Well this it is folks – the moment we’ve all been waiting for. FINALS TIME. This is where it all begins – the past 19 weeks have meant nothing if you can’t put it all together now, when it really matters. The last thing you want this week is a doughnut, so if you have any of the players below you MUST move them on…if you have any trades left of course. Fortunately we didn’t have too much carnage as a result of last week’s matches, however remember there’s no use bowing out of the competition in the first week of finals with trades in hand! Good luck all.
Luke DUNSTAN - St Kilda - $360,900 Av 75
Still selected in 13.5% of Sc teams, DUNSTAN has been outstanding in his rookie year with the Saints. A tough character rumoured to be inheriting Lenny HAYES’ number 7 next year (is there any greater honour?) , DUNSTAN has averaged a tidy 75 pts per game this year, but a shoulder injury has now ended his season prematurely. He has to be moved on now, but take this tip…get on him for the Rising Star. He represents great value in my opinion.
Luke DUNSTAN - St Kilda - $360,900 Av 75
Still selected in 13.5% of Sc teams, DUNSTAN has been outstanding in his rookie year with the Saints. A tough character rumoured to be inheriting Lenny HAYES’ number 7 next year (is there any greater honour?) , DUNSTAN has averaged a tidy 75 pts per game this year, but a shoulder injury has now ended his season prematurely. He has to be moved on now, but take this tip…get on him for the Rising Star. He represents great value in my opinion.
Options : Chad WINGARD (Port) - $364,300 Av 78
Farren RAY (St K) - $360,900 Av 84
Jared POLEC (Port) - $353,300 Av 83
Verdict : Tough one this, with not many options. If DUNSTAN is warming your pine, just grab a rookie and use the cash elsewhere. Otherwise take a punt on WINGARD – surely he has to come good?
Jack GUNSTAN - Hawthorn - $463,400 Av 90.5
In a big blow to the Hawks – and the 11% of SC teams who still have him – mobile spearhead GUNSTAN has sustained a knee injury that will see him miss the next 3 to 4 weeks of footy leading in to the AFL finals. Averaging a very respectable 90.5 pts per game, the beauty of GUNSTAN is his steady kicking at goal, leading to good scores from minimal possessions. Still, he now has to make way – yet another Hawk to spend some time on the sidelines in 2014.
Options : Nick RIEWOLDT (St K) - $483,900 Av 91
Jarryd ROUGHEAD (Haw) - $463,800 Av 93
Tom HAWKINS (Geel) - $441,800 Av 86
Verdict : If you are in sudden death this week I’d look strongly at ROO, who will surely fire for his mate Lenny’s final home game. Otherwise it’s hard to go past ROUGHY, even with the Hawks tough run home.
Lachie HENDERSON - Carlton - $433,200 Av 74
Selected in 2.5% of teams as either a forward or defender, HENDERSON has been solid in 2014 without being spectacular, as his average of 74 would attest. Still, most of his owners probably saw him as a POD with a bit of value – something that has now come to an end after he fractured his eye socket last weekend. He now has to be moved on, but thankfully you might actually improve your team – as long as you still have trades of course.
Options as Forward : Tom HAWKINS (Geel) - $441,800 Av 86
Jack RIEWOLDT (Rich) - $435,200 Av 85
Michael HURLEY (Ess) - $409,900 Av 80
Options as a Defender : Sam FISHER (St K) - $435,900 Av 90
Matthew JAENSCH (Adel) - $429,900 Av 88
Grant BIRCHALL (Haw) - $419,900 Av 88
Verdict : If you need a forward, I’d look no further than HAWKINS, especially with the Cats starting to hit some form. At the defensive end, look to replace HENDERSON with BIRCHALL – a ripper trade that will only make your team stronger.
Tendai MZUNGU - Fremantle - $397,100 Av 78
One of those fringe POD players who was going pretty well for the 1% of SC teams who still have him, MZUNGU has strained a hammy and will be missing for the next 2 to 3 weeks, which is a huge blow to the Dockers. If he is in your lineup, you fortunately have some quality players to pick in his place – look no further than the names below.
