OUTs
No surprises in the list of most traded out this week. 70% of those on the outer are also on their bye, so it fits in with the theory of holding player until the bye and trading them to someone already having had the bye.
Some are just trades of convenience, like Campbell Gray who is injured and can make a bit of cash if traded to Tom McCarthy to help you get to a Callum Mills or Sam Darcy type.
Angus Clarke, on the other hand is playing and has a small BE of 15 and still has money to make. I think the assumption here is that he may be the only way to a better option and he was not easily forgiven for his yuk score of 29 despite him serving up a nice 71 the week before. If he gets near his small sample average he will still make you $20k and be a warm body. Me, I’m holding as there are other dead rookies out there who could serve the same purpose.
Levi Ashcroft is wilting and it’s understandable to move him on while he still has currency. Lost $24k last week and projected to lose another $19k this round. It was a nice thought to hold him till his bye, but no problem using him for an upgrade at this point.
Then there’s the likes of Izak Rankine coming off some underwhelming scores and going into his bye as a not too fancied keeper. His BE is 93, so not impossible, but it looks as though he is turning into a few Sam Darcyand Jason Hornet types. Probably a win win as they will get the same, if not more, points while Ranks is not playing. One of the moves I’m looking at as well, but I’ve painted myself into a corner with my lack of DPPs in the midfield where I want to trade. Matt Flynn could fill this option if I decide to trade in a midfielder (looking at Bont/Butters/Hewett) and chuck them into the flex for a while. Flynn has fulfilled his short obligation, made a few bucks and is on a bye so it definitely makes sense to trade him out.
One of the more interesting trade outs this week is big Max Gawn, but only as shown on the top 1% and top 5% of coaches list. There are fewer of these coaches trading TDK than overall trades and I can only assume the rest are being used on Nic Madden. Is it a strategy to gain big bucks by dropping in Nic Madden short term during the bye to make $60 or 70k and then reverting after round 15 is over. Need a few trades to make this strategy work if that is the case.
Ins
Tom McCarthy filled his boots last week in his debut game, and his rock bottom price coupled with that magical 133 sees him traded in by more than twice as many as the next guy, despite him not playing this week. I have dead rookies that he will gazump in in the next week or two. I don’t need a non playing trade in this week, I need to fill a couple of spots to get over the 18 mark and will get a better handle on him after another game.
Sam Butler is another in the same boat, not playing this week but traded in by a couple of thousand coaches. Have to assume those coaches have a good 20 odd playing this week and are setting up for next week and beyond. As with McCarthy, I would not be bringing in a non playing body during a bye, but hey, that’s me.
Nic Madden has a healthy BE (-89) and should make shiteloads of money in the next couple of weeks in the absence of Kieran Briggs. Don’t expect him to keep his spot when Briggs returns in a week or two though and have a trade back out strategy on hand.
I like the look of Harry Rowston, not just in his one full game, but his maturity and form in the twos has been impressive. I’d prefer to whack him in the mids but don’t have a spot and that’s where the lack of DPPs comes back to bight me. For that reason, I may be tempted to take a punt on Jack Martin as I have forward spots available and he has been moved back into a friendlier SC role. That -23 BE will also help promote the budget with even average scores. Bye next week for both Rowston and Jack a bit of a damper though.
I figured Callum Mills would be popular this week, both because of price and a proven history. If you get his average (88) over the next two weeks minimum you will be pleased. Of course if he gets that this weekend he’ll make you another $24k. Most of us, me included, would hope he could fill that last defensive post and be a keeper for the rest of the season.
31,000 coaches have spent their readies on the value options apart from Mills. Sam Darcy excites everyone and his contested game is points friendly supported by his healthy average of 96 for a key forward. Came back from injury as if he never left and has some juicy match ups against The Tiges, Swans and Roos over the short stretch. No reason not to get on if you can.
Those that hung onto the Hornet would have been happy with his output last week (bar the last quarter), but those that didn’t, or never had him can see the light and the top six forward you need to finish your front six. Price wont change much if you need to wait and get a Mills or Prestia type first.
Dion Prestia is the conundrum here. Averaging 126 after only two games, a BE of -3 and a guaranteed inside role in a team that desperately needs him ticks a lot of boxes. Durability is not a box yet ticked! If you are a punter and want to have a crack, beware of his injury history and make sure you have a trade to fix him if he does not last the season.
Anyhow, here’s hoping all your decisions turn into gold and see you move up the ranks during the byes.