Statistics from our State of the Nation poll last night are showing that the next couple of weeks trading is as critical as it has ever been. More than 50% of respondents are saying they have only single digit numbers of trades left, and nearly 50% have no boosts to help their cause. With the the abnormally high numbers of forced omissions this season due to injury, suspension and managing, not to mention eight bye rounds, most of us have chewed through more trades than we would have liked at this stage of the season.
Selecting a great downgrade option to make it optimal to teams is even more critical. Check out Derek’s “Rookie Review” as well for further information to help with those tricky decisions.
Because of past downgrade options being not so suitable, cash is not as prevalent as we like and therefore we are not always able to afford the optimal upgrade. This is evidenced by the apparent juggling of trades with half of the top ten trade outs actually not on the bye, and four of the top ten trade ins being on the bye next week. Theoretically, next week’s (R16) is supposed to be a harder fix than the rest, maybe suggesting that coaches are looking at week by week solutions.
. 
MOST TRADED OUT
Archie Roberts, possible couple of months on the sideline makes this a no brainer. Has to go just like the plethora of other great picks that have left the building. Not sure if he is being turned into Nas but I’d go with Ash and get Nas after his bye.
A high BE 30 points above the average for Patrick Retschko is most likely the catalyst for him being second highest on the list. That BE of 95 is likely to see him lose about $15k so whilst he is a warm body this week, he is not necessarily going to be a good one, or better than a good mid season rookie, so turn him into one of those and get a good upgrade somewhere else. I’ve got both he and Cumming and Sam is the one staying.
Milan Murdock did add some promise of being a high scoring bench option going forward, but that optimism seems to have dried up of late with his past couple of fifties. For most of us, he was always going at his bye and I think that philosophy is still relevant. Made a nice quarter million and not likely to reach his BE of 109 after the break, so trade now and use it wisely.
A player with a lower BE, (36) and playing, could be seen as more useful than as a trade, so it’s a bit surprising to see Sam Cumming so high on this list. Given he’s only made us $89k, it does not seem like enough profit to throw him out at this stage, especially with him playing North, a team that is not so restrictive to mids scoring. I realise the reasons will be many and varied at this tricky stage of the season, but I’m keeping and hoping for a bit of a spike score that might not fall out of my best 18.
For those hoping that Willem Duursma could be a keeper at M9, an untimely injury, although seemingly minor, and the impending bye, has tipped the scales in favour of a trade. I don’t have him, and I don’t pretend to know your teams to know all the circumstances, but if I did have him, I would look at where else I could get the cash for an upgrade and just bench him for the week. Listed as a test should ensure he comes straight back in against the Blues and will be useful cover during round 16. Averaging over 86 and a BE of 68 means he should not be critical on the trade out list unless you have no alternative.
Another warm body leaving the building is Angry Anderson. A BE above his average and a couple of piddling 40s recently is good enough reason to justify turning him unto another good rookie in search of a good upgrade for the round despite a match up at the “G” against a lower ranked Power.
Josh Lindsay we’ve spoken about recently and now that the bye has taken effect, it really is time for him to go. Just do it. Only reached his BE of 87 twice all season and a three round average of 61 indicates a drop off in scoring.
Only a profit of $139k for Elijah Tsatas but I feel like we should take the money and run. Never going to be a keeper and most were looking to keep him till his bye. Well, that time has come. Essendon stuff him around and his consistency cannot be trusted and that $352k in the bank should lead to a nice upgrade.
Jack Ison is off the bye and has only made $68k profit, hardly the reason to sell. As previously stated, don’t know the teams and reasons, but do know he has dropped some low scores since his impressive debut, so I’m guessing a $99k rookie will do as well and allow coaches to pocket the small amount of cash to reach a target elsewhere. I think I can find others to trade this week to keep a slightly warm body on the field, but have no problem with dumping him either.
Lachlan McAndrew, what a rookie he has been. Made over $300k profit and held his place all season. Averaging 87 and with a BE of 69 is not a must sell now type of guy. Do coaches think he will get a mauling by Big Max this week at Adelaide Oval. Who is coming in for him that cannot wait a week is probably the bigger question. Well done to coaches who have stuck fat to earn that huge profit and if now is the time cash in to a big dog in the ruck well and good.
