Team Reveal – Gunboat Diplomacy

Written by Gunboat Diplomacy on March 10 2022

Let me preface this by saying: I’m a straight up guns and rookies man. Usually pretty good with starting premo selections but tend to overlook midpricers, particularly awkwardly priced ones in the grey between cash generators and keepers. This disposition f*cked me last season when I eschewed Ziebell for 12 top shelf premos. Paid up for the premos and nailed them all but missing Ziebell, Impey types and not investing in down back destroyed me. Usually also wedded to the idea of 13 keepers but I think this season demands some unique value allocation and shield picks. Admittedly the expensive rookies have also forced my hand.

Anyway, we’ll talk more strategy and structure at the end.

Here’s the team:

Bear with me. Let’s go line by line.

Defenders

Like many, I was initially worried about the lack of defender rookies however a decent 5 look to have come through in Hinge, Gibcus, McCartin, De Koning and even Boyd. Probably won’t score the best but I’m relatively comfortable with their job security. To the premos, I’m quite a fan of Ryan with Freo’s replenished defensive stocks. They’ve said they want him as a loose interceptor and distributor and looks to finally have the KPPs back to free him up. Similarly, the Dons have brought in Kelly to liberate Ridley from playing accountable on small FWDs, so I’m liking him as well. He’s only got a plurality, not a monopoly, on kick ins but counting on his intercept work to cover that. Now this is where it gets dirty: Hewett D3. A disgrace, I know – but I needed to free up the cash for these expensive rookies and MID depth. My preference at D3 has been Dale, who still might come in, but if Hewett can do closer to 90 than 80, I’m fine with that. Will have a decent CBA load as that defensive MID and maybe even a bit more ball winning early with Walsh out of action. Lloyd the notable omission, but the 40k is handy and I think other DEF premos will only lag behind him by 5 – 10 ppg.

Midfielders

Would love to just got 5x 620k+ MIDs however sacking an M5 to build depth elsewhere looks to be the play. Macrae and Steele are just obvious, I had Miller last season, rate him incredibly highly and he hasn’t left my side since SC opened and I’m also bullish on Parish. Was averaging something ridiculous like 130 from Round 6 until those last few rounds where he got savaged by tags. Huge ceiling, room for development and great CP work. Weakness to tags a concern but surely he’s done some work on that over the pre-season. He’s in.

I’ve then got Rowell and Berry at M5 and M6. Think of it as I split my M5 for those two and an expensive rookie. Berry looks very fit and energized, just does 80+ in a strong side, and Rowell has all but sold me on his performance the other day. The score was irrelevant it was how confident he looked in his body and his presence at the contest; tackles, grunt and CP work were all there.

The MID rookies are all pretty much paid up here, with Long as a loop. Had considered not running a loop in case of a rookie JS crisis but would hate to limit myself to a straight C each week.

Rucks

ROB?!? Immediate TD, Gunboat. Go f*ck yourself. Despite that impulse, I think there’s a decent case for ROB. Played injured most of 2021, now back to full match fitness, injury free and recapturing that marking and intercepting dimension to his game. Can do 105-110, which makes the points lost to a Grundy or Gawn at R2 worth when I can then put that 100k to good use. Darcy is R1 for as long as he’s on the park, no explanation there.

Have gone Dixon at R3 without the combo with Hayes from the Saints, a duo a lot of people are liking. Dixon plays and does 40s but Hayes is out on his ass as soon as Ryder is back. Don’t want the hassle unless a timeframe is given on Ryder in the next week.

Forwards

My F1-F4 haven’t changed since SC opened: Dunks, Heeney, Butters & Coniglio. Dunks is a premo MID when fit, Butters and Heeney look primed for an upward trajectory in scoring with increased MID minutes and strong pre-seasons and Cogs might even end up an F6 keeper.

Despite FT and I shitcanning him for the last 2 months, Brodie has finagled his way into my team. Concern was his work effort, job security and then role but his pre-season games have assuaged that, for me atleast. McGovern and Xerri also interesting but have Brodie for now. Rachele and Durdin, despite being small FWDs in ass teams, are starters for all of us and thinking Baldwin will be a nice slow burn at F8.

Structure & Strategy

So, there it is. 3-4-2-3. 12 keepers plus Rowell, Berry, Cogs and Brodie. Discounted R2 and D3 to finance midpricer depth and expensive rookies. Not in love with this side but it’s what I’ve got for now, with room for the following changes if need be:

– Trim down Brodie and/or Parish to Neale in order to get Hewett up to a proper premo

– Also the potential to trade a FWD premo for a DEF premo in case of a dropped rookie but I’m pretty happy with F1 – F4

– To get back to 13 keepers I’d need to sack Rowell, but he looks a tremendous value proposition at 342k if he can do triple digits

– A major overhaul I’m keeping in the back of my mind is to run Cogs as an F3 keeper, sack the other midpricers and get Bont in as an M5

Anyway, that’s it. Welcome any feedback, otherwise going to let those alternatives percolate and sit on this till teamsheets drop.

