REMINDER: Players on their bye can be used as loopholes and lock out before the start of the LAST game of the round. Eg. Gawn (MELB) will be able to used a loophole right up until the start of the Hawks Dons game on Sunday at 3:20.
Vice-Captaincy Candidates
MACRAE v Cats
- L3 v Cats: 94, 116, 124 (111 av.)
- L3 @ GMHBA: 124, 84, 77 (95 av.)
With Bont likely to be tagged (discussed below), Macrae will be freed up to do his thing. Doesn’t have the greatest record at GMHBA, but still solid for 120.
MILLER v Port
- L3 v Port: 111, 127, 43 (94 av.)
- L3 @ MS: 115, 146, 132 (131 av.)
Even with Serong on his ass for parts of the game, Miller still managed 30 touches, a goal and 8 clearances last week – just gives it everything and in great physical condition. A 130 this week back up at Metricon.
KELLY v Blues
- L3 v Blues: 131, 205, 98 (145 av.)
- L3 @ GS: 102, 111, 98 (104 av.)
After a slow start, Kelly has been repaying the faith big time with another BOG performance last week; 39 touches, 17 contested and 2 goals. Enormous ceiling v Blues, expect another 140.
Captaincy Candidates
MITCHELL v Dons
- L3 v Dons: 122, 127, 153 (134 av.)
- L3 @ UTAS: 76, 90, 159 (108 av.)
An impressive 34 touches and 16 contested off only 16 CBAs behind 3 other MIDs. Solid scoring history against both the Dons and in Tassie, so pencil him in for 125.
MERRETT v Hawks
- L3 v Hawks: 145, 138, 72 (118 av.)
- L3 @ UTAS: N/A
Fresh off the bye, Dons season at a crossroads and plays the Hawks well. Lock him in for 125+.
PARISH v Hawks
- L3 v Hawks: 91, 110, 55 (85 av.)
- L3 @ UTAS: N/A
Scoring history not relevant for Parish as he’s only stepped up as an elite MID recently. In dynamic form and averaging 30+ touches a week, just goes 130 this week.
Steer Clear
BONTEMPELLI v Cats
- L3 v Cats: 122, 146, 96 (121 av.)
- L3 @ GMHBA: 96, 81, 79 (85 av.)
While teams have tagged Libba to great effect recently, surely the Cats will have the prudence to neutralize. Can’t afford him clearing the ball and taking shots at will. Thinking O’Connor goes to him for a sub-ton.
Smoky Pick
LYONS v Roos
- L3 v Roos: 126, 165, 78 (123 av.)
- L3 @ BA: N/A
His CBAs took a little hit with Neale returning his customary team CB load, but against the Roos he’ll be safe for 120 with a chance to go large. Neale also worth considering if you have him.
Verdict
If you’ve got Kelly, definitely give him a look this week. I don’t, so for me it’ll be Neale or Miller into Zerrett.
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Thinking Kelly into Merrett.
Other option is Macrae into Kelly but feel Kelly is more of a VC option so will bypass Macrae.
Yep, definitely give Kelly a look this week.
Sounds like Parish is a better trade in than Bont this week?
Don’t trade based on one week, MJ.
Go for whoever you back in long term OA.
I now have both
Really like Neale v Roos. Not ballsy enough to risk the C though.
VC Neale -> Zerrett!
Yeah. Feeling Neale as well, Abs. Miller probably safer, but might not be able to stop myself!
C Aaron Hall against Brisbane haha
Should see a lot of the ball and my Brissy boys can be mightily inaccurate so lots of kick-ins
Ooof, that is ballsy!
Could work out but maybe just the VC, Jordan?
No point laying out his stats, as he’s only been in this SC conducive role and form since R7.
Good luck!
Yeah was thinking going VC on him GD but my options after only really leaves Walsh as C (which may not be the worst).
Wanted to run the VC on Macrae though so probably will risk it with Macrae into Hall just for a bit of fun
Ah, gotcha.
Own both Macrae and Hall, will also be rooting for 140s lol.
