It’s a small selection of players who played their second game this week, but let’s trudge through them anyway.
Backpocalypse
Scott D. Thompson, KAN BAC. DT: 15503 selections, $83,500, -19 BE, 41 avg. SC: 28767 selections, $94,200, -93 BE, 75 avg.
James Frawley, MEL BAC. DT: 2904 selections, $131,700, -2 BE, 50.5 avg. SC: 3490 selections, $221,200, 4 BE, 64.5 avg.
Marcus Drum, FRE BAC. DT: 2494 selections, $225,800, 12 BE, 78.5 avg. SC: 5081 selections, $293,300, -12 BE, 94 avg.
Andrew Welsh, ESS BAC. DT: 1377 selections, $327,000, 91 BE, 77 avg. SC: 3754 selections, $383,800, 121 BE, 55 avg.
Oh Scott, I had such high hopes for you. I even christened you Scott DT. Then you got dropped for round 2, and then dropped out of my squad too, as in many others. Those 15,000+ hardy souls who kept the faith for the four intervening matches between your first and second appearances, who suffered through many trial and tribulations in the sorry excuse for a position that the fantasy backline has been this year, then had to endure another sub-50 DT score from you. Admittedly you’ve turned in two 75s in SC, so your 28,000+ owners in that comp are reasonably happy, but the rookie situation in the backs is not as urgent in exotic stat comps due to the fine performances of Harry Taylor, Nathan J. Brown and Austin Wonaemirri which show up much more in SC than DT.
Drum is the only other player who interests me in that lot, due to his debut performance against the Crows. Those who were keeping a close eye on him this week in the Cats game would have seen more to like. His price makes him a tricky pickup nevertheless, even in the barren wasteland of the backs. My major concern continues to be that Drum’s role is pretty much Chris Tarrant’s role, and Tarrant is being paid too much by Fremantle FC not to be back in the senior 22 soon. Then again, we would have thought that of bloody Joel Bowden, and after three weeks he’s no guarantee of getting back into the Tigers this week.
Centrageddon
David Armitage, STK CTR. DT: 9935 selections, $133,200, -46 BE, 73 avg. SC: 13578 selections, $175,300, -61 BE, 83.5 avg.
Clayton Hinkley, FRE CTR. DT: 1680 selections, $83,500, -19 BE, 41 avg. SC: 1878 selections, $94,200, -17 BE, 37 avg.
Adam Thomson, PTA CTR. DT: 981 selections, $270,000, 55 BE, 73.5 avg. SC: 774 selections, $372,000, 55 BE, 84.5 avg.
Adam Bentick, CAR CTR. DT: 193 selections, $339,000, 104 BE, 75 avg. SC: 270 selections, $438,600, 120 BE, 71.5 avg.
I picked up Armitage myself for my DT squad last week, although I admit it was a bit of a desperation move. A 55 after his his initial 91 in DT wasn’t great - if you are picking up Armitage at this stage you probably need him to fit right into your 22. This week against Richmond, who have suddenly figured out how to tackle and put pressure on opposing midfielders again, will be another stern test of his ability to find the pill.
On Hinkley, Freo don’t need yet another inside/outside mid with poor skills. They’ve already got at least 15 of those blokes on their list.
Forwardystopia
Chad Jones, WCE FWD. DT: 3352 selections, $139,100, -6 BE, 55 avg. SC: 1575 selections, $239,400, 50 BE, 47 avg.
Ryan Murphy, FRE FWD. DT: 2409 selections, $150,800, 20 BE, 46.5 avg. SC: 2539 selections, $200,000, 58 BE, 31 avg.
Neither of these boys are producing 22-worthy scores, so if you’re looking to milk your forward cash cows then I wouldn’t bother with these two.
So, that’s all of the players who are new to the bubble this week. I can’t bring myself to make any of them my Bubble Boy of the Week. Just not enough quality there, even with Armitage sitting on such a low breakeven. Ah, but there is another group of players who have been sitting on the bubble for many weeks now, just waiting to play their third week of the game. There are some good rookie backs who are in this situation and are in line for selection this week, including Albert Proud (BE of -1 in DT/-14 in SC), Jake Edwards (-28/-30), Scott Selwood (-22/-69) and Matthew Spangher (-29/-42). There is also Matthew Whelan who returns from a one-game suspension this week as a back priced at $181,500/$265,000 with a BE of 14/-8. Finally, there is Stuart Dew, who has a BE of -48/-9 and has recovered from his hamstring injury. Yes, I know that Dew is a continuing injury risk, but I believe he is firmly in Alastair Clarkson’s plans for the rest of the season and if fit he will get games and have some days out like he did against Melbourne in round 1. In particular, Dew looms as a very tasty downgrade for owners of Josh Hill, Bernie Vince and Jason Porplyzia. For these reason, Dew is my Bubble Boy of the Week.
UPDATE: Turns out Dew is only an emergency this week, which certainly bursts my bubble! Given the lack of quality in the backs this week, I’ll have to switch to Whelan.
Great to have the blog back, I REALLY missed it last week, although my eventual decision to dump Danyle Pearce for Chris Masten seems to have been a good one. It was profitable and Masten was a star!!
Surely J Edwards might get a look in this week with Thornton out??
You think now is the time to offload porplyzia do you monty?
Also is it worth considering ibbotson, even though he’s not on the bubble, in the backs because someone has to play for the chad for a few weeks and he is one of the few backs (who are still cheap) that will keep their spot and can score well. What are your thoughts? or anyone elses?
oh and also, if i need to downgrade travis tuck this week, is steven browne worth looking at as purely a cash cow?
Porps could pull another 90 out and go up in price or get another 60 and go down. It’s really hit n miss I’d say. Is Dew really that good? Can he score as well as Propz?
