Tom DERICKX - Sydney - $300,100 Av 56
A popular selection in 23% of SC teams as the R3 backup ruckman, DERICKX has been omitted this week – coincidentally TIPPETT is back to slot in alongside FRANKLIN, REID and of course PYKE. This leads me to think the reign might be over for DERICKX, and that – barring injury – he might not see much game time for the remainder of the season. He’s been a solid servant for us, but now may be the time to move him on – especially if you have SANDI, who may be overdue for a rest.
Option and Verdict : Only one logical option here – Stefan MARTIN from the Lions. At $315,900, MARTIN has been in good form – and, with BROWNY now retired, I’d expect him to stay in the team even if/when LUENBERGER returns.
Rhyce SHAW - Sydney - $422,700 Av 79
SHAW has been another popular pick this year – currently still in 14% of SC teams – and has been a solid performer with an average of 79 pts per game. However an ankle injury last weekend has led to him sitting on the sidelines for what appears to be about 3 weeks – that annoying amount of weeks in fantasy terms. If you have decent cover you might want to hang on to him - otherwise he needs to go.
Options : Corey ENRIGHT (Geel) - $424,500 Av 84
Jack WATTS (Melb) - $425,000 Av 80
Alex RANCE (Rich) - $440,500 Av 88
Verdict : Anyone brave enough to select WATTS? Didn’t think so, but it might pay off. I’d be going RANCE though – very underrated, back from injury and will onlyimprove.
Ryan GRIFFEN - Bulldogs - $463,700 Av 87
A frustrating year for GRIFFEN, who has on a couple of occasions this year looked like a real SC bargain, however has failed to live up to the hype. Crippled by injury again and again in 2014, he now has back spasms that look like keeping him out for somewhere between 2 to 4 weeks. Still in 5% of teams and holding down a valuable midfield spot, the time is now to take your medicine and move GRIFF on.
Options : Leigh MONTAGNA (St K) - $457,200 Av 100
Trent COTCHIN (Rich) - $464,400 Av 97
Dane SWAN (Coll) - $466,200 Av 93
Verdict : For that price all three of these selections have the potential to turn things on big time. My gut tells me the cheapest – MONTAGNA – is most likely to do it.
Robin NAHAS - Kangaroos - $320,500 Av 64
NAHAS? Seriously? Imagine my surprise when I looked to see that 2% of SC teams have NAHAS in their forwardline! Unbelievable I know. Still, we try and cater to everyone here at SCHQ, so if you happen to have the Kangaroo goalsneak in your lineup, he has popped a shoulder and will be gone for 6 to 8 weeks. Unacceptable – get rid of him now.
Options : Jeremy McGOVERN (WCE) - $297,600 Av 91
Stefan MARTIN (Bris) - $315,900 Av 103
Josh JENKINS (Adel) - $321,800 Av 75
Verdict : This trade will actually improve your team without costing you anything in terms of dollars. Get McGOVERN or MARTIN.
Matthew STOKES - Geelong - $526,300 Av 100
One of the unsung heroes of the Geelong team, STOKES just goes about getting the footy and doing the right thing with it week in and week out. Selected in only 1% of SC teams, he has a very tidy average of 100 pts per game – something those teams will miss as he recovers from an ankle injury that could see him out for anywhere between 2 and 8 weeks. He was a nice POD for your team, but that’s too long to wait I’m afraid.
Options : Steve JOHNSON (Geel) - $497,900 Av 108
Nick DAL SANTO (St K) - $518,400 Av 109
Michael BARLOW (Freo) - $529,100 Av 106
Verdict : If someone said you could get Steve JOHNSON for under $500,000 you’d jump at the chance, so start jumping now and get him on board.
Well that’s about it for this week. With the teams released last night you might have to look carefully at your coverage, with popular bench players O’BRIEN and GARDINER both out of the Lions lineup. Trade wisely – remember there are still plenty of matches to go.