Captain’s Table – Round 14

There were some huge scores last round and from some very unlikely players. Rookie sensation Reilly O’Brien led the round with 181 while Josh Dunkley, Jack Billings, Michael Walters and Charlie Curnow all produced 150+ scores. There are plenty of options this week, so let’s take a look.

West Coast v Essendon

(Thursday – 6:10pm @ Optus)

The reigning premiers aren’t firing at the moment but will be keen to get their premiership defence back on track and exact revenge for their shock loss last season to the Dons. Skipper Shannon Hurn will lead the way and has been in excellent form this season. Eagles midfield should be too strong with the likes of Andrew Gaff, Elliot Yeo and Luke Shuey and more they have plenty of potential big scorers. The Dons would need their star Zach Merrett to fire (and break a tag if he gets one), as he is the only Bomber likely to top the scoring. Emerging star Darcy Parish is in the middle of a purple patch (averaging 125 over his last 3) but you’d have to be very brave to consider him.

Best choice: Shannon Hurn

Sydney v Hawthorn

(Friday 7:50pm @ SCG)

An interesting contest this with the Hawks really struggling to kick a goal while the Swans are starting to play some really good footy. The Hawks are unlikely to provide an option, but the Swans have two excellent VC options in Jake Lloyd and Luke Parker who are both on fire in recent weeks. Lloyd has improved on his impressive 2018 season averaging 117.6 and 124.7 over the last 3 games, with recent scores of 149 and 130 against the Hawks. Parker’s recent form is even more impressive averaging 130.0 over the last three weeks and looks a class above the rest of the midfielders on the night.

Best choice: Jake Lloyd

Melbourne v Fremantle

(Saturday 1:45pm @ MCG)

This may be a very one-sided contest, but not the way we would have thought. The Dees continue to struggle while the Dockers go from strength to strength every week, uncovering more match winners across the field. Although the likes of Clayton Oliver, Michael Walters and Luke Ryan deserve consideration, you shouldn’t pick anyone other than Max Gawn or Nat Fyfe. Fyfe is a special player in great form averaging 133.3 over his last 3 games and will be looking to lead his team to another MCG win this season. Gawn is in even better form averaging 153.3 over the last 3 weeks, with an average of 132.7 in his last 3 games against the Dockers with scores of 151 and 141 in his last two. He is hard to pass up this week.

Best choice: Max Gawn

St. Kilda v Brisbane

(Saturday 4:35pm @ Marvel)

Not many genuine options to bank on here especially from the Saints, where even in-form players Jack Billings and Rowan Marshall would be risky choices. Luckily for us, Lions superstar Lachie Neale presents a very good captaincy option for us coaches as he would look to break out of his own form slump while making amends for the Lions last loss to the Blues at this very ground. He should lead the way and score very, very nicely.

Best choice: Lachie Neale

Port Adelaide v Geelong

(Saturday 7:10pm @ AO)

This should be a great game with the Power looking to grab the biggest scalp out there against a team that hates coming off the bye. Travis Boak will lead the way for the home side despite his fairly average recent form against the Cats. The Cats do travel to AO well and have plenty of viable options in Tim Kelly, Mitch Duncan and Patrick Dangerfield. The three midfield stars are in great form, but it’s Danger that looms as the best choice given his form (averaging 131.3 over last 3 games) and record against the Power, where he is averaging 145.0 over his last 3 games against them and 135.0 over his last 5. Those numbers are hard to pass up.

Best choice: Patrick Dangerfield

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood

(Sunday 3:20pm @ Marvel)

This shapes up as a great last game of the round for coaches needing a captain option to bring home an unlikely league win. The Dogs have midfield stars Jack Macrae and Marcus Bontempelli, but it’s emerging superstar Josh Dunkley who could lead all scorers given his recent form. The Pies have their own midfield stars to choose from, but if Brodie Grundy is fully fit, he will be a daunting figure for the Doggies, as they haven’t a ruckman who can get close to curbing the star’s influence. Seems to always be in good form and his last two scores of 160 and 152 against the Dogs is all the proof needed to lock him in as a very safe captain option.

Best choice: Brodie Grundy

Hot Sauce’s Top Picks

1. Max Gawn
2. Brodie Grundy
3. Patrick Dangerfield
4. Jake Lloyd
5. Lachie Neale

Wildcard: Jeremy McGovern

 

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