What kind of impact do you think that McDonald on Halls scoring?
Just saw he has been brought in this week
If he returns down back, McDonald probably eats into a few kick ins but Ziebell’s role as the loose interceptor and Hall’s as their run and carry and D50 exit disributor is pretty solid.
Could also be played in more a lock down role or return to tagging.
Even if he does clip them, they still both finish Top 6 or thereabouts.
Cheers GD,
Appreciate the insight
Luke McDonald back into the team could effect Hall and Ziebell’s scores so could be a risky one.
Ahh just saw this comment. Yeah that is my concern now haha
Great read as always.
Lyons into titch for me
VC Macrae and C Walsh what is his stats ?
Not much to go on as he’s a recent premo:
WALSH v Giants
L3 v Giants: 132, 80 (106 av.)
L3 @ GS: 80 (80 av.)
Question is who does De Boer go to? Another HB? Cripps? Walsh?
Im considering Danger as a VC option, any chance of getting his stats, GD?
Im liking Parish for C
Absolutely, Jesse. Here they are:
DANGERFIELD v Dogs
L3 v Dogs: 132, 146, 115 (132 av.)
L3 @ GMHBA: 75, 75, 101 (84 av.)
Surprising good scoring history v Dogs. If you were happy with how he looked last week, go for it.
Good luck.
Thanks GD.
I’m planning on trading in Merrett, If I can find a downgrade.
If I do , Kelly into Merrett for me.
If I end up trading in two forwards, I will most likely go Macrae into Kelly. Macrae is so reliable but I’m nervous he will put up something like a 12o ish score. On a week when I’m probably fielding 15 the temptation to roll with Kelly may be too strong.
( As FD pointed out in Cow Talk, this is rarely a good idea. )
Thoughts on Tom Hawkins as a VC option Friday night ?
He seems to rarely finish in that awkward 120-125 range.
He will usually go either 130
He is also somewhat of a POD so a huge score could really help this week.
Thoughts ?
Sorry couldn’t edit.
Should say “he will usually either go 130
Oooo, Hawkins v a Dogs backline suspectible to tall FWDs? Interesting, FT.
Here are his stats:
HAWKINS v Dogs
L3 v Dogs: 105, 52, 86 (81 av.)
L3 @ GMHBA: 101, 105, 79 (95 av.)
Like you said he either subtons or goes large, so not a bad POD VC. Would prefer Zerrett though.
Yeah I’m trying to get in Zerrett as my last mid.
It means I need to cull Highmore this week though.
I either do two trades ( keeping Highmore ) and get Langford and Toby Greene, for Poulter and Berry.
Or I do three, and downgrade Highmore and get Merrett and Langford.
It has to be Highmore as I’m $2k short of downgrading Brockman to a 102k rookie and affording Merrett.
A risky move if you want to keep Highmore is bring in Greene instead of Langford and you can cull Brockman that way
As long as you don’t need Highmore’s eventually cash, that’s fine FT.
I know I’ll need him for my final upgrades, so resisting the urge move him to a premo DEF this week.
Thanks Johnno and Gunboat.
I really want to hold Highmore if I can.
But…the cash is very tight.
Brockman to 102k actually only leaves me $452.800
$3K short of Greene.
Highmore to a Garcia type ( 124K ) if named means I can only afford Merrett and Greene.
I’m thinking Sam Durham M/D 102K may get a game soon.
He was the Bombers pick in the mid season draft.
He will also create a swing with Bianco so he can cover Mid and Defence.
Looks like I could be all in on the Bombers with this weeks trades.
How many more upgrades do you need?
I’m making two this week.
I will have 6 trades left and this will leave me with one Forward or Mid upgrade left.
I may have to loop Impey and CCJ at F6-7 at least until finals
Very sensible FT….LOL
Ha ha Wighty.
I just checked your fixture going forward.
Hawks this week looks ok, they did look a lot more physical last week though.
Then its Melb and the Cats.
What does this mean for Merrett ?
Harmes and O’Connor ?
