Howdy SCT community, thought it was about that time to put together draft 1 (of probably 500 by first bounce). Asterisks indicate notes to follow (ignoring those that have popped up several times on previous threads re Fyfe, Hopper, Taranto etc).
* Salem – clear bounce back candidate, amongst very few true mid price options in DEF. Would consider shifting Fyfe down to a rookie to get Salem up to Docherty or Sicily.
* LDU – understand the concerns re Cunners return, but I’m buying his late 2022 form and trajectory. Could shift to Tom Green if rolls dictate.
* Ashcroft – I actually doubt I will start round 1 with him, unless he tears preseason match apart. Lions are stacked beyond belief, and I just don’t think Ashcroft will have that Walsh/Daicos freedom early.
* Grundy – this is the pick I’m most unsure about. Mostly a place holder while I mull it over some more, but Grundy for 500k!? Never thought I’d see the day. Cameron in FWD as backup if this goes tits up anyway.
ery thought provoking TRB I am mulling over the Salem/Bowes vs Ryan/rookie swap also. My problem is with Bowes just not won over by him in a strong team Salem appears a good selection .I was at training the other day and Brayshaw needs a ton of work .Coaches won’t admit it but he needs a lot of conditioning , however that won’t affect Salem who is leading the pack in his role NDD
…five starting selections returning from essentially long term injuries/illness would be my only concern, particularly as judging preseason form/roles will be problematic…
four starting rookies seems ok…Bowes is an unknown quantity with the Cats atm…
agree, if bowes does play defence and if he is in best 22( 2 big ifs) i thibk stewie will lose kick out duties and a maybe a few cheap uncontested possies.
Hello, crew and Happy new year.
I am having my first attempt . I am mainly set on my premos but that could change at any time like everyone else depending on rookies with Good JS
Dunkley, Taranto, Cogs,
Thomas , Sheezle, Sinn,
(Comben, Davey)
In defence : I am convinced there are a few good rookies with good job security. I refuse to pay 600k for a defender when I can have value elsewhere. I learned from Lloyd. I really want Stewart , but only as my first upgrade due to his bad bye. I will start him instead of Sinclair If I decided to drop Steele in my midfield starting lineup.
Midfield : The usual suspects. Steele could still make place for LDU if he is battling fitness by end of January. Neale instead of Macrae because I like it when Neale is fit.
Rucks : Grundy because of price and fitness history and Lycett for ceiling. I may still run a Grundy with English (or A midPricer/2nd tier ruck and Cameron fwd). Depends on English eye test preseason
Forward : Thomas can still become Cameron or Butters if I can free cash with Cheap rookies. Also Still Toying with ideas of midPricers at F4, F5,F6. And sacrificing the rucks. But will depend on rookies.
That’s me folks. Criticise away
You don’t like paying $600+k for a defender, but you pick Sinclair? Why did you pick Sinclair over Sicily and Docherty. I think of the big 5 defenders, Sinclair is more likely to drop in scoring and price considering a new coach.
Nice Midfield, not seeing many teams with Neale considering Dunkley joining the midfield.
I can see why you picked Lycett, underpriced for a #1 ruck and worth the risk in a very confusing Ruck line. Grundy is also underpriced and worth risk.
Top 3 in forwards pick themselves. Thomas is a wait & watch and we can’t make a call on him until near round 1
Thanks Derek , I had Sinclair last year and he served me well. I also believe that he just broke into the team so he still has 1-2 years of improving. What I like most is the work ethics. He puts in the shift so his floor is generally good ( only had 3 sub 100 scores last year while Sicily had 6 and Docherty 8). To be honest, any of Sinclair, Stewart , Doherty, Sicily are good picks, and have arguments for and against them.
But you are right, new coach things can change. I will monitor him during preseason. But I rather pay top dollars and have the money to move sideways than be unable to afford another defender if it doesn’t work out
bonjour jeannot comment ca va tres bien Haven’t used that for 5 years .There are a few rookies not mentioned much weddle and cowans from carlton are two that jump out plus a bulldog gallagher from tassie who has good raps on him au revoir
I just worry about F45678 none are by any means secure but as you say midpricers fixes that . Agree with Derek about Sinclair .the Lyon factor worries me great to see you back mon ami
Hi DD, now you guys are making me nervous about Sinclair 🙂
I have to admit I am not a fan of Ross Lyon in SC so maybe I should proceed with caution..
As for the FWDs, I believe we have plenty of value players and may also get few DPP during the year, so most are only be place holders. I heard Heeney is training with the mids too..
Unless somthing changes, I can see Sinclair, Sicily, Docherty, Stewart & Dawson being to top defenders, but they are all expensive.
A plan would be to start with cheapies and pick the big dogs up as/when they become cheaper. But probably won’t get them much cheaper.
Unless there is an improvement from Lloyd, Dale, Ryan, Daniel, Ridley, Salem, Daicos etc or a midfielder like Whitfield, Ross, Crisp etc get DPP, I can’t see anyone else challenge for the top 5 defenders.
I’m going to start at least 2, maybe 3 if the cheapies don’t turn up.
DEF: Tuohy, Logue, Hamilton, Mckenna, Burges, Ginbey (Wagner, Archer)
MID: Laird, Oliver, Macrae, Cripps, Steele, Dunkley, Sheldrick, Mclean,(Sinn, Chesser, Richards)
RUCK:Witts, Meek (Ratugolea)
FWD: Taranto, Anderson, Fyfe, Cameron, Davey, Phillipou,(Van rooyan, Sestan)
Feel free to pick and pull apart rookies not set and not sold on Fyfe, Logue and Macrea could become Bont.
Great side bar that DEF line? No Top 6 or SC relevant picks.
A lot of us are going light down back rn to facilitate deep MID and FWD lines, so maybe try 2x DEF premos or 1x DEF premo & 1x midpricer (Yeo, Salem) if you want that flexibility but wouldn’t stoop to Tuohy and Logue.
Anderson also interesting. Don’t see an SC conducive role for him (or maybe even a spot) at the Suns but he’s always had a nice ceiling.
Agree with you G D about that defence but I am not in favour of a light defence quite the opposite I am going F4 at present and unless rookies appear ,which i think will happen, I will go deeper Ndd
We can’t have the lot Derek but 2 of the top five plus another likely to fill D 6 to 8 , Ryan in my case , plus your fallen prem if there is one seems the go. I have never liked Salem but at sub 400. first picked at Melbourne , best kick.and links up well with May and Lever, it is so hard not to pick him . I have actually dumped Sicily for him and spent the 200k on my worst 22 and bench ,,, rather than another spec.midpricer like Hopper. I now have 11 solid prems Jackson and Salem as my two midpricers and 8 of the 170 k type players. Phillipou is my sole rookie who I believe will be the star of this year like Daicos was.. Watch the 2 w a boys they are ready made too NDD
Does anyone know the amount of trades we’ll get and if there’ll still be boosts?
I’m personally hoping they go back to 30 trades and/or get rid of boosts. Too many trades makes it too easy and takes the risk-taking element out of it because everyone converges to the same players every week and there’s too little variation. By rounds ~4/5 last year I was in matchup with only 5-6 unique players every week.
I am considering Luke Jackson in to replace Darcy Cameron. Jackson will be an infinitely better player than Cameron and has probably passed Cameron already in performance and status. I just need the balls to confirm what we all know already and trust the talent manifests in points . I also sense that Jackson may be used in mids as Fyfe winds back his time in the mids. It may sound crazy talking about a ruck playing mids, but Jackson is some talent. I reckon Jackson is as versatile as Blicavs with supercharged talent.
surely i can’t be the only won not sold on taranto. had him a few times now and has never impressed and always lacked consistency and a high ceiling, as his disposal efficiency is terrible. i see him improving by getting a mid role at the tiges but i can’t see him exceeding an 100 avg and won’t be selecting him.
I’m more worried about titch, fyfe, yeo, Grundy, English, Gawn. These guys going great will be a disaster if you don’t have most of them. And a disaster if you do have them and they don’t.
IMO we will probably see the oldies and the fragiles play approximately 60% game time and the youngsters 85-90% game time if the teams have the quality support……
Coniglio, Rozee, Allen
McLean, Macrae, Berry – Serong-Madden
Rucks to be the big POD in 2023, of last years top 10 Leviathans Only Witts looks assured of maintaining that rank. Grundy and Gawn will cannabilise each other, sure they’ll each have some big games but over the season they wont finish as top 6 rucks. Darcy will lose points to Jackson, English will lose points to lobb, O’Brien might stay above 100 but not confident, NicNat will be stolen by the British Museum along with Goldy, and the Nank hmm.
I might end up starting 2 mid-price rucks and pumping up the fwds a bit instead. I like Pittonet if he can stay fit. He’s always been a top 2 HTA ruck when fit & Healthy and Carlton have even more ball winners in the middle now.
I’m either Gawn and Draper-straight swap to Grundy and Marshall before lockout. GNR structure.
Or Draper and graves more mid madness.
Basically who scores highest pre season games score will decide it.
I only don’t have English based on his concussion history, but Lobb won’t make a difference. He might take a couple when English is on the bench and some forward ones but English gains plenty of points around the ground. Lobb averaged 13 hitouts last year, would be surprised if it’s anymore this year.
I like that you’ve gone a few Pods, but I’d say the only weakness is the midfield, downgrade a fwd or back and get another premo mid in there or upgrade mccluggage if you’re not sold on him.
I feel like Mccluggage might be the one to get off the chain up there? Agree im a premo short but i always feel like the midfield is where you need to make your cash so if i can nail a couple of cheaper mids i can get upgrading quicker but thats the gamble
I think you are 1 Uber premo short. You have 4 guys who are clearly in top 4 to 6 of their line and make them Uber. Preferably all your premos are ubers or very close.
I’m hoping when all the rookies lock in i can downgrade Philipou and Mckenna or Goater and that will allow me to take Mccluggage to a Neale or similar. but ive only got 2k:)
Hi Richard. I feel you are short of captain options. You have Miller, and perhaps Dunkley, but feels like you need one more big dog like an Oliver, Laird etc.
I have had McCluggage in previous seasons and he has been a little underwhelming. I just kept waiting for him to make that jump to Uber- premium, but he feels like he is going to be serviceable in that next level down. I think you are getting a mccluggage level if output from Green at a huge saving.
Perhaps 4 in the 300k bracket might be too many. Unless you are super keen on Draper, maybe move Cameron to R2, bring in McLean, and use the funds to upgrade one of your mids to another big dog.
Really like the side bar McCluggage, who you guys have been taking out.
Has inside from a wing lately but still an absolute butcher and not Top 8 MID material. Cannot have McCluggage as M2 imo. Maybe during the season as a cheaky trade in @ 525k on a purple patch but not as a starter.
Thinking of running Draper and Jackson as rucks.
Both have negative points, but there cheap. So it’s what it is. The money put elsewhere hopefully makes up the points.
Draper is sole ruck and should get better.
Jackson is an elite talent, who was apprenticed to Gawn. Playing with Darcy.
Who gets injured every other week. Not miss games injured but constant niggles.
Not selecting either as keepers, but hopeful they can both can be. Or there an easy upgrade.
And most significantly they both played 20+ games last year. That will probably come in very handy.
Granted. But I’m not looking for keepers or to make cash, just sit tight for as long as possible. I want durability until I can upgrade. Look at the list of games missed by rucks last year. It’s scary.
If I want durability MAINLY I think there fine, I want to use trades elsewhere not 5-6 on rucks. Just 2 upgrades at the byes.
I’m a big Draper fan, in terms of his impact on his team (and also seems like a good fella), but if he averages 85+ I’ll eat my hat. Simply has too few SC strings to his bow.
Jackson has more going for him than Draper in my eyes, but I need to see it before I buy it. He’s just been so erratic with SC scoring. Four scores over 120 last year, and no other tonnes!? 11 scores under 80… oof.
GD – thank you for you positive comments. I like Dunkley too but you cant pick them all. At this early stage without seeing any preseason games etc I am prepared to risk him to see how he fits into the Brisbane midfield.
Alex,
Love the feedback, thank you. Im still going to wait and see how Dunkley performs in preseason before committing. and for you to please provide further analysis I have tweaked my team to include Dunkley:
Love a team with a few calculated risks.
If all of Young, Daicos, LDU, Warner, Rozee graduate to uber premo this year, you’ll be laughing! Or even 3 of them.
Not too many surprises and very much the rookies being place holders as a long way to go for that to come to light.
