By far… the hardest week for picking captains as every single player has a “flag” of some description over their head. Remember, if you love a little bit of Calvin’s Captains, you can also get the whole lot and much much more… head over in our patreon space where you can also find extra weekly content that includes the Scale of Hardness, Roy’s Rollin’-22, podcasts, Jaiden’s spreadsheet and LIVE episodes. It’s pretty bloody fun and epic at the same time.

CALVIN’S TOP-5 CAPTAINS

No.1 – Marcus Bontempelli v GWS Giants
@ MARS Stadium, SAT 1:45pm 

TICK – Bont is equally ranked #1 based on form averaging 128 in his last three and has now hit 115+ in eight of his last 11 games. In round 8, when he played the Giants he didn’t struggle with 129. The return to Mars shouldn’t be a problem and this is where funny things can happen. See below graphic from fanfooty.com.au on what the Dogs did that day v Adelaide.

FLAG – The calf. It was heavily strapped but it didn’t seem to effect the big unit. Another flag are the Giants… #3 hardest for MIDs this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. 2 – Tim English v GWS Giants
@ MARS Stadium, SAT 1:45pm 

TICK – English has been solid lately with a few up and down scores of 98, 140 and 94. He played the Giants in round 8, but on that day he was up against Flynn and scored 151. In that Ballarat game from round 10 against the Crows, there were 107 hit outs on offer. English only got a few of them as ROB went nuts with 63 hit outs and 115pts… points will be flowing this week.

FLAG – Briggs is a little harder and recent rucks against him have gone… Witts 85, ROB 80, Reeves 62, Gawn 85 and Grundy 63. Also lately, English is has only been hitting 100+ in 50% of games.

No. 3 – James Sicily v St Kilda
@ Marvel Stadium, SUN 1:10pm 

TICK – Coming off 121, the Dog was back on the weekend doing what we all love. St Kilda are still #1 easiest for DEFs this year and this has even been the case over the last five weeks as well. Last week against the Saints… McKay took 9 marks, Corr 8m, Goater 7m and Sheezel had 7 as well. He has been in ripping form with 121, 65, 130, 165 and 125 in his last five games with that 165 occurring in round 11 in this very same match-up.

FLAG – Shit… I know… It’s Sicily. Any attention he turns to shit. He has a 49, 65 and 70 next to his name already this year. Could be a six and out.

No. 4 – Sam Docherty v Collingwood
@ the MCG, FRI 7:50pm 

TICK – Collingwood #3 easiest for MIDs over the last five weeks which is where Doch has been playing. He had 58% CBAs last week (season-high)and racked it up with 130 (second best 2023). Coming off 130, 88, 115… he even played Collingwood earlier in the year for 124 and even had 137 and 114 against them last year.

FLAG – None really… only the fact he doesn’t have the ceiling of the others with 2×130+ this year.

No. 5 – Zach Merrett v Sydney
@ Marvel Stadium, SAT 7:25pm 

TICK – We all know Merrett loves playing under the roof where he has now scored 88, 150 and 155 in his last three games. The other thing is… even though the Swans are traditionally tough… it hasn’t bothered Merrett in the past with scores of 128, 51, 142, 115 and 135.

FLAG – Coming off 88 and 80 is a massive flag, add to that the Swans are #2 hardest for MIDs this year and #2 hardest over the last five weeks.

ALSO CONSIDER…

Tim Taranto v Melbourne – Played the Demons in round six and had 138 (third best score for the year) and over the last few weeks some have struggled and others have cashed in against Melbourne. Dawson 97 and McCluggage 104 were the best MIDs against them over the last two weeks and before that Steele 146, W-Milera 130 and Sinclair 110 all went great.

Jack Steele v Hawthorn – After scores of 133*, 106 and 146* with the * there being played at Marvel, Steele has been in ripping form and even though he only had 78 on the Hawks in round 11. He’s better than that at the moment though and ranks equal #1 based on form alongside the Bont.

Josh Dunkley v Gold Coast – Returned with 112 last week and can now be back in the captain conversion. He had 125 on the Suns earlier this year and before that scored 101, 83 and 151 against them.