Nick Dal Santo - $525,700 – Midfielder – North Melbourne
One of the more high-profile moves of the off-season was NDS to the Kangaroos, as you would be well aware. The move would have delighted the Roos’ fans, but is he worthy of selection for your SuperCoach side?
Initially the numbers aren’t on Dal Santo’s side. He’s now on the wrong side of 30, and across the last three years his stats have declined in SuperCoach average, contested possessions, inside 50s, clearances and tackles. All these important stats have been going down, that’s not a good sign. However, a weary body is not the sole factor for this, for a majority of 2013 Dal further behind the ball in defence.
One of the more high-profile moves of the off-season was NDS to the Kangaroos, as you would be well aware. The move would have delighted the Roos’ fans, but is he worthy of selection for your SuperCoach side?
Initially the numbers aren’t on Dal Santo’s side. He’s now on the wrong side of 30, and across the last three years his stats have declined in SuperCoach average, contested possessions, inside 50s, clearances and tackles. All these important stats have been going down, that’s not a good sign. However, a weary body is not the sole factor for this, for a majority of 2013 Dal further behind the ball in defence.
The good news is that Dal Santo is expected to return to the guts where he dominated for so many years at St.Kilda, particularly with Andrew Swallow expected to miss the start of the season (Achilles injury).
Throughout his career, NDS has had really good contested possession numbers, but with the likes of in-and-under midfielders Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington, Sam Gibson and Ryan Bastinac in the side, he could well be used as a release player only. That could be a positive though, as handball receives and inside 50 delivery has been a strength for Dal Santo his whole career.
Consistency and durability are a big tick, especially durability; he hasn’t missed a game since 2010 – that’s 77 in a row.
I see Dal Santo as a similar pick to Brent Moloney last year, a mature player entering a new environment, except NDS is at a more successful club and is a better quality player. He’ll also cost you more, however. I can see Dal Santo averaging 100 and therefore justifying his price, but I cannot see him reach the heights of 2005 (ave 125) or even 2011 (ave 119).
Throughout his career, NDS has had really good contested possession numbers, but with the likes of in-and-under midfielders Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington, Sam Gibson and Ryan Bastinac in the side, he could well be used as a release player only. That could be a positive though, as handball receives and inside 50 delivery has been a strength for Dal Santo his whole career.
Consistency and durability are a big tick, especially durability; he hasn’t missed a game since 2010 – that’s 77 in a row.
I see Dal Santo as a similar pick to Brent Moloney last year, a mature player entering a new environment, except NDS is at a more successful club and is a better quality player. He’ll also cost you more, however. I can see Dal Santo averaging 100 and therefore justifying his price, but I cannot see him reach the heights of 2005 (ave 125) or even 2011 (ave 119).