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Why should I pick him?

Marty Clarke is an Irish born super star. Clarke joined Collingwood for the first time in 2007 to only play a limited number of games in his debut season. In 2008 Clarke shone with an average on 71.8 and backed it up the following year to average an impressive 71.5.

After 46 games with the Pies, Clarke released he had too many teeth to be associated with the Pies and returned to his homeland 2010/11. In 2010 Clarke helped his team ‘Down’ to the All-Ireland final, where they lost out to ‘Cork’. Yep, that’s what they call their clubs. Also in the roster they have Kerry and Mayo… no shit – no wonder he left.

So, Clarke now finds himself back with the Pies in 2012. Collingwood chased Marty! They chased him hard! Collingwood gave up its first-round draft pick to GWS for Clarke. This is the third year running Collingwood where has done this to chase a mature-aged recruit. So for the people out there saying ‘he won’t be in the best 22’ – think again, I’ll agree somewhat and say he won’t play the full 22 games… but he’ll play enough for a guy who is rookie priced at an average of 28.5.  He is the biggest and easiest lock of 2012.

Why shouldn’t I pick him?

This is tough… cause there’re not many reasons. Out of Clarkes 46 games with the Pies he only knocked up 2×100+ scores (but he is pretty consistent). Collingwood have a reasonably tough draw as most of the good teams do as the AFL really look after the shit clubs… check this out

Collingwood play …. GWS (1), SUNS (1), PORT (1) – HAW (2), GEE (2), CARL (2)
Hawthorn play …. GWS (1), SUNS (1), PORT (2) – COLL (2), GEE (2), CARL (1)
Geelong play …. GWS (1), SUNS (1), PORT (1) – HAW (2), COLL (2), CARL (1)
Carlton play …. GWS (1), SUNS (1), PORT (1) – HAW (1), COLL (2), GEE (1)

This is one way you limit the amount of the much talked about 100+ point floggings! Tell me that’s not rigged!

Deck of DT Rating. JACK – He’s priced at an average of 28.5 people! He will average 70+. This is a no brainer… don’t be too creative and try to be too different here… he is a guy you MUST HAVE in 2012 and trying to talk yourself out of this will only leave in heart break.

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Why should I pick him?

Lets’ start talking about Adam Goodes’ durability. Over his last 11 seasons Goodes has played 239 games of the 242 available (99%)… this is truly amazing. Not many people in the AFL carry such an impressive record. “But he’s too old Calvin”… Yes he’s old… but although he’s been 30+ years old for a few years now and he has still played the last 66 games straight! Plus… Goodes has been extremely consistent over this period (3 years) and has averaged 98.9 (2009), 94.6 (2010) and 99.2 (2011) proving himself to be one of the best premium forwards going around.

Goodes is also another DPP. Our forward lines this year will be loaded with these guys, which adds more flexibility to your line up.

Goodes loves to smash certain teams and plays the GWS twice in 2012. Last year he averaged 121 on the Lions, 130 on the Bombers and 140 on the Bulldogs who he also plays twice this year and finds himself coming off 6×100+ games against them in his last 6 games. Captain anyone? Ha ha we’ll have to wait and see what the pirate says about that one at a later date.

Why shouldn’t I pick him?

He’s old… he’s 32, but I have sort of put that excuse to bed already. So try this one on for size. DO NOT START WITH HIM. Adam Goodes is a famous for his slow starts before flying home like a steam train. Check out the trendy graphic I have made illustrating this point of what he averages in the first 8 games of a season compared to the last 8 games.

Deck of DT Rating. KING – Adam Goodes is destined for another solid year of playing every game (touch wood)… ha ha dirty joke, and will most likely hold his average of 95ish. My main point here today is… grab Goodesy at a later date, do not start with him and enjoy the ride home as he will smash it like he usually does.

TWITTER @CalvinDT for advice on trendy graphics and DT advice.

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Why should I pick him? Last year, decent ‘backs’ were extremely hard to find. Not one single backmen last year averaged over 100 and with Heath pumping out an average of 91.7, he was ranked as the 5^th best for the season (excluding Gibbs who is now purely a Mid). Heater can rack up solid numbers too… he scored 100+ a nice 43% of the time and averaged 103 during the finals series. Over the last 6 years, Shaw has averaged 80+ every single time and is a proven DT scorer.

