Due to popular demand, version two of Man On Man is here. In this post I will look at another three pairs of players, all of whom are competing for a spot in many of your fantasy sides this season.ÂÂ
Hamish McIntosh (NM) DT $296,000 SC $335,300 v
Brad Ottens (Geel) DT $329,000  SC $395,100
Both are the number one ruckmen at their clubs and on the cheaper side of the big guns this season, with many fantasy coaches, particularly in Super Coach having one of them. If it comes down to one, which one will you pick?
Ottens looks a fantastic Super Coach prospect, but there may be others cheaper with the likelihood of scoring more in Dream Team this year. As it has done in the past, Geelong has played Ottens out of the square for periods
of games, leaving Mark Blake to take the ruck duties. As Ottens grows another year older, will he continue to play up forward more and how will this affect his scores? He missed the first nine games last season through injury, and there will always be a question mark hanging over his head over whether or not he will be able to stay on the park.
Slightly cheaper than Ottens, McIntosh also had injury problems in ’08, missing from rounds 13-20. He will take the brunt of North Melbourne’s ruck duties this year, and he has shown in the past the way he can move around the ground with ease and pick up easy touches. Another pre-season will not hurt his chances either.
Verdict: Probably McIntosh. Both players are evenly matched but McIntosh is the cheaper option. Buy McIntosh and splash the extra cash into upgrading an average player into a gun. Buy Ottens and you could be wasting unnecessary trades early. Neither should be your premier ruckman, look for Dean Cox, David Hille, Aaron Sandilands or Drew Petrie to step up in that department.
Joel Selwood (Geel) DT $404,000  SC $529,400 v
Bryce Gibbs (Carl) DT $387,300 SC $500,400
Selwood and Gibbs are two of the most promising players the game currently has to offer. Both belong to very strong midfields, probably the two strongest in the comp. Both have showed they will provide value for money this season.
With 33 touches to add to two goals in Saturday’s NAB Cup Grand-Final, Selwood looked very hot. He amassed 119 Dream Team points, plus a whopping 191 in Supercoach, one of the biggest of the 2009 NAB Cup. He is gutsy, wins his own ball and gets plenty of the footy, making him a great fantasy option.
Geelong has the likes of Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Enright and Ling rotating through its midfield, so this may deflate the amount of time Selwood gets on ball. His kick-to-handball ratio isn’t great either, last year amassing 324 handballs to 283 kicks.
The first three players mentioned above usually cop the heavy tag, which leaves the likes of Selwood and Enright to run free and collect easy touches. Selwood has proven he can preform on the big stage, with 90+ Dream Team scores against the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Hawthorn and Adelaide - the top four teams behind Geelong on last year’s AFL ladder. He played all but one game last year, proving his young body is up to the task of a full season.
As a top draft pick back in 2006, Gibbs showed glimpses of his best in season 2008 in which he played 21 games. If he can continue to rise at the same speed as he did last year, everyone get on board. He probably won’t cop the tag in just his third AFL season, especially not ahead of the likes of Judd, Stevens and Murphy, and hopefully for his fantasy coaches he will be left free to roam the ground at ease. He is a fantastic user of the ball, and with one more pre-season under his belt he is sure to blossom.
Worth more than his captain in Dream Team, Gibbs may be a little overpriced, but yet again word of mouth is many fantasy coaches have him locked in.
Verdict: Line-ball for mine. Both look set for standout seasons and cannot be split at the moment. They both ooze class and are very mature for their age. Personally in Super Coach there are better options for around the same price like Kane Cornes, but others may prove me wrong!
 Brett Deledio (Rich) DT $433,000 SC $550,400 v
Matthew Pavlich (Freo) DT $440,000  SC $593,000
Both players took out their respective clubs best and fairest in season ’08. Both are in the top tier of forwards, with Pavlich being a big man and Deledio a strong marking half-forward/on-baller.
Last season was Brett Deledio’s breakthrough year as he proved his worth as the number one draft pick from the 2004 draft, finishing seventh overall in Dream Team scoring. He racked up twelve scores of 95+ in Dream Team. Deledio may play more on ball this season but will also continue to kick goals and play up front, especially with the signing of Cousins. He might be a tad dear at the moment, but if he can start the year the same way he finished off last season he will prove to be worth every cent.
Whether you like it or not, Pavlich is Fremantle. If he is down you can pretty much throw away their chances of winning. When he is on song, they do well, not meaning they are necessarily going to win. We are talking about Fremantle.
