Normally, Rare Gems has a hard cutoff of 3 percent ownership. However, it would seem to me that the people to whom this series would be most useful at this time of year would be those who are playing for leagues, and who are looking for a POD or two for finals. So, to make it as useful as possible, as a one-off, I am going to loosen up the rareness threshold slightly, and instead focus on relatively rare players who are at the top of their game.
Player Name (Club, Price, Ownership, Average, 3-round-average, 5-round-average)
DEFENDERS
Christian Salem (MEL, $507,600, 5.0 %, 96.4, 101.7, 105.0)
He can be a bit up-and-down, with his last 5 scores being 133, 87, 94, 139, and 72. This can be a double-edged sword in league matchups; on the one hand, he could put in a bad game and lose it for you, but on the other hand, he could just as easily put in a big one and win it.
MIDFIELDERS
Dayne Zorko (BL, $572,700, 3.5 %, 105.4, 117.7, 120.6)
If you’re looking for a midfield POD, look no further. Zorko has averaged 114 since round 7, and finds himself in just 3.5 percent of teams.
Jarryd Lyons (BL, $571,800, 1.1 %, 94.9, 137.3, 118.4)
And if you’re looking for another midfield POD, Lyons could be your man. His recent form has made people finally take notice of him, but he’s actually been averaging 113 since round 10 (and making Gold Coast’s list managers look very, very silly in the process).
RUCKS
Todd Goldstein (NMFC, $622,400, 13.1 %, 110.2, 129.3, 133.4)
Pre-bye, he was the next best thing to the big 2; post-bye, he’s been just as good as the big 2 (perhaps we should start calling them the big 3?). I wouldn’t be trading out Grundy or Gawn to get him, and if you’re in the market for a new ruckman, you would be brave to go past the similarly-priced Gawn, but if you want a relative POD in your ruck line, Goldstein is the one you want. The only potential downside is that he plays Gawn in round 23.
FORWARDS
Rowan Marshall (STK, $628,800, 15.7 %, 113.1, 127.7, 134.0)
Astonishingly, the equal-highest averaging forward in the game is in just under 16 percent of teams. On recent form, only Dunkley and Dangerfield come close to this guy. He plays Fremantle in round 21, which may or may not entail playing against Sandilands (you can never tell with his body), but Marshall isn’t the kind of ruckman who needs to win the hitout battle to score well – note his 125 against Gawn on the weekend. And apart from the potential Sandilands matchup, his draw looks pretty great. If you don’t have this guy, get him.
Scott Lycett (RUC) (PTA, $547,500, 11.5 %, 99.8, 94.0, 111.2)
Already in great form, Lycett faces Essendon and Sydney’s makeshift ruck setups in the next two weeks. The only potential downside is that he faces Fremantle (and, therefore, possibly Sandilands) in round 23 (aka SuperCoach Grand Final week), but the prospect of him also being able to cover the ruck should something go wrong there should more than make up for that.
Are there any rare(-ish) gems that you’re eyeing off for the last 4 weeks? Let us know in the comments below!
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The only people who didn’t think Jarryd Lyons was worth keeping was the people at G.C.
It was just outright negligence that they let him go.
Any DEF with a 3Rd ave better than Crisp, Sicily and/or Stewart.
There are plenty 😉
Multiple reports suggest Lycett will be dropped this week.
Yeah, I can’t believe it either.
stack might be out too , calf injury
For those contemplating Marshall – worth considering that his potential “tough” matchup on Sandilans comes in the second week of finals. So if you’re top 4 in your league and confident of a win this week, that round means nothing to you.
Lycett dropped for bombers game
How!? He played good last week
Hinkley sucks
Hinkley is the new Magnets
They’re all following the maestro Pep Guardiola and ‘managing’ players where and when they can. ESS have no real RUC to speak of, so give him a week off 😉
Not good news for us owners 🙁
| ESS have no real RUC to speak of
Which is exactly why he should be playing! Think of the points!!!
I’ve never had anything against Hinkley before, but as of now, I hope Kochie fires him at the end of the year.
Hinkley is a f*cking moron. There, I said it.
Consider the chain of events regarding Lycett: pay top dollar to lure him away from a premiership club, finds great form mid-season when you need it, probably 2nd in your club’s B&F and then DROPPED so Hinkley can try some mental ju-jitsu by playing Ryder against his own club.
What the actual f*ck.
Plus, he talks too much trash: Port “deserve” to play finals, “we’re going to terrorize Lachie Neale” by bringing in a guy who was one of his groomsmen and the whole charade he pulled in the coaches box after Port won an insignificant Showdown match.
Absolute muppet.
I completely agree and I’m a Port supporter. A large contingency of the fanbase seem to also display a similar sentiment as seen by the poor crowd attendance last week/this season and the displeasure with Hinkley.
Devoid of tactical nous and their forward structure and decision making/disposal efficiency is abysmal.
Yeah. Must be frustrating to watch, Adam. So much talent wasted. Gray and Westhoff will only be around for so long and the year Boak finds AA form Hinkley bungles it. My condolences.
Maybe he’s just knackered and needs a rest?
Personally I’m gutted as I thought he might let me down last week with Ryder back, but it wasn’t the case.
Bought him, like Marshall, around $420k and he has been OUTSTANDING.
Thanks Scott you’ve been a GEM … but it’s straight trade time for me.
#ain’tnobodygotnotimefordat 😉
Apparently when you lose you need to make changes, not sure how he gets the axe but as a bombers supporter very happy
A very good coaching move !! My main oppt has Lycett as well as Kreuzer and Grundy !!
Lol. You’ve engineered this whole thing haven’t you, Wighty? In that case, I’ll let my rage subside.
Btw, I don’t own Lycett. Just mind numbingly stupid that Hinkley would drop him.
I still think ROB will be a late withdrawal………..
Why say you?
Apparently he was still suffering from concussion symptoms yesterday, RB