Richards in for now and will watch his role closely during any of the pre season games that we hopefully see. That finish to the year is hard to ignore and we know that there are plenty of points to be had in the Dogs backline with Daniel and Dale over recent seasons.
Bont an absolute lock for me. Think with Dunkley gone and enough tall forward options now that he bosses that midfield and has no need to spend time up forward. Parish seems underpriced as before his injury troubles was going at 118 but will keep a close eye how it all settles with the new coach coming in.
Have snuck Cameron into the rucks for now but think I’ll settle with him up forward so he can cover the rucks. Will monitor the Melbourne situation and look very closely at starting with Grundy. Being priced at ~93 don’t think there is much downside at all. Blicavs and English also interest me.
Dunkley and Rozee all but locked in and Cogs fighting it out with Butters, Taranto and Cameron for the other premium slot. Hope rookies are thin up forward so we need to select more premiums. I want to select all of Dunkley, Cogs, Butters, Rozee, Taranto and Cameron.
Think the biggest boon for Bont is Lobb’s arrival, not Dunkley’s departure. Still maintain losing a tackling, defensive MID like Dunkley stings but the Dogs can likely fill that vacuum. Like you mention, Lobb coming to town (plus potentially Bruce, JUH improving) all but kills any chance of Bont going down.
You’re probably right on Parish. I was super hot on him last year and started him instead of Neale (smh) and hated myself all year. Now that I’ve sworn him off watch him return to his backend 2021 form.
I was saying this to Baz the other day but on Richards, just watch the Dogs backline balance heading into the season. They let him off the chain and eat Dale’s lunch last year, but make sure that modus vivendi is still in place otherwise Richards is a dead pick.
The 2023 rucks are fucked. I have no clue or commentary to offer there lol.
Thanks GD, yeah Richards is a super speculative pick for now based off the last 6 games. Will likely shuffle the around other premos to find some more cash to go after someone else at his spot.
FWD:
Dunkley, Rozee, Taranto, Henry, McLean, Bruce (Berry, Comben)
Cheap rookies obviously going to change based on selection. Not sure how the new substitute interpretation will change rookies but I don’t want to rely on too many or ones that won’t be subbed off. Hoping for a few role changes for some cheaper options (Bruce down back, Henry on a wing, Brayshaw into the guts) and that players stay fit (Yeo, McLean)
there’s a premium ruck who’s well-priced, consistent, durable, reliable, versatile … and he’s dpp … could be a pod and be locked in at R1 all season … and no one is talking about him … watch this space
Don’t mind him as a cheaper option, but dropped 4 scores below 67 last year? very up and down scores in the second half of the year. RoMa and Grundy with some risk are cheaper but can score better. Turns 32 this year. Convince me, Freesync.
32 not old in this day and age … not an injury prone or overly crash and bash player… has aged like fine wine … Grundy zero idea how he’ll play with Gawn, huge question mark atm… I like Marshall … FS
But he was heavily discounted last year, a bargain.
This year he’s inflated. So if he does what he does and goes great he will drop in price, with a tag even more so.
Great SC selection but he’ll be 550 at some point.
Dunks one of the best defensive, tackling, pressuring midfielders going around and Neale has been begging for support.
Lyons and Zorko cooked, McCluggage a butcher and no one else has emerged.
To those who say he’ll take points: look at the Dogs the last few years. Biggest SC monopoly side, biggest source of Top 8 MIDs, Dunks, Macrae, Libba & Bont have vibed.
Having good midfielders around you helps.
Now, tags, trajectory and fixture could be a factor but as far as Dunks is a concern, it’s a massive plus for Neale imo.
This is just a team on my wachlist for something different.
2.5M itb
D- Salem, Yeo, Bowes,Jones, Cleary, Wilmot
(Dean, Chesser)
M-Cunnington, Sloane, J.H.F. Sheed,Dunstan,
E.Hollands,Durrsma,McLean
(Goater,Phillipou,Phillips)
R- Xerri, Reeves (Ratagolea)
F- Hobbs,Fyfe,Fantasia,Bruce,Sinn,Thomas.
(Pedlar,Tsitas)
Bit stuck here-
Green more mid time with Taranto/Hopper gone?
Mitchell- who’s place does he take- will he stop Daicos from more mid time or Take Adams cba?
Laird Oliver Bont MacRae Mills Steele Neale Tout or Trac which spot does he take Derek I had him but just find the extra 100k and get a true keeper Not for me mate NDD
Forget about 2022 for Titch. He was unwanted at Hawthorn and was either starting quarters on the bench or the wing (still managed 96). He averaged 117 in 2021. If he replicates that, it puts him about #5 on that list.
The other thing in his favour, he has missed 1 game in 6 years.
I just can’t see any risk or downside to his selection
Interesting zero rookie team, with also limited exposure to the first and second byes + fairly secure injury cover on all lines:
Defenders
Jordan Dawson $603,100
Dan Houston $545,100
Elliot Yeo $337,000
Nick Coffield $208,800
Josh Goater $192,700
Tom Cole $182,300
Josh Weddle $130,800
Campbell Chesser $123,900
Midfielders
Marcus Bontempelli $639,500
Andrew Brayshaw $615,600
Tom Green $534,600
Jacob Hopper $332,000
Dom Sheed $332,000
James Worpel $309,300
Sam Flanders $256,300
Toby McLean $178,900
Will Phillips $158,300
Charlie Constable $123,900
Oskar Baker $123,900
Rucks
Tim English $581,000
Scott Lycett $429,900
Esava Ratugolea $174,000
Forwards
Josh Dunkley $596,400
Stephen Coniglio $557,700
Connor Rozee $513,800
Tim Taranto $503,100
Oscar Allen $210,200
Ben King $176,300
Houston could become Brayshaw/ Young / Daicos, and Worpel & Goater could then be swapped with Salem and a rookie (bringing Will Phillips on field instead of Worpel, Salem instead of Goater), making it maybe a little stronger potentially.
I sort of like Houston though, seems like he gained a bit of consistency last year pre-injury. But is definitely a riskier pick at that price.
OK, I’m not seeing last year’s Brodie and cogs.
There’s heaps of cheap picks in all lines to select from. But are we seeing more in these players than there is due to Brodie and cogs last year?
There’s always been cheap picks which we stayed away from in the past barring a few exceptions. McLean is the ONLY one I’m bullish on.
I’m not sencing traps, it’s a minefield. Hopper, McLean, Allen, Bruce, mckenna. These are the only ones I’ll touch now. And just to get rookies off the field is their sole purpose.
Last year many mid pricers generated money and points and helped their owners. But SC is still SC. The trend could reverse to the normal mean and midprice madness could hurt. Or here to stay. There is certainly value around. Some like Yeo and Fyfe, high risk high reward. Not for me either. Picking the right ones will be the key.
What’s keeping me up at night:
– Will Daicos really take the next step and is D2 a bit dangerous
– Bowes role/Yeo fitness
– Can I squeeze more money for a high price def rookie like ginbey/goater?
– How does ashcroft go/fit in a top 4 side and midfield
– Mashall role? Does jack hayes injury and no king help or hinder this, along with tom campbell
– Can I squeeze some money to get one more higher end rookie player in the fwd
line, maybe a Bruce if he looks good
Give me every opinion you have on everything legends!
Thanks mate! Yea Marshall is so interesting, clearly their number 1 ruck and hoping that surely they plug in forwards up there rather than the great man
Messing around with the team.
Thinking I can drop Dale, Steele and Munkara for Bowes, Touk and Fyfe. The original side has more keepers (Dale) but the revised side looks deeper even though I will need to trade both Fyfe and Bowes.
Sorry to confuse you Gilly It’s just a habit I got into, to sign off. First name is Neil from Demons Delight lol sorry couldn’t resist and how is your team going / Rucks is my biggest problem It’s the FOMO (fear of missing out) syndrome English with his body Witts who is clearly best or Grundy who will play in the premiership team dunno
fwd- dunks, rozee, mclean, bruce, macrae, sinn (berry, van rooyen)
70k itb
quite happy with the backline, may have gone a bit heavy in the mid but there are a couple pods i’m quite keen on and don’t wanna miss out. no ashcroft i just don’t see him getting a good role on brisbanes talented list. rucks are what’s gonna make or break teams this year. Grundy should be rucking more often than not and anythinng above 100 i’ll take. darcy averaged 108 last year with meek out of side, and if jackson plays everywhere but ruck like freo has been saying i like the unique pick. very short in fwd line as i’m not a fan of the popular mid price selections
Too shallow a FWD line, Wines a no (coming off post-season knee surgery) and Serong only put +7.7 on his 2021 average (82.9) in 2022 (90.6). So you’ll need to be confident he can put +20 on this year to be a viable selection, which looks like too steep an ask.
valid points, cheers. tbh i had no idea about the wines surgery so will take him out. Didn’t rly do my research on serong but i loved his form late last year especially in finals, but after taking a quick look the guys would struggle to crack 100 in games where he’d poll 3 votes and get 30+ touches. I still think he may be a ok selection but it concerns me a bit how he can play so well and not have the points reflect it.
We often worry that little available or options. Consider Nuggets backline, 12 months ago…
Sic- worried how his knee would hold up & Sics spitting the dummy with umpires dissent rule
Doc- just getting back from cancer treatment, not sure how he’d go
Bradshaw- had been passed by other Dees mids and squeezed out of CBAs
Yeo- Osteo pubis, injured and never get back
Goater- Who?
McKenna- left Aussie rules- had enough, gone home
Dean & Chesser- we’re favs this time last year and didn’t play a game!
I’m sure my backline will change 1000times from here til the start of the season.
Sic and doch proven scorers; expecting the ball to be in hawthorns defence a lot this season, Brayshaw finished strong last year and is training with the mid group so could be a great POD. Reports are Yeo looks strong, expect west coast to bounce back, there’s also bowes as well, reports he’s training with Geelongs mids. McKeena a decent cow.
Chesser and dean would of played last year barring injury, if they get on the park.. I’d image they will be popular picks this year, even
Obviously rookies will change. So much fun to look forward to.
Anyone got a reading on Ben Hobbs?
70-80 point place holder till upgrade.
Looking at dunks and a few of these guys, Flanders, windhanger, MacDonald etc.
No TT. To hold down the fort till the other top 5 emerge and an easy up/down trade.
As much as I have considered RoMa as #1 ruck – surely the Hayes injury is the nail in the coffin to him scoring consistently for the first half of the year?
Tom Campbell isn’t capable of playing 80% forward clunking marks and kicking goals. Happy to be wrong but I can’t see that happening.
I can see a 60/40 Ruck/Fwd split now. Huge risk imo, unless some forward miracle happens in the pre season game/practice match, he’s a no way jose for me.
FWD: Dunkley, Taranto, Cameron, Allen, McLean, B. King (Berry, Sinn)
$1,800 itb.
Have gotten mid-pricer picks way too wrong in previous years so I’m sticking with proven uber premos to start with and figure out the rest later. One MID premo could switch to Mills/Parish or even down to an Anderson/Warner breakout type if I want to spread the funds elsewhere.
Absolutely disagree with DD. Anderson and breakout MID types should only be selected if you’re 100% confident on their breakout trajectory – not to save a tiny bit of coin.
Defenders
Tom Stewart $604,000
Jordan Dawson $603,100
Adam Saad $567,900
Christian Salem $390,400
Josh Goater $192,700
Max Michalanney $135,300
Josh Weddle $130,800
Charlie Dean $123,900
Midfielders
Touk Miller $662,400
Zach Merrett $617,500
Josh Dunkley $596,400
Luke Davies-Uniacke $557,400
Tom Green $534,600
Jacob Hopper $332,000
Toby McLean $178,900
Mattaes Phillipou $166,800
Will Phillips $158,300
Josh Sinn $123,900
Campbell Chesser $123,900
Rucks
Rowan Marshall $506,500
Scott Lycett $429,900
Nicholas Madden $102,400
Forwards
Connor Rozee $513,800
Tim Taranto $503,100
Darcy Cameron $465,900
Ben King $176,300
Thomas Berry $123,900
Jai Serong $123,900
Tex Wanganeen $123,900
James Tsitas $123,900
Only current alternative I’m thinking about at this stage is to bring Titch in for LDU or Green, then upgrade Ruck. And of course, rookies are subject to change/selection.
Agree with Alex that Dunks needs to be selected as FWD.