The six-time All-Australian has provided fantasy coaches continual high scores, year in year out, for the past six seasons. In four years of Super Coach, Pavlich’s lowest season average has been 108 and he shows absolutely no signs of going below that this season.
The only problem for Pavlich is his team. Fremantle promised so much and provided very little, particularly in the last two seasons. He will always be the target up front, and will continue to cop a heavy tag every week. The service out of the middle isn’t always top shelf either with, let’s face it, their top on-baller in Palmer not having the best efficiency. Haselby returns, so this may provide the Dockers with better disposal out of the middle.
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Verdict: Pavlich all the way. Deledio is a star but Pavlich is a gun. He is easily the best player at Fremantle, possibly the best big man in the fantasy game. He can swing a match off his own boot and can take a strong contested grab. Consider for captain material.
What are your thoughts? Who would you pick or who do you have? Which of these players are going to turn it on in ’09 and who isn’t? Feel free to post in the comments.
snubbs
March 16, 2009 at 9:56 pm
interesting choice having pav over lids. Not sure i agree with that. I think joel will break out this year and his price of 400k is of great value
Craig
March 16, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Don’t like either of the rucks (history of injury with rucks is baaaaaaaad). Selwood Gibbs should not be in any team BUT MINE! Pavlich will drop $$ early. Deledio will get some very nice ball from the ever improving Richmond mids. (including from himself :D)
cannon
March 16, 2009 at 10:11 pm
What do use rate Gilmore as a ruck option?
josh
March 16, 2009 at 10:12 pm
what about pav, richo or lids? i have richo at the moment but….?
Disco (UK)
March 16, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Everyone is far too keen for man on man action! Great work MC!
I am looking at having both Gibbs and Selwood (in both DT and SC) as I believe at least one of them is going to be a Fantasy Footy gun this season and I don’t want to miss out by having one and not the other.
However, your point about Kane for SC is a good one. If Kane gets back to his best (I think he was missing Chad last year) he is a reliable FF gun and can boost his average by a massive 15 points (to around 108)! Even thou Joel will probably be a gun, I don’t see as much improvement from him and I feel Kane is more likely to step it up.
Lee
March 16, 2009 at 10:29 pm
What about a starting ruck duo of D.Cox (WCE) and I.Maric (Ade)? Both clearly the No.1’s for their respective sides.
snubbs
March 16, 2009 at 10:30 pm
nah still think deledio. I agree that pav is a gun and i recognise what he does for his team but i think lids will have a higher average this year.
the dud
March 16, 2009 at 10:31 pm
lids
mEnty
March 16, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Gibbs, Tosh, Lids IMO
Ash
March 16, 2009 at 11:15 pm
agree with Pav monty, he is always my first fwd picked
brettl5
March 16, 2009 at 11:28 pm
you can see that the richmond supporters are alittle bit over excited this year,ie cousins and all the forums youd think they would try and keep a lid on it,i mean ther only gonna finish 9th again i thought they might have learned by now.
Will
March 16, 2009 at 11:41 pm
IMHO, Knights is on par with both Gibbs and Selwood, if not better. He’s an absolute ball magnet and has had the highest points scored per TOG for 2 out of 3 years if I’m not mistaken. His TOG should only improve, and if he manages to keep up his scoring per minute he has higher potential than either of the other two.
FWIW, I reckon Knights > Selwood > Gibbs.
Would love to hear your thoughts Monty.
m0nty
March 17, 2009 at 12:43 am
I didn’t write this one Ash, it was young Mitchell Cleary. He’s been promoted off the rookie list. ;D
Will, I’m not sure on Knights. He’s still recovering from injury, from what I’ve heard, so he may not start strongly. I don’t think his upside is in the Gibbs/Selwood class either.
Jdog
March 17, 2009 at 2:37 am
gotta have gibbs and selwood this year both gonna be guns.
pav and lids is a coin flip. any thoughs on pav v reiwoldt??
also shane tuck vs k.cornes
steve
March 17, 2009 at 5:43 am
when are you posting your team Monty?? love to see this premium back strategy in place !!
steve
March 17, 2009 at 5:48 am
KERR OR CORNES ….S.C ???
JV
March 17, 2009 at 9:18 am
I agree for pav before lids, i have both though. and I will probley be taking selwood ahead of gibbs only because what ive seen, selwood looks just that bit more mature.
Should i be having Stephen hill on my bench? i just think its abit much for a bench player, and i can see him getting a few 80’s and 90’s?
