Preliminary Final week, and its do-or-die for your fantasy team. Win this week and you face the ultimate test of the Grand Final – lose, and it’s all over for another year. As is always the case at this time of the season, rumours are flying about who will be playing and who won’t this week. Will Pendles saddle up after his training mishap? Will Buddy overcome his “mystery illness”? Will Pav battle through his hamstring soreness? Will Adelaide rest Scott THOMPSON? Is Heath SHAW a chance to miss against the Eagles? Is Mitch RONBINSON out with an eye injury? Will the Saints put Nick RIEWOLDT out to pasture for 2012? No one knows the answers to all these questions, but you can be sure that there will be plenty of twists, turns and late withdrawals as the weekend progresses – so do your best to have bench coverage and keep your fingers crossed. Fortunately there were only a couple of injury issues to come out of last weekend, and no reports, meaning those last few trades can hopefully be used to upgrade rather than replace. At least one thing has gone in our favour!
Dustin FLETCHER (Essendon. Value - $370,900. Av 82. Groin/hip injury – One or Two weeks?)
Whilst the Bombers are remaining coy yet confidant about FLETCHERs chances of lining up in their “must win” match against the Tigers this week, one would have to think that given his age and his history of leg issues, FLETCHER is very doubtful to play. In a season that has seen him average 82 pts per game, FLETCH still remains in an amazing 2.8% of SC teams leading into Prelim week. For those coaches who have him (and the trades to do something about it), he has to go.
Possibilities : Brent GUERRA (Haw) - $368,000 Av 82
Chris YARRAN (Carl) - $361,600 Av 70 My Choice – Worth it against Gold Coast
Josh HUNT (Geel) - $359,400 Av 76
Scott THOMPSON (Nth) - $353,700 Av 82
Karmichael HUNT (Gold Coast. Value - $280,800. Av 58. Out for Season with Chest Injury)
Whilst HUNT has not exactly set the world on fire in terms of SC scores in 2012 (averaging only 58 points per game), he has shown a dramatic improvement in his ability to read and follow the play, and has been a steady contributor to the Gold Coast midfield. The incredible stat for HUNT is that he still remains in 6% of SC teams – a testament to the fact that many fantasy football players love to take a chance and follow the dream! HUNT has succumbed to a chest injury however, and is now out for the remainder of the season. Not much to choose to replace him, but it has to be done.
Possibilities : Ben STRATTON (Haw) - $278,600 Av 62
Chris TARRANT (Coll) - $268,700 Av 55
Ben RUTTEN (Adel) - $268,400 Av 53
Nick DUIGAN (Carl) - $259,100 Av 56 My Choice – Can Score Well
TRADE OF THE WEEK
It doesn’t get much bigger in AFL terms that this week’s nomination for Trade of the Week – yep, that’s right, it’s Freo man-mountain Aaron SANDILANDS. Controversially brought into the Freo lineup at the last minute last weekend, the Dockers ruckman slipped straight back into the swing of things, belting out a very tidy 117 pts for the match against in form Tiger opponent Ivan MARIC. This week he’ll tackle Roo’s beanpole Todd GOLDSTEIN, but expect Big Sandi to be even better for last week’s run and to belt out another big score. If you make it through to the GF next week, SANDI plays Melbourne – a team he could absolutely slaughter. If you have the trades and no injury concerns, get him in now!
Whilst the Bombers are remaining coy yet confidant about FLETCHERs chances of lining up in their “must win” match against the Tigers this week, one would have to think that given his age and his history of leg issues, FLETCHER is very doubtful to play. In a season that has seen him average 82 pts per game, FLETCH still remains in an amazing 2.8% of SC teams leading into Prelim week. For those coaches who have him (and the trades to do something about it), he has to go.
Possibilities : Brent GUERRA (Haw) - $368,000 Av 82
Chris YARRAN (Carl) - $361,600 Av 70 My Choice – Worth it against Gold Coast
Josh HUNT (Geel) - $359,400 Av 76
Scott THOMPSON (Nth) - $353,700 Av 82
Karmichael HUNT (Gold Coast. Value - $280,800. Av 58. Out for Season with Chest Injury)
Whilst HUNT has not exactly set the world on fire in terms of SC scores in 2012 (averaging only 58 points per game), he has shown a dramatic improvement in his ability to read and follow the play, and has been a steady contributor to the Gold Coast midfield. The incredible stat for HUNT is that he still remains in 6% of SC teams – a testament to the fact that many fantasy football players love to take a chance and follow the dream! HUNT has succumbed to a chest injury however, and is now out for the remainder of the season. Not much to choose to replace him, but it has to be done.
Possibilities : Ben STRATTON (Haw) - $278,600 Av 62
Chris TARRANT (Coll) - $268,700 Av 55
Ben RUTTEN (Adel) - $268,400 Av 53
Nick DUIGAN (Carl) - $259,100 Av 56 My Choice – Can Score Well
TRADE OF THE WEEK
It doesn’t get much bigger in AFL terms that this week’s nomination for Trade of the Week – yep, that’s right, it’s Freo man-mountain Aaron SANDILANDS. Controversially brought into the Freo lineup at the last minute last weekend, the Dockers ruckman slipped straight back into the swing of things, belting out a very tidy 117 pts for the match against in form Tiger opponent Ivan MARIC. This week he’ll tackle Roo’s beanpole Todd GOLDSTEIN, but expect Big Sandi to be even better for last week’s run and to belt out another big score. If you make it through to the GF next week, SANDI plays Melbourne – a team he could absolutely slaughter. If you have the trades and no injury concerns, get him in now!