Good Trade, Bad Trade: Round 22

Prelim week is upon us! Are you still recovering from your Mad Monday after all the late outs over the weekend? Or did you have the week off to sit back and laugh at all of us peasants whining about Buddy? Last week was an absolute $hit of a week with late outs to Buddy, Michell and Griffin. Some were lucky to miss this, while others copped all three (like me; ok that’s the last of my rant). We are now starting to see the true value of solid bench cover as coaches decide to mess with our minds on a weekly basis,  Thursday teams are starting to be harder to figure out than the murderer in a game of cluedo. Does it look like ending? You bet your sweet ass it doesnt!

This week, if you are lucky enough to have trades, you should definitely consider if you should trade to match your opponent or trade as a further point of difference. This can apply if you are both miles ahead or miles behind at the start of the game.

Carnage Normality ahead

There are plenty of whispers around of the general hitting the crows this week. DT favourites Thompson, Danger and Sloane have all played every game this year and could get a mysterious injury for a week, while there has been an article on  Mitchell being 50/50 this week and I don’t think we will see Griffin again (‘injured’ or not). Add this to Pendles going down at training today and Buddy being ‘a near certainty’ this week and we are going to need at least 10 playing emergencies to not field a donut.

 

Defenders

There have been no notable omissions (so far) this week in the back line, so it should be the least of your problems. Pearce Hanley ($312,900, b/e 41)  looks to be a bargain at his price. Scored a handy 94 last week, but trying to predict who in the Lions back line will score big week to week (much like Sydney) is harder to pick than a broken nose. A whole 105 coaches have fared giant Tommy the Bugg for the Irishman, which makes it one of the most popular trades this week! Brendan Goddard ($439k, b/e 60) has hit form at the right time of year with three 100s and a 99 in his last 4, while ol’ Grimey ($454,100 b/e 70) continues to not only play every week, but perform with 3 100’s in a row. Paul Duffield could provide a hail Mary POD with an average of 95 in his last 5, but then you look at his coach and decide to keep your sanity.

Midfielders

DT Messiah Dane Swan returns this week to play one of his favourite teams on one of his favourite grounds! Seemed like the longest 2 weeks in history!  Hopefully the 70,000 coaches who held him are still around to fight another day, as Swan will no doubt cause many a headache to the coaches who traded him out. The other tattooed laden Dayne (Beams) continued his stellar season with 129 last week and a lowest of 113 in his last 6.  has been consistently in the top 10 traded for the past few weeks and  is now the 13th most popular pick this year. will still be that popular next year, even if as a mid only. A hail Mary POD could be Jack Redden ($461,700, b/e 78) who loves playing Port and 4 100’s in his last 5 games. It takes true balls (and pride) to bring in Bryce Gibbs ($476,000 b/e 51) but a 3 round average of 132 may help that decision making process.

Rucks

I swear all 3,857 Jon Griffin ($349k) owners have risen from the shadows to complain of their heartache of his ‘late’ out and their lack of coverage (either no one playing or no E on that line). As the AFL were satisfied with Freo’s excuse of a late out, Griffin may not be seen again. What is worse, if you were like me, you could of traded him for the then under-performing Jon Giles. Coaches were also required to look into their crystal balls and predict if Sandi was going to come back in time, or if he would be put in cotton wool ala 2011 if their finals chances were gone. An extra $15k would get you in form Swan Mumford ($365k) who has a 3 rd average of of 94, an extra $50k could get you Sandi ($378,600) or Goldstein ($393,200) who will likely play lone hands in the ruck.

 

Forwards

Stevie J ($427,000) continues to take to his midfield role like a fat kid to a cupcake, and is the 2nd most traded player in this week. Excluding his run in with Thompson, it was his first week under 100 in 5 weeks. Calvin thinks he will go nuts this week, so is still great value. Taswegian Mitch Robinson has not returned from injury as coaches had hoped and is the fall guy for Johnson. Robsinson is playing the GC this week so could get a reprieve for one more week.

One player whose form seems to mirrors his team success is Boomer Harvey($454,400). Has had 6 100’s in his last 7 and could be that hail Mary you need to get over the line. Projected to get a huuuge 140 this week, yet has scores of 85 and 39 in his last 3 vs the Dockers, go figure!

One last thing in the forward line to consider is to ensure to have a playing emergency for Buddy!

Good luck to all this week (especially my best friend Funky who LOVES my article!)

 

@jimbobholder on twitter