Round 2 saw some big names produce some big scores with Patrick Dangerfield, Clayton Oliver, Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, Scott Pendlebury and Lachie Whitfield putting their hands up for potential VC/C selections for Round 3. Could this round be the round that other premium options enter the conversation, with the likes of Max Gawn, Rory Laird, Joel Selwood, Dustin Martin, Dayne Beams, Todd Goldstein, Buddy Franklin and Zach Merrett yet to make a big splash.
So without further ado, here are my Captain’s options for the upcoming week…..
Adelaide v Geelong
(Thursday – 7:20pm @ AO)
This is set to be an entertaining and highly SC relevant clash as the Crows look to continue their found form against the Swans taking on the undefeated Cats who would be delighted to be 2-0 after facing off with the highly fancied Magpies and Demons. The Crows should be led by Rory Sloane who is in sparkling touch at the moment, while also having options with brothers Matt and Brad Crouch.
The Cats have their own formidable midfield with the likes of Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan, Sam Menagola, Tim Kelly and the most likely to score big, Patrick Dangerfield. Danger has a fantastic record against his former side averaging 135.8 over his last 5 games including scores of 158, 142 and 149. Sloane has recently scored 169 against the Cats but with sub-100 scores littered throughout either side of that game I think Danger is the safer bet.
Best choice: Patrick Dangerfield
Melbourne v Essendon
(Friday 7:50pm @ MCG)
Both teams are failing miserably to live up to their pre-season hype with both teams staring down the barrel of an 0-3 start to the season. In what shapes up to be a huge contest (albeit for the wrong reasons) could be a massive letdown for a Friday night if both teams continue their horror starts.
I am confident in the Dees superstars Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver having big games against the Dons with the latter looking too strong at the footy for his opposition, despite not having a great record against the Dons. Big Maxy however has had some big scores against the Bombers recently scoring 168 and 150 within his last three contests. This game could be what the star needs to get his season up and running.
Not much confidence in any potential Captain options from the Bombers with Zach Merrett under-performing and Dylan Shiel not a proven SC gun. Merrett does average 110 in his last 3 games against the Dees but I would stay away.
Best choice: Max Gawn
Carlton v Sydney
(Saturday 1:45pm @ Marvel)
Both teams are yet to register a win but with opposite implications as the Blues are showing some promising signs in their losses while the Swans are looking like a potential ladder slider this season, which could make for an interesting contest.
Blues superstar Patrick Cripps could get off the leash here but is up against a strong midfield, with his recent history against the Swans resulting in a sub-100 average over his last 5 games. The Swans have plenty of depth, but Jake Lloyd is the likely player to rack up a ton of possessions and a huge SC score. He has been in great touch in the first two rounds but does have a poor record against the Blues with a top score of 100 coming a few seasons ago.
Best choice: Jake Lloyd
GWS v Richmond
(Saturday 4:35pm @ GIA)
This clash has suddenly become a very important game for both clubs with the loser to move to a 1-2 record with consecutive losses. The Tigers will be looking for a way to cover the hole left in defence while the Giants will be hoping the additions of key players can get them over the line.
The return of Shane Mumford after a stint in retirement is good news for the Giants, but the return of superstar Josh Kelly is the bigger news. The kid is a star and although he may not be ready for Captain status, but he could help other GWS options Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield get off the leash.
The Tigers don’t look themselves right now and neither does their main SC scorer Dusty Martin. No real value in Tigers for Captaincy again.
Best choice: Stephen Coniglio
Brisbane v Port Adelaide
(Saturday 6:55pm @ Gabba)
The bright and exciting group of Lions youngsters are riding a wave of confidence and belief which they will take into their contest against the Power on Saturday night.
Superstar recruit Lachie Neale is the obvious choice for your Captaincy considering his excellent early season form. On top of that Neale averages 112 over his last 3 games and 114.4 over his last 5 games against Port. Dayne Zorko is another possibility from the Lions with Daniel Rich, Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Harris Andrews, Alex Witherden and Stef Martin all being capable of a relatively high score.
The Power are being led by former SC stud Tom Rockliff with a blistering return to form. If he can manage to maintain his current form then he could be a very handy Captain choice, while Justin Westhoff and Travis Boak have been in excellent form.
Best choice: Lachie Neale
Collingwood v West Coast
(Saturday 7:25pm @ MCG)
The Grand Final replay is set to be an epic encounter as the Eagles found their form last week dismantling a fancied Giants side while the Pies put the Tigers to the sword and with that hold claim as the premiership favourites.
The Pies leading candidates have all started well with Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury all scoring 130+ last week and I’m putting my money on Grundy doing the same again this week. There will be plenty of points scored by the Pies with their SC friendly game style with six players currently averaging 100+.
Eagles Dom Sheed and Jeremy McGovern would be the obvious choice on current form but it’s Luke Shuey who could be the one to pull out a huge score Saturday night. Shuey destroyed the Pies in last year’s Grand Final piling on 168 points and averages 128 across his last three games against the Pies.
Best choice: Brodie Grundy
Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast
(Sunday 2:20pm @ Marvel)
The Doggies are flying at the moment taking care of two of last year’s finalists (albeit the two most punters are backing to drop out) while the Suns got an early season win on the board taking care of the Dockers at home last week in a tight finish.