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39 thoughts on “Team Reveal – Gunboat Diplomacy”

  1. Nice looking team, only suggestion i would make is to get Neale in for Parish and use that money to upgrade Hewett to a proper premo.

    Good luck.

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    1. Hey, Ben.

      Parish down to Neale only nets me 80k, which isn’t quite enough to get Hewett up to a proper premo.

      Would need to free up more cash elsewhere, which I’m considering.

      Cheers.

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  2. One of the very few starting teams I’ve seen without Grundy or Gawn for probably the, what, the last 4 pre-seasons? Absolutely nothing wrong with that either, as these two collectively could well average 230 between them per week.

    Enjoy the 6 deep in the midfield, that’s where the points are so agree with going big there, and there’s potentially 5 keepers to start if Rowell can go big as stick around as a more than handy M8!

    Hewett would be my biggest concern with this starting lineup, especially when Walsh returns and if Cripps can keep up his pre-season form, fingers crossed he doesn’t fade out to a back pocket or tagging role. Does have a decent ceiling from memory back at the Swans.

    Interesting to see who stays and who goes come 7PM Wednesday!

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    1. Thanks, Dane.

      Yeah, not in love with the Hewett pick but structurally works rn. Could very well end up sacking him.

      We’ll see…

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  3. Hi GD

    Very solid team. Thanks for sharing.

    One question mark for me is Brodie given CT’s post on Fyffe…”Nat Fyfe – “That experiment of playing forward yielded some good results, but it’s officially over. I’m a midfielder and that’s where I’m playing”….

    Seems to me that Brodies ability to get time in the middle will be limited. Thoughts?

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    1. Morning, Powerplay.

      Yeah, I saw the update on Fyfe. Think Brodie will still get a 4th MID CBA similar to the AAMI game. Won’t get 15-20, probably 8-12.

      Crowden had 20+ CBAs the other day as the Dockers #1 attendee the other day lol. He definitely gets the chop for Fyfe.

      Brodie quite active at stoppages, covering the ground well. Thinking a small CBA load plus work across the ground and he can do 75-80? Not 100% sure, but he’s in at F5 for now.

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  4. Great write up GD, glad you saw what I saw with Rowell, trying to fit him is driving me mental though lol.

    *cough
    Parish -> Neale
    Hewett ->Sicily
    *cough

    Great team, the balls to go Darcy and ROB skipping on Grundy… could be a huge play if it works out.

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    1. Sicily? Ugh.

      I just can’t, Abs.

      Like you said the other day, his role will be dynamic. Going to be prone to a few accountable games trying to keep a lid on opposition talls.

      Also lost a kick in plurality and there’s all these cooks in the kitchen now eating away at potential distribution.

      Idk, at least Hewett’s role is clearly defined: defensive MID on ball.

      Argh, who knows. I should probably just get a proper D3 and be done with the headf*ck.

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  5. Nice team GD. I like the Hewett pick this year. In a normal year I’d say take a genuine premo but that cash is needed elsewhere. This is just personal preference, I don’t mind the ROB pick but I think you will trade him out eventually, just a matter of using the cash elsewhere to maximize points

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    1. Yeah, never thought I’d be the type to slut it up at D3 and R2 but Hewett and ROB save me 250k to apportion elsewhere.

      If Hewett can do 90 and ROB 105, I’m set.

      Might not have the stones for it come Round 1 though lol.

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  6. Great team Gunboat.

    That midfield could really launch you into a fast start. I’m also loving the Ryan pick. I have secretly had him at D2 since Dawson went down. He comes with some injury risk, but I’m thinking he could start on fire. The expensive rookies mean somethings gotta give so I’m looking at Hewett too. We also have nearly exactly the same bench. Great minds eh ?

    I will try to get my team ready today, I’m just trying to fit Rowell in atm 🙁

    Thanks again for a great team reveal.

    Good luck in 2022 mate.

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  7. Three hawks players on the bench in the mids, I found that can restrict your loopholes I try and find players in teams that have more Sunday games to sit on the bench.

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    1. check the Bye Planner and the Draw tab – there is a grid reference there for best teams playing late over first 10 weeks – Hawks play the most games late in the first 10 rounds – dockers or bombers probably second best options for a non playing loop option.

      GD has a good option in Long, with the added benefit of M/F swing – Ward is there as a premium scoring Mid rookie …

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    1. Same here RB. I much more confident in my selections knowing that I have a lot in common with GD and consequently you (a seasoned SC veteran). Would it be crazy to not start JHF and use the cash to upgrade Goldy to Gawn?

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  8. All good points you bring up GD.

    I’d suggest like the other comments, taking Parish to Neale. You could also go ROB to English and that might give you enough to Hewett to say Whitfield. Worse case scenario, English averages 90 as a F6.

