Gary ABLETT - Gold Coast - $673,400 Av 137
Damn you MACAFFER, damn you. Not only has the Collingwood tagger ruined SC scores all season, he then goes and contributes to GAZZA missing the remainder of the season – meaning he must be traded by the 72% of teams who have him. It was the ultimate nightmare last weekend – not only because Gaz is now gone for the year, but because of his poor score as captain. Still, at least it makes it interesting from here on in!
Options : Scott PENDLEBURY (Coll) - $640,400 Av 129
Tom ROCKLIFF (Bris) - $640,100 Av 125 (Susp 1 week)
Nat FYFE (Freo) - $639,300 Av 122
Josh KENNEDY (Syd) - $593,300 Av 118
Tom LIBERATORE (Bull) - $562,900 Av 114
Verdict : With the choice of anyone, pretty much just pick the one from the bunch above that you haven’t got. Particularly keep an eye on Libba if you need a cash injection.
Tom ROCKLIFF - Brisbane - $640,100 Av 125
To make misfield issues even worse, ROCKLIFF – who would be the natural Gazza replacement – has been suspended for one week. In a shocking case of timing, ROCKY will only miss this weekend for the 13% of SC teams who have him, however if you are one of those and you need to win, then a trade might be on the cards! Obviously keep him if you can, but if you are desperate to win, moving him on could just get you over the line.
Options and Verdict - See the options and advice for ABLETT above. The situation is exactly the same for ROCKLIFF.
Brendan GODDARD - Essendon - $569,100 Av 107
Yet another premium and popular midfielder to earn the wrath of the MRP this week, GODDARD too will be missing for one week – if you are unlucky enough to have Gaz, Rocky AND Goddard then you are in a world of hurt. The swingman will be back next week, but as with ROCKLIFF, if you are desperate to win and have a trade or few up your sleeve, you might need to move him on.
Options : Brent HARVEY (North) - $575,400 Av 110
Dustin MARTIN (Rich) - $574,000 Av 103
Rory SLOANE (Adel) - $567,800 Av 113
Michael BARLOW (Freo) - $547,000 Av 108
Verdict : Once again, any of these players would be beneficial to your lineup, but I’d lean slightly toward SLOANE – a nice POD in a team fighting for the eight.
Adam TRELOAR - GWS - $509,800 Av 109
Yet another popular but slightly unique midfield selection – in 4% of Sc teams – TRELOAR has injured his groin and will be missing for one to two weeks. Whilst this is a huge blow to the Giants young midfield, it’s also a massive blow to SC aspirants, particularly those who have some of the other onballers already named as missing this weekend! TRELOAR might be the one you discard – if so, your options are good.
Options : Steve JOHNSON (Geel) - $505,300 Av 110
Jaeger O’MEARA (GC) - $499,200 Av 102
Brad EBERT (Port) - $497,500 Av 101
Verdict : I can’t stand him, but at that price JOHNSON is a steal – although a slight risk due to ‘resting’ or suspension. O’MEARA could be a POD who really fires in ABLETT’s absence.
Bradley HILL - Hawthorn - $376,300 Av 81
One of the real improvers at the Hawks this season, HILL has been explosive and exciting in most games, with a respectable average of 81 pts. However he was a late withdrawal with a knee injury last weekend and won’t front up again this week – is it more than we are being told? Might be time to cut him.
Options : Hamish HARTLETT (Port) - $409,800 Av 92
Anthony MILES (Rich) - $425,400 Av 104
Verdict : Not many quality options here, but I’d find the cash to get HARTLETT – a quality player in a team that should bounce back to its best form soon.
Josh.J.Kennedy - West Coast - $395,000 Av 77
Selected in 3.5% of SC teams, KENNEDY has been up and down this year, but has now been suspended for a week for a pretty ordinary bump – he was probably lucky not to be out for longer. If you have forward bench coverage in the form of McGOVERN or similar, use it – otherwise, if you need a victory, look to the players below to help.
Options : Jack RIEWOLDT (Rich) - $405,700 Av 85
Chad WINGARD (Port) - $399,700 Av 80
Tex WALKER (Adel) - $371,200 Av 75
Verdict : None of these three are really setting it alight, but I’d probably go WALKER, who I think has the potential to improve as the season runs its course.
Trent McKENZIE - Gold Coast - $425,200 Av 79
One of several GC players to go down in the last quarter last weekend, McKENZIE has torn his hamstring and will be missing for at least 3 to 4 weeks. Selected in 1.5% of teams, this is just another blow to many already depleted lineups. If you have no coverage and need to get rid of him, look to the players below to provide decent replacement.
Options : Scott THOMPSON (North) - $434,200 Av 83
Kade SIMPSON (Carl) - $422,000 Av 97
Grant BIRCHALL (Haw) - $419,400 Av 86
Verdict : Three very good players here, but at that price SIMPSON is an absolute bargain. Get on him.
Jack STEVEN - St Kilda - $427,100 Av 85
Another week, another significant injury at the Saints. This time its reigning Best and Fairest STEVEN, who has again succumbed to a leg injury – this time to his thigh, that will see him out for a month. In a disappointing year for STEVEN and the club, that also means you have to move him on as well – luckily he is only in 1% of teams.
Options : Ben CUNNINGTON (North) - $429,600 Av 92
Leigh MONTAGNA (St.K) - $428,300 Av 95
Brent STANTON (Ess) - $426,900 Av 91
Anthony MILES (Rich) - $425,400 Av 104
Verdict : MILES is the risky option in terms of experience, but I’d be leaning toward MONTAGNA or STANTON as seasoned campaigners who can turn it on.
Stephen CONIGLIO - GWS - $379,600 Av 84
Somewhat surprisingly selected in 1% of SC teams, CONIGLIO joins TRELOAR on the sidelines this week – however he won’t be back this season, having broken his thumb. Obviously if you have him there is no choice – get him outta there.
Options : Anthony MILES (Rich) - $425,400 Av 92
Hamish HARTLETT (Port) - $409,800 Av 92
Verdict : Not much to choose from – and you need a little cash to get these two – but I’d settle for HARTLETT just.
Matt ROSA - West Coast - $420,800 Av 84
Another who is surprisingly in 1% of SC teams, ROSA has become one of several players this season to suffer a torn pectoral muscle, which will see him miss the rest of the season. As a fringe POD player his average of 84 hasn’t been bad, however he has to go.
Options : Leigh MONTAGNA (St K) - $428,300 Av 95
Anthony MILES (RICH) - $425,400 Av 104
Verdict : Not a great deal to choose from, but I think either of these blokes would do the job – surely MONTAGNA has to lift doesn’t he?
Wow, I certainly hope you don’t have more than one or two of those players – if so, it’s going to be a difficult round 17. Make your choices wisely – remember there is no guarantee this won’t happen to us again in a week or two! Good luck…