Remember that relative good run we were having in the fantasy football world in terms of injuries and suspensions? Well, that’s quickly become a thing of the past with a nightmare round 13 leaving a number of big name players out for several weeks, as well as numerous guns and fringe players being marked as “questionable” leading in to selection for this weekend’s matches. While we bid
a not-so-fond farewell to the horrible bye weeks, we are now faced with a normal week of SC selection scarred by missing players. How many trades you have left – and how you use them – could go a long way to securing your team a victory this week and beyond.
a not-so-fond farewell to the horrible bye weeks, we are now faced with a normal week of SC selection scarred by missing players. How many trades you have left – and how you use them – could go a long way to securing your team a victory this week and beyond.
By far the most popular SC player to succumb to injury this week is Hawk defender Grant BIRCHALL (Av 92). Selected in 30% of SC teams, BIRCHALL has gone from suffering what
initially appeared to be a minor knee injury to a PCL strain, which will see him out of action for 4 to 6 weeks, with the longer holiday being the more likely result. In simple terms, this means he has to go. Look to replace him with Hamish HARTLETT (Av 90) or team mate and POD Shaun BURGOYNE (Av 86), who could see more of the ball with BIRCH gone. Another to consider is fallen Brisbane premium Pearce HANLEY (Av 98), but you’ll need to find $15,000 for that upgrade.
Next cab of the rank in terms of popularity is the enigma that is Geelong utility Steve JOHNSON (Av
116). Suspended for two weeks following a contentious bump on HANLEY, JOHNNO must now sit out huge games against Fremantle and Hawthorn. Two weeks doesn’t sound like much in the big scheme of things, but if you are in the 20% of SC teams who have him and you need to win those league matches, then you just might need to trade him out. If you have him as a mid, look to Kieran
JACK (114), Jobe WATSON (116) or Joel SELWOOD (109) – the latter a transaction that will net you $62,000. If you have Stevie as a forward and need to move him on, look toward Jimmy BARTEL (110), Andrew WALKER (110) or Dean COX (111).
Dual Brownlow Medallist Adam GOODES (Av 84) is selected in 5% of SC teams but is another who will be missing for a fortnight with a minor knee strain. Whilst GOODESY hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this year he has been a solid scorer, and again if you need to win, you might need to replace him in your lineup. Fortunately the substitutes are good, the best of them being Travis CLOKE (Av 100), Colin SYLVIA (Av 86) and Docker Michael WALTERS (Av 87). Get on CLOKE, I say.
West Coast put up a brave fight against Hawthorn last Friday night, however they paid a big price for their efforts, losing two of their better players to fairly long-term injuries. The first of these is defender Shannon HURN (Av 87), selected in 4% of SC teams, who has damaged his ankle and will
be missing for around eight weeks. Obviously he needs to be traded out, no question. Possible replacements look to be Lion duo Pearce HANLEY (Av 98) or Jed ADCOCK (Av 87), or Collingwood’s Harry O’BRIEN (Av 87). Whilst he has struggled a bit of late, I still think HANLEY is the pick of this bunch, particularly looking at Brisbane’s draw.
The second Eagle to have his wings clipped last weekend was ball magnet Scott SELWOOD (Av 103).
Surprisingly selected in only 2% of SC teams, SELWOOD has injured his thumb and will be missing for at least 4 weeks, possibly 6. Once again, this means you cannot hold him on your bench, and he must go – however, the bonus is that his replacements are all quality. The best appear to be Leigh
MONTAGNA (Av 111), Josh KENNEDY (Av 112), Nathan FYFE (Av 110) or Geelong captain Joel SELWOOD (Av 109) – a transaction that would gain you $30,000.
To the lower end of the scale now, and Kangaroo forward Lindsay THOMAS (Av 71) was subbed out of the game early last weekend and looks to have torn a hamstring, meaning he could be missing for up to a month. Selected in only 1.7% of SC teams, if the injury is confirmed come selection time then THOMAS must go, and the pickings are indeed slim. Best options seem to be Jeremy CAMERON (Av 68) or Mark LeCRAS (Av 78), with the edge going to LeCRAS – just.
Finally former Supercoach ‘must have’ St Kilda defender Sam FISHER (Av 80) has succumbed to a nagging foot injury and gone in for surgery, meaning he will be gone for the season. FISHER was only selected in 1.5% of teams, however he will leave a hole and simply has to be traded out. Fortunately he still has some currency, so look to replace him with Hamish HARTLETT (Av 90) or Pearce HANLEY (Av 98) – the latter decision requiring an extra $10,000.
