Weekend Forecast – Round 12

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The bye rounds are finally here! This is the trickiest, most stressful, but also the most important part of the season. It is a chance for coaches that have had a poor run to make up ground on the top coaches, so every one of the 9 trades is vital. It is important we continue to upgrade our team so we have a better team than we had pre-byes, preferably with no rookies left on field, to attack the back half of the season. Only our best 18 scorers count towards our score this week, so if you are structured well for the byes and are lucky enough to have 20+ playing on field this week, it could give you a big advantage.

 

Now, lets get into the Weekend Forecast.

 

Western Bulldogs vs Geelong @ Marvel Stadium

Weather Forecast

***Roof Closed***

Team Lineups

Western Bulldogs

IN

Bailey Smith

OUT

Jordon Sweet (Omitted), Luke Cleary (Medi-Sub)

Geelong

IN

Rhys Stanley, Gary Rohan

OUT

Francis Evans (Omitted), Shannon Neale (Omitted), Quinton Narkle (Medi-Sub)

 

Players to Watch

Bailey Smith

Bazlenka unfortunately missed last week due to illness, but gained forward status. For owners that held, it would have softened the blow, and now looks set to be a top 6 forward, if not top 2 by the end of the season. Will be a popular trade in option post his round 13 bye.

Sam De Koning

He finally got his rising star nomination, to go along with his highest score of the season being an 83. Most people will hold this week, with the aim of trading him out next week with his bye, so hopefully we can get a nice send off game with a 60+.

Tim English

Currently the 2nd most traded in player as of writing, and he is a great option to bring in. Didn’t miss a beat after missing 5 weeks through injury and illness, and pumped out a 132. He has not scored under 100 in any game he has played this season, and another favourable matchup against Geelong this week, I expect that streak to continue.

Other players to watch: Jack Macrae, Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie, Buku Khamis, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Stewart, Josh Dunkley, Adam Treloar, Robbie McComb, Cooper Stephens

Adelaide vs West Coast @ Adelaide Oval

Weather Forecast

Around 19°C, light rain and wind (80% chance of rain)

Team Lineups

Adelaide

IN

Patrick Parnell, Taylor Walker

OUT

Luke Brown (HS Protocols), Jordon Butts (Injured), Chayce Jones (Medi-Sub)

West Coast

IN

Shannon Hurn

OUT

Josh Rotham (Medi-Sub), Jamaine Jones (Injured)

 

Players to Watch

Jake Soligo

Was impressive again last week against Geelong in Geelong, even though it was only a 61. He laid 7 tackles and covered 16km’s, the most by any player on the ground. These are both important as the coaching staff will see these, and it will only improve his job security. If you can afford to bring in a round 13 rookie, I think Jake Soligo is the pick of them, and still affordable at 304k.

Rory Laird

One of my favourite targets to bring in this week. I know he has the bye next week, but he has an easy matchup against West Coast, then a very favourable run of fixtures for the rest of the season. He does come at a cost being 919k, but he is one, if not the most consistent scorer in the game.

Brady Hough

Well I didn’t see that 99 last week by any means, but very helpul none-the-less. Isn’t a bad option to bring in, with Adam Simpson coming out during the week saying he is the future and wants to play him for the rest of the year if possible. I don’t expect a 90+ every week, but job security looks good, and if round 13 is okay for you, he is an option.

Other players to watch: Patrick Parnell, Jordan Dawson, Jackson Hately, Ben Keays, Alex Witherden, Reilly O’Brien, Callum Jamieson, Greg Clark

 

Gold Coast vs North Melbourne @ TIO Stadium

Weather Forecast

Around 31°C, partly cloudy

Team Lineups

Gold Coast

IN

Sam Day, Jy Farrar

OUT

Levi Casboult (Injured), Jeremy Sharp (Omitted), Charlie Constable (Medi-Sub)

North Melbourne

IN

Ben McKay

OUT

Cameron Zurhaar (Injured), Jack Mahony (Medi-Sub)

 

Players to Watch

Jed Anderson

Huge last week with a 149, and a potential underpriced option for us to consider. We know he has been a points-per-minute beast in the past, and looks to have worked his way back to fitness. The round 14 bye adds more appeal to him, and if you can’t get up to a top line premium, I think Jed Anderson is a good option.