The Doggies will surely be led by SC superstar Jackson Macrae as he has dominated not only this season to date, but the Suns over the last few seasons. His last five scores have been 189, 108, 93, 154 and 172 – a huge 143.2 over his last five games. While Marcus Bontempelli and David Swallow have started well this season Macrae is the man here and the only player worth placing the C on!
Best Choice: Jackson Macrae
Hawthorn v North Melbourne
(Sunday 3:20pm @ MCG)
This should be a tight battle Sunday arvo, but despite the fine form of consistent SC scorers Ben Cunnington and Jack Gunston, I would recommend avoiding anyone from this game for your Captaincy.
Best choice: –
Fremantle v St. Kilda
(Sunday 3:20pm @ Optus Stadium)
The Saints surprisingly enter this game 2-0 but will start underdogs over in Perth against the Dockers late Sunday afternoon. Brad Hill has started in great form averaging 120.5 and the Saints have been led by midfield trio Jack Steele, Jade Gresham and Jack Sinclair, but I would suspect nobody would go against superstar Nat Fyfe in this game. He has started brilliantly this season and despite his recent below par form against the Saints, there is still nobody else I would back over him from this match.
Best choice: Nat Fyfe
Hot Sauce’s Top Picks
- Jackson Macrae
- Lachie Neale
- Patrick Dangerfield
- Nat Fyfe
- Max Gawn
Wildcard: Jack Viney
Which player will you be handing the Captaincy to? (Two choices)
- Patrick Dangerfield (38%, 160 Votes)
- Jackson Macrae (23%, 94 Votes)
- Max Gawn (11%, 45 Votes)
- Nat Fyfe (11%, 45 Votes)
- Brodie Grundy (6%, 25 Votes)
- Lachie Neale (5%, 19 Votes)
- Clayton Oliver (3%, 11 Votes)
- Patrick Cripps (2%, 8 Votes)
- Jake Lloyd (1%, 4 Votes)
- Tom Rockliff (1%, 3 Votes)
- Luke Shuey (0%, 2 Votes)
- Other - please add in the comments (0%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 233
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Another good wrap up on the captains Sauce, tempted by Oliver as VC, but think I’ll go Danger into Macrae this week.
Cheers Benchwarmers! Can’t go wrong with Danger into Macrae.
I’m thinking Gawn into Macrae.
Thoughts?
Same here, surely one of the two goes 120-130
Um, I’m hoping 160+
If danger dosnt go 140. Macrae Vs the sun’s I’m rolling the dice. Too good to pass up.
Hell yeah no Sam Jacobs think of the center cleancer from danger etc Stanley tap to danger crows wont stop him
Putting the V on Danger. Hoping I don’t need the C after last week’s poor choices.
Gonna be a huge number of VC’s on danger. Good chance to try and go against the crowd….I’m not brave enough.
Haha very true Frankie! If only Danger was playing later in the week.
if the crows can turn it on & own the midfield , danger will struggle , but i recon the cats will do well enough in the guts to let danger take advantage of the 666 .
You’ve got me reconsidering now. You don’t win Supercoach by making the same moves as everyone else. Would hate to miss out on a huge VC score from Danger but it’d be a massive leg up if everyone has him as VC, he only scores say 100-110 and someone like Gawn or Cripps smashes out a 170 ……. Not sure if I’m brave enough though either :/
Nice work, Hot Sauce! Much better than the last guy 😉
Need an early VC or wont have time to Loop hole!!!
‘don’t have Macrae, Oliver or Lloyd, so options IMO Danger, Cogs, Rocky into Fyfe, which probably points too Danger and Fyfe.
With a very solid captain choice in Macrae later in the week I’m taking the punt of going Gawn over Danger. Against Bellchambers and hopefully a further improvement on last week (and a win) I wouldn’t be surprised if Gawn goes huge.
Thinking the same Ash
asa bombers fan, I’m rahter worried that you may be onto something here.
heard a rumour (haha yes I know)
That the Bombers may be picking a second ruck to combat Gawn’s influence,
might have been on SEN, but maybe just speculating on what they should do to get the season back on track.
Saying that i’ll stick with v-Danger C-Fyfe
Yep, Zac Clarke has been named. Suspect he will be used to double team Gawn. That’s enough to finally persuade me to V Danger. Best case scenario Gawn still puts up a juicy score, think being double teamed by Clarke and Bellchambers will stand in the way of grabbing the 160+ that I’d hoped for though.
Gunboat glad I came across your comment right before the bounce! I’m making sure if either Gawn or Grundy is up against two ruckmen to avoid putting the captaincy on them (I captained Gawn rd 1 RIP). Double teaming the elite rucks has been proven to be an effective method and can’t recall any game last year or so far this year where the big G’s have won out.
they just named Zac Clarke for the bombers
there’s one rumour that come up true
cogs could go big , tigers are leaking points bigtime
Danger into Gawn 125ish pass mark
Danger into Lloyd for me
Danger into fyfe or Gawn. Steele to go to Fyfe?
Don’t have Macrae or Fyfe so going Danger into Gawn
Tech League will be Danger into Bont