(Written & Created By Macca)
Well, as promised (and a little late) please find enclosed the spreadsheet from the start of the year, comparing the best averages v total points options from the 2018 season.
It has been updated now as of the end of round 19 with how the top scoring and averaging players are placed. How have they compared to the 2018 recommended best options and potential breakouts? In general, not very well!! – The key, especially for total scores, is playing all matches … and you need this for OA success.
The top listed options from 2018 and now 2019 have been highlighted yellow. Check them out! I have also now listed the top averaging and scoring players, in each position, in separate tables, including their three round averages at end of round 19 – if you still have trades to make, hopefully this helps your deliberations!
Let’s look quickly at each position:
Defenders:
Only 2 of the top scorers currently in the mix and 3 of the top averager’s.
New contenders in top positions have emerged and the key is having played all 18 matches
Interestingly Houli has emerged as one of the highest averages and has the best three round average of all … get him in if you have the trades / cash
Mids
Only 4 of the top scorers show at the moment, including Danger.
Interestingly, all 8 of the top averagers are still in the mix!
Interestingly the new ones in scoring are the Bont and Treloar, though Treloar is there in the averages, with injuries hurting him last year.
These two are who you should target if you have late trade ability – though the Bont’s 3rd average is down.
Rucks
Nothing to see here – business as usual for the top two rucks
Goldy has taken third spot back though from Martin, with a much better year
If you don’t have these top two … get them in!!
Forwards
Only 1 top scorer / average from 2018 is showing thus far in 2019 – Danger!
That said, many of the key favourites from last year have had injury concerns or been scrubbed out altogether …
DPP is key, with a hugely unseen breakout being Rowan Marshall playing as key ruck and boosting his scores – target him if you need a POD!
I’ll update this for the end of the year and have it ready to refer to again next year folks … good luck for the remaining finals matches and your OA dreams!!
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Thanks for putting that together Macca,I would’ve grabbed Marshall if he was a DPP, sadly he was only listed as a FWD, next year hopefully.
Good Job Macca. Also well done in TalksCheapSosYaMrs assuming you’re the maulers coach 🙂 . If only this thread was posted a couple of days ago. It would have convinced me to pull the trigger using my last trades to bring in Houli. I would have given you a run for your money without that stain of Logues score 😉
haha – yeah that was me Emma – sorry about that! I had a mixed run in all my leagues with Bont crucifying me in several and Macrae as captain against me nudging me by a few – lost 5 leagues by about 20-30 or less … gutted myself!
Yes, I had planned to try and get this done and updated at the end of round 19 (as the stats show) and in time for trades for round 20 … alas life got in the way and I was only able to finish on the weekend … and shortcut that as it was!!
The best trade options remain though, for those lucky enough to have the cash / trades!!
The numbers show, particularly for forwards, just how hard it is for most players to back up their previous year efforts … and also how hard it is for us SC coaches to try and pick the right side!!
I think its also the old adage, slow and steady wins the race … ie:
– those that play all matches (as long as they are proven scorers / in proven scoring roles) are the best selection … rather than going with a Kelly or Cogs or Cripps – they may have some beauties, but will miss games, cost you points and trades …
– DPP is key in forwards … or at least those that are playing significant mid time (ie avoid KPP)
– Avoid ageing players!! (Mundy!)
– Hold trading rookies (the good ones, not the “Young” ones!) too early – one bad game does not mean their end … and holding those trades is Gold at this time of year …
Whilst it is hard to predict injuries … something to consider for next year!
Thanks for the article.
Regarding forwards, for next season it will be interesting to see the structures with the expected dpp changes/removals of this year’s current batch.
Discounted options such as S Menegola, D Smith, C Wingard, T McDonald, J Hogan, etc will be very enticing allowing cash to be utilised on other lines.
for sure … and lets hope players like Smith and Menegola get DPP again and play mostly mids!!
Hopefully will be able to finally start a premo less forward line as I’ve been enticed this year and in the past to attempt it.