Options : Leigh MONTAGNA (St K) - $398,800 Av 92
Heritier LUMUMBA (Coll) - $391,800 Av 83
Lewis JETTA (Syd) - $394,200 Av 75
Verdict : Although he’s been struggling lately, MONTAGNA at under $400,000 is an absolute steal – especially this week in Lenny’s last home game. Expect a ton or more.
That’s it for this week’s Trade Winds. Hopefully you still have a few up your sleeve, and worst case scenario you have quality back-up on your bench just in case. Good luck all – tune in next week as we go deeper into the SC finals.
Farren RAY (St K) - $360,900 Av 84
Jared POLEC (Port) - $353,300 Av 83
Verdict : Tough one this, with not many options. If DUNSTAN is warming your pine, just grab a rookie and use the cash elsewhere. Otherwise take a punt on WINGARD – surely he has to come good?
Jack GUNSTAN - Hawthorn - $463,400 Av 90.5
In a big blow to the Hawks – and the 11% of SC teams who still have him – mobile spearhead GUNSTAN has sustained a knee injury that will see him miss the next 3 to 4 weeks of footy leading in to the AFL finals. Averaging a very respectable 90.5 pts per game, the beauty of GUNSTAN is his steady kicking at goal, leading to good scores from minimal possessions. Still, he now has to make way – yet another Hawk to spend some time on the sidelines in 2014.
Options : Nick RIEWOLDT (St K) - $483,900 Av 91
Jarryd ROUGHEAD (Haw) - $463,800 Av 93
Tom HAWKINS (Geel) - $441,800 Av 86
Verdict : If you are in sudden death this week I’d look strongly at ROO, who will surely fire for his mate Lenny’s final home game. Otherwise it’s hard to go past ROUGHY, even with the Hawks tough run home.
Lachie HENDERSON - Carlton - $433,200 Av 74
Selected in 2.5% of teams as either a forward or defender, HENDERSON has been solid in 2014 without being spectacular, as his average of 74 would attest. Still, most of his owners probably saw him as a POD with a bit of value – something that has now come to an end after he fractured his eye socket last weekend. He now has to be moved on, but thankfully you might actually improve your team – as long as you still have trades of course.
Options as Forward : Tom HAWKINS (Geel) - $441,800 Av 86
Jack RIEWOLDT (Rich) - $435,200 Av 85
Michael HURLEY (Ess) - $409,900 Av 80
Options as a Defender : Sam FISHER (St K) - $435,900 Av 90
Matthew JAENSCH (Adel) - $429,900 Av 88
Grant BIRCHALL (Haw) - $419,900 Av 88
Verdict : If you need a forward, I’d look no further than HAWKINS, especially with the Cats starting to hit some form. At the defensive end, look to replace HENDERSON with BIRCHALL – a ripper trade that will only make your team stronger.
Tendai MZUNGU - Fremantle - $397,100 Av 78
One of those fringe POD players who was going pretty well for the 1% of SC teams who still have him, MZUNGU has strained a hammy and will be missing for the next 2 to 3 weeks, which is a huge blow to the Dockers. If he is in your lineup, you fortunately have some quality players to pick in his place – look no further than the names below.
Options : Leigh MONTAGNA (St K) - $398,800 Av 92
Heritier LUMUMBA (Coll) - $391,800 Av 83
Lewis JETTA (Syd) - $394,200 Av 75
Verdict : Although he’s been struggling lately, MONTAGNA at under $400,000 is an absolute steal – especially this week in Lenny’s last home game. Expect a ton or more.
That’s it for this week’s Trade Winds. Hopefully you still have a few up your sleeve, and worst case scenario you have quality back-up on your bench just in case. Good luck all – tune in next week as we go deeper into the SC finals.