The Sunday Knee-Jerk – Rage Edition

Friday night I was sitting there, content with my pre-season’s study. This is it I’m thinking, could it be my year? I’ve done a ridiculous amount of planning on my team, I had settled on my structure and was just mulling over a couple of 50/50 calls. The timer ticks down to 0… It’s lockout. Time to just relax and see my first 3 premos run around like superstars and smash out 350. All is good. *Alarm goes off*. Shit… so what really happened? Funny story. This article is that story! I have a feeling it’s not a good one…

The Legend

Not that I owned any, but I think Jobe Watson (113) deserves it for his performance. Perhaps it wasn’t the most DT friendly game in the wet, but he was simply sensational, putting the Dons on his back when they needed him most. Not a bad way to start his Brownlow medal defence with another 3 votes. Champion. Of course I’m a diehard Eagle’s supporter, as if my weekend couldn’t have gotten any worse. So it pains me to place Dockers under this category, but underpriced premos Barlow (126) and Mundy (117) were fantastic.  Both will average 100+ I reckon, Mundy could be an absolute steal at just $451,000. Josh Kennedy (99) gets an honourable mention as many coaches mid-priced forward.

The Sunday Chop

Oh how I’ve waited for this. I know it’s round 1, we shouldn’t be panicking yet and it’s going to be a long season. But Dangerfield (51) was just about as painful to watch as Jigsaw strutting his stuff. It was a horror. To get tagged out of the game like he did was extremely concerning. I mean, 70-80 would have been acceptable first game of the season. I would be looking at it thinking, he’ll smash it next week, no worries. But 51 is almost unrecoverable. It was fine when he was in our forward lines last season, but when I’m paying $525,000 for a premium midfielder I expect more. Much more. I think this may be the type of year he has, the capability for 50’s and 150’s. Do I really want to be worrying about a premium mid scoring well? That’s the rookie’s jobs! Brendon ‘Not a Clue’ Goddard (71) was pretty hard to watch also. He seemed a bit lost at times. Selwood (71), Gaff (63), Thompson (75) and just about half the comp round out the players on the chopping block.

The Clown

The Clown for Round 1 is of course, me. Captain hindsight came crashing down on me harder than a 21 square metre block of granite. The 50/50 I mentioned earlier was Dangerfield, the unestablished future superstar or JPK, the Swans ball magnet. Kennedy has super premo breakout written all over him and plays GWS and the Gold Coast in the first 2 rounds. My logic is that… well, there is no logic. Not now that Danger has scored 51! I’m behind the eight ball already. Special mention to the umpires at the derby though for this review. “You’re sure it’s been touched?” “Yeah that’s what I saw”. “Alright, all clear one behind”. “Hang on… no, I’m calling a score review”. Turns out the ball nearly took Walters hand clean off. The whole review system seems like a waste of time to me. When do they ever expect to get a ‘conclusive’ score review, the umpire’s get paid and trained to be in a better position than the camera and make the final call. Unless it hits the post, in which case they’ve missed it and no review will be called. A third umpire can stop the game if something’s been missed, ok. But no more 50/50 reviews thanks.

What we’ve learnt?

This is a new segment introduced by Adz over on our FPL site. Here’s a light hearted take on what I’ve learnt this week…

• No matter what, every year I will waste 36 hours on planning my team, only to change it just before lockout.
• Planning is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine…
• Ballantyne is the second most hittable person behind… No actually, he is the first.
• Dr Dream Team has about as much as clue as my goldfish at Dream Team.
• Soon he will be called ‘Dr Supercoach’.
• Watson has to be the Brownlow favourite. You just see him everywhere when the dons play!
• The Eagles game plan surrounds one person. Nic Naitinui.
• Freo have won their premiership in Round 1, they’ll enjoy Mad Monday tomorrow.
• Our failures don’t get another crack for 2 weeks.
• I can’t even rage trade for another 10 days.
• I will be formally labelling Dangerfield, ‘Dangercun’ for the next 2 weeks.
• The AFL drives us all around the bend with 2 games this weekend. Why? Start the season as one, period.

This game sh*ts me

Where do I begin? I know every year I’ll plan, then re-plan, then re-re-plan knowing that it’s all useless. I just can’t help myself! Every year I think my team looks undefeatable, only to score 280 from 4 of my best premos. God knows what this article will be like after the rooks play, I may not be in a fit state. 1500 anyone? What really shits me about this game is that no matter how much research I do, all my POD’s and smokies are put to bed prior to Round 1. When will I ever learn this game is not played, won or lost until trading begins. That’s when shit gets loose. However I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to help myself, and that’s why this game sh*ts me.

Ah, that feels better. I’m sure I’m not alone this weekend, the worst part is having to wait another week to see some of my other blokes try and resurrect my team! Not only that, but I can’t even rage trade for another 10 days! Danger’s score is going to be staring me right in the face. Anyway that’s it from me this week, I hope I’ve filled half of Adz shoes, I’d be doing a good job! Let’s hope for a much calmer knee-jerk next week, however the Pig doesn’t play until Monday… Caution. Cheers.

If you enjoyed my raging and want a hittable punching bag when shit goes tits up, follow me on twitter @MattCraigDT. My views are honest, mostly helpful and occasionally entertaining! Also hit me up with any suggestions for who you thought were the Legends, Losers and Clowns plus what you’ve learnt the past week. I value everyone’s opinion!