Calvin’s Captains – Rd. 11

Last Bloody Week

Ok, let’s just look at it. What an absolute shocker! Last time I checked, Pendlebury, Sidebottom and Selwood were all good players. Good players in form playing dud teams (Suns & Giants). This is why I thought they would score well… and if you had one of these guys as YOUR captain, then you agreed with me. It’s as simple as that. We all thought they were going to be better… but they’re weren’t. Yep, my advice was wrong, but your selection was wrong too, just like mine. So, you’ve had your teary now harden up and pick a better captain this week. That’s what I intend to do! Am I pissed off about my picks from last week? Course I am, but I’m a mad Irish pirate and everything pisses me off! Arggg!

“I’m Just Going Ablett Every Week”

Ha ha ha argg – here we go again. This is what I heard at the start of the year and then it was Swan’s name and now it’s back to Abletts. Ha ha. People are so quick to ditch these guys and then quicker to jump back on. I pick who I think will score the most each week, surprisingly it doesn’t always work. But that’s why I write these articles and that’s why you are reading it right now.

Ok, my rants are over (thanks for your patience)… let’s get down to pirate business.

Gary Ablett

Positives: Gazza is back after a smashing 186 last week against the quality midfield of Collingwood. He received no attention and racked up an amazing 53d. Before that he has scored 106, 117 and 106 but went BANG in a big way last week. Gaz played the Saints earlier in the year and after a slow start he scored 143pts (40d) despite very heavy attention by the Clinton Jones tag (CJT). In recent weeks, the Saints have given up 3×100+ scores to the Tigers and 4 to the Swans and 5 to the Eagles. Ablett is a good pick this week cause everyone under the sun is going to go him, making him a very safe pick. People went unique last week to be burnt and after his 186, people are going back to the safety of Gaz. He is a safe pick! This year Ablett has played at Metricon 3 times for an average of 135 and if this game was in Melbourne… Ablett would not have been my #1. But he loves Metricon.
Negatives: Quiet simply… the CJT. This is a massive concern. CJT has claimed scalps of Cotchin (90), Kerr (64) and Marc (68) in recent weeks with Mitchell (112) and McVeigh (110) the only ones to make any sort of score. The dude can tag and can tag very well. But as I said… everyone’s going Ablett anyway.

Dane Swan

Positives: Swanny is back! He didn’t play Melbourne last year but had scores of 150, 84, 133 and 130 on them prior to that. Another big positive here is that this game is on Monday and everyone’s eyes will be focussed on the MCG… and Swanny LOVES the big stage where he had 171 on ANZAC Day. Excluding Essendon’s loss last week to the Demons, they do give up heaps of 100+ scores. Carlton (6×100+), Sydney (5), Hawthorn (5) and Geelong (6) have all cashed in on this recently. Swanny will for sure.
Negatives: Maybe Swan might get the tag of McKenzie? Maybe… but I think he will go to Daisy.

Brent Stanton

Positives: Ok, Stanton did have 112 on the Swans in his last game against them in 2011, but Stants is here for one reason only… he plays at Etihad! This year he has only played there 4 times for scores of 140, 193, 116 and 153. Need I say anymore? He might be very big!
Negatives:  Stanton only averages 107 in his last 3 games this year and may get the JackBird tag. Kieran Jack and Craig Bird tend to do the tagging for the Swans with these guys most likely going to Jobe and Stanton this week. I’m not too fussed though, but it is a tag.

Other Heroes? Or Other Zeroes?

Dayne Beams – Only had 98 last week against the Suns but should be great this week against the Demons, a side he didn’t play last year but did have 96 and 91 on them in 2010.
Paul Chapman – Had 110 on Carlton last year and is coming off 136 and 131 in his last 2 this year. Signs are saying Chappy will be pretty happy this week.
Lance Franklin – Had a DT World Record of 204pts last week and did have 142 last time he played Port. BUT… before his 204 he only had scores of 97 and 81 and this week plays at AAMI where he hasn’t scored over 100 there… ever!
Joel Selwood – Struggled last week with an injury for his 62pts against the Giants. Did have 122 and 113 on Carlton last year… so who knows?
Steele Sidebottom – Was on a wicked run carrying a lowest score of 109 in his last 7… till his poor 68 last week. Averages 105 at the MCG in his last 5 and should bounce back this week surely.
Brett Deledio – Although his highest score against Freo is just 114 in his career of 9 games, I reckon things will change this week. Delids is coming off a 141 and 160 in his last 2 this year and I believe Crowley will tag Cotchin instead of Delids this week. Crowley has tagged Kerr (44) and Thompson (65) in the last few weeks, as Fremantle allowed Sloane to run free for his 150pts. This might be Delids I’m hoping this week.
Sam Mitchell –Sam may get the Cornes tag, but did avoid it in both games last year for his scores of 128 and 110. Mitchell is coming off 119 last week and averages 104 at AAMI in his last 3 there, but we have better.

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