POD Player (Point of Difference Player)
noun
1. Any player selected in under 10% of SuperCoach sides, giving you the edge in your pursuit to your league title or the rank of #1 in Herald Sun SuperCoach.
As the year progresses it is important that you have a player or players in your team who are a bit different to the ‘norm’, something that is widely labeled in the SuperCoach world as a ‘point of difference’. These are players not selected in a lot of sides, with the Mathematics suggesting that a player in under 10% of overall teams would be in about 1 other side in your league and under 5% overall the player may not be in another side in your league at all.
These players are particularly effective if you are chasing the coveted first place in SuperCoach - that one difference that separates you from the other teams up the top. Obviously with any selection there are risks and rewards and depending on your scenario, be it league or overall that you’re chasing, I think that POD players offer more reward than risk.
noun
1. Any player selected in under 10% of SuperCoach sides, giving you the edge in your pursuit to your league title or the rank of #1 in Herald Sun SuperCoach.
As the year progresses it is important that you have a player or players in your team who are a bit different to the ‘norm’, something that is widely labeled in the SuperCoach world as a ‘point of difference’. These are players not selected in a lot of sides, with the Mathematics suggesting that a player in under 10% of overall teams would be in about 1 other side in your league and under 5% overall the player may not be in another side in your league at all.
These players are particularly effective if you are chasing the coveted first place in SuperCoach - that one difference that separates you from the other teams up the top. Obviously with any selection there are risks and rewards and depending on your scenario, be it league or overall that you’re chasing, I think that POD players offer more reward than risk.
For the remainder of the season I will be researching the POD players, in a quest to provide three each week, from different positions, to give your team and edge in 2013. They could be players who are generally underrated, or players who possibly didn’t start the year too well and are now slowly improving but sneaking under the radar.
Garrick Ibbotson (FRE) - Defender
Price: $488,000 (b/e +85)
Selected: 3.39%
Games: 7 Average: 104.14 (729pts)
3 Round Projection: 108pt average
2013 has been a breakout SuperCoach year for Ibbotson, averaging the fourth most out of all defenders (excluding Jack Hombsch). Debuting in 2007, Ibbotson has been a regular feature in the Fremantle team but has never averaged more than 78sc points until this year. His scores so far this year have been: 83, 94, 142, 82, 112, 79 & 137. While that might appear quite up and down, I am more than happy to take his 80s and 90s with those big tons. I would also suggest that he’s been as consistent, if not more so, than the other defenders so far in 2013.
Michael Barlow (FRE) - Midfielder
Price: $579,600 (b/e +102)
Selected In: 8.07%
Games: 11 Average: 112 (1232pts)
3 Round Projection: 124pt average
The rookie star of 2010 has had two years averaging below 100 and has come back into SuperCoach form this year. He has averaged a solid 112 per game, which includes a low of 79, three 90s and seven games over 100; including a 124 average over the past five rounds. His three round projection of 124 is in the top ten across all players and according to SuperCoach gold projections he won’t score below 118 for the remainder of the season. He is a ball magnet and I think he’s underrated, in a team full of players (a-la Ibbotson) who are underrated. Fremantle are a top four chance this year and Barlow will be at the forefront of their success.
Drew Petrie (NTH) - Forward
Price: $567,900 (b/e +90)
Selected In: 4.17%
Games: 11 Average: 100.55 (1106pts)
3 Round Projection: 121pt average
The big fella has been on a roll lately, including a massive 178 against St.Kilda. I am a St.Kilda supporter and while I wasn't enjoying the belting we were getting, I couldn't help but be in awe of Petrie’s physical presence. He has been a solid SuperCoach selection since he returned from injury in 2011, making All-Australian that year. His beginning to 2013 was mediocre to say the least, an average of 63, well down on his average of 93 and 94 in the past two years.
However, from round 4 onward Petrie has managed to find some consistency, not dropping below 83; a seven game average of 114. This gives him a yearly average of 100, higher than any of his career season averages to date. If he can keep up the 114 average of his past seven weeks, or even just the 100.55 average he has this year, then he will be a solid forward POD player. He isn't cheap, but forward stocks are slim this year and his three round projection of 121, second highest of the forwards, makes me incredibly interested in him.
So - which PODs do you currently have? And who are you looking at getting in? Let me know below!
Garrick Ibbotson (FRE) - Defender
Price: $488,000 (b/e +85)
Selected: 3.39%
Games: 7 Average: 104.14 (729pts)
3 Round Projection: 108pt average
2013 has been a breakout SuperCoach year for Ibbotson, averaging the fourth most out of all defenders (excluding Jack Hombsch). Debuting in 2007, Ibbotson has been a regular feature in the Fremantle team but has never averaged more than 78sc points until this year. His scores so far this year have been: 83, 94, 142, 82, 112, 79 & 137. While that might appear quite up and down, I am more than happy to take his 80s and 90s with those big tons. I would also suggest that he’s been as consistent, if not more so, than the other defenders so far in 2013.
Michael Barlow (FRE) - Midfielder
Price: $579,600 (b/e +102)
Selected In: 8.07%
Games: 11 Average: 112 (1232pts)
3 Round Projection: 124pt average
The rookie star of 2010 has had two years averaging below 100 and has come back into SuperCoach form this year. He has averaged a solid 112 per game, which includes a low of 79, three 90s and seven games over 100; including a 124 average over the past five rounds. His three round projection of 124 is in the top ten across all players and according to SuperCoach gold projections he won’t score below 118 for the remainder of the season. He is a ball magnet and I think he’s underrated, in a team full of players (a-la Ibbotson) who are underrated. Fremantle are a top four chance this year and Barlow will be at the forefront of their success.
Drew Petrie (NTH) - Forward
Price: $567,900 (b/e +90)
Selected In: 4.17%
Games: 11 Average: 100.55 (1106pts)
3 Round Projection: 121pt average
The big fella has been on a roll lately, including a massive 178 against St.Kilda. I am a St.Kilda supporter and while I wasn't enjoying the belting we were getting, I couldn't help but be in awe of Petrie’s physical presence. He has been a solid SuperCoach selection since he returned from injury in 2011, making All-Australian that year. His beginning to 2013 was mediocre to say the least, an average of 63, well down on his average of 93 and 94 in the past two years.
However, from round 4 onward Petrie has managed to find some consistency, not dropping below 83; a seven game average of 114. This gives him a yearly average of 100, higher than any of his career season averages to date. If he can keep up the 114 average of his past seven weeks, or even just the 100.55 average he has this year, then he will be a solid forward POD player. He isn't cheap, but forward stocks are slim this year and his three round projection of 121, second highest of the forwards, makes me incredibly interested in him.
So - which PODs do you currently have? And who are you looking at getting in? Let me know below!