to who gets named and not named.
Thanks for reading!
Oh, and if you have eer finished in the top 2,500 feel free to join my Pound the Priest (Not like that) league. Code is 449212
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Tough to see a side with Nanismith on the R3 bench and T. Lynch at F1 to be honest Father. But you are a man of math and great Supercoach success so why not.
Personally I’m considering the Nanismith R2, Ceglar F2 (behind Whitfield) maneuver. I’m also keeping just enough in the bank to cover the risky picks ie. enough to get to jacobs from Nanismith ($96,900), but also could be used to go to pertrappa from Steven ($79,600) for instance. Or Smith to Brayshaw ($47,000) should one look to outperform the other hugely at whatever round 3 looks like this year.
$251k for zero on-field return is insane.
With the 17 game season, yes., Longer season, I don’t think so. But, that’s moot now!
With the 17 round season being a thing now. How does your starting line up change? Mid-price madness may take over!
My starting lineup above is pretty mid priced already! I think Gawn turns into a NM ruck cow and I upgrade some rookies somehow to more value picks.
Love the picks, dig the logic as always FD. I am glad to have few common picks I was taking a chance on. Solid team with this rarety of good rookies. Good luck
Love it FD. Best of luck in 2020!
With the reduced game time and possible reduced ruck, should we be looking at the around-the-ground running talls who often do ruck work?
ie Rucks who are just as mobile if not more mobile than GG but don’t win as many hit outs.
PS l like your R3. I currently have Williams but am looking for a reason to move with your money-in-the-bank and true emergency format.