DT Planning: Do I need to change my structure?

Like many others, I have got Grimes am going through the possibilities of how trading him out will affect my team structure and particularly my backline scoring potential. Conventional thinking is I upgrade to another “keeper” in the backline. However, I’ve got a few issues in spending more $$ on 2011 defenders which are not consistently pumping out 100’s.

Alternatively, coaches without Grimes are likely to be looking to upgrade to another “keeper” in the coming weeks down back and will be going through the same decision making process – How can I strengthen my back half / do I even need to???

The following thoughts at the forefront of my and a lot of coaches minds this week:

• I’ve missed the Adcock boat – and do I want spend another $60k to go from one injury prone player to another??
• I could bring in Shaw – but do I ride the rollercoaster hoping each week he doesn’t cop that dreaded backline tag and pump out a 50?  No thanks.
• Enright/Delidio are maybes but are these guys really having “Premium” DT seasons?? The way the game is being played at the moment I just can’t rely on them to serve me up 100’s each week.

Can my hard earned $$ be spent elsewhere???

Like many of you, I am close to finalising some sort of 2-3-4 week trading plan to trade up to my “keepers” to hold and ride the highs and lows with until round 24.  For many of us, this involves picking up blokes like Chappy, Didak, Goodes in the forward line – players that have got that low score in their rolling average who we want to pick up on the cheap over the next couple of weeks (not to mention the added bonus of having DPP attached).

Like me, most coaches are planning to lock away 7 forward “keepers” with probably one half-decent spud regularly playing to give some cover on the bench (Darling, Tapscott, Matera, Smith, Krak).

The worry I have is that as the year progresses, I will need to fill holes around the ground due to the byes each week – do I really want to be bringing one of these Rooks onto the field on a regular basis to plug my holes?

The solution

It goes against conventional thinking but this isn’t a conventional DT year. I think I need an 8^th keeper in the forward line.

My 8^th keeper (lets say I pick up Dids on the cheap next week) will actually be playing on field almost every week. Here is how is plays out:

• I move blokes like Chappy/Pav/Goodes/McGylnn up to cover byes my midfield when required – Dids gets a game
• One of my forwards has a bye – Dids gets a game
• One of my Rucks has a bye – I DPP Petrie up to Ruck so Dids gets a game
• The general strikes and Higgins/Chappy/Rioli miss a week – Dids gets a game.

I’ve gone through the fixture list and with the exception of the 2 Port Adelaide byes – I will need to sub a Midfielder, Forward or Ruck nearly every week to Round 24. So yes – Dids will be on field and I won’t be having my hard earned $$ sitting on the pine.

I think this gives me a great advantage over my opponent with Dids playing each week whilst Dr DreamTeam subs on Matera for a 50/60 points or suffers a donut as he doesn’t have enough bench cover.

The downside – or is it?

I can hear what you’re all thinking – yes, I’ve now got one less “keeper” in the backline. But – this year, our backs aren’t as consistent or as high scoring as I would like – so in essence I’m taking the punt that my 1 extra Nicoski/Suckling/Duigan/Stanley/B.Smith will be play each week and give me a respectable 70 or so.

Yep, I might leak a few points to opposition backs but I think I will make it up (and more) up on the forward end of the ground with an extra “keeper” who has the ability to pump out 100’s on a regular basis and courtesy of the dreaded Bye, will be playing every week.

So fellow DTers, buy the 8^th keeper and use the Bye as an advantage. I’m over dreading the Bye each week – I want to embrace it knowing it will give me the edge!

Article sent in by Clembo.