Afternoon, all. I’m back on the captaincy content this season, every Thursday at midday – except this week where the round kicks off on a Wednesday.
Each week I’ll lay out 3 vice-captaincy candidates, 3 captaincy candidates, an otherwise good option you should steer clear from this week due to match up , form or injury and a smoky pick for those who live life on the edge. Will lay those options out alongside the candidate’s last 3 v opponent and last 3 @ the venue. I’ll also provide a little commentary and context around each candidate, a gut and statistically informed prediction and then a summative verdict.
My opinions are not inviolable, so of course give me your thoughts and VC/C combos for the round in the comments and if you’d like any numbers or analysis for a captaincy candidates I haven’t mentioned, go ahead and drop it in the comments and I’ll get back to you as soon as I see it. During the course of the round we’ll have this article pinned to the top of the site, so feel free to air your captaincy dilemmas or successes over the weekend.
Vice-Captaincy Candidates
MACRAE v Demons
- L3 v Dogs: 146, 145, 141 (141 av.)
- L3 @ MCG: 146, 107, 118 (124 av.)
Always a features in Captaincy Candidates and the season opener in no different. High stakes opener, tremendous record against the Dees and a lock for his customary 130.
SATAN v Dogs
- L3 v Dogs: 144, 139, 100 (128 av.)
- L3 @ MCG: 93, 144, 139 (125 av.)
Despite the Dogs inside strength, Satan relishes a right contest. Proven ceiling both against the Dogs and at the G, where’s probably more comfortable than the Dogs this week. Solid for 125.
STEELE v Pies
- L3 v Pies: 154, 73, 95 (107 av.)
- L3 @ MRVL: 155, 158, 145 (153 av.)
Probably going to go a touch under the radar as an early VC given the allure of Macrae and Satan, but the Pies are one of the best midfields to beat up on. A comfortable 130 for the Man of Steele here, with a real shot to go large.
Captaincy Candidates
PARISH v Cats
- L3 v Cats: 190, 79, 110 (126 av.)
- L3 @ MCG: 74, 108, 121 (101 av.)
Comes into the season at just the 8% ownership but one the highest ceilings MIDs available on the back on his enormous contested work. If left alone, Parish will have no problems kicking things off with a 130.
NEALE v Port
- L3 v Port: 130, 177, 118 (142 av.)
- L3 @ G: 133, 88, 64 (95 av.)
If you’re starting Neale and backing him to return to his best, he’s got to resume figuring his way into your captaincy calculations. Playing at home, proven ceiling against Port, solid for 120+.
MILLER v Eagles
- L3 v Eagles: 80, 98, 52 (77 av.)
- L3 @ OS: 127, 80, 52 (86 av.)
Doesn’t have attractive match up stats, however this is only Miller’s second year as a competition best midfielder and bona fide premo. Eagles midfield is basically non-existent. Expect the Suns to come out hot with Miller at the helm, working his ass off to a 140.
Steer Clear
MITCHELL v Roos
- L3 v Roos: 76, 143, 75 (98 av.)
- L3 @ MCG: 127, 150, 171 (149 av.)
Despite the appealing match up against the Roos at the G, Titch was nursing a groin issue as recently as last week. Probably has his ceiling capped at a low ton for the first round or so, so opt for a candidate who’s ceiling is wide open instead.
Smoky Pick
GAWN v Dogs
- L3 v Dogs: 125, 120, 117 (121 av.)
- L3 @ MCG: 100, 125, 95 (107 av.)
While the increasing split with Jackson will see him feature less as a VC/C this season, the Dogs being undersized at both ends and Maxxy’s vastly improved involvement outside of ruck contests should position him nicely for a 125+ on Wednesday night.
Verdict
It’s Steele into Miller this week for me. No problems with Macrae or any of the other candidates, but they’re both playing two of the easiest teams to draw massive scores from. Miller, in particular, I can just see eviscerating us on Sunday night.
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No mention of Goldstein? Has a great record against Hawthorn and would be coming up against a raw ruck in Lynch.
Isn’t Goldy sharing ruck duties this year?
Great stuff as usual GD and good luck for the year. I’ve got Miller as captain too but I’ve put the VC on Dunkley just in case he starts on fire like last year. Will probably regret not going McCrae but you just never know!
Ooo, yes. Dunks. Looked in great nick the other week, I like it.
Here are his stats:
DUNKLEY v Demons
L3 v Demons: 106, 202, 88 (132 av.)
L3 @ MCG: 113, 73, 76 (87 av.)
Outstanding GD.
Essential reading every week and much appreciated by the community.
