The Fallen Premiums – Rd 8, 2020

Last week’s crop of bubble boys meant that almost three quarters of you voted for a double downgrade as your trade strategy of choice. This week it’s time to open your wallets and go shopping for premiums, because there’s a veritable truckload of footy coming our way and that means lots and lots of points to be scored! I highly recommend using this week’s trades to rid yourself of any non-playing cash cows if can possibly manage it. There is the faint whiff of carnage in the air and bench cover may become very useful in the near future….

Here are the Fallen Premiums!

DEFENDERS

Shannon HURN (WCE), $424 300 (-$137.9K), avg 86, BE 120 – This is possibly a week early to be moving on the Eagles veteran with the rocket in his right boot. However, back on his home turf and with actual live people to play in front of, there’s every chance Bunga hits that BE this week and begins his journey back to a premium price tag. It’s been a rough year for Hurn thus far, but he showed glimpses of a return to his best in a 93 point effort in the Derby on Sunday. His best form has an enormous ceiling and he always uses the ball well.

Just quickly – It’s a hat-trick of appearances on the Fallen Premiums for Luke Ryan ($503 100, avg 94, BE 69) and Dan Houston ($481 000, avg 89, BE 70). Each man started the season slow but each has also hit a hot streak in recent weeks, recording three consecutive tons each. Ryan is the lynchpin of a defence that is seeing plenty of the Sherrin, while Houston continues to develop in his new role on the ball.

Backing it up….
Tom Stewart, $498K, BE 194 *see you in two weeks!*
Sam Docherty, $521K, BE 172
Jake Lloyd, $582K, BE 133
Brayden Maynard, $537K, BE 131

MIDFIELDERS

Shaun HIGGINS (NTH), $491 100 (-$24.1K), avg 103, BE 20 – Yeah, you heard me! Whether you like it or not, Higgins scored an incredible 182 last week even though his Roos were annihilated by Richmond. Copped a sore knee against the Dogs a couple of weeks ago, but the 35 he scored in that game drops out of his price cycle this week and he won’t be this cheap again for a long time. With old man Cunnington still sitting out with a bad back, Higgins is carrying the midfield load for the Kangaroos and could be the POD that wins you all those league games! *whispers “burn man” etc etc etc*

Dayne ZORKO (BRL), $487 800 (-$91.3K), avg 88, BE 55 – The Magician has had a chequered run thus far in 2020, missing a couple of games with minor calf and heel complaints. When he has made it on to the field Zorko has revelled in the freedom that a midfield containing Lachie Neale can provide, piling up tons against Freo, Geelong and most recently last week against the Giants. Now in his ninth season, he’s still a super talent and must be considered when his price has taken such a fall. Has 5 seasons of 100+ scoring average under his belt. Strongly consider!

Just quickly – So many options this week! Get a load of this quartet of prime stock, all of whom have featured in this article in recent weeks:
Stephen Coniglio ($501 500, avg 100, BE 60)
Patrick Dangerfield ($598 300, avg 111, BE 83)
Jackson Macrae ($581 500, avg 110, BE 86)
Elliot Yeo ($499 800, avg 89, BE 90)

Limbo land….
Nat Fyfe, $639K, BE 220 *injured*
Mitch Duncan, $555K, BE 200
Lachie Neale, $706K, BE 199
Travis Boak, $572K, BE 172
Patrick Cripps, $520K, BE 168
Hugh McCluggage, $548K, BE 163
Zach Merrett, $534K, BE 153
Andrew Gaff, $518K, BE 151

RUCKS

Business as usual in the ruck department this week, although the phenom that is Tim English ($600 100, avg 119, BE 48) put his name up in lights (not for the last time is my guess) with a dominant double ton effort to spearhead his Dogs to victory against the Bombers. English is well over-priced after that effort, but may be worth considering if you’re looking for a cheaper, PODish alternative to the 3 G’s. Reilly O’Brien ($543 600, avg 113, BE 77) also went large last weekend, and is probably better value than English at this stage if you don’t want to (or can’t afford to) shell out the big bucks.

Timberrr…..
Todd Goldstein, $670K, BE 163
Brodie Grundy, $679K, BE 152

FORWARDS

Bailey SMITH (WBD), $409 100 (-$6.8K), avg 89, BE 47 – Everyone’s favourite Fallen Premium this week is arguably not a premium at all, at least as far as his price tag goes. But there’s no denying ‘Bazlenka’ has been pretty awesome so far this year, with the obvious exception of his concussion-enforced 3 pointer against North in round 5. Outside of that unfortunate episode Smith has scored four tons and averaged 104 playing primarily as an on-baller, basically making him a must-have forward at this price. Already traded in by almost 5000 coaches this week!

Just quickly – Lachie Whitfield ($470 900, avg 86, BE 67) is still nowhere near his free-running best, but is more than good enough to be a top 6 forward this year. He faces the Tigers this week – last time he did that, he took them for 42 possessions and 152 points!

Forward thinking….
Brad Ebert, $492K, BE 162
Chad Wingard, $438K, BE 153
Jy Simpkin, $534K, BE 133

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