Why shouldn’t I pick him? … Because he’s “stupid” and that is his own description of himself after he does these “stupid” things. Heath Shaw has been a regular in my Dream Team of the past 4 years… and he constantly gives me a “Heath Shaw Headache”. Shaw hasn’t played a full season of footy in 4 years mainly because he’s … moronically stupid.

In August 2008, Heath was cruising in the car with team mate Alan Didak sloshed off their faces. Then they crashed, lied about it and were suspended for the rest of the year.

Then last year Heath played just 14 games before placing a $10 bet on his captain Nick Maxwell. Heath then copped an 8 week ban for being ‘stupid’ after many trigger happy DT coaches traded him in before it was announced late on Friday afternoon. This my friends is the reason this year we have reversible trades – or the Heath Shaw Rule as it is now referred too.

Deck of DT Rating. KING – I doubt very much that Heath can improve his average a great deal from the 91.7 last year (his best ever). But, he can maintain it. Heath Shaw will easily be in the best 7 backmen in 2012 and therefore you need him in your team at some point. Start with him or pick him up at a later date… you will certainly need him. Personally, providing he doesn’t do anything stupid over the pre-season… he will be a starting member of team Calvinator.

TWITTER….  @CalvinDT for advice on dreamteam and to chat about life in general.

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Calvin:

Scottie Thompson @ $51

As we all know, Scottie Thompson has one hell of an easy draw this year. He plays the GWS, Suns and Port twice and in my book that adds up to 18 votes right there!

Sam Mitchell @ $9

I’m not a huge Sam Mitchell fan, but with the Hawks getting better and better he will certainly poll well just like last year when he nearly won the thing despite being suspended. He polled 30 votes… this would have won him the Brownlow in any other of the 14 seasons leading up to this one. He’s a ball magnet right under the umpire’s eye!

Roy:

Michael Barlow @ $41

Over a career spanning just 22 games and 9 of them on the back of  a return from serious injury, Barlow has managed 12 Brownlow votes, showing his work is not going unnoticed from the umpires. From all reports, he has been smashing it on the track and looks set to have an even greater impact than his rookie year where he was right up there in the count until breaking his leg.

Gary Ablett @ $11

Gazza was not expected to poll many votes last year in a team that struggled for a win but he proved the doubters wrong (23 votes). This year, he will be playing for an improved team that has been gifted a nice draw. It also appears that he has been able to spend a lot more time on the track during the pre season this year, indicating he will smash it from the first bounce.

Warnie:

Lance Franklin @ $41

I see the Hawks as a huge chance to finish top 2 in 2012 and riding on that hope is the big Budwood. My brain massively says no. I’ve had him plenty of times in Dream Team, this man give away more free kicks than anyone else and is a constant suspension worry. Buuutttt… if he can get through a full season, he will be a key reason why the Hawks might be top 2. Chance for 100 goals again? Maybe. Hopefully umpires and see how valuable a big man can be to a team and offer up votes to Buddy. At $41, he is ‘good value’.

Bryce Gibbs @ $56

I can’t believe Roy didn’t put Gibbsy in here before me. Well, to be honest… my safe bet would have been Gazza, soft draw and all. But I’m liking the value in Bryce Gibbs. Yes, there is Juddy and Murphy that will take a whole heap of votes away from him, and rightly so. But if Gibbs can play that midfield role – as outlined in the Deck of DT on him and the media talk – then he is every chance to get votes. I don’t know. It might just be because a mate did a multi-bet when Gibbs was paying over 100-1 with the Blues making the top 4 and Roy was excited about it. I’m way too easily led.

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Stephen Coniglio is an 18 year old outright gun… and he’s our boy!! For those who have been living under a rock for the last few months…. Coniglio was drafted #2 in the National Draft behind GWS team mate Jonathon Patten. But it’s Coniglio who will have an immediate Dream Team impact when round 1 comes along. Yeah, he is expensive due to being selected at #2 in the draft compared to other rookies, but this guy is a certain starter in the GWS line up. Consider Coniglio in the same bracket as David Swallow in 2011, who was in the same boat with an inflated rookie price. Swallow went on to play 21 games at an average of 76.3. Let’s find out more….

