Unlike last week where I asked you not to trade sideways, there is only one premo up for debate this week, Nas. A less than subtle reminder that in the last couple of weeks I have strongly suggested not to trade out the Bont, Noah Anderson, Sam Flanders and Caleb Serong in favour of getting rookies off the field. Just saying, think that advice was vindicated last round with a combined 546 points on the field in place of those rookies filling blanks.
MOST TRADED OUT
Anyhow, this week there is much more supportive data to trade out Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera due to his three week prognosis on the calf. Given the ugly round 16 bye and the fact that he will likely only play two or three of the next seven rounds, it is probably a good idea to flick him to a friendlier bye backman such as Whitfield if you don’t own him already. If you are OK with that bye, he’s an easy swap to Jack Sinclair. For the record, he shares that bye with Sinclair, Baily Dale, Connor Budarick, Tom Stewart and Caleb Winsor in defence, as well as Max Gawn, Max Holmes, The Bont, Ed Richards, Bazlenka, Sam Flanders and Kozzy Pickett just to name the popular ones. Plus he misses the only potential soft match up against the Tiges this week before harder matches against Swans, Giants and Dogs before the bye, all reasons to sell.
If you have a stable defence and a pretty good bench cover of the Josh Lindsay, Michael Selwood type and you really want to keep him, I think that’s OK as well. I’m just not happy I traded him in to my Tech Team last week and missed the late out due to a bowls tournament. Cest la Vie.
. 
Everyone else on the list of outs this week is probably due for a move one way or another, depending on your structure and composition at this point in time. Jacob Farrow’s BE is well above his average, and whilst I think he will be a gun one day, there’s not sense in hanging on. Ridley returning may affect his scores even more, so bye bye Jacob.
Tanner Bruhn at three on the list, has outworn his welcome as a higher scorer than a rookie on the field. Admittedly, he is scoring higher than those rookies but he is about to lose cash and has tough match ups against the Lions and the Swans. $115k profit is not what we were hoping for but it is a good start to a fallen premo like The Flying Finn or Hugh McCluggage if you feel that move works for you.
Despite Mattaes Phillipou having a BE even ten points higher than his average, I’m holding this week. He’s back at Marvel, is getting more minutes each game and has the Tigers this week. A gamble on a spike score for me is easier than trying to find another rookie to trade in. If you can use the cash to get a good upgrade to a fallen premo, then by all means go for it, but at this stage I’m keeping my POU together.
Josh Lindsay is another that stays in my team for a while despite the slightly larger BE than season average. He’s at home against GWS and has scores of 132, 81 and 80 under his belt so I’m hoping he produces some more of those before I have to move him on as I could really use the bench cover. However has made a nice quarter mill profit so if you can get a Lachie Whitfield type now, do it.
Willem Duursma has made $200 k so it is a good time to use that cash. He’s a great kid but with a kid’s body, so may get rested at some stage. Handy bench cover but not sure you need to risk the cash for that reason.
Jack Carroll does not have to urgently go this week. Gamble on a spike score against the Tigers, as his ton came against the Weagles and he seems to be cemented in that side. Has made his mandatory $170k so if it’s in your plan then continue with the plan.
Sam Grlj and Jai Serong should already be gone, so if you have both, it will be tough going. Serong is a test with a hammy so the decision could be made for you if he is not selected. Grilj against the Saints is not a risk you want to take.
Todd Marshall is the least urgent of these rooks to flick with a BE half his average. If you do not need him to get to a premo, leave him on the bench as a loop option. It appears Port is experimenting a bit, and Esava is back here in Darwin Friday and a lot may depend on that performance.
MOST TRADED IN
Top of the list is a pricey rookie, Liam Henry. At $160k he’s not the perfect foil this week, but as the number of trades suggests, he’s close to the only one. 88 and 56 on return and the Tigers this week. As Derek keeps referring to the match up for captains, so too do the match ups mirror for players. Tigers should allow a gentle 50-60 or a spike 80 again, making us all at least $40k which will justify the higher price tag.
Second on the list is a very pricey Archie Roberts, who would have thought? At $597k you need to be sure he’s the real deal (that’s tongue in cheek). He’s gone on an absolute tear the past month or so, and does not look like stopping anytime soon. Doesn’t appear to be any way out of the Don’s defence without Archie touching it making him a proverbial pig in SC. Average of 115 is right up there so if it suits your structure and you are not just chasing points, then it’s a good solid move. Not sure if we need to factor in a Jordan Ridley affect soon.
Hugh McCluggage is as close the lowest price you will see this year. I say close because we need to factor in the Mullin affect this week. Last year Mullin completely nullified him when he was on fire and whilst that BE of 77 looks good now, it may still be the same next week. Of Course we cannot decide for Chris Scott who is best tagged this week of all the highly skilled Brisbane mids, so if you are sure it will not be Hugh, then grab him now. No doubt, this week aside, he is getting better each game, with increased TOG and CBA and will be a great trade in. Me, I wait another week I think at this stage and grab Cally before a hit out in the West.
Were the more than 9,000 coaches who traded in Darragh Joyce hoping for a miracle. Was never staying in that defence with Zorks and Gardiner coming back. If you have not already, reverse that trade.
Wade Derkson is in the same boat. You can wait until teams come out tonight if you are hoping a Josh Fraser inspired shake up will include him. As a loop rookie, $99k is the price to pay, especially as he’s on the bubble and due to make money after his next game with a -33 BE. If that’s your intention, it works for me.
The middle of this list with more than 7,000 inclusions is the Crow Magic Izak Rankine. Didn’t he look good last week, oh wait, it was only against the Tigers. Still $75k under his starting price offers up great value as a forward where we struggle a little. Has fantastic recent history against the Roos with a lowest score of 109 in the last three years and a career average of 100 against the Blue and White boys. Will also make a lazy $25-30k as well. I’d grab him except I’m frightened by the round 12 bye where I would also be missing the likes of the other forwards in Tracca, Sheez, The Hornet and my bench cover in Brayden Cook and Leo Lombard. Not to mention those with Touk Miller and Josh Rachelle as well. You could conceivably have no forwards playing that week. Be good if you could tank to get an extra trade !!
The Bont. What can I say. I said buy last week because you aint getting him under $600k again. Well, $612k is still great buying for the world’s best SC mid.
Lachie Whitfield. I got him last week before the price rise and was most pleased. Probably the only trade I’ve made this year that wasn’t mozzed. Absolutely nothing stopping you nabbing the GWS seagull right now as I expect the 101 BE to get stomped all over against the West Coast forward line this week. Has that fantastic R13 bye as well.
Almost there. Jack Sinclair. Again if the round 16 bye does not scare the shite out you, swap Nas for him now. Can play footy and has the Tiges.
And last but not least, The Magician, Dayne Zorko, at $458k represents good value and has a better bye. Try not to talk about dodgy calves and 50 year old players in the same sentence, because it might deter you. Zorks in that backline demands the pill, takes kick ins and drills it it with precision. What’s not to like, definitely could do worse, but factor in the odd rest.
As always, thanks for reading and leave comments to promote discussion, please.
Thanks Jimmy, a good read at a time I need it!
I went to the cupboard but the cupboard was BARE! Not many rookies being named… very few options!
Thanks Jimmy Another great read.