Jason Horne-Francis

If you are still rocking with JHF, he could be handy over these bye rounds, especially with his newly acquired FWD status. He has the round 14 bye which is perfect, and if you are an owner I would probably hold him until his bye. Good matchup against Gold Coast this week as well.

Joel Jeffrey

Another decent rookie option, but has the round 13 bye which is a problem for many coaches. If you can bring in a round 13 rookie, I would rather Soligo, but Jeffrey is a good option along with Brady Hough. Jeffrey’s job security looks good at the moment, and impressed again last week only needing one goal for his score of 59. An option to consider if you like him and can fit him in your team.

Other players to watch: Touk Miller, Jarrod Witts

 

Melbourne vs Sydney @ MCG

Weather Forecast

Around 12°C, showers (79% chance of rain)

Team Lineups

Melbourne

IN

Christian Salem, Adam Tomlinson, James Harmes, Tom McDonald, Ed Langdon

OUT

Trent Rivers (Omitted), Toby Bedford (Omitted), Jake Melksham (Omitted), Luke Dunstan (Medi-Sub), Steven May (Injured), Sam Weideman (Omitted)

Sydney

IN

Nick Blakey, Joel Amartey

OUT

Braeden Campbell (Omitted), Matt Roberts (Omitted), Lance Franklin (Suspension)

 

Players to Watch

Isaac Heeney

Has been really poor the last 4 weeks with scores of 67, 75, 77 and 51. He just isn’t getting that midfield time we were told in preseason, and if you can move him on this week to a top line premium, then I would certainly make that move as he also has his bye next week.

Callum Mills

Looked awesome in the first quarter with 39 points, but only just scored over the ton with a 107 after moving to a full back role from the 2nd quarter, rolling from the wing at the centre bounce and playing loose behind the ball. He still got involved enough, but not to the extent he has as a midfielder. With Nick Blakey back this week, I fully expect Callum Mills to return to his usual midfield role, and put up another great score against Melbourne, but it is something to potential look out for.

Christian Petracca

Had his career worst game last week, only gathering 10 disposals for 40 points. It came out after the game that he was sick, which didn’t add any comfort to his owners, especially myself who had a 99 from Brady Hough sitting there. Should bounce back this week, with himself and Melbourne wanting to respond after their first loss of the season.

Other players to watch: Angus Brayshaw, Jake Lloyd, Paddy McCartin, Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Luke Parker, Christian Salem

 

Hawthorn vs Collingwood @ MCG

Weather Forecast

Around 12°C, cloudy with occasional light rain (83% chance of rain)

Team Lineups

Hawthorn

IN

Josh Morris, Ned Reeves, Jackson Callow, Jack Gunston, Kyle Hartigan, Jaeger O’Meara

OUT

Jack Scrimshaw (Injured), Finn Maginness (Medi-Sub), Sam Frost (Suspension)

Collingwood

IN

Isaac Chugg, Trey Ruscoe, Reef McInnes

OUT

 

 

Players to Watch

Darcy Cameron

Pumped out another 94 last week. Hasn’t gone under 90 in the 5 games where he has been the main ruck. I personally think he is too expensive now to jump on, but the round 14 bye is probably appealing to coaches who don’t own him. Grundy will be back not long after the bye, so I don’t think he is a long term play, but should continue to score well while he is the no.1 ruck.

Sam Butler

We don’t have many round 14 rookies and Sam Butler is the only one under 250k that is playing at this stage (Chugg, J Morris and Callow all on extended bench). I don’t expect him to score well, but beggers can’t be choosers as they say. If he can score a 60+ over the next 2 weeks, it could be really handy.

Tom Mitchell

Backed up his season high 120 against Brisbane with a 112, which is his 2nd highest score of the season. More importantly, he attended 22 CBA’s (78.6%), which was a season high. Jaeger O’Meara was out so this could very well be the reason Titch attended so many CBA’s, but even with 50% CBA’s, I still think he can average 105+. Priced at 800k and the very handy round 14 bye, I think he is still a great target, and potential instant reward with a great matchup against Collingwood, who just quietly, in his career 9 games against them, averages 132.3!

Other players to watch: James Sicily, Nick Daicos, Jack Crisp, Jordan De Goey

 

Fremantle vs Brisbane @ Optus Stadium

Weather Forecast

Around 18°C, mostly sunny

Team Lineups

Fremantle

IN

Connor Blakely, Mitch Crowden, Ethan Hughes, Neil Erasmus, Lloyd Meek, Nathan Wilson

OUT

Heath Chapman (Injured), Matt Taberner (Injured), Michael Walters (Injured)

Brisbane

IN

Thomas Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Rhys Mathieson, Tom Fullarton

OUT

Mitch Robinson (Medi-Sub)

 

Players to Watch

Andrew Brayshaw

If you are looking for a round 14 premium, I think Andy Brayshaw would be my pick. He has had a great year to date, averaging 115.1, which is the equal 3rd highest average in the game with Josh Dunkley, and only behind Bailey Smith and Lachie Neale. He is now under 900k at 899k, and has Brisbane this week, then Hawthorn before his bye.

Dayne Zorko

Very poor last week with a 49, but I would still hold him till at least his round 14 bye. Most coaches need round 14 bye players, so I would only consider moving him on if you have too many round 14 players. He is still a premium at the end of the day, and could easily pump out a 110+ this week so I would hold strong.

Lachie Neale

Just continues to get it done, adding his 3rd 140+ score for the season last week against the Giants with a 143. I thought he would be tagged, which is why I went away from him as my VC (went Petracca instead which was fun). Aish tagged Oliver last week in the 2nd half, restricting him to 31 points in the 2nd half. Aish is named on ball and I do expect a tag, so I would be wary of that if you are looking at putting the C on Neale in the final game of the round.

Other players to watch: Will Brodie, Sean Darcy, Caleb Serong, Jarryd Lyons, Keidean Coleman

 

My Trades

McCartin -> S Butler

McComb -> Owens

Heeney/Preuss -> Laird/English

These are currently my 3 trades. I am getting rid of 3 round 13 players as I am heavy on that bye, and has me at 19 playing next week, hopefully with all 19 playing and before trades. McCartin has done his job and been very handy to keep over the last few weeks, McComb could lose his spot after the bye and I need to trade round 13 players, and Heeney just isn’t scoring what I would like in a poor role so I want to move him on to a better player. Sam Butler is the rookie I am looking at who is playing this week. He won’t be the highest scorer, but he has the great round 14 bye, and if he can score a 60+ he could help me over round 12 and 13. As I have 21 playing this week, I am more than happy to grab Mitch Owens this week. It is risky getting a player on their bye, but after his very impressive game last week, I don’t see him getting dropped. And for my premium upgrade, I am looking at Rory Laird and Tim English. Laird has a great matchup against the Eagles at home, but has the bye next week. Tim English same thing, great matchup against Geelong at Marvel, and also has the round 13 bye, but as I have 3 playing ruckmen next week (Gawn, Preuss, and S Hayes), I can afford to bring him in as he would be on my bench for one of those ruckmen. I still have some thinking to do.

 

Anyway, thanks again everyone for reading the Weekend Forecast. If you have any questions about your starting teams, or anything else, leave your questions in the comments section below or hit me up at my Twitter or Instagram (links provided below).

Good luck for round 12!

Instagram: @baileyirrgang

Twitter: @baileyirrgang