Simon
March 17, 2009 at 9:25 am
I’ve Richo atm, but Deledio is calling…
Dicko
March 17, 2009 at 10:31 am
Cox and Petrie are my rucks. The only thing I haven’t changed in the last month or so. Set and forget for the whole season I hope.
Jonny Hart
March 17, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Knights loses credibility because of the company he has in the Crow midfield. Only Thompson is a premium with Goodwin & Edwards spending to much time up forward these days. Prefer Blues and Cats midfields because they will be up almost every week. This factor brings the underrated Kade Smpson into calculations as well.
Knights also needs to turn a game single-handed before I will pay proper attention. Shouldn’t take too long if he’s as good as we hope.
Jonny Hart
March 17, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Anyone considered the possibility that Buddy’s inconsistacy will disappear this year? I struggle to see how anyone except Richo can keep up with him. Even then, that tag will never eventuate.
Obviously, he won’t end up kicking straighter. But he could seriously end up with alot more ball off back and the wing. 26 touches and 4.4 in the praccie match. He could average that this year if he wanted too. Who’s to say he isn’t the best of all time?
I’ve talked myself into it here. 🙂 Goodbye Stevie J…
Raf
March 17, 2009 at 12:36 pm
McIntosh
Selwood
Both
Matthew
March 17, 2009 at 1:58 pm
What do you think of having cox and hille in the ruck. Is that to much money to be spending in the one area?
JV
March 17, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Dale Thomas, Justin Koschitzke or Mark Williams?
gothepower
March 17, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I like Ottens over McIntosh, a) He plays for Geelong so he’s gonna get a heap of ball if he’s in the ruck and their midfield is good enough that he’ll probably score well even if he’s in the forward line. Plus he averaged 90 in the last seven or eight games (can’t remember and can’t be bothered checking) of last year.
darcy
March 17, 2009 at 6:46 pm
both gibbs and selwood for me
prices are too good to leave either of them
Tim
March 17, 2009 at 6:59 pm
what about breant harvey or pav or deledio?
Reesi
March 17, 2009 at 8:01 pm
i know the form of players in the nab cup isnt always a great way to judge player potential for a season, but from what i saw in the nab gf selwood has improved a lot over the summer, which is saying sumthing. Gibbs has been really impressive as well, these 2 will be the best value midfielders this season, ive got both. Ive gone with Mcintosh, but i have no idea about ruckmen this year and i think richo is gonna be a more reliable choice than deledio and pav.
Luke
March 17, 2009 at 8:29 pm
is suban injured because on afl site it said he was can u monty give me some info
darcyd
March 17, 2009 at 9:49 pm
selwood/gibbs or judd/cousins supercoach
kersy0
March 17, 2009 at 10:34 pm
iv got deledio, but not pav. thinking of swapping franklin or reiwoldt for pav.
is gibbs really worth it?
i heard gibbs said he wanted to play on cousins… does he mean tagging? coz ling is great but doesnt score well.
uh oh and i’d love to hear wat MC and monty think of reiwoldt
woose tang
March 17, 2009 at 11:26 pm
i think that cousins will be better that deliedo this year cos he is older. on the other hand deliedo is better looking and therefor might get more game time.
ottens is good at football but macintosh is a good bloke i have met him.
ling is good for fantasty but he is so rank he looses browlow votes cos whenever he looks at the umpire they get cut by his extreme rankness and give away free kicks to the other team
Jonny Hart
March 18, 2009 at 12:11 am
Gibbs hasn’t really needed to tag in the pre-season. He has ben schooled as a tagger throughout his time at carlton. Not so sure he’s as good an option as he seems…
Thomas over Kozi and Williams easily…
woose tang
March 18, 2009 at 12:35 am
do u like dancing?
ben
March 18, 2009 at 1:29 am
mr cleary, how can you say both:
mcintosh will bear the brunt of the ruck duties
and
petrie is a premium ruckman?
surely one of them will get more time on ground – and i don’t mean with one going forward, ’cause you claim that will cost ottens points.
ben
March 18, 2009 at 1:32 am
by the way it’s selwood for me, but i play supercoach. with effective disposal counting for more, i reckon he might pack on $100k this year on top of his high starting price.
F-Bomber
March 18, 2009 at 10:55 am
I think any comparison of Gibbs v Selwood should also include Pendlebury as well. Is around the same value (at least in DT), model of consistency last year and is expected to step up again this year.
Stu
March 18, 2009 at 10:57 am
McIntosh
Both
Both
🙂
Brad
March 18, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Woose Tang funniest thing i have read for a long time.