MOST TRADED IN
Not surprisingly, a mid season draft rookie occupies the number one traded in spot this week. Joel Fitzgerald is a mature ager and has put up a nice 73 from his debut, albeit against The Bombers. Looking right at home in the Dees midfield but did take Caleb Windsor‘s spot last week so make sure to check out the team sheets before full commitment. Has tougher match ups pre and post bye in Adelaide and Hawthorn so don’t expect the world from him. Mid only in Supercoach might make him less flexible to your teams, however, a great trade in for the price and potential.
Hope you all took my advice from last week on Jordan Dawson, the buy of the week. What a magnificent game by the Crows skipper, culminating in 184 SC points, a score enjoyed by many as the week’s VC option. Seems fuelled by recent tragedy and is letting the footy field become his outlet with such success that he is averaging 136 over the last three. With a 69 BE should increase in price to over his starting price so it seems like a good time to jump on. However, if you are a fan of factoring in recent history for your selection processes, bear in mind he has not scored a ton against the Dees since 2023, and whilst his average against most sides is over 100, it is not against Melbourne.
Not much sense in talking about Hugo Hall-Kahan again this week. Just buy him immediately because you are behind in the queue of more than 75,000 coaches already. 140 points in two games, bubble BE of -80 and potentially well over $60k profit coming up. Three of the “easier” match ups coming up against Dees, Port and Weagles, and with that very handy D/M DPP could be there for much longer than that. No Brainer!
Snaffled the other Lachie of the ASH kind last week as mooted on here. Pretty happy, especially the late surge that who knows how it was that big, but not complaining. What I’m saying is Lachie Ash is good buying right now at a a value price, BE of only 70 to go with a season average of 106 and no more byes. Seems to be back as the main distributor from defence and taking more of the kick ins so could be a better bet than the other Lachie.
At this stage I’ll skip the other mid season rookies til the end and concentrate on the trades of note. Firstly, Tristian Xerri at $554k and a BE of 141 is really hard to judge recently. Two low scores, a ton and a huge ton show recent inconsistency. Fewer CBAs but still taking around the ground hit outs, still tackling like a maniac and getting contested possessions all augers well for some big scores still. Next four could be seen as soft match ups for X. Against Richmond, Essendon, Port and The Pies, he has had recent monster scores of up to 187. Ceiling is there and I reckon worth the punt at the potential points per dollar ratio.
As stated previously, I am not thinking of putting round 16 bye player into my team yet. That’s sad because if I was there would be two I’d consider, including this week’s number eight and nine most traded in players, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Kossy Pickett. Nas has lowish BE of 104 with a price tag thats getting up there at$560k, but with a game and ceiling to hit the jackpot regularly is a must have DPP but especially in the defensive post where we are going to need him most. Averaging 106 as defender/mid is great, but recent three round average of 112 is better, so if you can navigate round 16 comfortably, lock him in. The same theory scenario goes for Kossy, except he has a way smaller BE of 43 which is 58 below his average. He will go up in price whereas Nas may stay relatively stable despite playing against a Doggies side that doesn’t mind adding a few points to the half back types.
The plus side of getting Kossy now is his much cheaper price ($468k) but of course the negative is he will not represent you next week. Again, if you are into the history aspects, Kossy has yet to score a ton against Adelaide and has a career average against them of just 74 so is that something to be aware or afraid of?
The Mid season draftees in this mix, Kye Annand, Mitch Podhajski and Campbell Lake are position specific and will get a guernsey based on your needs. Annand scored a first up 66 and looks to have a good run in a young Tigers side solely as a defender. Podhajski is solely a forward at the Pies and scored a first up 52, and looks to have a longer run at it in the absence of Jamie Elliot long term. If the handiness of DPP suits you more, then Campbell Lake’s M/F status at the Saints is the one, although a first up 43 does not scream pick me immediately.
As with any of the debutants or one gamers, you can afford to have another look at them this week if it is not essential that you need grab one this round.
Once again, thanks for reading and as usual if you have any comments, please chuck them below and let us all know your thoughts. Good luck trading and hope your round goes well.