Time In WAFL

Coniglio debuted in the WAFL with the Swan Districts in 2010 (Rd.22) and had an immediate impact with 26d and 2g. He then held his spot to play in the Grand Final where he had an impressive 17d and 4 goals to be considered one of the best on. Then in 2011, he won the WAFL Rising Star from just 6 games averaging 19d, 3m and 5t.

U/18 Championships 2011

During the U/18 Championships, Coniglio averaged 22d (10 contested) and 4 tackles a game and was rewarded for his efforts by being named on a wing as an All Australian. Add to that the fact that he won the Larke Medal for being the MVP for the championships. A medal that has been won by former guns such as David Swallow (2009), Watts (2008) and DT guru Marc Murphy (2005). Not a bad list!

Cricket Career

Yeah why not mention that this lad is handy with the bat and ball as well. During the U/15 Nationals, Coniglio scored 106* which broke the record as the highest score by a Western Australian ever at the tournament. Then during the U/17 Nationals, he knocked up a best score of 78*. Coniglio then was offered a WACA contact which he turned down to play AFL. Impressive.

In His Words:

After speaking to Stephen recently, we asked him a few quick questions.

DT TALK: Who would be the first player you’d pick in your DT this year?

SC:  Dustin Martin I reckon this year. From what I’ve read in the papers he’s in good shape and he’s been in good form the last couple of years and ready to peak I reckon.

DT TALK: What will your role be with GWS this year?

SC:  I see myself as a midfielder, so hopefully I’m amongst the midfield and try to go half forward to try to sneak a goal or two hopefully.

DT TALK: Why should we pick you in our dream teams?”

SC: I’ll get some cheap points along with some good points (laughs)…..

So there you have it, Stephen Coniglio is one of the best rookies going around. He’s a certain starter round one and fits into the similar scenario of 2011 of when it came to selecting Swallow. Coniglio is a tackling machine and should be considered for your Dream Team… if you have that little extra cash when picking your rookies. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for and this kid will not let you down!

SEE MORE…  from Coniglio and the other rookies when the DT TALK episode is released next week.

Twitter follow: @stephenconiglio @CalvinDT

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Why should I pick him? Because Steele Sidebottom is another one of these midfielders who have been labelled DPP in 2012! Steele has played all but 1 game in the last 2 years and is a walk up player with a talented premiership team. In 2011, Steele scored 90+ points 50% of the time including 5×100+ scores. On his day, he is a DT machine and will most likely be in the top 7 forwards by the end of the year. In fact, if Steele was named as a forward last year, he would have ranked 12th in most points scored for the year and 7th on average from players who played 22 games.

Steele is priced $14k less than Dustin Martin and a massive $74k less than his team mate, Dayne Beams. All these guys also carry DPP in 2012 for the first time and are being massively talked about in the DT community. These guys will make your season but you might find it hard to have all 3, and as Steele is the cheapest of the bunch… his hand I high in the air to make your team!

Why shouldn’t I pick him? Well, as mentioned a few times in the Deck of Dream Team articles this year… the byes will hurt. Steele shares the bye with many other great forwards (Stevie J, Chapman, Goodes, Fyfe…) and depending on the make up of your team… this will hurt you.  “Oh, I’ll rest him on my mid bench then” – good call Einstein and way to understand the DPP rule… but in you mids you’ll be wanting players like Swan, Pendles, Selwood… and they will want a spot on your bench too.

Deck of DT Rating. QUEEN – Steele might just go BANG this year! He only improved his average last year 7pts from 2010 and is due to really break out. I personally have him ahead of Beams at the moment mainly based on price alone. This is Steele’s 4^th season, if you count the one in 2009 when he played 8 games… therefore this season coming up is his 3^rd season playing all games. When Bryce Gibbs played his 3^rd season… he went from averaging 87 to a massive 107!

Personally, as of right now… he’s 76% locked!

TWITTERTOWN: Follow me @CalvinDT

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Why should I pick him? Before I started researching info on Zac… he wasn’t on my radar one bit, things have changed and here are the reasons why.