Don’t think Saad presents value at 570k. I had him last year and he was great, but 570k is him basically topped out. Spend the extra 30k for one of the 600k 110 guys and grab Saad when he drops in price and presents value.
Probably also need 1 more big premo MID at a minimum.
Here is a team wth no first year rookies on field and only one (Munkara) on the bench.
Only one mid pricer – Max Holmes, who averaged 65.5 last year but 94.5 in his last 4 games home and away games as the Cats stormed to the flag. I am a lifetime Cats supporter and Holmes could be anything with another 20 games of experience.
Backs
Houston $545100
Young $508200
S Taylor $501300
McKenna $167300
Wilmot $123900
Wagner $117300
Constable $123900
Allison $123900
Mids
Miller $662400
Mills $642400
Bontempelli $639500
Andrew Brayshaw $615600
N Anderson $552900
Holmes $360600
McLean $178900
Phillips $158300
Blakely $123900
Angwin $123900
Chesser $123900
Rucks
Blicavs $537200
Marshall $506500
Ratugolea $174000
Forwards
Dunkley $596400
Butters $529400
D Moore $521000
Allen $210200
Bruce $161200
F Macrae $123900
F Greene $123900
Munkara $102400
$20500 ITB.
This probably won’t resemble my final team but shows what can be done of you don’t want too many rookies on field or on the bench.
Many will say light on in defence but I can find reasons not to include every player priced over $600000.
Five premos in the mids as I believe Noah Anderson will quickly become a $600k player.
Went for durability in the rucks, Blicavs can play anywhere and should average 95-100. Marshall is a bit of a risk with all the injuries at the Saints but as solo ruck he is a lock. I don’t want to waste trades in the rucks. I expect Ratugolea will get a run in defence at some stage and he provides ruck cover if he does.
Forwards Dunkley is a lock and I think Dylan Moore will get extended mid time with all the on ball experience leaving the Hawks.
3-5-2-3 structure which I like, 13 keepers (hopefully).
5 clear Captain options if you include Dunkley.
I would hope D1-3 become D4-6 by season end.
Comments welcome, do you think it could work or am I dreaming?
Don’t mind this idea, and 100% agree with the Moore and Ratugolea comments,
I’d probably switch S Taylor to Daicos/Daniel but it’s an interesting pick, I’m surprised to see his average from last year was that high…must’ve slipped through the cracks
First off, he’ll never have scope to really have a monopoly or plurality of distribution with Himmelberg and Cumming back there. Those monster games, and even tons to a degree, will rely each on him monstering his direct opponent.
Second, his price relative to the current DEF landscape. 500k so awkward. 100k off just going for a 600k Top 6 lock. If you’re not grabbing them, feels like you may as well drop right down to Salem or Yeo.
Idk. Really like him as a player and would be a superb POD if it paid off but it’s just a really awkward selection, Owen.
I nailed Dale last year at a similar price but the DEF landscape was much more balanced and nailing a move like that paid dividends.
Is Taylor panning out gonna be as a big reward when Sinc, Sicily, Doch, Dawson and Stewart are all doing 110+ anyway?
It’s tricky.
REALLY like your side though, Owen. Very unique but haven’t done so just for the sake of it – picks and structure all very well thought through.
I did put a lot of thought into what a side could look like without rookies.
Normally I would have 4 or 5 of the best rookies in the side but this year I just don’t see it happening unless there are a few standouts as we get closer to the season. Then I could just swap them in for older players like Allen, Bruce, McLean etc. or swap bench players.
I worry Ashcroft is not going to get a decent go in a stacked Lions midfield (Dunkley, Neale, McCluggage, Rayner, Bailey, Berry) and with Rich, Coleman and maybe O’Connor playing off half back, there is probably no spot there for him. That might leave him playing half forward = death valley!
Sam Taylor is a POD that might work, especially if Himmelberg plays forward.
Of the $600k defenders, I love Tom Stewart but as a Cat’s fan I am worried that his role has changed with the new game style and he won’t get the free points as much.
Still a long way to go and I am sure there will be injuries etc that force changes.
I’m not sold on what appears to be a high % of teams with Taranto, Rozee and Young. I’ve also a bit concerned with Cameron’s “injury” at training this week .. no details on that.. so I’ve omitted him for now and made some adjustments to bring in Witts. Your comments would be appreciated:
First off. Steel apparently not quite right.
And your sentiment of taranto, roziee and young. I agree with. They fall under never done it before (+105-110 average or near the top of their line) which is what your hoping for from their potential. Which begs the question of Daicos,reeves and Anderson starting in your team. Rozie and Tarantino have a better chance of achieving this than Anderson reeves, and daicos. Basically due to them being in the fwd line.
While there all probably good picks. Going bye who’s done it before and questions about steel, I’d drop daicos, steel, Anderson and reeves(and heeney, paying way to much) and choose seasond players.
Or or put Taranto rozie and young in the same bracket as the rest and not be afraid to select them.
Example, Anderson and steel out. Titch and parish in.
Heeney, reeves out Marshall and cunnington in.
Back line is tough, go big or go cheap.
Cheers TOF, appreciate the input. I wasn’t aware re Steele. I’ve already replaced him with Macrae. Reeves is only a placeholder at this stage. Cameron will come in if the “injury” is nothing to worry about. However if Reeves ends up #1 ruck at the Hawks I may leave him at R2 as a stepping stone until the RUC choices are obvious, and bring Cameron up FWD. (that’s how Heeney appeared, and I agree he is too expensive to start.)
I’m betting on Anderson being a keeper.. his projection has him in top 15 or higher. He will be the primary mid at GCS this year and already averaging over 100. In the latter half of last year he spent the most time in the middle, and by club accounts this will continue.
Moore or Butters will make their way in before Rozee . Taranto has never impressed me and is going to (my) Tigers who haven’t had a SC friendly style except maybe for DEFs.
I think Daicos will be an exception. He’s likely to get DPP at some point and I’m banking on him going better. At this point I’m thinking he may be my D6. But as is the case for us all, the pre-season reveals will force a few roll-on effect changes .. R1 rookies too.
Thanks again. Cheers.
Reeves is about as deadset a red vest risk as there is in the league imo. Hawks rate him and will surely give him games (he was basically their R1 last year already), but they didn’t bring in Meek for nothing. One of these two will be subbed (or not selected) every week.
He’s awkwardly priced, so switching him would probably require a structural change to your team to find the $$ to get up to Lycett/Big O/Marshall/Grundy.
Top 5 Premos are much of a muchness
Diacos should improve and will make money
Coffield and McKenna are $450k players
After the final series Wilmot will play and should be Cash Cow
Chesser and Wagner DPP, should get a game a make money
Laird and Oliver I feel are a little overpriced, will looked to upgrade later.
Miller, Macrae, Merret, Brayshaw, Parish are all in the picture and can come in for Steele.
Mitchell I believe is underpriced
Hollands ave 72.2 Hopper 67.0, believe Holland has more scope for improvement in his 2nd year.
Ashcroft, they will play him to blood him, will see the results after 4 – 5 games, but will still make money, (if he starts rnd 1).
Phillipou and Phillips should play rnd 1.
As far as bench that will finally be decided rnd 1.
Ruck
Grundy
Cameron
Madden
Only sure pick there is Madden, the ruck positions will be discus till the season starts and I think it will be every ones own decisions..
FWD
Dunkley
Coniglio
Rozee
Cunnington
Fyfe
T Mclean
Munkara
Sestan
Very happy with this selection.
The only question make was leaving out Taranto, he avg 91.2 last year, I don’t like Richmond for SC scores and don’t think he will improve much on that, Rozee on the other hand I think has more room for improvement.
Cunnington is my other concern, Doc came back from the same thing last year.
Munkara, I was surprise Essendon take him with their pick22, he’s a gun and if he gets his act together the world his oyster.
My Team, My Thoughts, would appreciate all your comments.
Happy New year and have a great5 fun season to all.
Greetings Gilly I doubt you can better that forward line top effort there and no onfield rookies which I like I notice you have SASTAN on the bench ,he does look good. I was at training and couldn’t help liking him . He has the biggest thighs ever like big Nick ,and won’t get tossed about.Grundy and Cameron same as mine wait for the ruck to appear.I had Daics but not sure of his role so went back to 3 def ubers Reckon you will get off to a flyer with that team good luck for the year probably crop up in a league somewhere with you cheers
Maybe look a bit closer at Coffield & MCKenna.
Coffield peaked in SC value 3 years ago 2020 (in his 3rd year) at 430k 2021 he started at $426k but was only 270k the week after his bye, without any injuries. I wouldn’t trust him for 70 p/week.
McKenna wasn’t as good as coffield
Hey Gilly,
Agree on Daicos.. Like your squad overall ( though Oliver is a must as some point) but I don’t get the fascination with Rozee .. there is little to support his heralded rise .. has to be gut feel I guess .. he’s so unreliable .. the old Yeo… (before injury ) … for me Butters has more upside and more reliable… or Moore.. I like Cunnington as a value pick .. but just watching what Clarkson has in stall.. especially with TT shitting the bed..
good luck for the season..
Would love some feedback on my team. Gotta love a $0 balance.
Defenders
Jordan Dawson $603,100
Mason Redman $510,900
Nick Daicos $502,500
Will Day $362,100
Elliot Yeo $337,000
Caleb Marchbank $198,200
Darcy Wilmot [E] $123,900
Corey Wagner $117,300
Midfielders
Clayton Oliver $699,800
Jack Macrae $634,400
Jack Steele $604,400
Tom Green $534,600
Jacob Hopper $332,000
Will Ashcroft $202,800
Reuben Ginbey $171,300
Will Phillips $158,300
Super side BigBoy. Love some of the POD’s in Day and Flanders. I am less in love with the Punchy Redman POD, personally prefer Young, but when it gets to nitpicking between players at basically the same price it’s really down to personal preferences.
Can’t fault the structure. Certainly 11 keepers. Enough captain options. Sit on it and mess around with rookies as they emerge.
Thanks for the feedback would love to find the cash and turn redman into sicily. IMO i think sicily and dawson will be the top defenders in that order.
‘Brad’ Pitt(onet) is v.good. top HTA ruck in comp before Darcy hobbled him LY. TDK will be a lot better but he may not be #1 or 2 ruck as he’s spending more time fwd, back and on ball than he is in ruck and Mirkov has been drilling in fwd pocket.
I have him as an option atmo until preseason games show more
At $550k they need to average 106 to be a good investment just on pure maths. But 106 is not a top 8 midfielder, so they need to show they can do 110+.
Probably one of them does
Green interests me a bit because of the extra ball he should get with Taranto & Hopper gone and I would guess he is the most likely to get 110+
M6 for titch.
Def-not sure who in the 600k+ will back it up due to tag, injury role change.
Sub 600k not sure who gets up to their level. So going mid pricers and cheapies to cherry pick the best options as a priority when they present themselves.
Fwd pick themselves, plus a couple cheapies For starters ignoring dpp later on.
So I’m thinking load up on fwds and mids to focus solely on upgrading defence.
Then around the byes I can upgrade the cheaper mids to laird Neale etc.
M1-2 is Oliver and bont.
Basically I’m hoping they become luxury trades through and after the byes. While putting up 100 ave(better than a rookie or mid pricer) yet not to far off the top guys.
Mitchell will certainly give everyone a go, competing for places is the way he likes it.
That’s what you get from a rebuilding team. Hawks have a lot of young midfielders and they are all trying to impress. Newcombe & Ward are locked in and should get the bulk of the midfield time.
Worpel needs to improve on his last couple of seasons and I wouldn’t be thinking he is that relevant anymore.
Nash and Maginess will have roles to play depending on their opponents
I can see Stephens & Day getting plenty of time in the guts as they are a bit older than the fresh recruits.
Wingard, Moore & Buttler will be mainly forwards but getting a run in the midfield at certain times.
Ward has a bit of a hip issue that has kept him from the preseason work. He was the only player who didn’t run last weeks time trials. Not that it matters, he is a running machine. Hopefully he gets into regular training soon.
Sorry GD I work shift work so don’t get to check messages regularly. I already am fielding Salem. Just hoping to get a mid priced that’ll look to play every week and earn some cashola. Both Day and Yeo capable. Leaning towards day being the younger and hungrier hawk at the moment. In saying that whichever I choose means the other one will pump out tons!!
The last couple of years falln premiums, mid pricers at new clubs and cheapies at new clubs and a breakout or born again ruck have been the difference. Brodie, Coniglio, Sicily, Cripps, Hewett English last year and a similar number the year before and the year before that with Witts & Hickey getting the bargain ruck awards..
