I warned you all to save some trades in Dreamteam and Supercoach didnât I? Well this week we certainly are going to need to use some. We are starting to see some carnage, long term injuries and some of our players are getting themselves suspended. Come on boys, we need you on the run home!!
This is now our last week before the finals so we have to make sure that we have everything ready to go, but what moves do we need to make? What the hell are we going to do? Scramble!!
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Dealing with it!
So we have lost a few players for the season at the moment. And this doesnât help us at all. Scott Pendlebury was going to be out for just the one week, but now he has had further surgery on that finger and will possibly miss the rest of the fantasy season, or at least a large portion of it. If you have him, I would certainly be trading him out.
Michael Walters  is out for the rest of the year with his PCL, so trade him out too. He may be more relevant to draft players, but no matter where you have him, he ainât going to help you.
We havenât had confirmation on Montagnaâs injury, but the way he looked after the game and the seriousness of his injury, I canât see him coming back this season at all.
Chad Wingard is out with an ankle, and looks likely to miss 2-4. On Twitter he said two, but I reckon it is more likely to be three. I would be very confidently trading him out. You canât afford to be without him for your first week of the finals.
Toby Greene just canât stop belting blokes. To be fair though, it was similar to other ones that were just issued with fines. But in the AFLs defence, he has a very bad record which didnât help. Now⊠what do we do with him? He is out for two weeks which means this week and the first week of the finals. In AFL Fantasy, you must trade him out. In RDT and SC it is going to come down to trades really. But if you have 4 or more, I would be trading him. You canât afford to play week one of the finals (unless you have the double chance) with him sitting on the aluminium (no benches are made of pine anymore).
Dayne Zorko is out through suspension for just the one week. In AFL Fantasy I still trade him out. You should look to upgrade him if you can. But in RDT and SC I would be holding. The only situation where I would look at trading in those comps is if I am sitting 8 9 or 10 and I must win to make the finals, particularly if your game is against someone you are battling with to make the finals. Because, as I have said in the past, if you arenât in the finals you canât win them!!
Iâm looking at you kid.
Many will consider Rory Sloane on the back of his big score last week. As a former owner, I wouldnât be touching him. Mainly because of the pain he has caused me this year, but, as Calvin mentioned in the Traders Podcast this week, we can expect to see Greenwood go to him this week and tag him. I still donât know why Scooter didnât tag him last week. If you look at him, just be careful.
Docherty has been on a lot of shopping lists, and if you brought him in last week you would have been a little annoyed. But if you do want to get him (and I would be looking at ways to do it if I didnât already have him) definitely wait one more week as he has some nice and high break evens across the formats and hence should drop nicely next week and you can pick him up for finals.
If you are looking to make some cash this week, obviously you have read Jeppa’s Juniors. For my two cents worth Lewis Young is the man I am getting. In RDT and SC he is still bargain basement as he has only played the two games so far. He looks like he might be some reasonable bench cover and he will also make you plenty of cash on the downgrade.
Selection Table
As if the outs I have already mentioned above weren’t enough, there were a few more thrown at us!
The Giants weren’t finished when Toby was suspended, but then they hurt us with Mumford now out of the side this week with an Ankle injury. I am not sure if anyone has Stevie J but he is missing too.  On the plus side we saw Jeremy Cameron come back in and for those in draft (as I don’t think anyone in the classic forms of the game would have held him) Stephen Coniglio returns. Their opponents, the Dockers have made a few changes, mostly at the bottom end with Nyhuis, Deluca and Spurr all out, but we regain Ryan, Cox and Grey in their place. That might help a few benches out.
Mummy wasn’t the only big name out, there must be a Riewoldt family function somewhere because both Jack and Nick are out this week, Jack with an eye injury and Nick is being managed. This was always a worry with Nick, but I guess the good thing is that at least now he should be ok to go for the last 4 weeks of the season, Fantasy Finals.
We all thought a ruckman would come in for the Kangaroos, but not many thought it would be Preuss. If I had Goldy this would really worry me, but I did hear on one of the radio shows last weekend that he was also dealing with some personal issues outside of footy (they didn’t disclose what it was, and neither should they), so this would also be a big factor in why he isn’t playing senior footy, I hope all that gets resolved in a positive way for him and he is back playing soon.
The Great Man Gazza Ablett is back this week which is great, but if you were thinking of a sneaky trade in, just look at his recent record, he has only played 2 of his last 5 games, but in those two he did score 127 and 152, so it could be a worthwhile risk.
