Captainancy Candidates – Round 7

Captainancy Candidates – Round 7

Round 6 Recap

Round 6 was one of those weeks where you were circling the right answers… but just didn’t quite land the knockout blow.

Max Gawn came back to earth a little with 105, Caleb Serong didn’t fully capitalise on what looked like a perfect matchup and finished with 97, and Christian Petracca returned with a solid but unspectacular 105. Luke Jackson was again solid with 125, but once more, it wasn’t quite the ceiling game that many were hoping for given the setup.

Harry Sheezel was the standout from our Captain group, delivering 141 and rewarding those who backed in the consistency. If you had him as a VC, you were feeling pretty comfortable early, exactly what you want from that position.

Brodie Grundy was the best of the VC options with 136, which was a strong return without quite breaking the round open.

The big scores came from elsewhere. Zak Butters (154), Bailey Smith (151) and Zach Merrett (150) all went large, while Jeremy Cameron topped them all with a 160, because every now and then, key forwards decide they’d like to remind us they exist.

Round 7 – It’s Not Just About Form Anymore

Up until now, the formula has been fairly simple.

Form, role, matchup.

That still matters… but now there’s another layer.

Tagging.

It’s becoming more structured, more consistent, and more effective across the competition. Anyone who had the Captain on Bont last week knows exactly how damaging it can be.
Geelong have committed to Mullin in the role, Sydney have clearly handed the job to James Jordon, and GWS have rotated through Angwin and Bedford. Adelaide have used Michalanney, and St Kilda have shown they’re happy to send Garcia to a key player.

And the impact is clear in the scores. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was held to 70 under close attention, Finn Callaghan was restricted to 65, and Marcus Bontempelli was brought back to just 66. That’s not a small dip. When the tag lands, even the best players can be neutralised.

That matters this week. Butters looks set to run into Mullin again. Bontempelli shapes as a target for Jordon. Sheezel is the type of player GWS could also look to restrict.

This is the week where avoiding the tag might be just as important as picking the right player.

Rucks – The Starting Point (Again)

Even with the tagging conversation, it’s very hard to ignore the rucks.

Thursday night gives us Brodie Grundy against the Bulldogs, and with Tim English unlikely to play, it’s about as clean a VC setup as you’ll get. When Grundy has a clear advantage, the points come through volume and consistency.

Friday night brings Max Gawn against Richmond, who remain without Nankervis.

It’s also important to understand last week. Gawn’s 105 wasn’t a form issue, it was a role issue. Melbourne introduced Max Heath into the ruck rotation, which dropped Gawn’s time on ground to just 79%, his lowest of the season. Less time on ground means less opportunity to accumulate. This week, there’s far less reason for Melbourne to go down that path.

If the other Max isn’t named, expect a bounce-back.

Fremantle vs Carlton – Jackson Back in the Frame

This matchup has shifted significantly.

Fremantle take on Carlton, and the big news is that Marc Pittonet is out with a broken hand.

That removes one of the more physical ruck matchups across the competition and gives Fremantle a clear advantage at stoppage.

Sean Darcy remains out with a calf injury and looks set to miss multiple weeks. While the expectation is that Mason Cox comes into the side, Jackson is still in a very strong position.

A solo ruck role would make him one of the best Captain options of the round, but even if he shares the role, the matchup is still excellent.

vs West Coast – The Weekly Safety Net

We ask it every week. Who plays West Coast?

This time it’s St Kilda, and once again, it matters.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera continues to build into his role and is starting to show genuine scoring upside. When he gets space, he can accumulate quickly.

Jack Sinclair remains one of the safest players in the game, with a role that allows him to score regardless of game flow.

Sunday at Marvel, against West Coast, If you need a late playing Captain, this is where you look.

Gold Coast – A Week to Avoid

There are some big names at Gold Coast, but everything about this week points in one direction.

Noah Anderson remains out after his appendix surgery. Matt Rowell is clearly hampered by a broken hand and Christian Petracca is returning from a hamstring injury with managed minutes.

Then you add the travel to Tasmania and a matchup with a Hawthorn side that has been dominant in the ruck and limiting opposition midfielders.

This feels like a week to leave them alone.

Geelong vs Port Adelaide – Clean and Simple

Saturday night presents one of the cleaner matchups of the round.

Bailey Smith and Max Holmes both come into this game in strong form and continue to benefit from Geelong’s system. They find uncontested ball, they link play, and they build scores consistently.

Port Adelaide can be competitive, but they still allow opposition midfielders to find space.

And importantly no major tagging concerns.

Essendon vs Collingwood

Nick Daicos answered any fitness concerns last week.

His 140 came in a tight game, and more importantly, he took control late.

That brings up something important.

Scaling.

In close games, especially in the final quarter, scoring heavily favours players on the winning side. Those key moments, clearances, contested possessions, score involvements are rewarded heavily.

A close game can turn a 110 into a 140 very quickly.

Zach Merrett also remains a strong option, coming off 150 and benefiting from his role across half-back and a sneaky VC on Archie Roberts isn’t crazy.

North Melbourne vs GWS

The final game of the round could be crucial.

Harry Sheezel continues to be one of the safest options available, combining consistency with a solid ceiling. Will GWS give him some attention, or will it go to LDU?

Tristan Xerri shapes as a strong option against a struggling GWS ruck division for those who have held him or are bringing him in this week, while Finn Callaghan looks like a bounce-back candidate if he avoids a tag.

Butters – The Red Flag

Zak Butters is coming off a huge 154, but this week comes with a clear warning.

If he gets the Mullin tag, and history says he will, the results haven’t been good.

Last year he scored 53 and 45 in those matchups.

Form is strong… but the matchup is about as bad as it gets.

Final Thoughts – Captain & Vice-Captain

This week isn’t just about picking the best player. It’s about picking the best situation. Tags matter. Roles matter. Matchups matter.

And avoiding the wrong pick might be more important than finding the perfect one.

Vice-Captain Options
1. Brodie Grundy (Thursday) – Clear ruck advantage and the cleanest start
2. Max Gawn (Friday) – Bounce-back setup and strong fallback
3. Zach Merrett (Saturday) – Form and role trending strongly
4. Luke Jackson (Saturday) – Strong matchup with Pittonet out
5. Kysaiah Pickett (Friday) – High-impact player who can spike

Captain Options
1. Nick Daicos (Saturday) – Fully fit, elite ceiling, thrives in big moments
2. Bailey Smith / Max Holmes (Saturday) – Clean matchup and strong roles
3. Harry Sheezel (Sunday) – Elite consistency and perfect fallback
4. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (Sunday) – Role + West Coast matchup
5. Finn Callaghan (Sunday) – Bounce-back potential if he avoids the tag

Thanks fellas