So, who will it be this year?
TMitch?
JHF?
TobyMac?
Hopper?
Berry?
Draper?
Pittonet?
I had hopes for Tucker but he’s already broken down
I am also thinking “what happens if there are none?” Will we see a year of sub-premo teams? What would your starting team look like if you thought that was true? Would it be more ultra premo’s with looped rookies, or would it be a mid priced team?
Going back to when I first started playing this game, I was a mid-priced madness advocate. I would be consistently beaten by a team with premos and rookies. Eventually I saw the light and edged more towards a GnR structure. So, as a setup- 11 ultra premos plus 1 breakout player would possibly be the way ti go.
In terms of your question as to which cheaper player will turn out to be a keeper, I would suggest
1 Salem as a D5/D6
2. Yeo – if he can actually stay on the park
3. Bruce – I know, Bruce???? But if he really has the intercept role we keep hearing about, he could be this years Himmelburg
4. Ratugolea – yeah, now I am getting ridiculous, but if he really does get a big go at the ruck , I can see him as F7/R3.
5. Hopper – if we start him and a rookie cash drought slows our upgrades. I can see him being a M8 averaging 95-100 and not moving from our teams.
Tmac is a lock.
Gambling on Draper. If he doesn’t get near the top. I’m hoping he doesn’t get injured before trading him up so I can call it a win.
So many ruck injuries last year, hoping his durability helps out during upgrade season.
That’s a real gamble with Tom MacDonald though he is training super well , always wins the 2k and coming back from mid season injury Young van rooyen and gawn as company for that spot
Howdy SCT community, thought it was about that time to put together draft 1 (of probably 500 by first bounce). Asterisks indicate notes to follow (ignoring those that have popped up several times on previous threads re Fyfe, Hopper, Taranto etc).
DEF: Stewart, Dawson, Salem*, Bowes, Weddle, Chesser [Wilmot, Montgomerie]
MID: Oliver, Bontempelli, Steele, LDU*, Mitchell, Hopper, Ashcroft*, Phillips [Blakely, Baker, Wagner]
RUC: Grundy*, Marshall [Madden]
FWD: Dunkley, Taranto, Cameron, Fyfe, McLean, Van Rooyen [Berry, Sinn]
* Salem – clear bounce back candidate, amongst very few true mid price options in DEF. Would consider shifting Fyfe down to a rookie to get Salem up to Docherty or Sicily.
* LDU – understand the concerns re Cunners return, but I’m buying his late 2022 form and trajectory. Could shift to Tom Green if rolls dictate.
* Ashcroft – I actually doubt I will start round 1 with him, unless he tears preseason match apart. Lions are stacked beyond belief, and I just don’t think Ashcroft will have that Walsh/Daicos freedom early.
* Grundy – this is the pick I’m most unsure about. Mostly a place holder while I mull it over some more, but Grundy for 500k!? Never thought I’d see the day. Cameron in FWD as backup if this goes tits up anyway.
Appreciate all thoughts!
ery thought provoking TRB I am mulling over the Salem/Bowes vs Ryan/rookie swap also. My problem is with Bowes just not won over by him in a strong team Salem appears a good selection .I was at training the other day and Brayshaw needs a ton of work .Coaches won’t admit it but he needs a lot of conditioning , however that won’t affect Salem who is leading the pack in his role NDD
Solid team..initial thoughts
…five starting selections returning from essentially long term injuries/illness would be my only concern, particularly as judging preseason form/roles will be problematic…
four starting rookies seems ok…Bowes is an unknown quantity with the Cats atm…
But as they say…no risk, no reward
The is a world where Bowes is the best pick of the year as a result Stewart takes a hit.
There is another world where Bowes struggles to be in the Cats best 23.
If Bowes is fully fit, I’m thinking the first option.
What was his injury last year?
agree, if bowes does play defence and if he is in best 22( 2 big ifs) i thibk stewie will lose kick out duties and a maybe a few cheap uncontested possies.
Fantastic side, Bozza!
I like it Bozza.
Looks like my team.
Hello, crew and Happy new year.
I am having my first attempt . I am mainly set on my premos but that could change at any time like everyone else depending on rookies with Good JS
Defence :
Sinclair , Dawson , Jones,
Gibney, Weddle, McKenna
(Wilmot, Coles)
Oliver, Neale, Miller, Laird ,
Steele, Ashcroft, Phillipou, Phillips ,
(Chesser, Dowling, Richards)
Grundy, Lycett , (Williams)
Dunkley, Taranto, Cogs,
Thomas , Sheezle, Sinn,
(Comben, Davey)
In defence : I am convinced there are a few good rookies with good job security. I refuse to pay 600k for a defender when I can have value elsewhere. I learned from Lloyd. I really want Stewart , but only as my first upgrade due to his bad bye. I will start him instead of Sinclair If I decided to drop Steele in my midfield starting lineup.
Midfield : The usual suspects. Steele could still make place for LDU if he is battling fitness by end of January. Neale instead of Macrae because I like it when Neale is fit.
Rucks : Grundy because of price and fitness history and Lycett for ceiling. I may still run a Grundy with English (or A midPricer/2nd tier ruck and Cameron fwd). Depends on English eye test preseason
Forward : Thomas can still become Cameron or Butters if I can free cash with Cheap rookies. Also Still Toying with ideas of midPricers at F4, F5,F6. And sacrificing the rucks. But will depend on rookies.
That’s me folks. Criticise away
You don’t like paying $600+k for a defender, but you pick Sinclair? Why did you pick Sinclair over Sicily and Docherty. I think of the big 5 defenders, Sinclair is more likely to drop in scoring and price considering a new coach.
Nice Midfield, not seeing many teams with Neale considering Dunkley joining the midfield.
I can see why you picked Lycett, underpriced for a #1 ruck and worth the risk in a very confusing Ruck line. Grundy is also underpriced and worth risk.
Top 3 in forwards pick themselves. Thomas is a wait & watch and we can’t make a call on him until near round 1
Good team.
Thanks Derek , I had Sinclair last year and he served me well. I also believe that he just broke into the team so he still has 1-2 years of improving. What I like most is the work ethics. He puts in the shift so his floor is generally good ( only had 3 sub 100 scores last year while Sicily had 6 and Docherty 8). To be honest, any of Sinclair, Stewart , Doherty, Sicily are good picks, and have arguments for and against them.
But you are right, new coach things can change. I will monitor him during preseason. But I rather pay top dollars and have the money to move sideways than be unable to afford another defender if it doesn’t work out
Good to see around again, Jeannot.
Excellent side. Rate the structure and like the Sinclair, Lycett and Cogs picks.
Bonne chance.
Merci Habibi. Hopefully, we get plenty of cheap rookies this year so we can go back to proper GnR.
bonjour jeannot comment ca va tres bien Haven’t used that for 5 years .There are a few rookies not mentioned much weddle and cowans from carlton are two that jump out plus a bulldog gallagher from tassie who has good raps on him au revoir
I just worry about F45678 none are by any means secure but as you say midpricers fixes that . Agree with Derek about Sinclair .the Lyon factor worries me great to see you back mon ami
Hi DD, now you guys are making me nervous about Sinclair 🙂
I have to admit I am not a fan of Ross Lyon in SC so maybe I should proceed with caution..
As for the FWDs, I believe we have plenty of value players and may also get few DPP during the year, so most are only be place holders. I heard Heeney is training with the mids too..
Unless somthing changes, I can see Sinclair, Sicily, Docherty, Stewart & Dawson being to top defenders, but they are all expensive.
A plan would be to start with cheapies and pick the big dogs up as/when they become cheaper. But probably won’t get them much cheaper.
Unless there is an improvement from Lloyd, Dale, Ryan, Daniel, Ridley, Salem, Daicos etc or a midfielder like Whitfield, Ross, Crisp etc get DPP, I can’t see anyone else challenge for the top 5 defenders.
I’m going to start at least 2, maybe 3 if the cheapies don’t turn up.
Agree here Derek.
Short is another one that is now Mid only, but should get DPP round 6.
I see him averaging ~100 this maybe enough to sneak into the back end of the top 6-8 defenders.
DEF: Tuohy, Logue, Hamilton, Mckenna, Burges, Ginbey (Wagner, Archer)
MID: Laird, Oliver, Macrae, Cripps, Steele, Dunkley, Sheldrick, Mclean,(Sinn, Chesser, Richards)
RUCK:Witts, Meek (Ratugolea)
FWD: Taranto, Anderson, Fyfe, Cameron, Davey, Phillipou,(Van rooyan, Sestan)
Feel free to pick and pull apart rookies not set and not sold on Fyfe, Logue and Macrea could become Bont.
Hey, Alf.
Great side bar that DEF line? No Top 6 or SC relevant picks.
A lot of us are going light down back rn to facilitate deep MID and FWD lines, so maybe try 2x DEF premos or 1x DEF premo & 1x midpricer (Yeo, Salem) if you want that flexibility but wouldn’t stoop to Tuohy and Logue.
Anderson also interesting. Don’t see an SC conducive role for him (or maybe even a spot) at the Suns but he’s always had a nice ceiling.
Love the rest of the side.
Agree with you G D about that defence but I am not in favour of a light defence quite the opposite I am going F4 at present and unless rookies appear ,which i think will happen, I will go deeper Ndd
I tried to go semi-premium last year with Ridley & Daniel at D3 & D4. It would have worked if I went Hewitt & Sicily or Sinclair instead.
It’s hard to know outside the big 5 who will be the top defenders, especially with DPP during the year.
I’ll be sticking with 2 or 3 if the big boys and see who else comes along
We can’t have the lot Derek but 2 of the top five plus another likely to fill D 6 to 8 , Ryan in my case , plus your fallen prem if there is one seems the go. I have never liked Salem but at sub 400. first picked at Melbourne , best kick.and links up well with May and Lever, it is so hard not to pick him . I have actually dumped Sicily for him and spent the 200k on my worst 22 and bench ,,, rather than another spec.midpricer like Hopper. I now have 11 solid prems Jackson and Salem as my two midpricers and 8 of the 170 k type players. Phillipou is my sole rookie who I believe will be the star of this year like Daicos was.. Watch the 2 w a boys they are ready made too NDD
Salem at $390k doesn’t interest me much. Maybe if he was cheaper.
Does anyone know the amount of trades we’ll get and if there’ll still be boosts?
I’m personally hoping they go back to 30 trades and/or get rid of boosts. Too many trades makes it too easy and takes the risk-taking element out of it because everyone converges to the same players every week and there’s too little variation. By rounds ~4/5 last year I was in matchup with only 5-6 unique players every week.
Sicily, Dawson, Dale
Yeo, Wilmot, Dean
(Montgomerie, Wagner)
Oliver, Bontempelli, Steele, Mitchell,
Ashcroft, Phillips, Macrae,
(Blakely, Baker, Chesser)
Grundy, Marshall
(Madden)
Dunkley, Butters, Taranto,
Camron, McLean, Gallagher,
(Munkara, Richards)
Likely structure with rookies TBC.
I am considering Luke Jackson in to replace Darcy Cameron. Jackson will be an infinitely better player than Cameron and has probably passed Cameron already in performance and status. I just need the balls to confirm what we all know already and trust the talent manifests in points . I also sense that Jackson may be used in mids as Fyfe winds back his time in the mids. It may sound crazy talking about a ruck playing mids, but Jackson is some talent. I reckon Jackson is as versatile as Blicavs with supercharged talent.
Hey, Baz.
No bigger fan of Dale than me (started him last year) but just watch how the Dogs backline settles into 2023.
They really let Richards go off chain last year with an unaccountable, loose role and it ate into a lot of Dale’s economy.
Monitor.
Rest of the team is bangin’. Good luck.
Thanks GD for your thoughts. I will monitor Dale.
Who’s your ‘missing’ mid? There’s only 7 on field
Hopper is the other mid
surely i can’t be the only won not sold on taranto. had him a few times now and has never impressed and always lacked consistency and a high ceiling, as his disposal efficiency is terrible. i see him improving by getting a mid role at the tiges but i can’t see him exceeding an 100 avg and won’t be selecting him.
Valid points, Wokka. I’ve never rated him either and lagged on him for years. His DE could push a person to suicide, no doubt.
BUT…the minute he went to Tigers slated for a full time MID role, he was locked into my side.
On full CBA load any moron can press triple digits.
A FWD option with that kind of profile? Lockity lock.
