Calvin’s Captains – Rd. 20

Welcome back you bloody awesome legends to another edition of Calvin’s Captains.

THIS WEEK’S CRITERIA

Can you score? Can you screw us over?

Captain research can be a tricky gig – lately I know I haven’t been up to the level I expect, so I have narrowed it down to two simple questions this week, along with the normal stuff as well. Fingers crossed we can all nail a ripper this week – good luck.

#1 – Touk Miller v Melbourne

Saturday 3:10pm @ Metricon

• Gets it done – 127 last week, averaging 132 in his last eight.
• Scored 114 against the Demons last year
• Last week against Melbourne, Macrae (138), Daniel (128), Smith (125) and Hunter (110) all found plenty

FLAG: Harmes put a little attention into Libba (92) last week, but that won’t bother this guy.

#2 – Max Gawn v Gold Coast

Saturday 3:10pm @ Metricon

• 56 hit outs and 119pts last week
• Suns #1 easy for rucks to scores against this year
• Rucks v Burgess in the last three weeks: McInerney (97), English (87), Mumford (91).
• Max scored 131 against the Suns last year.

FLAG: None. Only the fact he shares with Jackson, but he did attend 23 CBAs (from 26) compared to Jackson’s 3. Is this what the Demons will do now as they prep for finals

#3 – Jack Steele v Carlton

Friday night @ Marvel Stadium

• North scored 5×100+ against the Blues last weekend.
• Steele still averages 131 in his last three
• Carries a lowest score of 106 in his last eight games
• Had 138, 108, 119 and 126 on the Blues in his most recent games.
• The BEST VC option in town

FLAG: His 106 last week, boosted by 13 tackles proved he was human after all.

#4 – Jarryd Lyons v Hawthorn

Sunday 2:10pm @ UTas (Launceston)

• Hawks are the #1 easiest for MIDs to score against this year.
• The Hawks give up 4×100+ scores a game, the most in the league.
• 136 last week
• 123, 98 and 131 in his last three against Hawthorn

FLAG: A cold Launceston could throw him out but I doubt it.

#5 – Tom Mitchell v Brisbane

Sunday 2:10pm @ UTas (Launceston)

• Ranks #4 on form, with 110 last week and an average of 124 in his last three.
• 103, 157 and 149 are his last three against the Lions
• Suns last week v Lions: Fiorini (142), Touk (127), Lukosius (117) and Sharp (112) didn’t struggle last week.

FLAG: Lions #5 hardest this year to score against.

#6 – Jake Lloyd v Essendon

Saturday 7:40pm @ the GABBA

• Essendon give it up marks and Lloyd loves marks. Last week, Whitfield (132, 10m), Taylor (103, 11m) and Cumming (98, 11m) found heaps.
• Lloyd loves playing the Bombers with previous scores of 103, 139 and 113.

FLAG: Has been hot and cold at times this year, good VC if you are able.

#7 – Marcus Bontempelli v Adelaide

Saturday 12:30pm @ Mars Stadium

• At about this time last year, Bont had 181 on the Crows, he even had 125 before that.
• Coming off 123, his best in his last four.

FLAG: None – this early game does allow you to also consider VC on him or even Macrae is you believe he is back!

#8 – Christian Petracca v Gold Coast

Saturday 3:10pm @ Metricon

• Only one score under 110 in his last five games
• Scored 111 against the Suns last year
• Can not be tagged – even if they try, so if they do it will be Oliver instead

FLAG: None

#9 – Sam Walsh v St Kilda

Friday night @ Marvel Stadium

• Forget that last game where he had 72, before that he went 155, 132 and 128.
• Still averaging 120 in his last three
• Great VC option

FLAG: Low score last week is a concern, but expect a big bounce back here.

#10 – Lachie Whitfield v Port Adelaide

Sunday 3:10pm @ Metricon

• Ran free for 132 last week
• Loves playing the Power with scores of 123, 95 and 114 in his last three against them

FLAG: Port are tough – conceding the third least amount of points this year.

WHY NOT THESE BLOKES?

Jack Macrae – 138 last week but my trust has been broken after three scores of <100 prior to that. Only had 95 on the Crows last year, his third lowest for the year. Does play early though.

Clayton Oliver – Flanders tagged Neale (76) last week and it could mean that he goes to Oliver here. Just a small flag.

Brodie Grundy – Had 120 against Nic Nat earlier this year, but hasn’t hit a ton in his last two.

Rory Laird – A season-high 142 last week was upper impressive, but the Dogs are still the #1 hardest to score against this year.

Patrick Dangerfield – Had 72 on the Roos earlier this year and 76 in 2020.

Cameron Guthrie – Hot form of 117 and 118, but he has only hit 100 once in his career 12 games against the Roos.

Ollie Wines – 100 last week, his lowest in his last four. The Giants aren’t his favourite team with just 84 last year.

Darcy Parish – Very taggable. Surely Sydney send someone to him again. Potentially someone like Hewett.

Zach Merrett – A season-low 64 last week was terrible, but he did have 115 and 135 against the Swans in his last two.

Aaron Hall – Geelong give up very little to defenders. In fact, across the season they only give up 2×100+ scores a game. Short (94pts – 8m) was solid for the Tigers last week, but we must pass on Hall here based on the match-up.

Brayden Fiorini – For the brave… 142 last week and averaging 121 in his last three.

Lachie Neale – Hawks are #1 easiest this year and he had 135 on them in 2020. Scores of 76 and 86 in his last two is not good enough.

Taylor Adams – Should be great against the team that has given up the most points in the last five weeks. Averaging 109 in his last five, he should be good.

Cal’s Captain Call

For myself… using my VC this week is super tricky due to the fixture. The only non-playing players I have are from Adelaide or North. Therefore, I am considering using my VC on Macrae (even though he’s not on the list), having a look at his game for the first 45mins, before making the call and putting the ‘C’ on Touk. She’s tricky!