The last of the big news this week comes from the Eagles with Mitchell returning, but Priddis will miss with a quad injury.
We did see a great game out of Grundy so Bucks wants to put a stop to that, so he has brought Cox back in. But it is an extended bench so he may not make it still.
Over at the Crows Beech returns but we do lose Brad Crouch to a fractured Cheek bone, he was trying to suggest that he would play this week, so who knows if he returns next week or not.
Finals Time
Our last week of matches before finals start, So really it is do or die, particularly for those sitting just outside the top 8. This is where those that may be just outside the finals need to Go Hard or they will be Going Home! You don’t want to be saving trades if you don’t think you can win without trading. There are two strategies you can use here, the first is that you can negate their premiums by bringing in someone that they have. When you do this you are backing in the mid tier players in your team.
The other thing that you can do is to bring in a powerful unique to try and beat them that way. You could trade out a gun that your opponent has and then bring in another that they don’t have. This is always a risky move as we never like to sideswap, but if you don’t think you can make the finals any other way, you simply must go for it.
The other side of this coin is if you are locked into your  position and can’t really move. Then you may not want to do much this week. You could look at holding your trades (in RDT and SC of course) and saving them for a few weeks time when we you need them. If you are going for overall rank you may not want to take this approach, but if you are just going for the league win, it can be a very smart move to save trades at this point.
Things To Remember
- No Guts No Glory. As I just mentioned, you can’t win it if you ain’t in it. So get yourself into the finals at all costs.
- Think about your trades. If you need to trade this week, make sure you check Cal’s Scale of Hardness article. Also consider the effect the trade has on your team for the finals.
- Those you trade out will go big! It is just  the way things happen. Trust me. I was the one that traded out Sloane last week for him to go big!
Don’t panic, we have all been here before, we know that this is one of the most important weeks in the Fantasy Footy season. The set up before finals. One of our biggest competitors in the coming weeks will be General Soreness and his sidekick Managed. When bringing guys in, try and pick those that you think aren’t likely to get a visit from either of these two blokes.
Best of luck to you all with your run to the finals, I hope you all make it to the top 8 this week and then next week we can start looking at Finals strategies! Â Cheers @pkd73
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Daniel
July 28, 2017 at 6:36 am
Daicos/ 150k forward and Sidebottom
V
L.Young and Yeo/Buddy/Hill????
McGovern Lovin'
July 28, 2017 at 8:29 am
Young and Buddy is a very safe option. Hill has gws this week.
Henry
July 28, 2017 at 7:27 am
Do I trade out Zorko or Rocky???
The Chosen Won
July 28, 2017 at 7:35 am
Trade out Rocky, In the 7 games before his injury he had laid 62 tackles, In the 7 games since his injury he has laid a TOTAL of 28 tackles I cannot see this changing before end of year!
Good Luck
MattyCrow
July 28, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Rocky is getting his final chance for me. Zorko out, Beams to be tagged. No brainer to see how he goes..
Jarrad
July 28, 2017 at 7:34 am
Gaff and Newman to beams and Hibberd?
sam
July 28, 2017 at 10:05 am
Not sure Beams will outscore Gaff this week but for rest of season I think so + $$$.
Stalliondongs
July 28, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Why Gaff?? One bad score last week.Eagles at home this week where Gaff plays well,surely other trades more needed.
JP
July 28, 2017 at 8:08 am
Greene and Stevens are forced trades which 2 do i bring in.
Sidey, Franklin, Boak, Gray, JMartin or Hill.
Cheers
Plugger
July 28, 2017 at 8:54 am
If you can afford any two, go Sidney and Buddy ( with Boak a genuine alternative to Franklin). Because it is the pointy end of the season, I slightly favour Franklin for his ceiling which could help win a final or climb up the rankings. Boak is less risk for a good score, but won’t offer Buddy’s ceiling. It would be up to your personal psychology as a coach and your sense of the need of the next few weeks. Gray an Martin, just a little too much risk for mine.
Plugger
July 28, 2017 at 8:59 am
Sidey, of course, not the spellchecker provided Sidney.
JC
July 28, 2017 at 9:05 am
Where is the love for Gunston? Change of role = easy +6.. am I missing something?
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 10:14 am
I like Gunston’s new role too. Also looking at him instead of Boak (see below).
Joe
July 28, 2017 at 9:19 am
Getting rid of Zorko. Do I trade to Martin, Duncan, Selwood or Beams?
Sam
July 28, 2017 at 10:06 am
Is cash an issue? If not then clearly Dusty for quality, ceiling and run home.
But if it then Selwood.