I’m more worried about titch, fyfe, yeo, Grundy, English, Gawn. These guys going great will be a disaster if you don’t have most of them. And a disaster if you do have them and they don’t.
IMO we will probably see the oldies and the fragiles play approximately 60% game time and the youngsters 85-90% game time if the teams have the quality support……
He’s not in my GnR team, but he could be one of the first mid-pricers selected if I need to fill holes left by lack of rookies.
If he can average 95, he should at least make $150k
Happy new yr all, tear it apart. 100k in the bank.
Dawson, Daicos, Richards, Bowes, Goater, Chesser (Dean,Wilmot)
Oliver, Bont, Macrae, Steele, Titchell, Hopper, Ashcroft, Phillips (Constable, Baker, Wagner)
Witts, Cameron (Ryan)
Dunkley, Taranto, Fyfe, Mclean, Bruce, Sinn (MacRae, Nankervis)
Sicily, Docherty, Dawson
Weddle, Wilmot, Chesser – Dean-Allison
Oliver, Neale, Miller, Cripps
Steele, Mitchell, Ashcroft, Philips – Constable-Sinn-Wagner
Marshall, Cameron-Edwards
Coniglio, Rozee, Allen
McLean, Macrae, Berry – Serong-Madden
Rucks to be the big POD in 2023, of last years top 10 Leviathans Only Witts looks assured of maintaining that rank. Grundy and Gawn will cannabilise each other, sure they’ll each have some big games but over the season they wont finish as top 6 rucks. Darcy will lose points to Jackson, English will lose points to lobb, O’Brien might stay above 100 but not confident, NicNat will be stolen by the British Museum along with Goldy, and the Nank hmm.
I might end up starting 2 mid-price rucks and pumping up the fwds a bit instead. I like Pittonet if he can stay fit. He’s always been a top 2 HTA ruck when fit & Healthy and Carlton have even more ball winners in the middle now.
I’m either Gawn and Draper-straight swap to Grundy and Marshall before lockout. GNR structure.
Or Draper and graves more mid madness.
Basically who scores highest pre season games score will decide it.
AFL not making pre season performance, roles, fitness comparisons easy…
“All 18 clubs will be scheduled just the one official practice clash ahead of the season proper.”
https://www.afl.com.au/news/873232/revealed-pre-season-scratch-matches-take-shape
I only don’t have English based on his concussion history, but Lobb won’t make a difference. He might take a couple when English is on the bench and some forward ones but English gains plenty of points around the ground. Lobb averaged 13 hitouts last year, would be surprised if it’s anymore this year.
It’s points forwad of centre that I believe Lobb will poach from English. I might be wrong, English only kicked 11 goals in 2022.
Would love to see his Back/Ruck/Forward Split, think he filled holes down back as much as he did up forward.
Lmao. Stolen by the British Museum. Spat out my coffee – even as an Eagles man.
Agree the ruck landscape is hectic this year.
Tingles and RoMo make the most sense but no make or break, must have combinations as of yet.
Lycett and Pittonet is where I’m at rn.
Strong side, gw.
Long time reader, first time poster with team 2023 v1.
I’m a little non-committle on vertually all selections, especially rookies and my premium mids until the preseason matches but its start……
Backs
J.Sicily $624,700
T.Stewart $604,000
N.Daicos $502,500
H.Clark $315,200
J.Goater MID $192,700
C.Dean $123,900
C.McKenna $167,500
C.Wagner MID $117,300
Midfielders
T.Miller $662,400
H.McCluggage $570,800
T.Green $534,600
T.Mitchell $528,600
J.Hopper $332,000
W.Ashcroft $202,800
M.Phillipou FWD $166,800
C.Blakely $123,900
W.Phillips $158,300
C.Chesser DEF $123,900
O.Hotton FWD $117,300
Rucks
R.Marshall $506,500
S.Draper $398,700
M.Colina FWD $123,900
Forwards
J.Dunkley MID $596,400
C.Rozee MID $513,800
T.Taranto MID $503,100
D.Cameron RUC $465,900
T.Thomas MID $295,700
B.King $176,300
C.Comben $123,900
J.Sinn MID $123,000
I like that you’ve gone a few Pods, but I’d say the only weakness is the midfield, downgrade a fwd or back and get another premo mid in there or upgrade mccluggage if you’re not sold on him.
I feel like Mccluggage might be the one to get off the chain up there? Agree im a premo short but i always feel like the midfield is where you need to make your cash so if i can nail a couple of cheaper mids i can get upgrading quicker but thats the gamble
I think you are 1 Uber premo short. You have 4 guys who are clearly in top 4 to 6 of their line and make them Uber. Preferably all your premos are ubers or very close.
I’m hoping when all the rookies lock in i can downgrade Philipou and Mckenna or Goater and that will allow me to take Mccluggage to a Neale or similar. but ive only got 2k:)
Hi Richard. I feel you are short of captain options. You have Miller, and perhaps Dunkley, but feels like you need one more big dog like an Oliver, Laird etc.
I have had McCluggage in previous seasons and he has been a little underwhelming. I just kept waiting for him to make that jump to Uber- premium, but he feels like he is going to be serviceable in that next level down. I think you are getting a mccluggage level if output from Green at a huge saving.
Perhaps 4 in the 300k bracket might be too many. Unless you are super keen on Draper, maybe move Cameron to R2, bring in McLean, and use the funds to upgrade one of your mids to another big dog.
Hey, Pat.
Good to have you around.
Really like the side bar McCluggage, who you guys have been taking out.
Has inside from a wing lately but still an absolute butcher and not Top 8 MID material. Cannot have McCluggage as M2 imo. Maybe during the season as a cheaky trade in @ 525k on a purple patch but not as a starter.
Phil’s point on captaincy options also bang on.
TU: LDU
TD: Jy Simpkin
Thinking of running Draper and Jackson as rucks.
Both have negative points, but there cheap. So it’s what it is. The money put elsewhere hopefully makes up the points.
Draper is sole ruck and should get better.
Jackson is an elite talent, who was apprenticed to Gawn. Playing with Darcy.
Who gets injured every other week. Not miss games injured but constant niggles.
Not selecting either as keepers, but hopeful they can both can be. Or there an easy upgrade.
And most significantly they both played 20+ games last year. That will probably come in very handy.
Draper not SC material. Not a traditional HTA ruck, poor use if any, crashes and bashes, covers the ground.
Great for the Dons but not one you’d look at in SC.
Unless Jackson’s role goes beyond being 2nd ruck/tall FWD (which it apparently might), I wouldn’t consider him either.
Most viable basement rucks rn are Lycett and Pittonet.
Granted. But I’m not looking for keepers or to make cash, just sit tight for as long as possible. I want durability until I can upgrade. Look at the list of games missed by rucks last year. It’s scary.
If I want durability MAINLY I think there fine, I want to use trades elsewhere not 5-6 on rucks. Just 2 upgrades at the byes.
Agree with GD on this one.
I’m a big Draper fan, in terms of his impact on his team (and also seems like a good fella), but if he averages 85+ I’ll eat my hat. Simply has too few SC strings to his bow.
Jackson has more going for him than Draper in my eyes, but I need to see it before I buy it. He’s just been so erratic with SC scoring. Four scores over 120 last year, and no other tonnes!? 11 scores under 80… oof.
As a huge bombers fan…don’t. The Mullet provides lots of highlights…not all positive ones, but is just not SC relevant.
Son of Mummy, still developing……….
2 things I agree with you.
Your taste for Red
I’ve been a Bomber before Max bottled his first drop.
By the way, for an old Bastard like me what does NDD stand for
First draft of many to come:
Stewart, Dawson, Young, Daicos, Cole, Wilmont – Dean/Wagner
Oliver, Brayshaw, LDU, Warner, T. Mitchell, Ashcroft, Phillips, Chesser – Johnson/Blakely/Sinn
Darcy, Lycett – Madden
Coniglio, Rozee, D.Cameron, Allen, McLean, King – Macrae/Davey
Really nice side, David. Very balanced with some breakout selections that could pay major dividends.
Do think Dunks is a must have however.
GD – thank you for you positive comments. I like Dunkley too but you cant pick them all. At this early stage without seeing any preseason games etc I am prepared to risk him to see how he fits into the Brisbane midfield.
Will be shocked if Dunkley is not in the top 2-3 most picked player this year David.
I would be flicking Rozee or Cogs to Dunkley if he does a full pre-season – 26yrs old in his prime, Brisbane midfield his to dominate.
Alex,
Love the feedback, thank you. Im still going to wait and see how Dunkley performs in preseason before committing. and for you to please provide further analysis I have tweaked my team to include Dunkley:
Stewart, Dawson, Young, Daicos, Cole, Wilmont – Dean/Constable
Oliver, Brayshaw, Green, Warner, T. Mitchell, Ashcroft, Phillips, Chesser – Johnson/Blakely/Sinn
Grundy, Marshall – Madden
Dunkley, Rozee, D.Cameron, McLean, King, Van Rooyen – Macrae/Berry
35,400 ITB
Just a watch on Grundy/RoMa in the pre-season amongst others to see their forward splits but otherwise, I like all lines.
Agree Alex…if Dunks goes off and you don’t have him…its a long way to catch up…he’ll be a defensive pick as a forward..if you get my meaning.
Gidday David, I think you need to rethink Dunkley, traded to play full time mid. He was always a lock for me even if he’s was Mid only.
Love a team with a few calculated risks.
If all of Young, Daicos, LDU, Warner, Rozee graduate to uber premo this year, you’ll be laughing! Or even 3 of them.
Here we go with first draft of plenty.
DEF: Dawson, Daicos, Richards, Yeo, McKenna, Chesser (Dean, Gould)
MID: Oliver, Miller, Bont, Parish, Steele, Ashcroft, Bytel, Phillips (Blakely, Kroeger, Warner)
RUC: Marshall, Cameron (Madden)
FWD: Dunkley, Coniglio, Rozee, McLean, Bruce, van Rooyen (Howes, Davey)
Not too many surprises and very much the rookies being place holders as a long way to go for that to come to light.
Richards in for now and will watch his role closely during any of the pre season games that we hopefully see. That finish to the year is hard to ignore and we know that there are plenty of points to be had in the Dogs backline with Daniel and Dale over recent seasons.
Bont an absolute lock for me. Think with Dunkley gone and enough tall forward options now that he bosses that midfield and has no need to spend time up forward. Parish seems underpriced as before his injury troubles was going at 118 but will keep a close eye how it all settles with the new coach coming in.
Have snuck Cameron into the rucks for now but think I’ll settle with him up forward so he can cover the rucks. Will monitor the Melbourne situation and look very closely at starting with Grundy. Being priced at ~93 don’t think there is much downside at all. Blicavs and English also interest me.
Dunkley and Rozee all but locked in and Cogs fighting it out with Butters, Taranto and Cameron for the other premium slot. Hope rookies are thin up forward so we need to select more premiums. I want to select all of Dunkley, Cogs, Butters, Rozee, Taranto and Cameron.
Good stuff, Froff.
Think the biggest boon for Bont is Lobb’s arrival, not Dunkley’s departure. Still maintain losing a tackling, defensive MID like Dunkley stings but the Dogs can likely fill that vacuum. Like you mention, Lobb coming to town (plus potentially Bruce, JUH improving) all but kills any chance of Bont going down.
You’re probably right on Parish. I was super hot on him last year and started him instead of Neale (smh) and hated myself all year. Now that I’ve sworn him off watch him return to his backend 2021 form.
I was saying this to Baz the other day but on Richards, just watch the Dogs backline balance heading into the season. They let him off the chain and eat Dale’s lunch last year, but make sure that modus vivendi is still in place otherwise Richards is a dead pick.
The 2023 rucks are fucked. I have no clue or commentary to offer there lol.
Great side, good luck!
Thanks GD, yeah Richards is a super speculative pick for now based off the last 6 games. Will likely shuffle the around other premos to find some more cash to go after someone else at his spot.
Rough draft this early on in pre-season
DEF:
Stewart, Dawson, Brayshaw, Yeo, Goater, McKenna (Weddle, Chesser)
MID:
Oliver, Bontempelli, Steele, Green, Hopper, Ashcroft, Bytel, Phillips (Johnson, Baker, Wagner)
RUC:
Darcy, Carmeron (Madden)
FWD:
Dunkley, Rozee, Taranto, Henry, McLean, Bruce (Berry, Comben)
Cheap rookies obviously going to change based on selection. Not sure how the new substitute interpretation will change rookies but I don’t want to rely on too many or ones that won’t be subbed off. Hoping for a few role changes for some cheaper options (Bruce down back, Henry on a wing, Brayshaw into the guts) and that players stay fit (Yeo, McLean)
Brayshaw could be an insane sleeper pick, Balm.