1. Zac Smith averaged 71.9  for the year with an average of 80 in the first half of the season only to tire to an average of 63. He’s fitter and stronger now and this should not happen again.
2. Gold Coast have an awesome start to the 2012 season playing 7 of the bottom 8 teams in their first 9 games of the year. What a start!
3. Zac Smith is thier only ‘good’ ruckman! Yeah they have Fraser (16 games in 2011) but at the end of the day… Zac is a future star, franchise player and he’ll go bang one year very soon.
4. Check out when the good big boys have their byes.

Rd. 11 = Cox, Goldstein, Leuenberger, NicNat, McIntosh, Jacobs
Rd. 12 = Sandilands, Mumford, Jolly, Ryder
Rd. 13 = McEvoy, Kruz

Whoop de doo bazil… Hang on, this is mega important this year. You can’t have all your ruckmen sitting out at the same time. Picking a Cox/Berger combo would be just stupid because of this. Basically, Zac Smith shares a bye with hardly any other ‘good’ rucks and will sit nicely next to a big name premium in your team.

Why shouldn’t I pick him? It takes rucks a long time to develop. Here is the perfect example for you. It took DT superstar Dean Cox, 5 years to boost his average from 77 to 95 in his break out year and took the exact same time (5 years) for Leuenberger to have his break out year (2011) knocking his average from 77 to 93. Goldstein (75 to 95) and Mumford (80 to 91) broke out a little quicker, but it still took them 4 years to do so. Amazing really!

Deck of DT Rating. QUEEN – Zac is a ‘Queen’ because he comes with so much uncertainly of whether or not he can actually rise his average to an acceptable level for your #2 ruck. In the past, the Sandi/Cox combo was your goal by the end of the DT season… but with the rise of the younger rucks and the byes in place, it’s not that simple anymore. Is Zac a star ready to go bang or will it take him a few more years on the track and in the weights room to bump this average of his towards the 90 mark? It’s not 5 years away, let’s clear that up… but it may not be next year either.

TWITTER: @CalvinDT to chat dreamteam and stuff!

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Why should I pick him? Didak is another one of these Dual Position Players who we must be considering in 2012. Firstly, with the DDP he brings great flexibility to your line up, enabling you to rotate him through the Midfield if you need, or when the dreaded byes hit half way through the year.

Didak is massively under-priced based on what he has done in the past.

2008 – averaged 95
2009 – averaged 103
2010 – averaged 99
2011 – averaged 74

In 2010, Didak racked up 90+ points in 65% of his games and is clearly one of the best premo forwards out there. In 2011… Didak was clearly playing injured. He averaged just 35pts per game in the AFL Finals series (3 games) and severely struggled all year. He entered the year with very very limited pre-season and with Didak already back on the track in this year, he’s certainly one to have your eye on!

Why shouldn’t I pick him? Didak turns 29 years old in February which pushes him very close to the dreaded 30 year old mark that everyone talks about. He played the 2011 injured… as he does nearly every year. Didak has missed 2 or more in each of his last 5 seasons and finds himself priced $32,000 more than Jonno Brown. Another negaitive here is, Didak shares his Rd 12 bye with the likes of Chapman, Stevie J, Fyfe, Pav, Goodes, Beams and Steele… Brownie does not.

Deck of DT Rating. QUEEN – In the past, Didak would be rated as a KING or maybe even an ACE but… Didak is approaching his 12^th season in the AFL. He’s massively under priced based on what he can do, or has done in the past… but there is no way you can roll with Brownie and Didak in the same line… it’s just way too risky! So will you be picking Didak or Brown? Or will you be steering clear of both these under priced/injury prone lads? Personally… If I was going any, Brown over Didak is my call just for that extra $30k and that horrid Rd. 12 bye.

TWITTER: @CalvinDT to chat dreamteam or love life advice!

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Why should I pick him? Firstly, let me tell you who this bloke is. Tony Armstrong was the guy who was quarantined with Richard Douglas back in 2009 when the Swine Flu was swooping over Australia ready to kill us all. After surviving this media hyped up bullshit, he played in 2010 knocking up 9 games for the Crows. In these games, Armstrong showed tremendous DT ability scoring 123 (against the Roos), 89 (Hawks) and 73 (Saints).

