The Weekend Wash-Up | Gather Round Special | Round 5

Gather Round is in the books (What an awesome weekend again!) and there’s plenty to unpack from a full 9 game weekend. It’s time for your weekly fantasy therapy session, it’s time for the Weekend Wash-Up…

LEGENDS

B.Smith (133) – There is nothing better than captaining your highest scoring player, Baz is entering pig territory of a stress free lock captain every week. There’s a 180 coming…

A.Roberts (164) – 42 disposals, which included 32 kicks, 15 marks, NO TACKLES and a snag to go along with it. 112 points in the 2nd half alone including 68 in the 3rd. The Essendon game plan suits this man to a tee now and he plays Collingwood in two weeks who are bright green for half backs… Scary hours.

Rachele (124) – 26 & 4??? 48% CBAs and he was a little TOO good up forward, but he’s dominating. Better pick than Flanders comfortably.

Rankine (111) – $733k, BE 69. These are the picks that usually win tundra’s, if he can rediscover that form from early last year. An easy jump from a rookie and a great upgrade option, just with some slight risk attached.

L.Jackson (131) – Would you look at that, Sean Darcy goes down and LJ goes solo ruck. It is then followed by a 65 point Q3, 95 point 2H and a great win! I think he could almost be the best ruck in the comp if Freo finally unleash him, but you just know it won’t happen. 

LDU (111) – LDU was once again immense in one of the toughest matchups, and he’s now averaging almost 6 tackles. Tigers up next, keep cooking.

Pickett (124) – This was the legit butcher performance of the season. 11 clangers @ 46%, but he’s racking up proper numbers. This is what we want to see as fantasy coaches!

Farrow (102) – Is it too late if you missed? What a player and what a role!

Heeney (145) – 33 disposals, 11 tackles, 2 goals. Heendog is clear of Bont right now…. 196 supercoach. I just wish I had got him last week, what a POD at just 3% OWNED!!!

Grundy (130) – The ruck pig is back!!! It was Norwood yes, but you have to take advantage and 12 tackles is massive.

Ginnivan (113) – Gini is averaging 91 up forward and has to be nearing top 6 conversations!

Bruhn (120) – Tanner was BOG for me, I didn’t realise how tough he was in and under. Bruhn dominated this game inside and I expect him to continue to rotate between inside mid and half back with Holmes. 

Holmes (107) – Played pure half back to protect the finger as he clearly couldn’t tackle last week, but it doesn’t matter. He’s just an awesome footballer.

Williams (115) – Baz J. Williams… He’s in. Seriously though, $595k with a BE of 14 as a solo ruck? I think he goes well, Flynn is finished.

NWM (139) – One of very few players in the competition capable of going 140+ and averaging 130 over 5 weeks. This could be the start of that run. 28 and 2 goals, along with a massive 9 tackles! He was up for the fight yesterday. 

Wilkie (131) – Another 20 disposals and 15 marks and at this point it’s getting silly, Callum Wilkie is averaging 110! Tom Stewart vibes. 

Butters (118) – I take Nick Foot’s side… You just can’t be saying stuff like that. 

LOSERS

N.Daicos (96) – I’m not having that from a $1.2M man. There’s only one player worth paying all the way to the top for and his name isn’t Nick Daicos… This bullsh*t is so predictable every year. A bye, a late out and now a “gutsy” 96… Piss off. Carlton and Essendon coming up, they better be legit massive.

Zorko (29) – So I watch this bloke not miss a game in the last 2 years averaging 110, finally bring him in and he does an old man calf within 2 weeks. Just the most typical this game sh*ts me, it’s becoming a joke now. **** you old man. 

Dawson (85) – Not even close to good enough. Sh*thouse in fact. 3 tackles in the wet??? 76% CBAs is fine, but his whole season has been weird.

Jagga (57) – Michael Voss is nearing Ross Lyon levels of fantasy terrorism. 10 at HT for Jagga as a half forward, and we don’t even get him as a DPP. What are we doing here?

Brayshaw (86) – Even less fantasy relevant than Caleb Serong, give it up. 

J.Daicos (76) – All I’m saying is that outside of R0 that didn’t count, Josh Daicos is averaging 95…. Exactly what he did last year. Typical. 

Houston (59) – Speaking of… Dan Houston is averaging 90 after R0, which is fine, but 81 in his L3 and is priced near $900k….. It’s a shame we have so many forced trades, Dan has to stay.

Bolton (64) – Guys, it’s Shai Bolton. No further comment.

W.Ashcroft (68) – If I speak… This is street justice. 

Dunkley (59) – The role is fine (77% CBAs), I get that the game may not suit his game style anymore… But surely Josh Dunkley is going to heat up at some point.

Caldwell (57) – This is as grim as it gets. He has to go.

Windsor (45) – 7 DISPOSALS. Twice as many CBAs. That’s full blown Minson areas. The role is pointless if you can’t play football.

Anderson (55) – Honestly as long as you have taken every bullet, this injury is a blessing in disguise. The sliding doors moment of me almost going him instead of LDU haunts me. Never. Again. 

Lombard (39) – Leo, we need you next week mate. Please remember how to play footy (I will be shocked if he gets another chance).

Budarick (64) – This season has been genuinely unprecedented. When the bloody hell did Budarick pull his hamstring?! I am almost facing a donut at this point, and DPPs didn’t help us. Stuff this.

Robertson (59) – ACL. Are we being serious? I couldn’t blame a few teams for giving up and looking for that delete team button right now, this is nothing short of a disgrace. And can the Eagle’s please catch a break as well. Joke. 

Stewart (46) – Homma completely took over down back and Tom Stewart enjoyed a back seat to the show. We can’t be picking Tom Stewart in 2026, come on now.

THIS GAME SH*TS ME

The theme of the week, the theme of the season… Can we have just ONE WEEK WITHOUT AN INJURY?! I have never seen so many relevant injuries, forced trades etc. Thank god for the 50% rule, not only does it reward having good cover and add risk to looping, it doesn’t make you want to quit the bloody game on a Saturday afternoon. Because this is ridiculous. This game sh*ts me. 

THE OTHER BITS AND PIECES

2109, 3.7k for the round and 6.2k overall. Solid all things considered, I still like the structure and cash gen of my side. 

In the chaos of Zorko going down I held English, so that was finally a nice stroke of luck. Going Whitfield over NWM and Heeney was stupid but we move on.

I am deadset willing to eat a donut and not miss out on Archie Roberts than bring in 2 forwards this week. I love Cmac and his value, but outside of that nothing convinces me. Kozzy’s burn last year might cost me but I can’t look past it.

Zorko -> Roberts

Budarick -> Macdonald

I do really like Bailey Williams as a value forward but realistically, I need to see it one more week. He can replace Dev next week if all goes well. Upgrade season is upon us, act fast. See you next week legends!

Want to share your classic this game sh*ts me stories over the weekend with like minded coaches? Join the wash-up fantasy community over on discord! If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. We’ll be heating up throughout the pre-season heading into Round 1, get around it…

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