Nice side.
there’s a premium ruck who’s well-priced, consistent, durable, reliable, versatile … and he’s dpp … could be a pod and be locked in at R1 all season … and no one is talking about him … watch this space
Blicavs?
correct
I think you are underestimating Ceglar who should be main ruck for Cats.
blicavs doesn’t have to be #1 ruck to score well … does enough other stuff .. averaged 97 last year playing 2nd fiddle to Stanley
I hate people who do this lol. Just tell us what you’re thinking.
come on GD..where’s the fun in that … after all it is a competition 😉 .. but yes it is Blicavs .. your thoughts?
Don’t mind him as a cheaper option, but dropped 4 scores below 67 last year? very up and down scores in the second half of the year. RoMa and Grundy with some risk are cheaper but can score better. Turns 32 this year. Convince me, Freesync.
32 not old in this day and age … not an injury prone or overly crash and bash player… has aged like fine wine … Grundy zero idea how he’ll play with Gawn, huge question mark atm… I like Marshall … FS
Yeah, I like Bilcavs.
Can be on a wing, playing as a lockdown DEF, rucking, tagging OB. So he’s scoring can fluctuate, but I don’t mind him at all.
Will Dunkley’s arrival affect Neale at all? Tend to think that Neale is a superstar no matter who he’s with and will always score well.
Either way he’s the prime tag target. Which is fine, but not 670k fine.
He’s been the prime tag target for about 5 years now and that has meant zilch lol.
But he was heavily discounted last year, a bargain.
This year he’s inflated. So if he does what he does and goes great he will drop in price, with a tag even more so.
Great SC selection but he’ll be 550 at some point.
I’m firmly in the camp that Dunks HELPS Neale.
Dunks one of the best defensive, tackling, pressuring midfielders going around and Neale has been begging for support.
Lyons and Zorko cooked, McCluggage a butcher and no one else has emerged.
To those who say he’ll take points: look at the Dogs the last few years. Biggest SC monopoly side, biggest source of Top 8 MIDs, Dunks, Macrae, Libba & Bont have vibed.
Having good midfielders around you helps.
Now, tags, trajectory and fixture could be a factor but as far as Dunks is a concern, it’s a massive plus for Neale imo.
Good Call GD. Although I don’t feel comfortable starting Neale at 670?k – but he will be on the watchlist to bring in via a mid pricer when he drops.
The fact you are asking the question makes him a risk at $670k
This is just a team on my wachlist for something different.
2.5M itb
D- Salem, Yeo, Bowes,Jones, Cleary, Wilmot
(Dean, Chesser)
M-Cunnington, Sloane, J.H.F. Sheed,Dunstan,
E.Hollands,Durrsma,McLean
(Goater,Phillipou,Phillips)
R- Xerri, Reeves (Ratagolea)
F- Hobbs,Fyfe,Fantasia,Bruce,Sinn,Thomas.
(Pedlar,Tsitas)
Nice bookmark for all coaches
Green- TU
Mitchell- TD
Bit stuck here-
Green more mid time with Taranto/Hopper gone?
Mitchell- who’s place does he take- will he stop Daicos from more mid time or Take Adams cba?
Mitchell is this years Neale. Underpriced Uber. My first picked.
Laird Oliver Bont MacRae Mills Steele Neale Tout or Trac which spot does he take Derek I had him but just find the extra 100k and get a true keeper Not for me mate NDD
Forget about 2022 for Titch. He was unwanted at Hawthorn and was either starting quarters on the bench or the wing (still managed 96). He averaged 117 in 2021. If he replicates that, it puts him about #5 on that list.
The other thing in his favour, he has missed 1 game in 6 years.
I just can’t see any risk or downside to his selection
Please don’t do it to me Derek.. With him my team is 100k better not sure if that benefits me or not Is he a true fallen prem?
Um, he missed an entire season…
Oh yeah, except for that. How could I forget.
Not in Rd 1 v Geelong……
Lads if i didn’t have supercoach gold or whatever it’s called last year, if i buy it now will i get the team picker?
Yes
First draft used up all cash but still trying to figure out best structure. Rookies just place holders for now. Tear it apart lads
Backs:
Stewart, Dawson, Daicos, Ginbey, McKenna, Chesser (wilmot,Constable)
Mids: Laird, Miller, Bont, Steele, Mitchell, Hopper, Phillips, Blakely (Macrae, Johnson, Drury)
Rucks: Grundy, Lycett (Madden)
Forwards: Dunks, Taranto, Cameron, Fyfe, McLean, Sinn (van rooyen, berry)
Hi net long term hamstring injury- last few days- probably surgery to put tendon back on bone- unlucky!
Interesting zero rookie team, with also limited exposure to the first and second byes + fairly secure injury cover on all lines:
Defenders
Jordan Dawson $603,100
Dan Houston $545,100
Elliot Yeo $337,000
Nick Coffield $208,800
Josh Goater $192,700
Tom Cole $182,300
Josh Weddle $130,800
Campbell Chesser $123,900
Midfielders
Marcus Bontempelli $639,500
Andrew Brayshaw $615,600
Tom Green $534,600
Jacob Hopper $332,000
Dom Sheed $332,000
James Worpel $309,300
Sam Flanders $256,300
Toby McLean $178,900
Will Phillips $158,300
Charlie Constable $123,900
Oskar Baker $123,900
Rucks
Tim English $581,000
Scott Lycett $429,900
Esava Ratugolea $174,000
Forwards
Josh Dunkley $596,400
Stephen Coniglio $557,700
Connor Rozee $513,800
Tim Taranto $503,100
Oscar Allen $210,200
Ben King $176,300
Charlie Comben $123,900
Josh Sinn $123,900
I guess Goater could be the exception, still second year
Wow. Not as bad I as I thought it’d be when I read “zero rookie team”.
Houston a no and MID line obviously weak, but yeah – really interesting take, Prawn.
Houston could become Brayshaw/ Young / Daicos, and Worpel & Goater could then be swapped with Salem and a rookie (bringing Will Phillips on field instead of Worpel, Salem instead of Goater), making it maybe a little stronger potentially.
I sort of like Houston though, seems like he gained a bit of consistency last year pre-injury. But is definitely a riskier pick at that price.
Could be an interesting concept for this year’s Tech Team??
Is that your alter ego JD????…..LOL
OK, I’m not seeing last year’s Brodie and cogs.
There’s heaps of cheap picks in all lines to select from. But are we seeing more in these players than there is due to Brodie and cogs last year?
There’s always been cheap picks which we stayed away from in the past barring a few exceptions. McLean is the ONLY one I’m bullish on.
I’m not sencing traps, it’s a minefield. Hopper, McLean, Allen, Bruce, mckenna. These are the only ones I’ll touch now. And just to get rookies off the field is their sole purpose.
That’s still 5 not many left after them I would rather any of them to a snotty nosed kid . Keep them to R 6 then cash them in NDD
Last year many mid pricers generated money and points and helped their owners. But SC is still SC. The trend could reverse to the normal mean and midprice madness could hurt. Or here to stay. There is certainly value around. Some like Yeo and Fyfe, high risk high reward. Not for me either. Picking the right ones will be the key.
Thoughts gang? 23k left over 🙂
DEF: Dawson, Daicos, Yeo, Bowes, Mckenna, Weddle // Chesser, Dean
MID: Oliver, Bont, Macrae, Steele, Green, Hopper, Ashcroft, Phillips // Johnson, Sinn, Wagner
RUCK: Marshall, Cameron // Madden
FWD: Dunkley, Rozee, Tarranto, Fyfe, Mclean, Allison // Richards, Long
What’s keeping me up at night:
– Will Daicos really take the next step and is D2 a bit dangerous
– Bowes role/Yeo fitness
– Can I squeeze more money for a high price def rookie like ginbey/goater?
– How does ashcroft go/fit in a top 4 side and midfield
– Mashall role? Does jack hayes injury and no king help or hinder this, along with tom campbell
– Can I squeeze some money to get one more higher end rookie player in the fwd
line, maybe a Bruce if he looks good
Give me every opinion you have on everything legends!
Not much to say, Jack. That’s a VERY good side.
Obviously monitor Yeo’s preseason. If he doesn’t look up to it you could switch to Salem to preserve your structure.
Yeah, exactly right on RoMo. Hayes down really brings the possibility of Campbell to the fore.
Rest of the questions you bring up are all valid, great insight.
Until we get answers, you’re sitting a hella strong side though. Well done.
Thanks mate! Yea Marshall is so interesting, clearly their number 1 ruck and hoping that surely they plug in forwards up there rather than the great man
A rolling snowball leaves no stone unturned
Messing around with the team.
Thinking I can drop Dale, Steele and Munkara for Bowes, Touk and Fyfe. The original side has more keepers (Dale) but the revised side looks deeper even though I will need to trade both Fyfe and Bowes.
V1:
Sicily, Dawson, Dale
Yeo, Wilmot, Dean
(Montgomerie, Wagner)
Oliver, Bontempelli, Steele, Mitchell,
Hopper, Ashcroft, Phillips, Macrae,
(Blakely, Baker, Chesser)
Grundy, Marshall
(Madden)
Dunkley, Butters, Taranto,
Cameron, McLean, Gallagher,
(Munkara, Richards)
V2
Sicily, Dawson, Bowes
Yeo, Wilmot, Dean
(Montgomerie, Wagner)
Oliver, Bontempelli, Touk, Mitchell,
Hopper, Ashcroft, Phillips, Macrae,
(Blakely, Baker, Chesser)
Grundy, Marshall
(Madden)
Dunkley, Butters, Taranto,
Cameron, McLean, Fyfe,
(Gallagher, Richards)
2 things I agree with you.
Your taste for Red
I’ve been a Bomber before Max bottled his first drop.
By the way, for an old Bastard like me what does NDD stand for
0
0
ABOVE TO WIGHTY
Gilly, you clearly are a man (person !!) of great taste and insight !!! No idea about NDD…where was it mentioned ??
NDD is the sign off of SCT contributor DemonsDelight .. N is the initial of his actual first name.
Sorry to confuse you Gilly It’s just a habit I got into, to sign off. First name is Neil from Demons Delight lol sorry couldn’t resist and how is your team going / Rucks is my biggest problem It’s the FOMO (fear of missing out) syndrome English with his body Witts who is clearly best or Grundy who will play in the premiership team dunno
Thanks NDD
Not hard to confuse me, I was once given 2 Shovels and told to take my Pick.
I’ll get back to you later with my team and reasoning.
Just a quick first team i’ve scratched up
def- doch, dawson, gus brayshaw, bowes, goater, chesser (dean, wagner)
mid- oliver, bont, steele, wines, green, serong, phillips, constable (johnson, blakely, baker)
ruc- darcy, grundy (madden)
fwd- dunks, rozee, mclean, bruce, macrae, sinn (berry, van rooyen)
70k itb
quite happy with the backline, may have gone a bit heavy in the mid but there are a couple pods i’m quite keen on and don’t wanna miss out. no ashcroft i just don’t see him getting a good role on brisbanes talented list. rucks are what’s gonna make or break teams this year. Grundy should be rucking more often than not and anythinng above 100 i’ll take. darcy averaged 108 last year with meek out of side, and if jackson plays everywhere but ruck like freo has been saying i like the unique pick. very short in fwd line as i’m not a fan of the popular mid price selections
Too shallow a FWD line, Wines a no (coming off post-season knee surgery) and Serong only put +7.7 on his 2021 average (82.9) in 2022 (90.6). So you’ll need to be confident he can put +20 on this year to be a viable selection, which looks like too steep an ask.
valid points, cheers. tbh i had no idea about the wines surgery so will take him out. Didn’t rly do my research on serong but i loved his form late last year especially in finals, but after taking a quick look the guys would struggle to crack 100 in games where he’d poll 3 votes and get 30+ touches. I still think he may be a ok selection but it concerns me a bit how he can play so well and not have the points reflect it.
First draft so far..
Defs:
Sic, doc, A. Brayshaw, Yeo, Goater, McKenna
(Dean, Chesser)
Mids: Oliver, mills, bont, titch, hopper,
Ashcroft, Phillips, Rowston ( Johnson, worner, blakely)
Rucks: Witts, O’Brien ( madden)
Forwards: dunks, Taranto, Cunnington,
Sheezel, McLean, Sinn ( Berry, Davey)
32k left. Subject to change, obviously.