Yo
July 28, 2017 at 9:38 am
Which 2 of these 3 trades would you go with?
1 – Newman to blakely/adams
2 – Rocky to josh kelly/dusty
3 – Nroo to sidey/mcrae
Matt
July 28, 2017 at 9:41 am
2 and 3
sam
July 28, 2017 at 10:07 am
1 to Blakely
3 to Macrae
Matt
July 28, 2017 at 9:39 am
Who to trade out nank or rocky
Yo
July 28, 2017 at 9:57 am
Cheers buddy. Thats a hard one as nank has been terrible and who knows what role rocky will have with zorko out and a rocky tagging last being a success. Cant trade em both out this week?
Matt
July 28, 2017 at 10:17 am
Nah already trading out k Stevens
Yo
July 28, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Then i would get rid of nank.
Tobe_advised
July 28, 2017 at 10:00 am
Upgrade Zorko? He is ranked 6th this season in fantasy. Already have 1-5. I can’t even think of a like for like. Yes, he probable is the ultimate high risk/high reward player but seriously I can’t waste a trade on him with only 8 trades left after this round. It is too important to get the final cash cows gone off the bench for upgrades on feild. Although nice to bring in playing rookies I would have thought it is too late for cash generation.
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 10:12 am
I haven’t got Zorko, but is there a slight downgrade option that could work? Jelwood or Sloane (when they aren’t tagged)?
Tobe_advised
July 28, 2017 at 11:01 am
I think Jelwood is a chance of getting tagged in the remaining games as it has limited effect on Danger. And every team for now on will have someone standing next to Sloan
My pick would be Beams but maybe for next week.(May cop Hutchings tag.) Really can’t see Brisbane getting much of a tag for remaining games unless the opposition is chasing a percentage boost.
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 10:08 am
Tough round ideas to improve my team
Options I’m faced with (until sunday teams are finalised)
1 – Butler + Nankervis > Boak + Young
2 – Newman + Joe Atley > Partington + Boak FWD (via Witherden to D6 and Greenwood to M7)
Either option keeps me with decent bench cover for late outs in the Mids. Using Cal’s scale of hardness for Option 2…
Thoughts
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 10:09 am
Still not overly sold on Boak, but with Wingard out, he might get a “bit more midfield time”
M8
July 28, 2017 at 10:27 am
I like option 1, lets hope that Boak gets more mid time
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 11:53 am
Thanks M8. It does mean that Greenwood plays on the ground.
David C
July 28, 2017 at 3:50 pm
Aaron Young is going to get most of Winqard’s midfield minutes apparently.
M8
July 28, 2017 at 10:20 am
My team:
Def: Docherty, Adams, Laird, Lloyd, Newnes, Witherden (Ryan, Hibberd)
Mid: Mitchell, Dangerfield, Merrett, Martin, Treloar, Rockliff, Hannebery, J.Selwood (Mountford, Lloyd)
Ruck: Grundy, Darcy (Buzza, Cameron)
Fwd: Sidebottom, Macrae, Heeney, Yeo, Dahlhaus, Greenwood (Young, Polson)
Cash: $73k
Thoughts on going Lloyd to Glass and Rockliff to Beams? Cheers
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 11:55 am
I got Glass last week. So far it’s half full…. Wouldn’t going Ryan to Glass be better?
Rocky to Beams will always be a hard one, knowing there’s the risk of a tag…
Tobe_advised
July 28, 2017 at 12:09 pm
I also am bringing in Glass this week. But as a spud as his JS and durability at AFL level has to be a concern. Not solid emergency cover imo.
Max
July 28, 2017 at 10:27 am
Newnes or Hibberd?
Tobe_advised
July 28, 2017 at 11:02 am
Take a look at each players last 5 average. Hibberd all the way.
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 11:56 am
+1
David C
July 28, 2017 at 3:52 pm
Hah … I’m thinking about trading Newnes out.
John
July 28, 2017 at 10:28 am
Gunston or mclean?
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 11:56 am
McLean. Better JS in current role
H1N1
July 28, 2017 at 11:04 am
Heeney and Duncan
or
Sidebottom and Beams/Sloane
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 11:58 am
#1. Both Sydney and Geelong need to keep on keeping on to ensure that they get as high on the ladder as possible by the end of the year. Beware of a Duncan rest tho… ?not sure if he’s had one yet.
WhoGo's
July 28, 2017 at 11:14 am
Who go’s to bring in a primo, Newman, Greenwood, WHE ???