Pretty sure the words summative and inviolable have never been used on the site before. Bravo GD! Great stuff!
Pretty sure PA used to drop a few doosys like them mate!
I miss PA. Wonder what he’s doing now.
GD’s been reading his dictionary in the off season!!
…and ” eviscerating” just tops it off !
For VC
TU: Macrae
TD: Gawn
Going in with all green dots. So going for the safe option and straight out Captaining Macrae.
Ahhh GD – always eagerly await your thoughts on this topic – thanks again so much mate!
Was getting worried that none of the big rucks were being mentioned until the very last came up with Gawnie! Are the days gone again now when it was just lock the GG’s in and we are back again to MIDs as the most favoured VC / C options?
I too am leaning to Macrae into Miller (I have learnt to take the CD favourite this year from the get go!!) … but the choice of Miller is also between having to play him or Oliver (cant have both in my starting structure)
I’m also wondering if Rowell emerges back to what he showed in his first couple of games (and may be becoming evident from trial matches) will it impacts Miller’s scores this year? … remains to be seen I guess!
Hey, Macca.
Think Rowell and Witts only help Miller in contributing to a stacked, well rounded midfield.
Excited to own and watch him once again and this time alongside you!
Also don’t forget that Hugh Greenwood is gone now too so I see Rowell as taking Greenwoods spot in the GC mids
T/U Brayshaw (115ave) + Berry (80-90ave) = 205
T/D Steele (125ave) + Ward (75ave) = 200
Thanks GD, stock standard Macrae into Steele for me
Gawn into Neale.
Hey GD does touks history against eagles concern you at all?
Hey, TOF.
Nah, only played us the once last year and like the piece said this is his 2nd year of being a bona fide premo.
We barely have a midfield anymore. He and Rowell are going to f*ck us up.
Feel like being a bit naughty and putting the C on Brayshaw against the young Crows if Gawn doesn’t score well tonight
BRAYSHAW v Crows
L3 v Crows: 117, 144, 66 (110 av.)
L3 @ AO: 81, 117, 74 (91 av.)
Steele into Miller
May swap Steele Miller this week 120 passmark
Oops typo haha
Thanks GD
Going into Round 1 with Macrae VC and Steele C
Good luck everyone!!
Oliver into Touk for me. 🙂
Grundy into Touk for me
Im deciding on wines or neale but still considering the fact that they both most likely would match up with each other so my third option is grundy any opinions?
Grundy L3 v the Saints: – 126 / 104 / 144 (Avg. 124.6)
L3 @MR – 85 / 135 / 128 (Avg. 116)
Neale L3 v PTA – 130 / 177 / 118 (Avg. 141.5)
L3 @G – 133 / 88 / 64 (Avg. 95)
Wines L3 v The Lions – 91 / 67 / 68 (Avg. 75)
L3 @G – 91 / 92 / 143 (Avg. 108.6)
Has to be between Grundy & Neale…
TU take macraes score
TD go Touk
130 is usually the bench mark I keep
Always take 125+
Will you have a non-playing loophole anyway, or are you trading one in just to take the macrae score? If you’re locked on having a loophole then take the score. If the choice is macraes score plus trade in a non-player, I’d prefer to take the risk with miller and have the 30 green dots.
Had the VC on Macrae and would def take that but, at the moment, I have all 30 players named.
Has to be Steele for C
Hi all Anyone want to help me who i should pick as captain I have narrowed it down to three people
Grundy
Neale
Wines
Which ones should I pick her?
Thanks
Grundy L3 v the Saints: – 126 / 104 / 144 (Avg. 124.6)
L3 @MR – 85 / 135 / 128 (Avg. 116)
Neale L3 v PTA – 130 / 177 / 118 (Avg. 141.5)
L3 @G – 133 / 88 / 64 (Avg. 95)
Wines L3 v The Lions – 91 / 67 / 68 (Avg. 75)
L3 @G – 91 / 92 / 143 (Avg. 108.6)
Has to be between Grundy & Neale…
Grundy into Parish for me.
Grundy should give marshall a bath, and the cats midfield certainly has not improved since Parish last put up 190 odd against them!
for captain – all 30 playing
touk t/u
steele t/d
TU – Mccrae 132
TD – Neale
Touk Miller only has Redden and Gaff to compete against, no Yeo or Kelly. Touk Miller has to be on the radar as a big chance to go very big! Rowell will also score nicely!
TU- Captain Kelly vs Sydney
TD- Captain Neale vs Port
As luck will have it, Everybody’s playing and my VC was a Spud and I’m left with
TU NicNat
TD Luke Ryan
Thoughts?