Maybe there is a football god, and maybe he (or she) decided to look after us last weekend, as there were virtually no serious injuries to key players to speak of. This is important in normal circumstances, but with the multi-bye rounds upon us, having players fit and healthy is even more crucial to fielding a somewhat competitive team. First things first with your SC side this week, make sure your Brisbane, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Richmond and Western Bulldogs players are all on the bench, replaced by selected players from the other 12 teams. It’s been made pretty easy for you – on the team select page, those with a bye have a blue dot next to their name – the less blue dots the better. Should
you trade this week? My gut feeling is no, unless you really need an extra player or two to possibly get you a crucial victory – and you have a few trades up your sleeve. Of course, every now and then a SC gun comes along you can’t afford to miss, and this year that is looking like being Swan Tom MITCHELL (Av 87 from one game). If you don’t get him this week, MAKE SURE you trade him in next week – he is a GUN, and will not only make you plenty of cash but score very well for you while he’s at it.
you trade this week? My gut feeling is no, unless you really need an extra player or two to possibly get you a crucial victory – and you have a few trades up your sleeve. Of course, every now and then a SC gun comes along you can’t afford to miss, and this year that is looking like being Swan Tom MITCHELL (Av 87 from one game). If you don’t get him this week, MAKE SURE you trade him in next week – he is a GUN, and will not only make you plenty of cash but score very well for you while he’s at it.
There were a few injuries to come out of last weekend’s matches, but all to players who are owned by less than 1% of SC teams. The Suns exciting young forward BRANDON MATERA (Av 60) will be missing for possibly the rest of the season with an ankle injury, while Swan experiment Tom WALSH (Av 16) has also fallen after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury. Injury-prone Bulldog Tom
WILLIAMS (Av 44) too has been struck down again, this time with more shoulder damage that could end his season also.
The biggest injury to a key player however was from someone who didn’t actually play last weekend, and wont for some time. Geelong ageing forward Paul CHAPMAN (Av 100) has been struggling with hamstring issues all season, and news has come out from the Cattery that he has strained it again, and most likely won’t appear at all until the end of the season. Amazingly he is still in almost 2.5% of SC teams, so he simply must go. As a midfielder, look to swap him with Steele SIDEBOTTOM (Av 104), Andrew WALKER (Av 110) or Joel SELWOOD (Av 104). If you have Chappy as a forward, the best options look to be Andrew WALKER (Av 110), Jeff GARLETT (Av 100) or Travis CLOKE (Av 100).
All the best for the bye rounds – remember, you need to look at these three weeks as a combined effort, and either manage your team in the best way possible to ensure you field as good a team as you can every week –or completely write one week off and make sure you win the other two. It’s all about strategy!
WILLIAMS (Av 44) too has been struck down again, this time with more shoulder damage that could end his season also.
The biggest injury to a key player however was from someone who didn’t actually play last weekend, and wont for some time. Geelong ageing forward Paul CHAPMAN (Av 100) has been struggling with hamstring issues all season, and news has come out from the Cattery that he has strained it again, and most likely won’t appear at all until the end of the season. Amazingly he is still in almost 2.5% of SC teams, so he simply must go. As a midfielder, look to swap him with Steele SIDEBOTTOM (Av 104), Andrew WALKER (Av 110) or Joel SELWOOD (Av 104). If you have Chappy as a forward, the best options look to be Andrew WALKER (Av 110), Jeff GARLETT (Av 100) or Travis CLOKE (Av 100).
All the best for the bye rounds – remember, you need to look at these three weeks as a combined effort, and either manage your team in the best way possible to ensure you field as good a team as you can every week –or completely write one week off and make sure you win the other two. It’s all about strategy!