Hot Sauce Team Reveal

Written by Hot Sauce on March 15 2019

Depending on your level of obsession, some of you might be like me in that your team has been in the making for the last 3-6 months (not that you could tell). From memory I must have had over 100 versions of my team and although I think I have finally settled on my line-up, there is a good chance it will change many more times before next Thursday.
It is that time of course to put my team on the line. Soo here goes….

DEFENDERS

Premiums

Whitfield picks himself but most would have him at D2 or even D3 but I have eventually opted against selecting Lloyd and Laird. Laird could be impacted by Smith and Milera while Lloyd will likely be the #1 defender but the extra cash didn’t justify what I believe would be a marginal difference between himself and Whitfield. Hurn is picked on the basis of a) he is a consistent & durable premium; and b) he is in only 4% of teams. The kick-in specialist should finish as a top 6 defender in another huge year for the Eagles.

Mid-pricers

Usually a Midpricer equals risk, but these two would have to be two of the safest mid-pricers in recent memory. I’m usually a strict ‘GnR’ type, but there is extremely good value in both Williams and Smith and they should definitely average 80-85 but could get closer to the 90-95 mark with the occasional huge score. I am quite confident in Williams finishing the season as my D6 while Smith will at least be a solid stepping stone.

Rookies

Opted against Collins purely on cash generation ability given his elevated price tag. The risk obviously jumps up considerably, but I feel confident there will be four rookie defenders to pick from come selection night next week, and if so, these are my four favourites. Having these four rookies could end up burning me, but not greatly, more like a spicy Tobasco special.

 

MIDFIELDERS:

Premiums

Opted against the ultra-expensive but ultra-premo Macrae due to spending across other lines, but I, like many of us, will be hoping for that one poor game to snap him up at a fallen price. Instead I have opted for Fyfe & Cripps, who I believe will be the top two Midfielders this year. They are guns and don’t need any explanation. Slight explanation however is needed for M. Crouch and Merrett, but it’s simple – I also think they are guns and will be top 10 mids this year. I believe both Crouch and Merrett will be the main beneficiaries from their respective sides climb up the ladder and added depth in their position. That leaves Steele who I am taking a punt on this year to continue his 2018 post-bye form and elevate his season average close to 110.

Mid-pricers

None selected although Libba was given plenty of consideration.

Rookies

Sam Walsh is a beast and the only rookie over $150k I have selected. The remaining rookies I am hoping will all be selected for round 1 with great cash generation abilities (just check AllSaints excellent JLT spreadsheet for proof). Also note I have opted against a midfield loophole option as I believe there is a better option available (continue reading) and I will look to generate as much cash as possible.

RUCKS:

Premiums

Despite flirting with the possibility of Goldy or even Lobb, I have stayed strong and stuck with the two players that are odds on favourite to finish as the #1 and #2 ranked ruckmen this year. All Hail Team Grawndy!

Rookie Loophole:

As my upcoming article on Loophole fixtures will point out in more detail, I present you with my 2019 loophole – Mr Jordon Sweet. There are three reasons why he is my loophole; 1) Doggies ten Sunday and seven Saturday night games; 2) there are no viable rookie options for his position (Fort just doesn’t cut it in my opinion); and 3) he is at the cheapest possible price.

FORWARDS

Premiums

Nothing surprising here starting with the two most popular Forward premiums in SC, Danger will clearly be #1 Forward while Heeney should be a lock for top 6 if not higher.

Mid-pricers

I am officially calling this section of my team ‘Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce’ for the most likely to burn me this year. In Billings I am quietly confident on continuing his 2018 post-bye form and average 90+ although I said the same thing before the start of last season. Greene is looking to enjoy his last time in my team before he joins the growing list of‘never again’ players to be selected. His price is very hard to pass up on especially considering there just isn’t many premium and rookie options screaming to be picked right now.

Rookies

Setterfield was a lock before I even started my team, you just can’t find that job security, cash generation abilities and value in any other rookie. The other three I am hoping are selected for round 1 and if so, will be the three I roll with. There aren’t too many other options available if they aren’t.

 

So there you have it… please be gentle…

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17 thoughts on “Hot Sauce Team Reveal”

  1. Youre certainly living up to your name with the number of burn men in your team Hot Sauce, good luck to you. Any reason why you haven’t gone with a R/F loophole? Theres a WC R/F whos name I forget who also has a pretty decent draw.

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    1. Cheers Uncle Drew – few risks I’m willing to take.
      I’ve opted against Bines from WC and a ruck/fwd loophole as I don’t have a ruck/fwd in my fwd line as I’m not sold on Hoff, Lobb, Lycett & the likes. So either way will need to burn a trade, happier to do so then.

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      1. I get that HS, but say Clarke gets a gig for an injured Bellend, or Scott has a brain fade and gives Fort a run, you’d be able to swing your loop-hole FWD for some cash generation.
        Also, if one of the others none of us particularly like starts pumping decent scores and looks like a viable F6/7 while offering you a warm body in your RUC line for Rd13, then Bines will give you the flexibility to accommodate all the above scenarios.
        Not to be sniffed at, and all for the same initial cash outlay. Worth considering?!

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        1. The RUC/FWD swing thing is the main reason I currently have Bines over Sweet, even though the latter has just about the best loophole schedule imaginable. Of course, if Zac Clarke or Archie Smith are named round 1, they’ll be given due consideration as playing R3s.

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  2. Looks good HS. I hope Billings and Greene deliver for you. If they do, you’ll be off to a flyer!
    Good luck 😉

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  3. Nice team Sauce but I don’t get your logic re Collins being expensive yet you choose Smith. If Collins averages 65 which is highly likely IMO then Smith has to average 90+ to get a similar return … but at a $143k premium that can be spent elsewhere. Collins is priced at 35 points and Smith 61… in either scenario you’ll get a 30 pt uplift .. I think Collins has as much chance if not better of a 65 av as Smith has getting to 90+

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    1. I hear what you’re saying but Hot sauce might be confident he can get that 65 point return from his 4 basement (almost) rookies.

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      1. Also 20+ pts/week to his team score and more cash to spend when he does hit the trade table. The upside is about a lot more than simply the comparative $$s made.

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    2. Excellent point Lazza, I guess I’m rolling with the thought that Smith will be 90+ with the new rules & all. Good luck!

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  4. Good stuff Hot Sauce. Exact same structure with just a couple of premos different.

    Billings gives me PTSD but I kind of want him!

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  5. Ouch! What a team. Maybe ‘Hot Sauce and Potatoes’ would be a more descriptive name 🙂
    I don’t know whether to admire your courage for selecting Greene, Fyffe, Billings, Merrett and Williams in your starting lineup without having decent bench cover or whether I should just say “Mate, calm down think rationally and start again”.
    Also can’t understand your logic for not selecting Collins when you have selected Clark. Surely Collins has a far greater chance of playing the first 6-games than Clark does? As soon as Touhy and/or Bews come back it’s goodbye Jordan and if that happens before round 3 you’ll have a 144k not very useful backline loopholer.
    Good Luck might not be enough you’ll need fantastic luck to keep all those guys on field.
    PS. the ‘potatoes’ in my suggested name change refers to bench cover that you’ll have to use

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    1. Merrett and Billings are pretty durable, Williams too before his LTI. Also I don’t think anyones winning the 50k this year without taking a few risks on injury prone players.

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    2. Billings is definitely a risk, and Fyfe is injury-prone, but I think the trio of Greene, Merrett, and Williams are pretty safe.

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