Selwood is so far ahead of Knights and Gibbs it is ridiculous, he will finnish top 5 in Brownlow voting easily, if not win it.
Thomas, Kosi & Williams are no good at FF.
Dont consider any of them unless Thomas is going to play a “quater back” roll even then his body is probably not strong enough YET to play the roll properly.
george
March 18, 2009 at 5:50 pm
wouldnt touch ottens or McIntosh for DT.
But Gibbs and selwood i think will be good.
Gary Ablett is untaggable, and because selwood wins so much first ball is sure to be the 2nd man tagged, but he is still good enough to score well anyway. Gibbs quoting from on afl.com.au that he would like to tag cousins worries me, no more tagging buddy, your a number 1 draft pick, time to stop living in someones shadow, and run to the wing and get some cheapees…
pav and delids both solid, but should be for 440k
Cubbie
March 19, 2009 at 10:42 am
How do we think that Sewell matches up against Gibbs and the bloke that sells wood. He did finish off the season well and come a little cheaper.
RUSSELL
March 19, 2009 at 11:56 am
gibbs & selwood
? tuck or pearce
Cam
March 19, 2009 at 3:35 pm
m0nty,
Something that we would find very interesting… are you able to think about doing a blog of the efficiency of players fantasy scoring ability. That is, look at their % of SC score / DT score and how this generally impreoves with experience. I was just looking at two collingwood examples. Pendlebury vs Thomas. Pendlebury has excelled in SC with good skills and lack of clangers whereas Thomas, also a relatively good ball winner, is close to useless in SC due to his ability to kick to contests, clanger count and poor efficiency. Although, this is now starting to improve as his SC is getting further away from his DT score. (in 2008 it was 107.3%, 2007 it was 102.7% and 2006, 94.7%).
There must be plenty of other reasonable DT players out there that (based on their SC/DT efficiency) are looming to be elite SC players – and Thomas not one of them yet, for the record.
The Chad
March 19, 2009 at 5:29 pm
What do people here think of Mitch hahn and Xavier Ellis are they worth having?
Les Dobson
March 19, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Dobbo Says:
This is a great website. I have been running a Dream Team comp since about 1991 but have only just discovered this gem last night.
Who would you recommend. Ball or Dal Santo?
quelt
March 20, 2009 at 10:17 am
(The Chad) Ellis is worth considering putting into your side later on in the season, he is injured (hip) at present and wont play till rounds 2-3-4 but because he has had limited pre season his value will drop initiially. IMO consdier picking up middle to second half of the season, spesh if he continues on from last year!
Orba
March 20, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Neither Ottens or McinTosh – I had them both as my starting ruckmen until about 3 days ago when my brain actually started working and i realised i didnt have cox who for the last 3 years has averaged me 100. I have him with leunberger as the secondary. I think it is his year to show his worth and i dont think they will keep charman on the paddock all year.
Selwood over Gibbs – He was my first selected this year. Will step into the top 10 players in the league by season out. Big call by sammy on the footy show saying he is better than juddy but boy can he play.
Pav over Deledio – Line ball but Pav does not let you down. He is going to be playing a richo role this year i was reading which is a scary though. I have had deledio since day 1 but took him out this morning for Brown. If you remember back to just before he broke his leg i think brown was averaging 120. He might not get back to that but this is the best he has looked since the break and from his pre season i am expecting many a 100 game.
Les i agree i am new and this is an amazing site, well done guys. In regards to yours it is a toughie. If he stays fit which he is looking the goods early ball 100%. He gets the pill but if him and the team are having a shocker you can still pencil him in for about 25-30 points worth of tackles. Del Santo is way to hot and cold for my liking. Dont think he is the player he was made out to be.
woose tang
March 20, 2009 at 7:21 pm
cameron ling is probably the rankest guy i have seen. he shuld have to wear a mask so that people dont see his mingness.
Les Dobson
March 20, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Thanks Orba:
Ball is hugely tough – reminds me of the way Hodge plays his football. Not a great deal of thought is given before committing himself 100% to the task. I just thought that it may have been about time that Dal Santo rose to the occassion.
gooms
March 20, 2009 at 10:49 pm
i bet he was your first picked woose tang. Selwood over Gibbs although i would consider having both, Pavlich over Deledio and i wouldnt touch Ottens or Mcintosh, but McIntosh would probably edge it even though his output might be stifled due to the influence of Hale/Petrie.