Towards the end of the 2010 season, Big Tone got a little loosey goosey… he had a few beers jumped in his car and blew 4 times the limit and found himself suspended by the club, oops. This suspension carried over into the 2011 season where he found himself sober and injury free which led to his first appearance late in the season at round 20. In the next 4 games for the Crows he averaged 85 only to injury himself once again in Rd.24 where he had just 26pts at the time.

This guy has great DT scoring ability and will priced at an average of 73 with a discount as he didn’t play many games. I’m certainly considering this guy… under priced backman who can score with ease are just gold. He’s a bargain but can he…

Why shouldn’t I pick him? … stay fit and under control? Yeah, maybe but this guy is a walking injury and DT headache waiting to happen. David Noble, the list manager at the Crows said this when he was traded/swapped for Lewis Johnston (Sydney Swan, now a Crow), “It’s disappointing for us because part of Tony’s development has been us getting him more stable off-field, which has meant he’s been able to deliver more on-field.” Ummm ok… not something I’d like to hear about a DT player I was considering.

So in the past, the Swans have had a history of turning ‘new’ players into DT gods… or have they? Check out some of these numbers I’ve crunched.

Rhyce Shaw averaged 87 (Collingwood 2008) and 86/69/66 (Sydney 2009-11)
Ben McGlynn averaged 85 (Hawthorn 2009) and 86/77 (Sydney 2010/11)
Andrejs Everitt averaged 68 (WBD 2010) and 45 (Sydney 2011)

Marty Mattner avg. 59 (Adelaide 2007) and 79/72 (Sydney 2008/09)
Josh P Kennedy averaged 72 (Hawthorn 2009) and 74/87 (Sydney 2010/11)
Being the exceptions

Deck of DT Rating. JACK – Armstrong comes with a risk. He is under priced and we have no doubt he can seriously play and score, but will his body hold up and will he behave? Personally, I’ll be watching him carefully during the pre-season as backman will be critical this year after the head aches they gave us in 2011. We have to get this right and picking a dude who carries these risks is not ideal.

Twitter follow @CalvinDT to chat & suggest the next player…

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Why should I pick him? Easy answer here… because he’s a forward/midfield! Last year Beams was named solely as a midfielder and had a massive 3^rd season break out bumping his average from 87 in 2010 to the 102 you see stated above (another player supporting the 3^rd year rule). During his 14 games in 2011, Beams averaged 24d a game and booted a total of 21 goals which probably is the reason he is named as a forward for 2012.

As a midfielder last year, Beams ranked 19^th in the competition based on his average beating the likes of Jobe Watson and Jimmy Bartel. But if he was named as a forward… Beams would have ranked as the 3^rd best for the year, beating super DT players like Buddy and Goodesy.

This leads us to the big question, will Beams be in the best 7 forwards by the end of 2012? YES HE WILL.  He came home like a steam train in 2011 averaging 124 in his last 5 home and away games for the year.

Now that Beams is listed as a forward, he is a must in any good dream team. He may not start in your initial line up due to his price, but if you are serious about 2012, he needs to be there at some point.

Why shouldn’t I pick him? Here are a few good reasons why you would initially pass on Dayne.

1)      His tatts aren’t anywhere near as cool as Swanny’s.

2)      He is very expensive. He’ll be listed as the 3^rd most expensive forward. Dearer than Buddy, Goodes, Fyfe, Cloke…

3)      He only played 14 games in 2011 and missed many games due to injury. Since debuting in 2009 he has only played 75% of games.

4)      He shares a bye round with the likes of Chapman, Stevie J, Goodes and Fyfe. Depending on who you are eyeing off… resting them all that week will hurt you big time.

Deck of DT Rating. KING – Maybe he should be a Queen here, but based on his 2011 average and his 2012 price, Dayne will need to maintain his 100+ average to even be worth your while in 2012. He will be expensive and listed amongst some amazing DT talent, proven talent who have done it before. Dayne did it in just 14 games… can he maintain this in 2012? I think he can and more importantly, I think he will be in the top 7 forwards next year. But at this stage I will not be starting with him due to his massive price from 14 games. But mark my words… I’ll be ’beaming’ him up as soon as he drops! Boom Tish

FOLLOW: @CalvinDT in Twitterland for chat and Q & A