H1N1
July 28, 2017 at 11:19 am
In order of priority it would be Newman if you dont have Docherty and can afford him, then Greenwood if you don’t have Sidebottom, then Newman to any other DEF.
WhoGo's
July 28, 2017 at 11:27 am
Was thinking of bringing in Houli (already have Doc) or rookie to generating cash, both work but leaning towards cash. Position doesn’t matter via dpp
Liam009
July 28, 2017 at 11:22 am
hey lads help on my trades?
Zorko > dusty and k.stevens > gray (field at F6)
or
Zorko > dusty and k.stevens > lewis young (field at F6)+ 340k
?? help would be appreciated :
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 11:59 am
#1 all the way for points / ranking, #2 for emergency with double upgrades next week for leagues
Max
July 28, 2017 at 11:27 am
My team:
Def: Adams, Simpson, Laird, Lloyd, Newnes, Newman (Larkey, Willis)
Mid: Mitchell, Kelly, Martin, Wines, Treloar, Bont, J.Selwood, Witherden (Glass, M.Hibberd)
Ruck: Grundy, Martin (Soldo, Cameron)
Fwd: Macrae, Heeney, Yeo, Steele, Dahlhaus, Greenwood (Zurhaar, Polson)
Cash: $249k
Thoughts?
Considering getting doc for newman unsure though
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Max – good idea. But, you’ve got buggerall cover on your benches…
Johno
July 28, 2017 at 11:37 am
Rocky to Dusty
Darcy to L. Young (dpp)
Have 110k for the rest of the year and 3 trades left (but still have Greene on my bench)
Next week: Greene to Fanklin but only have 2 trades for finals.
Risky or do it?!?!?
Terry
July 28, 2017 at 11:38 am
N.Newman -> A.McIntosh or Dahlhaus -> B.Hall ??
Terry
July 28, 2017 at 11:39 am
$3.20 in the bank
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Ashley McIntosh all the way. Bazza will punch someone.
Jay
July 28, 2017 at 11:42 am
Hi guys, have 56k in the bank and team below, help would be appreciated please
Doc, Adams, laird, Blakely, roberton, newnes (nyhuis, hibberd)
Titch, danger, zerrett, dusty, treloar, rocky, Newman, witherden (glass, deluca)
Martin, witts (2 x 150k rooks)
Yeo, Macrae, menegola, Heeney, Dahl, WHE (JKH, beech)
Was originally thinking rocky and Newman out for beams and jelwood with 86k for next week
Now have nyhuis and deluca out leaves me short either a def or mid bench cover
So should I get hibberd and Newman out for jelwood and a playing rookie for bench but which rookie best
nkthegunner12
July 28, 2017 at 11:44 am
DEF: Adams, Laird, Lloyd, Newnes, Shaw, Witherden (EVW, Hibberd)
MID: Titch, Danger, Merrett, Zorko, Murphy, Treloar, Gaff, Kennedy (Greenwood, Mountford)
RUC: Grundy, Darcy
FWD: Heeney, Yeo, Franklin, Sheed, Menegola, Dahlhaus (Young, Polson)
38k in the bank. Thinking Zorko to Selwood/Beams but not sure what to do with my 2nd trade?
Jag67
July 28, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Hold Zorko (on bench). Upgrade Greenwood & Mountford to Glass & Jelwood (if the maths works out).
Nick
July 28, 2017 at 11:46 am
Is Witherden worth fielding over Lloyd at the moment??
John
July 28, 2017 at 11:54 am
Surely he bounces back from a subpar game last week. So tempted to do the same with the inconsistent D Roberton.
Tobe_advised
July 28, 2017 at 12:19 pm
I would trade any and all Sydney defenders out if possible as since Mcveigh has been back everyones scores have gone down.
David C
July 28, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Roberton will be fine now Montagna is gone.
John
July 28, 2017 at 11:52 am
Wingard to Buddy,Boak or Gray??
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 12:05 pm
… I’m bringing Boak in, but with little confidence. I have less confidence in Gray, so … Buddy? Tough run ahead for the Swans tho.
