Captaincy Candidates – Round 1

Captaincy Candidates

De Koning v Tigers

• L3 v Tigers: 118, 88, 54 (87 avg.)
• L3 @ MCG: 176, 146, 66 (129 avg.)

TDK comes in off a clean pre-season and the solo gig to himself. The Tigers on a wide deck at the G will leak plenty of ATG economy. He’ll basically play as a chain midfielder, so pencil him in for 125 and just so long as he stays out of Nank’s sights!

Day v Essendon

• L3 v Essendon: 60, 93, 122 (92 avg.)
• L3 @ MCG: 10, 40, 104 (51 avg.)

Don’t get too wedded to Day’s L3 numbers as this is the first year he’s truly come in as a purefire premium. The only numbers you need to worry about are last week’s:  26 touches, 13 contested, 3 goals, 9 clearances and 6 tackles for 148. Essendon’s schoolies trip of a midfield will be helpless. Day for 130.

Serong v Cats

• L3 v Cats: 114, 110, 135 (120 avg.)
• L3 @ GMHBA: 110, 79 (95 avg.)

Away from home and in the heat might seem a little sub-optimal but the Cats are fundamentally a good midfield match up with ageing or greening personnel and no ruck. That’s all to say Serong is solid here for 125. For my fellow Brayshaw boys, it’s the same deal for him here too.

Sheezel v Dogs

• L3 v Dogs: 103, 103 (103 avg.)
• L3 @ MRVL: 105, 138, 141 (128 avg.)

Decimated. Debilitated. And another dramatic word that starts with the d. The Dogs are cooked. No Bont, Richards, Treloar, Lobb, Dale, Weightman. I’m tipping North. Without all the top end talent and depth, Sheezel will absolutely run riot. Confident in a 140.

Xerri v Dogs

• L3 v Dogs: 141, 141, 103 (128 avg.)
• L3 @ MRVL: 141, 144, 109 (131 avg.)

Xerri’s done the Dogs twice for 141, once with English and once without. Should brutalize him again and the Dogs usual stoppage dominance has been neutralized. Make it a third 141.

Dawson v Saints

• L3 v Saints: 108, 89, 130 (109 avg.)
• L3 @ AO: 143, 105, 108 (119 avg.)

A really nice match up for Dawson, at home and against the Saints. Many have him and the Crows on the up in 2025 as part of a new look midfield with actual depth and attributes. Solid to open for 120 against a pretty barren and underdone Saints engine room.

Gawn v Giants

• L3 v Giants: 97, 111, 130 (113 avg.)
• L3 @ MCG: 122, 177, 97 (132 avg.)

No Briggs, DCam went 161. Going to be a center bounce slaughterhouse. A lock for 160+.

Anderson v Eagles

• L3 v Eagles: 93, 151, 88 (111 avg.)
• L3 @ OS: 93, 93, 88 (91 avg.)

Is it disconcerting that Anderson is a bit of a downhill skier and can’t really cook away from home? Yes. But, come off it, it’s West Coast! Surely after his strong summer and promotion to the captaincy he shreds the best SC opposition in the comp for 130. I’m bracing for us to get absolutely railed.

Smoky Pick

Cerra v Tigers

• L3 v Tigers: 102, 84, 100 (95 avg.)
• L3 @ MCG: 38, 102, 75 (72 avg.)

Probably one worth a shout for those backing into Maxxy but a revamped Cerra playing on ball against the Tigers is an attractive proposition. A look for 125 if his pre-season hype is really all it’s been said to be.

Rozee v Pies

• L3 v Pies: 65, 117, 92 (91 avg.)
• L3 @ MCG: 104, 65, 90 (86 avg.)

A bit of a marginal call with Rozee only just confirmed to be alright off of that toe injury but the match conditions should still be good. Has to step up with Butters not there, can go 140 if Port get their forward half and repeat I50 game going.

Steer Clear

Neale v Swans

• L3 v Swans: 78, 144, 187 (136 avg.)
• L3 @ SCG: 187, 110, 44 (114 av.)

Swans can activate Jordon at any moment on him and condemn him to a low-ton. Pass.

Verdict

If you have Gawn, straight C and pass on most VCs. TDK, Sheezel and Xerri all then excellent. However, all will fall before GD’s big fellas: