You would be please to know that the four-coloured pen was back in action this week so expect big things. As always, there is plenty more of this over at our patreon page where this article appears with a top-10 and 1852 words of break-downs of each player worth looking at. It’s worth checking out… and there’s plenty of rounds to come.

HEY PERTH… IT’S GETTING CLOSE

Less than a week now until Roy, Warnie and myself head over to the great land where will be doing two shows. If you have never been to one of these, they are great fun… filled with laughs, Fantasy chat and of course some beers. My guitar will be packed where I will be pumping out some tunes and it’s always a great night. Tickets are still available for THURSDAY night so get along…even if you are coming on Friday… do both!

CALVIN’S TOP-5 CAPTAINS

No. 1 – Jordan Dawson v Essendon
@ Marvel Stadium, SUN 3:20pm AEST

He ranks at #1 on form with an average of 138 in his last three games and hasn’t put a foot wrong. He only managed 85 on the Bombers last year and although this is his first game at Marvel this year, he did have 76, 128 (second best in 2021) and 85 back in 2021. So how does he go away from home?  Away from home he has recently scored 172, 128, 85 and 116 (avg. 125)… doesn’t bother him. Ticks all the boxes this week.

No. 2 – Nick Daicos v Bulldogs
@ Marvel Stadium, FRI 7:50pm AEST

Coming off 150 and 120… strongly consider Nick with a big role this week. He has only played at Marvel once this year for 116 against the Kangaroos and his CBAs are now higher than ever and this means more tackles. He has had 62% and 81% of the CBAs in the last two weeks and for those big scores above… and in that time he laid 15 tackles. Last week against the Dogs,  Serong 134 (38 disposals), Henry 116 (33d), Brayshaw 102 (29d) and even Cox (31d, 13 marks) all had great scores. Great VC for Friday.

No. 3 – Tim Taranto v Sydney
@ the MCG, THURS 7:20pm AEST

Maybe over-reacting to last week’s 80… but a famous captain saying goes… “burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me.” I won’t be giving Taranto the chance to burn me again this week… but he’ll still be awesome, I just won’t be giving him the back2back chance.

However, let’s remind ourselves he was averaging 138 in his four games leading into the tricky “Brisbane in Brisbane” match-up. Taranto has already played the Swans this year and only managed 109 (third worst this year) when that was played in round five at the SCG (another tough game). Back at the MCG and back to his best.

No. 4 – Zach Merrett v Adelaide
@ Marvel Stadium, SUN 3:20pm AEST

Merrett has been very good with 114, 109, 97, 155, 111 and 158 in his last six games. Although he didn’t play the Crows in 2022, before that he dominated them and they are one of his favourites to score against. At Marvel he has been great with 155, 109 and 100 in his last three but a tag form Ben Keays is a possibility, but also unlikely.

No. 5 – Marcus Bontempelli v Collingwood
@ Marvel Stadium, FRI 7:50pm AEST

Has form with 116, 158 and 116 in his last three games with a lowest score of 108 in his last eight games. He loves playing the Pies where he has hit 100 in four of his last five games with 119 last year. Anderson 126 (Suns 3×100+) was good last week against Collingwood and before that Dawson 172 and Laird 111 had their turn. Collingwood are not as scary as they started the season.

ALSO CONSIDER…

Connor Rozee v Gold Coast – A career-high 145 last week was amazing from Rozee who returns back to Adelaide. He has a lowest score now of 102 in his last six games and this match-up is perfect for another 115+ score.

Christian Petracca v St Kilda – St Kilda are #3 easiest for MIDs at the moment and this guy has form to burn with previous scores of 117, 125, 103, 118 and 116. Elite numbers. He even scored 118 and 124 in his last two against the Saints.

Lachie Neale v West Coast – has the match-up at home, if he can avoid the O’Neill tag (that’s even if he is playing). West Coast are still #1 easiest for MIDs so expect Neale to continue his form after 127 last week. He too loves playing West Coast with previous efforts of 113, 110 and 158*.

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