Hey monty what about Ibbotson? I know hes played his third but hes sure to keep rising after 99 last round and Harvey seems to be pushing him into the midfield a bit (from what ive seen) and Id say his place in the team is reasonbly secure..
Any thoughts?
im staying with porps for another week or two. undecided about chad cornes if to trade or keep . any thoughts ??
Chad is the best defender in the comp at the moment, my next 5-6 weeks in the AFl league have me up against the softer teams, so I’m just going to wait it out rather than make a trade for him then want him back again when he’s fit.
Bad news for those with Hurn, Kerr and Hunter is good news for those of us with Masten and Scott Selwood.
I’m hoping Scott’s name is put forward this week, he might even get a run in the midfield. If he is named both Chad and Bret will stay in my squad, I’ll bring in Gary Ablett for Kerr just to cover the difference.
Apologises browns13, hadnt read your post before posting mine, but I agree with you on Ibbotson, obviously.
Keep Chadley mate, if you trade him you will only want him back in a few games (he will only miss 1 game, possibly two with the bye week).
Ibbotson is an interesting one. You wouldnt have considered him last week with his previous scores, but now with his 99 he is seeming a lot more tastier on the dream team tongue.
Porps is a dead set jet and will keep scoring well. Dew has had a huge pre-season and may score well intially but will get injured again. Once a hammy is pinged she’ll ping again…
Has anyone seen Shain Altschwager aka “Utter” play in the SANFL?
My midfield is as follows:
Cross, Ablett, Stevens, Mitchell, Houli, Palmer (Bird, Tuck).
I Have 14 trades left.
I am thinking it is wise too get rid of tuck, and would like to pick masten up as with kerr and priddis out he is looking to score well.
Is this a waste of a trade do you think?
Should i just wait untill i have money freed up and just add to a static Tuck, only problem is i def want to get rid of houli when his price stops rising?
Thoughts???
what going on with the biggest flop of the year (nicoski). any chance of him playing this week.
my back line is shot with chad, thornton, proud, nicoski and hayden out. any tips on who to pick up this week. hopefull some cheap players
I reckon a Josh Kennedy may well be a better downgrade than Stewie Dew. Once Priddis comes back into the line-up and the eagles can manage a clearance he’ll have a few shoved down his throat.
sorry there andy p i disagree being a eagle supporter obviously i dont think josh will have that big of an impact this year i reckon give him a few years but if any forward from the eagles i think ben mckinely is a go er!!!!
hey monty or anyone with thoughts my backline needs work ive got hayden, gram, brett jones in my backs which one should i get rid of was thinkin of upgrading 2 to shaw and king but ones gotta wait another week…. also ive got schammer any good downgrade options this or next week?…. and thinkin hill for dew this week thanks
I’m got Jarryn Geary and Travis Tuck on the bench in the midfield both not scoring. Which one should I trade out for armitage before he goes up this week? Will Geary come back and play first or Tuck?
just topping up my centres this week..my choices are Cross,K Cornes or hodge.Who do you think?
Lots of questions Monty, ever thought of setting up a hotline? $5.50 a minute, higher for mobiles?
I have Sam Fisher, Goddard, Cornes, symes who are my “dependable” backs but then I have Pfieffer and Nicoski on the field with Hansen and Jake Edwards on the bench. What are the chances that Edwards will get a call up because of the thornton injury, Hansen to get picked becuase dean Laidley drops his guard for a week? (Iv given up on nicoski)
Cheers
johnny i think u should wait until the teams come out 2nite to wait and see who to trade to see if geary is playin id lean toward keeping tuck in my opinion
monty u seen much of any of these guys? Darcy Daniher, David Myers and Jarrod Atkinson from essendon see there are all debuting this week
Myers is a gun, Atkinson showed good signs in the pre-season but very surprised about the Daniher selection.
on the porps question….do not trade him…adelaide have Kang (home), Melb (home), W/C (subi), Ess (home), Rich (MCG)….Kang, Melb & Ess at home will all mean nice juicy scores for all the crows usuals in these games…..Porps breakeven is 89 this his current average is 85….he will go up by at least another $5000 in the next 4 games and will get his average of 85 over the next 4 games.
What about Dean Cox as a DT captain this week? Too risky with the foot problem?
Monty, Forwardystopia is the funniest (and most insightful) football related thing I’ve ever heard.
2 questions which most punters would be asking themselves…
1. is it wise to have your team filled with the most popular players in the comp? Of the top 20 most pop players in SC, i have 12 in my squad & wondering if i should diversify a little.
2. would it be a good idea to start picking players based on their rd 19-22 fixture? for instance, the hawks & cats look to have a good fixture & teams like st k., bombers & eagles will be on the tank by then i reckon.
Comments/observations please!
anyones opinions on whose going to get more games JAMES SELLAR OR DARCY DANIHER???
jdog ,nicoski will play west coast have plenty of injury worries to key backman
whats does everyone think of BROWNE, Steven for 94,000? will he play much?
Nooka, as a crows fan i was very surprised to hear Sellar got named over Jericho, Otten etc. who are available for selection. If he plays like he did in Dubai then he’d be a bargain but since that is unlikely I’m expecting him back in the SANFL as soon as Rutten/Gill/Hentschel/Reilly are back. That being said I wouldnt expect too much from Daniher either. Chad Jones is a better option right now if youve got the extra 56k. Or even Kurt Tippett who is still fairly cheap and seems to be hitting some form (73 vs. CAR).
Dew being in the twos is good. My obvious trade-out is Tippett, but his 73 means he’s going to get another decent rise this week no matter what. Another week or even two weeks before I have to make the call to downgrade to Dew wouldn’t go astray.