Captaincy Candidates – Round 14

Morning, all. Held off writing up until sheets and until I came up with a format for this week given the, as you’ll see, slim pickings. It’ll be the essential and available captaincy candidates, a regrettable and tripartite steer clear analysis and then an off tap collection of smokies. This will be the most consequential round of VC/C-ing. Good luck!

Captaincy Candidates

ZORKO v Saints

• L3 v Saints: 101, 81, 53
• L3 @ G: 161, 160, 130

Any player with defensive economy against the Saints just has to go. Zorko a must have and a must VC this week. Prints a 140. Oh, and look at that Gabba record!

SERONG v Dogs

• L3 v Dogs: 140, 138, 130
• L3 @ MRVL: 118, 141, 138

While the Dogs aren’t the best MID match up, Freo’s on ball quality is equally strong and it should still be enough of a high stoppage game to allow Serong to go 120. He’s also got some surprisingly solid history against the Doggies and I also see Freo having the advantage with Darcy and Jackson given how soft English has been.

RYAN v Dogs

• L3 v Dogs: 106, 97, 120
• L3 @ MRVL: 122, 127, 97

I had him in the Steer Clear pile initially given the Dogs are a pretty poor defensive match up, depriving sides of D50 turnover and intercept play with their sharp I50 efficiency. However no Naughton and Lobb in the side will present a nice opportunity for Ryan to flog him 1 on 1 and then sink back as the spare when Lobb takes the I50 ruck stoppages. On for 120.

HEENEY v Crows

• L3 v Crows: 120, 106, 102
• L3 @ AO: 120, 144, 124

Nicks didn’t go after Daicos, so think we can rule out a Berry type tagging Heeney. Think they’ll also want Rankine right in as that third MID. Crows with no contested profile whatsoever, so like Heeney here for 130. Warner to absorb the physicality of Soligo, Sholl with a strong tank to tail Gulden.

BUTTERS v Giants

• L3 v Giants: 139, 96, 94
• L3 @ ENS: N/A

A bit under the radar here but Butters comes in fresh and gets a Giants side who have lost that on ball primacy recently. If they send Drew or one of the kids to Green then it’s all over. Gotta say Butters 125 here.

Steer Clear

NEALE v Saints

• L3 v Saints: 137, 114, 123
• L3 @ G: 162, 168, 109

Gets Windhager. Bleh. Pass. Low-ton at best.

BONTEMPELLI v Dockers

• L3 v Dockers: 102, 114, 182
• L3 @ MRVL: 99, 186, 135

Because it’s Bont it’s never an express steer clear however there was public word this week directly from Freo about giving him a look. Johnson back into the side, Young could also go revert to a traditional defensive role. Can obviously beat it and generate points from his immense scoreboard work and by just being Bont but most likely gets tagged and contained this week. If you’re not sold, fine, but VC not C.

DAICOS v Roos

• L3 v Roos: 124, 99
• L3 @ MRVL: 156, 147, 139

Will need to pass a fitness test to play this weekend and you’d think if there was even a shade of concern they wouldn’t risk him against North – who, besides last week v Reid-less West Coast, have tagged over the last month. Make sure you have more than 18 this week, that’s my call.

Smoky Pick

GRUNDY v Crows

• L3 v Crows: 101, 100, 123
• L3 @ AO: 83, 128, 100

Nice work to those who’ve held fat as Grundy’s really bought into the Swans’ system. On the SC side, his iffy floor has been balanced out by 140-150s every few weeks. Going at 113.2 and will make a meal of Strachan as he did Stanely last week. Like him for 140.

SHEEZEL v Pies

• L3 v Pies: 79
• L3 @ MRVL: 117, 73, 110

No Daicos and Sheezel gets some real upside. North will still get whipped but on ball him, LDU and Xerri should have the drop on them. Was always tonning now that he’s found his grove on ball but no Daicos and it’s a 130+.

FISHER v Pies

• L3 v Pies: 54, 51, 67
• L3 @ MRVL: 116, 95, 71

Want to really pazz out? Fisher. Pies are a great DEF side: Ryan & Clark 130s, Dale 132, Witherden 141 and then last week Rivers, Salem and May spread 300 odd points between themselves. Fisher’s role is an absolutely meme. It’s happening!

History

• Round 1: Green 152
• Round 2: Green 137
• Round 3: Gulden 73
• Round 4: Butters 119
• Round 5: Rowell 135
• Round 6: Daicos 133
• Round 7: Rowell 136
• Round 8: Merrett 121
• Round 9: Daicos 147
• Round 10: Butters 127
• Round 11: Ryan 132
• Round 12: Daicos 156
• Round 13: Satan 97

Verdict

Hopefully Zorko can just bail us all out with a Ross certified 140 tonight and we don’t have to worry. If not, I’ve got Butters C or Fisher if I deem it a spicy Sunday!

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