Highmore only going up $67k over three weeks, and he’s got the bye as well. That takes him to a r17 trade. Sadly, after his 100+ for which I am truly grateful, he has to go with a bye this week.
I’m going to do it.
in my case Tomahawk into Lyons. He’s probably my best chance at a big score given that he’s an all or nothing type player. Then Lyons seems like a safe Mid option
Mac into merrett 120 passmark
Macrae into Miller for me this week.
I’m going against expert advice and going VC Bontempelli. Player in form with or without tag. Into Mitchell or Walsh or even Hall.
Is there any history to suggest that Bont CAN get tagged out of games? I always had the impression that he is almost in the “untaggable” category. Or if there isn’t any Bont history with tags available, what scores has O’Connor kept his tagged opponents to this year?
Yeah, Bont’s been tagged before. Hasn’t been clipped this year and has been CARVING it up – which is why I think he cops it this week.
Could probably fight through it, body O’Connor and have an impact FWD but not worth the VC. If he still pops off, sweet.
O’Connor this year kept Neale to 16 touches and 85 SC, Titch 24 and 86 and Kelly 16 and 77. Boak fought through it last week with 27 and 108.
On Bont’s history of tags, he got taken by McDonald last year for 55 and then 87 after a little attention from the Suns.
Cheers GD, that helps. I was looking at Bont VC as I just brought him in last week but might look at avoiding dogs players all together and go with something like Lyons into Merrett possibly.
Yeah, got nothing but love for Bont (started him) but the Cats would be fools if they didn’t send O’Connor to him.
His run opens up after this week, so you’ll have plenty of VC/Cs on him to enjoy dw.
Lyons into Zerrett solid this week.
Possibly Libba may get the tag, it worked for Melb shutting him down with Harmes riding him. Bont or Libba will be tagged, probably Bont thou as a the game changer.
Bont certainly isn’t untaggable. The only player who’s consistently broken hard tags is Fyfe. Everyone else struggles.
TrooRoo.
You can argue Bont is now in his prime,with a better midfield around him. Fyfe had a better marking game , Bont loves a goal.
The Bont is also not really an accumulator. He seems to more get involved in clearance and scoring chains.
I’m thinking Bont still goes > 100. The folks at Champion data have always loved him. If the Doggies can snatch a win ?
He could go 120+ with scaling.
I still remember a game last year where he barely got to 15 touches and still managed 120ish. Bont’s a freak and not owning him this year hurts me weekly
Starting him and Mills were my best moves all year.
So I went against GD’s advice and backed my gut. VC on Bont. I’m taking it.
He is officially CD’s darling.
Great work as always GD.
I will probably go Miller VC into Kelly C.
Ty.
Nice combo.
My recruit and vc last week Wines, into Titch or Zerrett.
Leaning towards Guthrie over Neal into “Don the Sash for Life” Zerrett 🙂
Guthrie returning from injury against Dogs midfield? That’s a no from me, Syringe.
Word today was that they “think” he’ll play. Have named him, but could be a late out again.
Thanx for the heads up GD …… greatly appreciated !
Been tailing you in of late so will heed your sage advice &
Roll the dice on Neal & hope he doesn’t get any Nth attention.
Was that not a reference to Miers?
The second half of that comment has a beautiful ring to it !!
I’m McRae and parish this week just to be different
Trade out:
TU Waterman
TD Dead rookie
I’m thinking Miller VC, Parish C
Would Curnow go to Jelly?
Going with VC Macrae and C Jelly
Curnow hasn’t done any major tagging jobs this year.
Didn’t go to Bont or Macrae in R8, so doubt he gives Jelly a look.
Okay sweet, hopefully Jelly feats then
May have had a minor or major brain fart, brought in Lyons and chucked the C on him after a dud Macrae VC.
Kelly VC into Parrish C ???
Got McRae’s 98…..
TU: Mitchell
TD: Merret
Comment Lyons
Gonna stick with Wines scaled up 117, but given his 40+ possesions, how can he not be anywhere near Bont who for the first time this year I didn’t have v on ??