Can’t wait to footy.
We often worry that little available or options. Consider Nuggets backline, 12 months ago…
Sic- worried how his knee would hold up & Sics spitting the dummy with umpires dissent rule
Doc- just getting back from cancer treatment, not sure how he’d go
Bradshaw- had been passed by other Dees mids and squeezed out of CBAs
Yeo- Osteo pubis, injured and never get back
Goater- Who?
McKenna- left Aussie rules- had enough, gone home
Dean & Chesser- we’re favs this time last year and didn’t play a game!
Funny thing SuperCoach, Mick
I’m sure my backline will change 1000times from here til the start of the season.
Sic and doch proven scorers; expecting the ball to be in hawthorns defence a lot this season, Brayshaw finished strong last year and is training with the mid group so could be a great POD. Reports are Yeo looks strong, expect west coast to bounce back, there’s also bowes as well, reports he’s training with Geelongs mids. McKeena a decent cow.
Chesser and dean would of played last year barring injury, if they get on the park.. I’d image they will be popular picks this year, even
Obviously rookies will change. So much fun to look forward to.
Happy coaching.
Welcome back every one to the new season. Best of luck to you all.
First serious go at it: $2900 to spare.
Def: Sicily Docherty Dawson Yeo Michalanney Weddle (Wilmot Dean)
Mid: Oliver Miller Bont Titch Hopper Ashcroft Goater Phillips (Chesser Blakely Wagner)
Ruc: Grundy Marshall (Madden)
Fwd: Dunks Cogs Taranto McLean Phillipou Bruce (Comben Sinn)
Anyone got a reading on Ben Hobbs?
70-80 point place holder till upgrade.
Looking at dunks and a few of these guys, Flanders, windhanger, MacDonald etc.
No TT. To hold down the fort till the other top 5 emerge and an easy up/down trade.
As much as I have considered RoMa as #1 ruck – surely the Hayes injury is the nail in the coffin to him scoring consistently for the first half of the year?
Tom Campbell isn’t capable of playing 80% forward clunking marks and kicking goals. Happy to be wrong but I can’t see that happening.
I can see a 60/40 Ruck/Fwd split now. Huge risk imo, unless some forward miracle happens in the pre season game/practice match, he’s a no way jose for me.
Ya.
Line through RoMo is Campbell enters the frame, lock if he doesn’t.
Campbell is struggling with an Achilles problem and may struggle to be ready for R1.
My first full draft, have gone for a strategy of raw firepower over value. Plenty subject to change.
DEF: Sicily, Stewart, H. Young, Coffield, Weddle, Constable (Wilmot, Wagner)
MID: Oliver, Neale, Miller, Bont, Steele, Ashcroft, Phillipou, Phillips (Macrae, Chesser, Tsitas)
RUC: Blicavs, Reeves (Madden)
FWD: Dunkley, Taranto, Cameron, Allen, McLean, B. King (Berry, Sinn)
$1,800 itb.
Have gotten mid-pricer picks way too wrong in previous years so I’m sticking with proven uber premos to start with and figure out the rest later. One MID premo could switch to Mills/Parish or even down to an Anderson/Warner breakout type if I want to spread the funds elsewhere.
great team and that’s exactly what I would do downsize Steele to Noah and spend on rucks .Top work
Excellent side, FS.
Absolutely disagree with DD. Anderson and breakout MID types should only be selected if you’re 100% confident on their breakout trajectory – not to save a tiny bit of coin.
No need to ball out for rucks rn imo.
Hi all,
Thoughts on this first draft appreciated:
Defenders
Tom Stewart $604,000
Jordan Dawson $603,100
Adam Saad $567,900
Christian Salem $390,400
Josh Goater $192,700
Max Michalanney $135,300
Josh Weddle $130,800
Charlie Dean $123,900
Midfielders
Touk Miller $662,400
Zach Merrett $617,500
Josh Dunkley $596,400
Luke Davies-Uniacke $557,400
Tom Green $534,600
Jacob Hopper $332,000
Toby McLean $178,900
Mattaes Phillipou $166,800
Will Phillips $158,300
Josh Sinn $123,900
Campbell Chesser $123,900
Rucks
Rowan Marshall $506,500
Scott Lycett $429,900
Nicholas Madden $102,400
Forwards
Connor Rozee $513,800
Tim Taranto $503,100
Darcy Cameron $465,900
Ben King $176,300
Thomas Berry $123,900
Jai Serong $123,900
Tex Wanganeen $123,900
James Tsitas $123,900
Only current alternative I’m thinking about at this stage is to bring Titch in for LDU or Green, then upgrade Ruck. And of course, rookies are subject to change/selection.
Thanks. Can’t wait to receive your feedback!
Like it but I would get Dunkley to your forward line. He should finish F1-F3 at the end of the year. Frees up another premo mid spot.
I don’t think it matters where he starts as long as he finishes in the forward line.
Nice side, Teeps.
Agree with Alex that Dunks needs to be selected as FWD.
Don’t think Saad presents value at 570k. I had him last year and he was great, but 570k is him basically topped out. Spend the extra 30k for one of the 600k 110 guys and grab Saad when he drops in price and presents value.
Probably also need 1 more big premo MID at a minimum.
Strong bones. Good luck.
I’ll chuck up an alternative.
Thumbs up if you think this is better.
It gives about 44k cash to spare which might allow an escape route to a rookie upgrade (or to bring Ashcroft in if he’s to play in round 1)
Def: Sicily Docherty Dawson Yeo A.Francis Weddle (Wilmot, Dean)
Mid: Oliver Miller Bont Titch Hopper McLean Phillipou Phillips (Chesser, Blakely, Wagner)
Ruc: Grundy Marshall (Madden)
Fwd: Dunks Cogs Taranto B.King Bruce Comben (Van Rooyen, Sinn)
Here is a team wth no first year rookies on field and only one (Munkara) on the bench.
Only one mid pricer – Max Holmes, who averaged 65.5 last year but 94.5 in his last 4 games home and away games as the Cats stormed to the flag. I am a lifetime Cats supporter and Holmes could be anything with another 20 games of experience.
Backs
Houston $545100
Young $508200
S Taylor $501300
McKenna $167300
Wilmot $123900
Wagner $117300
Constable $123900
Allison $123900
Mids
Miller $662400
Mills $642400
Bontempelli $639500
Andrew Brayshaw $615600
N Anderson $552900
Holmes $360600
McLean $178900
Phillips $158300
Blakely $123900
Angwin $123900
Chesser $123900
Rucks
Blicavs $537200
Marshall $506500
Ratugolea $174000
Forwards
Dunkley $596400
Butters $529400
D Moore $521000
Allen $210200
Bruce $161200
F Macrae $123900
F Greene $123900
Munkara $102400
$20500 ITB.
This probably won’t resemble my final team but shows what can be done of you don’t want too many rookies on field or on the bench.
Many will say light on in defence but I can find reasons not to include every player priced over $600000.
Five premos in the mids as I believe Noah Anderson will quickly become a $600k player.
Went for durability in the rucks, Blicavs can play anywhere and should average 95-100. Marshall is a bit of a risk with all the injuries at the Saints but as solo ruck he is a lock. I don’t want to waste trades in the rucks. I expect Ratugolea will get a run in defence at some stage and he provides ruck cover if he does.
Forwards Dunkley is a lock and I think Dylan Moore will get extended mid time with all the on ball experience leaving the Hawks.
3-5-2-3 structure which I like, 13 keepers (hopefully).
5 clear Captain options if you include Dunkley.
I would hope D1-3 become D4-6 by season end.
Comments welcome, do you think it could work or am I dreaming?
Don’t mind this idea, and 100% agree with the Moore and Ratugolea comments,
I’d probably switch S Taylor to Daicos/Daniel but it’s an interesting pick, I’m surprised to see his average from last year was that high…must’ve slipped through the cracks
Sam Taylor averaged 91 last season but in his last 8 games averaged 106.5 including 4 scores over 120 with a high of 149.
New coach this season so who knows what will happen but he could be an interesting selection.
f. MacRae injured
I like Taylor. Has those monster games.
Only two problems.
First off, he’ll never have scope to really have a monopoly or plurality of distribution with Himmelberg and Cumming back there. Those monster games, and even tons to a degree, will rely each on him monstering his direct opponent.
Second, his price relative to the current DEF landscape. 500k so awkward. 100k off just going for a 600k Top 6 lock. If you’re not grabbing them, feels like you may as well drop right down to Salem or Yeo.
Idk. Really like him as a player and would be a superb POD if it paid off but it’s just a really awkward selection, Owen.
I nailed Dale last year at a similar price but the DEF landscape was much more balanced and nailing a move like that paid dividends.
Is Taylor panning out gonna be as a big reward when Sinc, Sicily, Doch, Dawson and Stewart are all doing 110+ anyway?
It’s tricky.
REALLY like your side though, Owen. Very unique but haven’t done so just for the sake of it – picks and structure all very well thought through.
Thanks for the comments GD.
I did put a lot of thought into what a side could look like without rookies.
Normally I would have 4 or 5 of the best rookies in the side but this year I just don’t see it happening unless there are a few standouts as we get closer to the season. Then I could just swap them in for older players like Allen, Bruce, McLean etc. or swap bench players.
I worry Ashcroft is not going to get a decent go in a stacked Lions midfield (Dunkley, Neale, McCluggage, Rayner, Bailey, Berry) and with Rich, Coleman and maybe O’Connor playing off half back, there is probably no spot there for him. That might leave him playing half forward = death valley!
Sam Taylor is a POD that might work, especially if Himmelberg plays forward.
Of the $600k defenders, I love Tom Stewart but as a Cat’s fan I am worried that his role has changed with the new game style and he won’t get the free points as much.
Still a long way to go and I am sure there will be injuries etc that force changes.
…and to support comments on Brisbane newbies, look up Brisbane’s name our R1 team newsletter AFL…
OK guys, this is an 11ish premium team. Thoughts
Stewart Dawson Salem
Yeo Ginbey McKenna
(Dean Wagner)
Oliver Bont Steele Mitchell
Hopper Flanders Ashcroft Phillips
(Constable Sinn Chesser)
English Grundy (Madden)
Dunk Taranto Cameron
Allen Francis McLean
(Ratugolea Bruce)
Obviously i’ll be watching training and pre season games closely but not disliking this structure.
I’m not sold on what appears to be a high % of teams with Taranto, Rozee and Young. I’ve also a bit concerned with Cameron’s “injury” at training this week .. no details on that.. so I’ve omitted him for now and made some adjustments to bring in Witts. Your comments would be appreciated:
DEF:
Sicily, Dawson, Daicos,
Wilmot, Wagner, Gallagher
Dean, Chesser
MIDs:
Oliver, Bont, Brayshaw, Steele,
Anderson, Hopper, Ashcroft, Johnson
Richards, Jones, Harvey
RUC:
Witts, Reeves, Free
FWD:
Dunkley, Cogniglio, Heeney
Allen, McLean, van Rooyen,
Emmet, Keeler
$18k in the kitty.
First off. Steel apparently not quite right.
And your sentiment of taranto, roziee and young. I agree with. They fall under never done it before (+105-110 average or near the top of their line) which is what your hoping for from their potential. Which begs the question of Daicos,reeves and Anderson starting in your team. Rozie and Tarantino have a better chance of achieving this than Anderson reeves, and daicos. Basically due to them being in the fwd line.
While there all probably good picks. Going bye who’s done it before and questions about steel, I’d drop daicos, steel, Anderson and reeves(and heeney, paying way to much) and choose seasond players.
Or or put Taranto rozie and young in the same bracket as the rest and not be afraid to select them.
Example, Anderson and steel out. Titch and parish in.
Heeney, reeves out Marshall and cunnington in.
Back line is tough, go big or go cheap.
Cheers TOF, appreciate the input. I wasn’t aware re Steele. I’ve already replaced him with Macrae. Reeves is only a placeholder at this stage. Cameron will come in if the “injury” is nothing to worry about. However if Reeves ends up #1 ruck at the Hawks I may leave him at R2 as a stepping stone until the RUC choices are obvious, and bring Cameron up FWD. (that’s how Heeney appeared, and I agree he is too expensive to start.)