To make matters worse this week, there are also big question marks over the availability of popular selections Brett GOODES (Wrist injury) and Michael BARLOW (minor facial surgery). Also in the mix to cause us more pain are rookies Nick VLASTUIN, Sam MAYES and Nathan HROVAT, who all underperformed last weekend and could find themselves out of the action this weekend.
Batten down the hatches folks. This is when fantasy footy gets interesting.
initially appeared to be a minor knee injury to a PCL strain, which will see him out of action for 4 to 6 weeks, with the longer holiday being the more likely result. In simple terms, this means he has to go. Look to replace him with Hamish HARTLETT (Av 90) or team mate and POD Shaun BURGOYNE (Av 86), who could see more of the ball with BIRCH gone. Another to consider is fallen Brisbane premium Pearce HANLEY (Av 98), but you’ll need to find $15,000 for that upgrade.
Next cab of the rank in terms of popularity is the enigma that is Geelong utility Steve JOHNSON (Av
116). Suspended for two weeks following a contentious bump on HANLEY, JOHNNO must now sit out huge games against Fremantle and Hawthorn. Two weeks doesn’t sound like much in the big scheme of things, but if you are in the 20% of SC teams who have him and you need to win those league matches, then you just might need to trade him out. If you have him as a mid, look to Kieran
JACK (114), Jobe WATSON (116) or Joel SELWOOD (109) – the latter a transaction that will net you $62,000. If you have Stevie as a forward and need to move him on, look toward Jimmy BARTEL (110), Andrew WALKER (110) or Dean COX (111).
Dual Brownlow Medallist Adam GOODES (Av 84) is selected in 5% of SC teams but is another who will be missing for a fortnight with a minor knee strain. Whilst GOODESY hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this year he has been a solid scorer, and again if you need to win, you might need to replace him in your lineup. Fortunately the substitutes are good, the best of them being Travis CLOKE (Av 100), Colin SYLVIA (Av 86) and Docker Michael WALTERS (Av 87). Get on CLOKE, I say.
West Coast put up a brave fight against Hawthorn last Friday night, however they paid a big price for their efforts, losing two of their better players to fairly long-term injuries. The first of these is defender Shannon HURN (Av 87), selected in 4% of SC teams, who has damaged his ankle and will
be missing for around eight weeks. Obviously he needs to be traded out, no question. Possible replacements look to be Lion duo Pearce HANLEY (Av 98) or Jed ADCOCK (Av 87), or Collingwood’s Harry O’BRIEN (Av 87). Whilst he has struggled a bit of late, I still think HANLEY is the pick of this bunch, particularly looking at Brisbane’s draw.
The second Eagle to have his wings clipped last weekend was ball magnet Scott SELWOOD (Av 103).
Surprisingly selected in only 2% of SC teams, SELWOOD has injured his thumb and will be missing for at least 4 weeks, possibly 6. Once again, this means you cannot hold him on your bench, and he must go – however, the bonus is that his replacements are all quality. The best appear to be Leigh
MONTAGNA (Av 111), Josh KENNEDY (Av 112), Nathan FYFE (Av 110) or Geelong captain Joel SELWOOD (Av 109) – a transaction that would gain you $30,000.
To the lower end of the scale now, and Kangaroo forward Lindsay THOMAS (Av 71) was subbed out of the game early last weekend and looks to have torn a hamstring, meaning he could be missing for up to a month. Selected in only 1.7% of SC teams, if the injury is confirmed come selection time then THOMAS must go, and the pickings are indeed slim. Best options seem to be Jeremy CAMERON (Av 68) or Mark LeCRAS (Av 78), with the edge going to LeCRAS – just.
Finally former Supercoach ‘must have’ St Kilda defender Sam FISHER (Av 80) has succumbed to a nagging foot injury and gone in for surgery, meaning he will be gone for the season. FISHER was only selected in 1.5% of teams, however he will leave a hole and simply has to be traded out. Fortunately he still has some currency, so look to replace him with Hamish HARTLETT (Av 90) or Pearce HANLEY (Av 98) – the latter decision requiring an extra $10,000.
To make matters worse this week, there are also big question marks over the availability of popular selections Brett GOODES (Wrist injury) and Michael BARLOW (minor facial surgery). Also in the mix to cause us more pain are rookies Nick VLASTUIN, Sam MAYES and Nathan HROVAT, who all underperformed last weekend and could find themselves out of the action this weekend.
Batten down the hatches folks. This is when fantasy footy gets interesting.