The Weekend Wash-Up – Round 14

After a month of high scoring, things came crashing back down to earth in bye round 14. I think we’re all in need of a therapy session here, so let’s have at it. It’s time for the weekend wash-up…

Legends

McCluggage (132) – So the man to get off his bye was… Hugh McCluggage? How did I not see this coming! Solid but rarely spectacular, if only we got these scores more often. 

Daniher (131) – The forward to get off his bye was… Joe Daniher? Again, how did I not see it coming! In fact this one perhaps I should have, with an average of 90 he sits at F6 on the reason. I repeat, Joe is F6. And had his bye. Sitter.

Zorko (125) – Disappointing. Feels 30 unders. (Still great)

Bontempelli (142) – Gulden number one Bont number two, you literally heard it here first. Good on Freo for not tagging the guy who has dominated them every time he plays them, Hayden Young got bathed. Bont is ready to launch, he needs to get the flu more often. 

English (124) – Yes he had 9 marks because Darcy is a lumbering oaf, but Tim still only had 14 disposals. We’re lucky he had 6 tackles! I’m still not convinced, but it’s also hard to trade off a 120. 

Treloar (111) – Full on apology here, I’ve been under valuing him all year now that I see the state of the shit around him in midfield. A walk up for 30 disposals and a ton most weeks, and unlikely to get tagged often. Big tick and a must target after the byes. 

Dale (110) – Gun, what a trade in that was. All the good options have the round 15 bye!

Taranto (127) – Similar to Treloar, while all other midfielders c rumble around him, he continues to get it done. A shame he has his bye this week, a great POD to target after the byes. 

Sicily (137) – The sic dawg was bound to bark at some point, and he came bounding over on the weekend! It would be a brave trade in and has his bye this week, but he could be a season defining pick. In either direction…

Laird (127) – Matthew Nicks, hallelujah!! He got this one call right, but so many others wrong… 6 CBAs, back at HB, if only he had Hinge’s 7 kick ins… Rory is a target if he’s down back, no doubt about it. 

Grundy (133) – 49 hit outs, 31 disposals, we speak of dominant. I’ve never been the biggest supporter of the ‘Ruck Pig’, but he’s in my trade plans this week and is seriously looking like a potential R2 after his bye. He’s averaging 111.5 in that time!

Amartey (131) – The party!!! What a performance, 10 disposals for 9.1. But how about that Sydney sports scientist…. Dragging him on 9 goals??? Then he comes back on… Then they drag him again?!?!?!?!?! Minson! Wrap your head around that, what happened to the game I love. Have a bit of theatre about you. 

Gulden (127) – Averaging 139 so far post bye, he’s well on track to being that number one averaging player coming home. 10 clearances, 12 i50’s, 35 disposals, joke of a player. My only good mid.

Heeney (125) – Holy shit he is incredible, 10 disposals, a goal and 54 point in the third to win the game. Just enjoy the ride, what are we going to do without him in our forward lines next season. Can he keep DPP for his goal kicking?

Adams (104) – My first thought was good on him, but no thank you. Then I had a look… 11 CBAs? I do have Trav Boak… Scores of 82, 104 after his bye, and if you’re on a budget… Perhaps an F6 flyer.

Crisp (108) – Must have? Crisp has definitely earned a spot to stay for his bye, one of my best players and a top 8 midfielder. 

Whitfield (120) – I keep wondering why Whitfield isn’t averaging 110, then I see the James Jordon tag on the horizon and I realise why. He also got a light bump again and almost got subbed out with a broken neck. Classic Whitters.

Houston (133) – Did anyone make a late move to Dan Houston after Jy Simpkin’s late out? A blessing in disguise, Dan now has a 5 round average of 109 and plays St Kilda in two weeks. Definite option.

Losers

Dunkley (87) – Not even close to good enough. I would have traded him in if the Kangaroos could have just told us the truth, so it wasn’t actually a huge loss. I’m torn here, he should fit the bill perfectly for a midfield upgrade with no tag concerns, but then I think he looks like a plodder. Berry moving into the middle has hurt. 

Neale (50) – The windy tag is a beast of a thing. No tackles kills you though, he did have 20 disposals. Lachie Neale was in fact not the option off his bye. 

Steele (74) – I saw it in the flesh a few weeks ago, Jack Steele is no good. Berry absolutely dominated him. Captain of the club, what a laugh. He has to go. 