I’m betting on Anderson being a keeper.. his projection has him in top 15 or higher. He will be the primary mid at GCS this year and already averaging over 100. In the latter half of last year he spent the most time in the middle, and by club accounts this will continue.
Moore or Butters will make their way in before Rozee . Taranto has never impressed me and is going to (my) Tigers who haven’t had a SC friendly style except maybe for DEFs.
I think Daicos will be an exception. He’s likely to get DPP at some point and I’m banking on him going better. At this point I’m thinking he may be my D6. But as is the case for us all, the pre-season reveals will force a few roll-on effect changes .. R1 rookies too.
Thanks again. Cheers.
Hi Original F
I haven’t heard Steele isn’t quite right… where is that news from?
Reeves is about as deadset a red vest risk as there is in the league imo. Hawks rate him and will surely give him games (he was basically their R1 last year already), but they didn’t bring in Meek for nothing. One of these two will be subbed (or not selected) every week.
He’s awkwardly priced, so switching him would probably require a structural change to your team to find the $$ to get up to Lycett/Big O/Marshall/Grundy.
Cheers Bozza, I’ll monitor that… appreciate your comments..
NDD
you asked for my current team so here goes,
Def
Stewart
Dawson
Daicos
Coffield
Mckenna
Wilmot
Chesser
Wagner
Top 5 Premos are much of a muchness
Diacos should improve and will make money
Coffield and McKenna are $450k players
After the final series Wilmot will play and should be Cash Cow
Chesser and Wagner DPP, should get a game a make money
Mid
Neale
Bont
Steele
Mitchell
Hollands
Ashcroft
Phillipou – F
Phillips
F Macrae – F
Blakely
Sinn – F
Laird and Oliver I feel are a little overpriced, will looked to upgrade later.
Miller, Macrae, Merret, Brayshaw, Parish are all in the picture and can come in for Steele.
Mitchell I believe is underpriced
Hollands ave 72.2 Hopper 67.0, believe Holland has more scope for improvement in his 2nd year.
Ashcroft, they will play him to blood him, will see the results after 4 – 5 games, but will still make money, (if he starts rnd 1).
Phillipou and Phillips should play rnd 1.
As far as bench that will finally be decided rnd 1.
Ruck
Grundy
Cameron
Madden
Only sure pick there is Madden, the ruck positions will be discus till the season starts and I think it will be every ones own decisions..
FWD
Dunkley
Coniglio
Rozee
Cunnington
Fyfe
T Mclean
Munkara
Sestan
Very happy with this selection.
The only question make was leaving out Taranto, he avg 91.2 last year, I don’t like Richmond for SC scores and don’t think he will improve much on that, Rozee on the other hand I think has more room for improvement.
Cunnington is my other concern, Doc came back from the same thing last year.
Munkara, I was surprise Essendon take him with their pick22, he’s a gun and if he gets his act together the world his oyster.
My Team, My Thoughts, would appreciate all your comments.
Happy New year and have a great5 fun season to all.
Gilly
Greetings Gilly I doubt you can better that forward line top effort there and no onfield rookies which I like I notice you have SASTAN on the bench ,he does look good. I was at training and couldn’t help liking him . He has the biggest thighs ever like big Nick ,and won’t get tossed about.Grundy and Cameron same as mine wait for the ruck to appear.I had Daics but not sure of his role so went back to 3 def ubers Reckon you will get off to a flyer with that team good luck for the year probably crop up in a league somewhere with you cheers
Nice squad.
FYI on Hopper
2019 ave 95.8
2020 ave 90.9
2021 ave 97.0
2022 ave 67 from only 7 games.
MASSIVE upside for this bloke he is a lock for 90+ every week in tigers midfield. The George Hewett of 2023
Maybe look a bit closer at Coffield & MCKenna.
Coffield peaked in SC value 3 years ago 2020 (in his 3rd year) at 430k 2021 he started at $426k but was only 270k the week after his bye, without any injuries. I wouldn’t trust him for 70 p/week.
McKenna wasn’t as good as coffield
Hey Gilly,
Agree on Daicos.. Like your squad overall ( though Oliver is a must as some point) but I don’t get the fascination with Rozee .. there is little to support his heralded rise .. has to be gut feel I guess .. he’s so unreliable .. the old Yeo… (before injury ) … for me Butters has more upside and more reliable… or Moore.. I like Cunnington as a value pick .. but just watching what Clarkson has in stall.. especially with TT shitting the bed..
good luck for the season..
Would love some feedback on my team. Gotta love a $0 balance.
Defenders
Jordan Dawson $603,100
Mason Redman $510,900
Nick Daicos $502,500
Will Day $362,100
Elliot Yeo $337,000
Caleb Marchbank $198,200
Darcy Wilmot [E] $123,900
Corey Wagner $117,300
Midfielders
Clayton Oliver $699,800
Jack Macrae $634,400
Jack Steele $604,400
Tom Green $534,600
Jacob Hopper $332,000
Will Ashcroft $202,800
Reuben Ginbey $171,300
Will Phillips $158,300
Elijah Hewett [E] $148,800
Connor Blakely $123,900
Campbell Chesser $123,900
Rucks
Rowan Marshall $506,500
Darcy Cameron $465,900
Nicholas Madden [E] $102,400
Forwards
Josh Dunkley $596,400
Connor Rozee $513,800
Tim Taranto $503,100
Sam Flanders $256,300
Toby McLean $178,900
Josh Bruce $161,200
Jacob van Rooyen $123,900
Blake Drury $102,400
Super side BigBoy. Love some of the POD’s in Day and Flanders. I am less in love with the Punchy Redman POD, personally prefer Young, but when it gets to nitpicking between players at basically the same price it’s really down to personal preferences.
Can’t fault the structure. Certainly 11 keepers. Enough captain options. Sit on it and mess around with rookies as they emerge.
Strong side Bigboy- love no cash! Big strengths are not many rookies onfield & strong across all lines. Sit & check out rookies.
Thanks for the feedback would love to find the cash and turn redman into sicily. IMO i think sicily and dawson will be the top defenders in that order.
TU- Bont
TD-Macrae
I did same TU/TD on December thread and it was a 10/10 split.
T/U: D.Cameron
T/D: Z.Butters
Thank You
Thanks DD, Dave, Lazza for your comments, much appreciated.
Gilly
Is there any love for Newcombe? Will be the #1 midfielder at the Hawks with no JOM or Titch.
He will average 100+ but will it be enough to make him a keeper? Probably not, but there is a chance he can be 105 and at $478k should be looked at.
TU: Newcombe can average 105+
TU: Newcombe won’t average 105
That’s the same price as berry who is my M5. well worth looking at
Talk from the Hawthorn fans are saying he is the man. Has stepped up a level and ready to lead the new hawthorn midfield.
Another one to think about is Cooper Stephens, is an expensive rookie price but should get plenty of midfield time.
Will Day also set to be permanent midfield this year.
Other news from Hawthorn training is Weddle is a machine and is close to locked for round 1
Worpel got a big thumbs up on afl website on saturday
Oh Holy One, (GoD)
Any words/thoughts on Pittonet and Ceglar???
…..or from Carlton and Geelong worshipers too!!!
‘Brad’ Pitt(onet) is v.good. top HTA ruck in comp before Darcy hobbled him LY. TDK will be a lot better but he may not be #1 or 2 ruck as he’s spending more time fwd, back and on ball than he is in ruck and Mirkov has been drilling in fwd pocket.
I have him as an option atmo until preseason games show more
TU: Laird & Brayshaw
TD: Neale & Bont
Cheers
I like Bont & Brayshaw
australian open is giving my team plenty of airplay ‘demondelights’ keep it going di manaur
LDU, GREEN, ANDERSON.
M3-5? Thoughts.
Not sure you could have all 3
At $550k they need to average 106 to be a good investment just on pure maths. But 106 is not a top 8 midfielder, so they need to show they can do 110+.
Probably one of them does
Green interests me a bit because of the extra ball he should get with Taranto & Hopper gone and I would guess he is the most likely to get 110+
Are you looking at Titch ?
M6 for titch.
Def-not sure who in the 600k+ will back it up due to tag, injury role change.
Sub 600k not sure who gets up to their level. So going mid pricers and cheapies to cherry pick the best options as a priority when they present themselves.
Fwd pick themselves, plus a couple cheapies For starters ignoring dpp later on.
So I’m thinking load up on fwds and mids to focus solely on upgrading defence.
Then around the byes I can upgrade the cheaper mids to laird Neale etc.
M1-2 is Oliver and bont.
Basically I’m hoping they become luxury trades through and after the byes. While putting up 100 ave(better than a rookie or mid pricer) yet not to far off the top guys.
I’m thinking same.
Current team has M1-M3 Oliver, Bont & Macrea, with Titch at M4 & Newcombe at M5.
I’ve had Neale, Miller, Steele and Brayshaw in and out of the team, but I’m finding reasons not to start them.
i have the same m1-3 plus brayshaw and tout vs your tich and jai and 200k. —depends how wisely you distribute that cash
…..So that’s a total of how many Mids Hawthorn are going to have this year????……….
Mitchell will certainly give everyone a go, competing for places is the way he likes it.
That’s what you get from a rebuilding team. Hawks have a lot of young midfielders and they are all trying to impress. Newcombe & Ward are locked in and should get the bulk of the midfield time.
Worpel needs to improve on his last couple of seasons and I wouldn’t be thinking he is that relevant anymore.
Nash and Maginess will have roles to play depending on their opponents
I can see Stephens & Day getting plenty of time in the guts as they are a bit older than the fresh recruits.
Wingard, Moore & Buttler will be mainly forwards but getting a run in the midfield at certain times.
Thanks Derek,
Last readings indicated Ward not 100%.
Any update???
Ward has a bit of a hip issue that has kept him from the preseason work. He was the only player who didn’t run last weeks time trials. Not that it matters, he is a running machine. Hopefully he gets into regular training soon.
TU Will Day
TD Elliot Yeo
Comment anyone else around that $330-360K mark. Cheers
Can you swing Salem?
I’d be looking at Bowes for cheaper.
Apples and oranges.
Yeo/Salem are dice rolls for D6 keepers, done 90/100 before.
Bowes a stepping stone/cash generator who needs to firm for B22 first.
Sorry GD I work shift work so don’t get to check messages regularly. I already am fielding Salem. Just hoping to get a mid priced that’ll look to play every week and earn some cashola. Both Day and Yeo capable. Leaning towards day being the younger and hungrier hawk at the moment. In saying that whichever I choose means the other one will pump out tons!!
Hunter Clarke. Ben long.
Not recommendations to select, but to look at. DYOR lol.
The last couple of years falln premiums, mid pricers at new clubs and cheapies at new clubs and a breakout or born again ruck have been the difference. Brodie, Coniglio, Sicily, Cripps, Hewett English last year and a similar number the year before and the year before that with Witts & Hickey getting the bargain ruck awards..
So, who will it be this year?
TMitch?
JHF?
TobyMac?
Hopper?
Berry?
Draper?
Pittonet?
I had hopes for Tucker but he’s already broken down
I am also thinking “what happens if there are none?” Will we see a year of sub-premo teams? What would your starting team look like if you thought that was true? Would it be more ultra premo’s with looped rookies, or would it be a mid priced team?
Going back to when I first started playing this game, I was a mid-priced madness advocate. I would be consistently beaten by a team with premos and rookies. Eventually I saw the light and edged more towards a GnR structure. So, as a setup- 11 ultra premos plus 1 breakout player would possibly be the way ti go.
In terms of your question as to which cheaper player will turn out to be a keeper, I would suggest
1 Salem as a D5/D6
2. Yeo – if he can actually stay on the park
3. Bruce – I know, Bruce???? But if he really has the intercept role we keep hearing about, he could be this years Himmelburg
4. Ratugolea – yeah, now I am getting ridiculous, but if he really does get a big go at the ruck , I can see him as F7/R3.
5. Hopper – if we start him and a rookie cash drought slows our upgrades. I can see him being a M8 averaging 95-100 and not moving from our teams.
Good luck to all for the year.
Tmac is a lock.
Gambling on Draper. If he doesn’t get near the top. I’m hoping he doesn’t get injured before trading him up so I can call it a win.
So many ruck injuries last year, hoping his durability helps out during upgrade season.
That’s a real gamble with Tom MacDonald though he is training super well , always wins the 2k and coming back from mid season injury Young van rooyen and gawn as company for that spot
Haha, I meant McLean.
never know though TOF
Off topic…is anyone having trouble with the chat function in their leagues ??