Dane SWAN - Collingwood - $429,100 Av 90
Has there been a bigger disappointment in SC terms this season than SWANNY? A ball magnet in previous seasons, 2014 has been decidedly ordinary for the Collingwood onballer, who has now succumbed to a foot injury that will see him out for the next month – season ending as far as his fantasy perspective goes for the 14% of coaches who have him. What a huge letdown he has been this year. Get him out now.
Options : Shaun BURGOYNE (Haw) - $439,500 Av 95
Hamish HARTLETT (Port) - $432,800 Av 91
Leigh MONTAGNA (St K) - $400,200 Av 95
Verdict : As a nice POD, I’d take the chance on MONTAGNA, with HARTLETT not far behind, Either way I think you’ll get more than you were getting from Swan anyway.
Michael HIBBERD - Essendon - $425,400 Av 91
One of the premium running defenders, HIBBERD has had a very interrupted 2014, culminating in yet another leg injury sustained in the Bombers last match. Selected in 8% of SC teams – down slightly after his most recent leg injury, which he only just returned from – HIBBERD will now miss 3 weeks with a hamstring strain, meaning he must be moved on provided you have the spare trade to do so.
Options : Sam FISHER (St K) - $430,300 Av 104
Lynden DUNN (Melb) - $430,300 Av 91
Sam MITCHELL (Haw) - $413,700 Av 88
Verdict : If you want to be brave and need a POD, FISHER is your man – however its impossible to go past MITCHELL at that price. He is SC royalty.
Joe DANIHER - Essendon - $297,200 Av 60
Selected in 7% of SC teams, DANIHER has had a solid year without setting the world on fire. In a couple of games he has shown some massive potential, however he’s not quite ready just yet to be a regular selection in your fantasy forward line. Now, having undergone surgery for a shoulder/clavicle injury that will see him out for 3 to 4 weeks, it’s time for Joe to go. Maybe next year big fella.
Options : Sam MAYES (Bris) - $322,200 Av 72
Jeremy McGOVERN (WCE) - $315,100 Av 74
Patrick CRAMERI (Bull) - $302,000 Av 69
Patrick AMBROSE (Ess) - 293,400 Av 60
Verdict : Tough one here – ideally you’ll have some cash to add to Joe to get a better quality replacement. Failing that, I’d take a chance on McGOVERN, who looks the goods.
Jeremy CAMERON - GWS - $273,700 Av 55
Talk about an annus horribilus – this has been the year from hell for CAMERON, who has only averaged 55 pts per game in season 2014 for the 6% of SC teams that still have him. It’s incredible to believe the brash Dermott BRERETON proclaimed earlier this year that CAMERON would be – not only the best forward at GWS – but the BEST FORWARD EVER. That’s right folks, EVER. Nice one Derm – ever heard of a bloke called LOCKETT? CAREY? DUNSTALL? Even that guy called ABLETT? Cameron’s star is fading before it even began – and now you have to move him on.
Options and Verdict - Same as the options listed above for DANIHER – just hope and pray you have some money to add to CAMERON to bring in someone decent.
Andrejs EVERITT - Carlton - $422,400 Av 81
One of the brighter lights for the Blues this year following his move from the Swans, EVERITT has averaged a very respectable 81 pts per game for the 3.5% of SC teams that still have him as a POD selection. Unfortunately his has succumbed to a knee injury which will see him miss somewhere between 2 and 4 weeks, meaning you have to move him on if you have the trades to do so.
Options : Kade SIMPSON (Carl) - $437,000 Av 98
Sam FISHER (St K) - $430,300 Av 104
Sam MITCHELL (Haw) - $412,700 Av 88
Verdict : You can’t lose here. Anyone of these players should score well for you – MITCHELL or SIMPSON if you are conservative, FISHER if you’re a gambler.
Tom HICKEY - St Kilda - $383,700 Av 88
After a very impressive start to season 2014, HICKEY has been cruelled by injury in the second half of the year. He has now been forced to kiss the year goodbye after another knee setback, meaning the 3.5% of teams who still have him have to get him out now. There are some decent replacements, particularly if you have a little bit of cash put aside – and keep HICKEY in mind for 2015.
Options : Ben McEVOY (Haw) - $434,200 Av 93
Mark JAMAR (Melb) - $396,400 Av 86
Billy LONGER (St K) - $354,900 Av 68
Verdict : If you have the cash then McEVOY is a no-brainer. Failing that, LONGER might actually be an okay choice given that he frees up some cash and will ruck most of the game for the Saints.
That’s it for this week – the last of the H&A games in the fantasy footy world. Good luck, I hope you make the Finals and I look forward to giving you some more advice next week as the real stuff begins.