John
July 28, 2017 at 12:23 pm
At the moment I am tossing up between Boak or Buddy and leaning towards Buddy. Cos of the 90%+ game time and he score 90-100 even when he doesn’t kick many goals
Jackson
July 28, 2017 at 11:53 am
Zorko to Duncan, Treloar, Selwood or Beams? Can’t upgrade Greenwood to Sidebottom if I go Duncan though
Nathan
July 28, 2017 at 11:58 am
Would go Selwood or Beams + Cash. Selwood has a harder run home compared to Beamer based on Calâs Scale of Hardness. Personally bringing in Selwood over Beamer cause Beamer is a bit too injury prone for my liking
Nathan
July 28, 2017 at 11:57 am
Would go Selwood or Beams + Cash. Selwood has a harder run home compared to Beamer based on Cal’s Scale of Hardness. Personally bringing in Selwood over Beamer cause Beamer is a bit too injury prone for my liking
Need help
July 28, 2017 at 12:00 pm
who scores more points
Sheed and hibberd from Melbourne or
blakely and Greenwood?
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 12:02 pm
#2
Need help
July 28, 2017 at 12:03 pm
you think so?
Daz
July 28, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Why ask if you are going to question the response ?
Pull Your Head Out Your Ass Daz
July 28, 2017 at 1:29 pm
wanted to see if anyone else agreed/ disagreed
Troy
July 28, 2017 at 12:02 pm
Rocky to either Dusty/Kelly/Ward/Ebert????
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 12:03 pm
I’d consider Dusty. Coniglio comes back in, ruining Kelly and Ward’s game. Ebert is tracking well, but… Wingard out may alter role slightly.
Troy
July 28, 2017 at 12:14 pm
You make some very valid points there mate. It’s a bit of a risk either way. Dusty’s 3 and 5 round averages (107 and 109) aren’t fantastic but we know he can go big. Thanks heaps.
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 12:14 pm
With Greene out, is any looking at Devon Smith?
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Never mind. I’ve just had a look. Silly idea. I’d rather get Jack Martin in before him…
Pip
July 28, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Zorko to Dusty and Menegola to Macrae? Will leave Greenwood at F6 and Witherden at D6.
umop3pisdn
July 28, 2017 at 12:26 pm
First week of finals, playing from a top 4 position:
Bring in Kelly or Dusty this week? Thinking of grabbing the other next week
The Chosen Won
July 28, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Dusty!
Good Luck
welv
July 28, 2017 at 12:31 pm
Which trades to do?
A) Montagna -> Hibberd
Stevens -> Sidebottom
B) Montagna -> Simpson
Stevens -> Franklin/Heeney
C) Montagna -> Blakely
Stevens -> Menegola/Boak
Cheers
Fod
July 28, 2017 at 12:42 pm
Blakely and Boak. Although, Simpson and Heeney would be just as good, I would think.
Knickers
July 28, 2017 at 12:32 pm
1. Nank > Gray & Miller to Jelwood. With 100k in the bank or
2. Nank > Merrit & JKH > Young with 0k in the bank
The 1st one leaves me with Jelwood & Gray the 2nd one Merret and Miller.
Number 1 doesn’t have to be Gray it can be any forward under 550k. I’m still running Withered & Darcy on the field so wondering if I’ll need the 100k to upgrade them. What do you guys think? Thanks
Fod
July 28, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Who to bring in for stevens; B.Hill, Boak, Gray or Ryder?
Jack
July 28, 2017 at 2:07 pm
Gray tops that list for me.
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Who’s going to do the grunt work (inside mid) at West Coast next year now that Priddis and SMitchell will hang up their boots. Shuey can be easily tagged out of games. Hutching? Interesting times at WCE next year for rookies. Hopefully Partington won’t rise too much in $ before the end of the year
Jack
July 28, 2017 at 2:07 pm
Sheed, Redden, Shuey, Gaff, Hutchings, Yeo will be the main continent you’d presume. Definitely lack the grunt like you say though.
wce
July 28, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Sheed, Redden, Venables. All contested possession mids…
Jack
July 28, 2017 at 1:55 pm
a) Witts > Kreuzer
b) Newnes > Blakely
c) Shuey > Dusty
d) Menegola > Sidebottom
Thanks!
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 2:04 pm
b > d > c > a
Fooz
July 28, 2017 at 2:08 pm
Who goes (order)
Nankervis, ZJones, Newman, Greenwood
Name (required)
July 28, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Hi guys,
I am stumped on who to bring in?
Ebert, Treloar or Houli?
Matthew Woods
July 28, 2017 at 2:28 pm
hey guys best fwd to upgrade menegola, gray role looks to be back in the middle or sidey?? 160k with gray and 1k with sidey cheers.
nkthegunner12
July 28, 2017 at 2:55 pm
A: Zorko and Shaw -> Beams and Blakely
B: EVW (D7) and Shaw -> Glass and Blakely, playing Greenwood to cover Zorko
C: Zorko and Menegola -> Ebert and Macrae
Thoughts?