Captain’s Table – Round 23

Let’s take a look at all of your options for the final week of the year.

Collingwood v Essendon

(Friday – 7:50pm @ MCG)

A Friday night blockbuster that has lost some of its glamour with the Bombers finals spot locked in. The Pies still have a top 4 spot up for grabs and are a much stronger unit than the Bombers so I’m expecting an easy win for them and a huge score for their superstar Brodie Grundy who should dominate the poor rucks the Dons have to offer. Adam Treloar is in stunning form averaging 131.8 over the past 5 games and Zach Merrett has an outside chance of topping the scoring but Grundy should be a lock!

Best choice: Brodie Grundy

Sydney v St. Kilda

(Saturday 1:45pm @ SCG)

No real captaincy options in this game but the likes of Seb Ross and Rowan Marshall for the Saints have been in great form over the last month or so and could pull a cat out of the bag. I can’t see any coaches going with anyone here and there are much better options elsewhere.

Best choice: Rowan Marshall

North Melbourne v Melbourne

(Saturday 2:10pm @ BA)

This will be an epic battle between the big men, with Max Gawn up against the evergreen Todd Goldstein – and it will be an epic battle. Goldy is averaging 134.6 over the past five weeks with an average of 121.3 in his last three games against the Dees. Gawn is averaging 123.4 over his last five weeks with an average of 133.3 in his last three games against the Kangas. Seriously hard to split the pair but I’ll give it a go….

Best choice: Todd Goldstein

Geelong v Carlton

(Saturday 4:35pm @ GMHBA)

The Cats are looking to reclaim top spot and a home (sort of) final while the Blues are looking to continue their late season revival with yet another win. Patrick Cripps has dipped in form while Ed Curnow and Nic Newman have been scoring well in recent weeks. Patrick Dangerfield will be a popular captaincy choice this week and with good reason – an average of 122.7 in his last three games against the Blues; playing on the home soil; and with a top two spot on the line. This game seems made for Danger to fire.

Best choice: Patrick Dangerfield

Gold Coast v GWS

(Saturday 7:25pm @ MS)

The Giants will look to get back into form before the finals, and there is no better way than playing the Suns. Their stars should take a hold of the game and will be led by Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly, Tim Taranto, Toby Greene, Zac Williams and Jeremy Cameron who are all capable of a monster score in this game. If the Giants are going to win a final, they will need Kelly to hit his best and backing him to continue his great form against the Suns (averages 134.7 in his last three games) to top score here and be a sneaky choice for captain this week.

Best choice: Josh Kelly

West Coast v Hawthorn

(Saturday 6:10pm @ Optus)

The Hawks are making a late season push for an unlikely finals appearance and the Eagles are looking to secure home finals throughout September. The Eagles will be led by their midfield brigade of Elliot Yeo, Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey while the Hawks would be led by James Worpel and James Sicily. Can’t see any of the previously mentioned players being selected as your captain this week though. Much better options elsewhere.

Best choice: Elliot Yeo

Western Bulldogs v Adelaide

(Sunday 1:10pm @ Mars)

The Dogs will continue their blistering form and lock in September action against a Crows team that seem a shadow of themselves of late. Josh Dunkley, Jack Macrae and Marcus Bontempelli are likely to top the scoring. Dunkley has been in stunning form and should be seriously considered as your captain this week as he is averaging 143.0 over the past three weeks and Macrae is averaging 132.3 over the same period. Of these two superstars, you can bet one would be top scoring in this game and one of the best bets for captaincy this round.

Best choice: Josh Dunkley

Richmond v Brisbane

(Sunday 3:20pm @ MCG)

Game of the round which has all the neutral fans waiting to see just how good the young Lions are as they face the revered Tigers at the MCG. This mouthwatering contest will pit stars Lachie Neale against Dustin Martin with the latter starting to hit his peak form which should continue while the other is in the midst of bit of a form slump. I’m tipping Dusty to be at the height of his powers and lead the Tigers to top 4 finish.

Best choice: Dustin Martin

 

Port Adelaide v Fremantle

(Sunday 4:10pm @ AO)

By the time this game comes around it will likely be a dead rubber with the Doggies locking in their final spot. The added twist however will be the fact that the Dockers will be playing their first game post Ross Lyon’s exit and we all know the impact to a team that could have. I can see Nat Fyfe (129.6 over the last 5 weeks) leading the way for an inspired Dockers effort that could see them getting over the line with a shock victory and providing Port with a fitting end to their tumultuous season.

Best choice: Nat Fyfe

Hot Sauce’s Top Picks

1. Brodie Grundy
2. Josh Dunkley
3. Patrick Dangerfield
4. Nat Fyfe
5. Dustin Martin

Wildcard: Scott Pendlebury

 

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