Roy’s Trade Talk – Rd. 8

There are plenty of cash cows that have fattened, so that means it’s time to go shopping! Fortunately for coaches, there is plenty of under priced value out there worth considering, including a couple that would take some giant gonads.

Cash Cows: Price, BE, Score

• Lachie Keeffe (FWD/DEF, $198,000) -7, 76. Made a great debut for the Giants, playing multiple roles, including some ruck work with 18 hit outs, three marks and two tackles for 76. His job security still has to be considered shaky unfortunately, but he certainly scored well.
• Charlie Spargo (FWD/MID, $276,000) -2 71. Had another great game and although he comes at a cost, he now has the best job security of the growing rookies. He really adds something to the Dees and his 15 possessions, five marks, three tackles and a goal secured more opportunities.

Positional Value

Defender:

• Michael Hibberd (DEF, $542,000) 58, 107. Backed up his best game (and first decent game) of the season last week with another good performance with 28 possessions, four tackles and four marks for another ton with 104. If he is back to his 90+ ways, he is great value. He is 5^th in the competition for metres gained over the last two weeks and plays the Gold Coast this week, so there is no reason his regained form shouldn’t continue.

Midfielder:

• Josh Kennedy (MID, $607,000) 74, 122 had a couple of quiet weeks, but appears to be back and is now an absolute bargain if that is the case. He copped a bit of attention on the weekend and it didn’t bother him with 31 possessions and laid nine tackles for 122 on the back of 111 last week. He play the Eagles this week before playing two game at home and is cheap considering his 80K price drop.
•  Dayne Zorko (MID, $576,000) 58, 176 has been a huge frustration for owners with just one ton in his first six games and he had dropped 229K without an injury! Unheard of. Then, he bounced back in a big way with 176, directly following a 55 and 43 which saw many owners trade him out. Although he will always be at risk of disaster against a tag, it can’t be ignored that a player coming off a 115 average is that price. In the next five weeks, he is likely to cop attention in at least three of them, but plays the Dogs this week who he scored 157 on at Etihad last year.

Forward

• James Sicily (DEF/FWD, $594,000) 48, 135 yep, I am back talking about the Sic Dawg, but how can’t I be? This is the reason I talked him up so much in the pre season, and also started with him, because the good is so good. On the weekend he scored 135 from 29 touches, a whopping 14 marks and a goal following on from an impressive 111 last week. Unfortunately, I traded him out after one of the two suspensions he has already received this year and back to back 110+ scores are rare from any forwards or defenders in the competition, especially one under 600K. The risk, is of course the fact he is as mad as a cut snake and could be suspended or lose his shit getting tagged next week. Not a ride for the faint of heart but the scoring potential is outstanding.

Getting Piggy With It

•  Jack Macrae (FWD, $826,000) 99, 151 Continued his dominant season with 40 touches, five marks, eight tackles and a goal for 151 on the weekend against the Suns. Sometimes chasing value isn’t the thing to do, if you have the cash, just pick him up and enjoy the show. He is white hot after scoring 145 a fortnight ago and has some handy match ups with the Lions at home and the Pies in the next three weeks.

Wait on it

• Taylor Adams (MID, $643,000) 155, 48 is having a massive clanger, dropping $165K from his four games with a top score of 82. His return from injury against the Lions produced just 14 touches and 48. He is going to be a bargain in the coming weeks once he gets going and it will be interesting to monitor his role if Pendles misses a few games with his ankle.

Rolling 22

Defenders:

Rory Laird
Elliot Yeo
Michael Hurley
Paul Seedsman
Kade Simpson
Lachie Whitfield

Sic Dawg knocking hard, Goddard lovers went very quiet this weekend.

Midfielders:

Tom Mitchell
Stephen Coniglio
Patrick Dangerfield
Bryce Gibbs
Scott Pendlebury
Jack Macrae
Adam Treloar
Nat Fyfe

Zach can piss off, Fyfe is in and Curnow won’t go away, he is in the mix.

Ruck:

Max Gawn
Brodie Grundy

Forward:

Robbie Gray
Sam Menegola
Isaac Heeney
Toby Mclean
Justin Westhoff
Tim Taranto

Hoff was solid again, but I still think he will slide with Ryder. Official warnings to Menegola and Heeney, pull your finger out or you are gone.  Buddy is out, you snooze, you lose and Taranto gets his spot because I love him. Robbo, Hogan, Devon, Boak and Lambert… Keep up the good work it is not going unrecognised and the forward line is shaky, so I’m happy to shuffle hard.

My trades at this stage:

English to Spargo
Doedee to Kennedy

 Cheers,
@RoyDT