Bonner (59) – Boy oh boy wowee. We got so lucky earlier in the year? Things have turned really sour really quickly. 

Gallagher (31) – He kicked two goals in this score. Farewell Harvey. 

Serong (80) – Concerning. Very concerning. One mark and three tackles, to cap off a 26 point second half. It’s not the first time he has done that. The midfield is a total shit show. You just have to back him in. 

Brayshaw (67) – I’m not sure you can back Andy Brayshaw in, what the hell is this. I couldn’t figure out why he was only scoring 90’s so I’ll be damned if I know how he scored 60. There’s certainly no tags either. ZERO marks. Despicable.

Ryan (70) – Let’s not beat around the bush, he looked f**king dreadful. And it wasn’t just the hair. The Bulldogs simply pressed up the field and Luke Ryan looked like an ammos footballer. He didn’t even want kick ins. Majorly concerning. Big pressure next week. 

Sharp (15) – Jez Sharp had been awesome, but you got caught with a hand in the cookie jar… I understand the reasoning, now you move on. Thanks for your service Jez.

McAuliffe (17) – Dodged a bullet with this one. He can join those rotting on your bench, the rookies are thinning quickly.

Day (72) – I was generous when I called Will a 90s guy. As I said, not close to good enough and he should have been the Bont. Terrible call by me, but he did a job. Has to go this week. 

Dawson (84) – This was f**ked. Laird to HB, tick. MICHALANNEY BOOTING DAWSON OUT OF THE MIDDLE?!?! Well done Matty, you kept Chad quiet and your best player had 17 disposals. Ridiculous. We had 10 Berry and Schoenberg CBAs, what an embarrassment. 

Jiath (27) – This is likely the last we see of Tew, maybe ever. Farewell.

Macrae (15) – Tactically subbed at HT, I don’t need to add to what I’ve already said. He’s no good. Sorry to Finn and his extended family.

T.Green (88) – This is what he is, a dead average footy player. Looking like a lumbering over weight oaf. They might need to amputate that ankle. 

Rozee (72) – People traded him in? Enjoy the 70k loss. Connor Rozee has a five round average of 65. SIXTY-FIVE. Bizarre, both how he sucks so bad and how people still want to get him in. Broken. 

Wines (69) – At the end of the day it’s Ollie Wines, he had a good run, you move on. 

Butters (67) – Major concerns. Zak is the most taggable coward in the AFL, his parents couldn’t even spell his name properly. Embarrassing. His next two fixtures? Brisbane (Berry) and Saints (Windy). He might rival Rozee’s five round average of 65. Gone after this week. EDIT: He is now suspended, thank god. See you later.

This game sh*ts me

Our midfields, formerly where our best premiums played. They are what makes the end of upgrade season exciting, owning 8 guns who should knock up minimum 100 points every week. Now we’re facing blokes like Tom Green, Zak Butters, Jack Steele, Connor Rozee, Clayton Oliver, Andrew Brayshaw and now even Serong and Dunkley are broken. 2024 is officially the worst year for midfield averages in AFL Fantasy, and the last two rounds both rank in the top 5 for the worst averaging midfield scores, with this week being the worst in HISTORY! Where do we get our scores now if not for kick ins?! Just for some salt into the wounds, taggers are back in vogue. This game sh*ts me…

The other bits and pieces

1786, rank 634. An ugly weekend but somehow hit par on my worst round, looking set to launch this week with 20 “premium” players. Clayton Oliver has something to say about that however. Still, this is the round to make an official top 100 charge. If not now, it probably won’t be ever. My early trades are aggressive and finally see the back of Tim English, while Butters can be thankful he is a warm body this week. EDIT: He is no longer a warm body, Tim English is a lucky man. I don’t love Dunkley but every player I want is on their bye. Fantastic. 

Hore -> Hall

Day -> Walsh

Butters -> Dunkley

Coming out of the byes I’ll be short of three players from what I consider to be the best 22, mainly Daicos, Treloar and Taranto or Serong. They will need to replace Clayton Oliver, Tom Green and Hayden Young, two of which should be comfortably amongst those other midfield names!!! It’s moving season, good luck as always next week legends.

Be sure to check out the podcast for an in-depth therapy session from the round just gone, along with some extra laughs. Get amongst it!

Matt