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  9. Are you concerned about ward?
    1) That’s 180k on the bench.
    2) He needs to reach 330k roughly to make 150k. Roughly average 65-70. Do you think he can do that when Mitchell and omera returns?

    Based on that, I suggest soligo. May replace laird for a while and should make easier cash and his score requirements are lower.

    Opinion?

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    1. Interesting thing to pick up on lol, xBBx.

      Yeah, think Ward does around the 70 mark and should get a 4th MID, low double digit/touch under CBA load. Has the talent.

      No chance Soligo outright replaces Laird as a #1 CBA attendee and probably doesn’t get that great a MID role either. It’s Crouch, Keays, Berry, Schoenberg and Sloane on ball.

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      1. I do love your team! To clarify. 🙂

        I wasn’t suggesting he would get cbas. Merely saying the 57k difference that soligo, Hough, someone else etc., could be used to strengthen somewhere else. I’m not sure about having 180k on the bench.

        Soligos wing cbas (1) may increase perhaps.

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        1. For what it is worth, I currently also have Ward on my bench and plan to loop him with JHF. I expect JHF will be up down and with Hawks playing a lot of Sunday games it means that I can turn to Ward when JHF is down or rested.

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          1. $180k is a lot on bench. I think Newcombe might get a fair few cba’s and Ward out on the wing.

            If a Stephen, Mead, Entree etc get picked, at $123k the cash might be better used elsewhere

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  10. Midfield and forwards look sensational GD. The rucks are a horse of a different colour but I don’t mind that either. The problem is at the back….

    Mitch Hinge did not participate in the Crows’ match sim today, and if you saw the bump he copped in the AAMI series then it’s an instant red flag. That shoulder is still buggered and I think he’s far too risky at that price for a D4. Boyd’s JS is also paper thin.

    Any other year that wouldn’t be a problem and you could just swap ’em out for other rookies, but that cupboard is bare. Fortunately for you, there’s plenty of us in that boat!

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    1. Yeah. Good point, Chillo.

      Was counting on those 5 DEF rookies being rock solid but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

      I could go Heeney -> Dale?

      Hmm.

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        1. Dale for me. Had Caleb all of last year and whilst he finished the year strong, it was frustrating watching him get moved around the park every week. As GD himself has mentioned in Trade Talk, the dogs like the ball in Dales hands coming out from defence – which includes the kick-in duties. I would guess, his good for 90+ each week, just whether he can keep up with the top 6.

          As for the team GD, I like it. Seeing no Gawn and Grundy is flaunting with danger (going against the grain and reliability of the two), but it’s strengthened your team everywhere else. Chillo’s bang on about Hinge, took him out of my team just now. I don’t think Heeney can be relied upon, we’ve talked so much about GWS and their injury concerns, Heeney is definitely in that conversation. Heeney > Dale sounds good, plenty of forward rookies that you can choose from (Maginness/Martin) as your F6-8.

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          1. Yeah. Thanks, LG.

            Been hot on Dale on pre-season. Have gone him to Heeney for now.

            Surely Gibcus, McCartin De Koning and one more can hold the fort down?

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  11. No good GD, delete and start again. Hahaha.

    In all seriousness, I’m leaning toward only 3 premo DEF’s as well. I love the Hewitt and Brodie picks. Seems like there’s a few detractors of those 2 but I say; stick fat!

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  12. Hey GD – nice team reveal mate!
    I have many same players and like your thought patterns in many instances!

    Top 5 forwards all the same (excluding Brodie) … and cant bring myself to the Hewett pick down back – gone for three premos there.

    Like you thoughts on the NPR swing in the middle, with Hawks having best playing late games over first 10 rounds and I have him too! Also sitting Ward on my mid bench, crazy as it sounds … and 6 of the first 9 rounds you can get a look at JHF before swapping for Ward … smart!

    I’ll hold off on giving away too much more of my line up … and still tinkering … and banking on the fact that pretty much every year there is 1 or 2 cheap rookies that get named that we dont think will … so not worried … until team lists of course!

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    1. I think Long might have edged past Brockman last weekend and could find himself in the Hawks team for round 1

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  13. When first looked at your team and saw ROB at R2, I thought “they have let a mad-man loose on the keyboard “. But then I remembered that I had Preuss at R2, so I understand your logic not wanting to spend top dollar on a Gawn or Grundy. When you compare who you can get for only $520k on the other lines, ROB actually starts to make sense and value. Nice one. Crazy, but nice.

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  14. Hey mate love your originality of your team.

    Not overally a fan of the ROB pick is everyone sleeping on Witts? can free yourself up 250k just a suggestion good team tho 🙂

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  15. the $80k gets you Hewett to Sicily.
    Neale and Sicily looks better value then Parish and Hewett. Hewett could burn us all and not sure how Parish will handle the tag.

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