I don't like to complain, and nor do I like having a go at some of the best AFL players in the league.
However, I've been disgusted with the performance of some of the premium players that I put my faith into at the beginning of the season.
I chose:
Heath Shaw
Chose over: Brendon Goddard, Grant Birchall
Price? Already dropped $39,900
This may be my worst one. After treating me so well last season, I thought Shaw would deliver the goods for me again this season and be a point of difference backman. Wrong. After missing round 1 mysteriously, he's gone on to score 100, 51 & 80. In other words, he's scored 231 points in total, whereas Grant Birchall has amassed 510. Ouch.
I chose:
Paul Duffield
Chose over: Pearce Hanley, Hamish Hartlett
Price? Dropped $28,500
I thought the Broughton-less Fremantle would be fantastic for the Dockers' verteran defender, but instead he's just hovered around the increasingly-frustrating 80 point zone. Duff-man has put together 335 points, so far from terrible, but the fact that he hasn't managed a game in triple figures yet is alarming. If I had chosen Hanley, I'd be 120 points better off.
I chose:
Josh P. Kennedy & Joel Selwood
Chose over: Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Jobe Watson, Kane Cornes
I don't regret selecting these guys at all. But I chose them because of their 2012 performances of immaculate quality and consistency. In fact, during 2012, Joel Selwood didn't score below 100 until Round 17. Yet so far this year I've had a 74 from Selwood and an 80 from Kennedy. Come on guys - lift!
I chose:
Sam Jacobs
Chose over: Ben McEvoy, Will Minson, Ivan Maric
This decision has been far from a howler, but I'll give it to you straight. I picked Jacobs to be the number two ruck in the competition (behind Cox). Instead, he's already 87 points behind McEvoy (477 to 390) on the back of a paltry 77 in the wet last week.
I chose:
Taylor Walker
Chose over: Jimmy Bartel, Travis Cloke
Price? Already plummeted $74,500
The decision to replace Jimmy Bartel at the 11th hour may come back to haunt me. As if it hasn't enough already. Minutes before the Crows & Bombers were set to kick off the season, I switched Tex in for Bartel. I've told myself to never, never do this, and yet I succumbed to the mullet. I'm hanging on though, because I think he'll come good. Walker has scored 310 points this year, leaving me 100 points behind those smart brains with Bartel, and some 240 behind Justin Westhoff, but I doubt anyone had him before Round 1.
I chose:
Dayne Zorko
Chose over: Tom Rockliff, Luke Bruest
Forget it. He's gone, as of last week. But not before he'd cost me 109 points (compared to Rockliff) and a trade. So long Zorks.
What I've lost:
A combined 647 points, in only four short rounds. Had I pocketed those points, I'd be comfortably in the top 10 right now.
And those in the top 10, I applaud what you've done. You've nailed the premium selections. If you want to be a SuperCoach force, that's exactly what you have to do.
People harp on about the best scoring rookies and mid-pricers who will sky-rocket in price, but at the end of the day, it's premiums or bust. They score the bulk of your points and are what we aim to have our team full of by the end of the year.
What I've learnt:
I traded out Zorko, but I'm holding on the all the others. I'm firmly against trading them out, because a big score is just around the corner (exihibit A - Dayne Zorko). Rather than side-ways trade this season, I'm going to use the extra trades to cash in my rookies a week or so earlier than normal so I can get the better premiums in earlier.
If you're unsure what to do, if you're sitting on the fence, hold them. They'll reward you.
Here's hoping over the next month or so my 'guns' can step it up. If they don't, at least I can say I didn't pick Jack Watts.
Cheers - Schon
However, I've been disgusted with the performance of some of the premium players that I put my faith into at the beginning of the season.
I chose:
Heath Shaw
Chose over: Brendon Goddard, Grant Birchall
Price? Already dropped $39,900
This may be my worst one. After treating me so well last season, I thought Shaw would deliver the goods for me again this season and be a point of difference backman. Wrong. After missing round 1 mysteriously, he's gone on to score 100, 51 & 80. In other words, he's scored 231 points in total, whereas Grant Birchall has amassed 510. Ouch.
I chose:
Paul Duffield
Chose over: Pearce Hanley, Hamish Hartlett
Price? Dropped $28,500
I thought the Broughton-less Fremantle would be fantastic for the Dockers' verteran defender, but instead he's just hovered around the increasingly-frustrating 80 point zone. Duff-man has put together 335 points, so far from terrible, but the fact that he hasn't managed a game in triple figures yet is alarming. If I had chosen Hanley, I'd be 120 points better off.
I chose:
Josh P. Kennedy & Joel Selwood
Chose over: Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Jobe Watson, Kane Cornes
I don't regret selecting these guys at all. But I chose them because of their 2012 performances of immaculate quality and consistency. In fact, during 2012, Joel Selwood didn't score below 100 until Round 17. Yet so far this year I've had a 74 from Selwood and an 80 from Kennedy. Come on guys - lift!
I chose:
Sam Jacobs
Chose over: Ben McEvoy, Will Minson, Ivan Maric
This decision has been far from a howler, but I'll give it to you straight. I picked Jacobs to be the number two ruck in the competition (behind Cox). Instead, he's already 87 points behind McEvoy (477 to 390) on the back of a paltry 77 in the wet last week.
I chose:
Taylor Walker
Chose over: Jimmy Bartel, Travis Cloke
Price? Already plummeted $74,500
The decision to replace Jimmy Bartel at the 11th hour may come back to haunt me. As if it hasn't enough already. Minutes before the Crows & Bombers were set to kick off the season, I switched Tex in for Bartel. I've told myself to never, never do this, and yet I succumbed to the mullet. I'm hanging on though, because I think he'll come good. Walker has scored 310 points this year, leaving me 100 points behind those smart brains with Bartel, and some 240 behind Justin Westhoff, but I doubt anyone had him before Round 1.
I chose:
Dayne Zorko
Chose over: Tom Rockliff, Luke Bruest
Forget it. He's gone, as of last week. But not before he'd cost me 109 points (compared to Rockliff) and a trade. So long Zorks.
What I've lost:
A combined 647 points, in only four short rounds. Had I pocketed those points, I'd be comfortably in the top 10 right now.
And those in the top 10, I applaud what you've done. You've nailed the premium selections. If you want to be a SuperCoach force, that's exactly what you have to do.
People harp on about the best scoring rookies and mid-pricers who will sky-rocket in price, but at the end of the day, it's premiums or bust. They score the bulk of your points and are what we aim to have our team full of by the end of the year.
What I've learnt:
I traded out Zorko, but I'm holding on the all the others. I'm firmly against trading them out, because a big score is just around the corner (exihibit A - Dayne Zorko). Rather than side-ways trade this season, I'm going to use the extra trades to cash in my rookies a week or so earlier than normal so I can get the better premiums in earlier.
If you're unsure what to do, if you're sitting on the fence, hold them. They'll reward you.
Here's hoping over the next month or so my 'guns' can step it up. If they don't, at least I can say I didn't pick Jack Watts.
Cheers - Schon