Wow. I said the respite from injuries wouldn’t last long, and I was right on the money. After such a quiet weekend last weekend, the injury curse struck hard this week, with some big name – very popular – stars biting the dust hard. Of course, this is the first week of the multi-bye rounds, so if you can get away without trading, do so. However, if you have one of these players with long-term injuries, it might just be unavoidable. Good luck with those decision making processes this week!
(Note – players marked with an asterisk * have the bye this coming weekend)
(Note – players marked with an asterisk * have the bye this coming weekend)
Scott PENDLEBURY (Collingwood. Value - $620,400. Av 124. Broken tibia – One, two…even more?)
The biggest name to go down in round 10 was one of the most popular SC picks – Collingwood midfield dynamo PENDLEBURY. Selected in an incredible 40% of teams, PENDLES has not let anyone down this year, averaging a huge 124 pts per game so far in 2012. Last week however he was subbed off at half-time, and it has since been revealed he has a small crack in his tibia, as well as some minor knee issues. The Pies say he will miss this week, then the bye, but should be back the following week, while some medical sources think he will be missing for at least 3 weeks, maybe even more. Too long to keep him on your bench? That’s for you to decide…
Possibilities : Joel SELWOOD (Geel) - $603,000 Av 122 My Choice - Superstar
Brent STANTON (Ess) - $602,500 Av 127
Jobe WATSON (Ess) - $598,300 Av 123
Josh KENNEDY (Syd) - $593,700 Av 125
*Patrick DANGERFIELD (Adel) - $592,900 Av 114
*Matthew BOYD (Bull) - $591,900 Av 114
Heath SCOTLAND (Carlton. Value – $506,900. Av. 100. Calf – three weeks minimum)
Another very popular selection in 23% of SC teams, SCOTLAND has been very productive as a defender or midfielder, racking up 100 pts per game in 2012. However, he too has fallen to the injury curse that has descended on the Blues, injuring his calf and being out of action for probably close to a month. Even though trades are at a premium at this time of year, that might be a little bit too long to hold him – unless you have pretty good coverage on your bench.
Possibilities : As a Defender
Michael JOHNSON (Freo) - $479,500 Av 96
*Shannon HURN (WCE) - $475,300 Av 95
Greg BROUGHTON (Freo) - $473,300 Av 90
Grant BIRCHALL (Haw) - $467,300 Av 94 My Choice – Team Improving
Troy CHAPLIN (Port) - $461,200 Av 95
As a Midfielder
Nick Dal SANTO (St.K) - $506,400 Av 104 My Choice – Very Cheap
*Daniel CROSS (Bull) - $505,500 Av 102
*Callan WARD (GWS) - $505,300 Av 107
Lenny HAYES (St.K) - $502,000 Av 106
Jimmy BARTEL (Geel) - $495,800 Av 102
Hamish McINTOSH (Nth Melbourne. Value - $506,100 Av. 103 Knee Injury – 4 to 6 weeks)
If you didn’t get rid of the big H-Mac before, the time has now come. The big fella looked like he was almost ready to return but re-injured his knee at training last Friday, meaning he will miss another 4 to 6 weeks. McINTOSH has quickly become a nightmare for his SC owners, who have no choice now but to move him on.
Possibilities : *Ben HUDSON (Bris) - $502,800 Av 102
Jarryd ROUGHEAD (Haw) - $491,400 Av 99
*Will MINSON (Bull) - $480,000 Av 95
Robert WARNOCK (Carl) - $467,400 Av 106 My Choice – Especially if Kruez out
*Sam JACOBS (Adel) - $458,200 Av 93
*Jon GILES (GWS) - $443,200 Av 94
Jordan LEWIS (Hawthorn. Value - $438,700. Av 94. Suspended two matches)
Suspended for two matches doesn’t sound like much, but when you add in the bye suddenly LEWIS is gone for three weeks – and that can hurt. Averaging a creditable 94 pts per game for the 8% of teams who have him, keeping LEWIS or trading him comes down to your own personal trade situation – and whether you are any chance of winning your bye matches or not. Study up, make the decision and stick to it.
Possibilities - As a Forward
Luke BRUEST (Haw) - $435,100 Av 80
Mitch CLARK (Melb) - $434,800 Av 82 My Choice – Ever Improving at New Club
*Luke POWER (GWS) - $431,500 Av 90
Danny STANLEY (GC) - $426,300 Av 90
Andrew WALKER (Carl) - $426,200 Av 86
As a Midfielder
*Mitch WALLIS (Bull) - $435,200 Av 88
David ELLARD (Carl) - $434,800 Av 92
*Luke POWER (GWS) - $431,500 Av 90
*Tom SCULLY (GWS) - $430,400 Av 84
Bryce GIBBS (Carl) - $412,000 Av 88 My Choice – Dirt Cheap
Luke PARKER (Sydney. Value - $382,600. Av. 81. Collar bone – out for 6 weeks)
Fiesty Swan midfielder PARKER has been a bit of a revelation in season 2012, coming into his own a bit with an average of 81, which has been punctuated with a couple of big scores. However, last weekend he was given a ripper bump by Bulldog Matthew BOYD that snapped his collarbone in three places – ouch. Needless to say, he will be out for a while – and for the 4% of SC teams who have him, it’s time to get rid of him.
Possibilities - Dom CASSISSI (Port) - $381,700 Av 81
Angus MONFRIES (Ess) - $376,600 Av 77
Tendai MZUNGU (Freo) - $367,900 Av 83 My Choice – Can Play
Alan DIDAK (Coll) - $339,200 Av 72
Jack TRENGOVE (Melb) - $332,400 Av 75
Marley WILLIAMS (Coll) - $94,700 Av 65 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Travis BOAK (Port Adelaide. Value - $420,100. Av 83. Foot Injury – Out for a month)
As if things weren’t bad enough for BOAK with endless talk about his possible move back to Geelong, it has compounded now with news he has damaged his foot and won’t be back for the Power for at least a month. That is a huge blow for the improving Port, who will need to find a replacement midfielder to fill the space left behind by BOAK – maybe permanently. If you are one of the 1% of teams that have him, so do you.
Possibilities - *Adam COONEY (Bull) - $420,000 Av 84
David MUNDY (Freo) - $415,500 Av 79
*Leigh ADAMS (Nth) - $412,700 Av 82
Bryce GIBBS (Carl) - $412,000 Av 88 My Choice – Can Only Improve
David ARMITAGE (St.K) - $410,800 Av 86.
Well that’s it for the injury front this week – some big names, and some big decisions to be made by SC coaches the nation over. One other player to keep your eye on is Matthew KREUZER – reports now say he is certain to miss this week and is having complications with his knee that could see him miss a substantial amount of the rest of the season. As yet this is unconfirmed, but watch this space – the best trade to make with him would be after this week, to trade in someone like JACOBS (Adel), HUDSON (Bris) or GOLDSTEIN (Nth), who will have already had their bye.