Trade Winds – 2013 Round 3
If the first two weeks were the calm before the storm on the AFL injury front, then round three was certainly when the wild weather hit – and hit hard. It’s more than a few beers can handle this week – grab a slab, a couple of packets of Salt and Vinegar chips, and let’s settle in for the ride.
The most significant injury in round 3 in SC terms was undoubtedly the shoulder damage to popular Geelong midfielder/forward Travis VARCOE (Av.44). VARCOE was in a staggering 37% of SC teams, however – to be honest – he really hadn’t performed in season 2013, and will now be out for up to 12 weeks. He simply has to go, and there are two ways to look at it – a downgrade to a rookie who’s flying and pocket the cash, or a sideways trade. With the first option consider Port dynamo Jake NEADE (Av.73) or Collingwood rookie Sam DWYER (Av.76). If a straight swap is what you are looking at, it’s Tiger pair Chris KNIGHTS (Av.75) or Ricky PETTARD (Av.70). Personally, I’d be looking at NEADE, or trying to milk some cash from elsewhere and stretch up to LeCras or Kennedy.
If the first two weeks were the calm before the storm on the AFL injury front, then round three was certainly when the wild weather hit – and hit hard. It’s more than a few beers can handle this week – grab a slab, a couple of packets of Salt and Vinegar chips, and let’s settle in for the ride.
The most significant injury in round 3 in SC terms was undoubtedly the shoulder damage to popular Geelong midfielder/forward Travis VARCOE (Av.44). VARCOE was in a staggering 37% of SC teams, however – to be honest – he really hadn’t performed in season 2013, and will now be out for up to 12 weeks. He simply has to go, and there are two ways to look at it – a downgrade to a rookie who’s flying and pocket the cash, or a sideways trade. With the first option consider Port dynamo Jake NEADE (Av.73) or Collingwood rookie Sam DWYER (Av.76). If a straight swap is what you are looking at, it’s Tiger pair Chris KNIGHTS (Av.75) or Ricky PETTARD (Av.70). Personally, I’d be looking at NEADE, or trying to milk some cash from elsewhere and stretch up to LeCras or Kennedy.
GWS big man Jonathan PATTON (Av. 56) was another to feel the pinch last weekend, crashing to the turf in a Ryhs STANLEY tackle and wrenching his knee. It’s an ACL for the big fella, which signals curtains for him in 2013. In a respectable 14% of SC teams, many had high hopes for PATTON this year. He is in the same boat as Varcoe (see above) in terms of replacement options, with NEADE the pick of the bunch.
Next most popular player to go down after round three is Bomber rookie Nick KOMMER (Av.61), who is selected in a significant 18% of teams. Performing at a nice level for a rookie, KOMMER has fallen foul of the MRP, out for a fortnight for a pretty ordinary late clip on Docker Kepler BRADLEY. My advice – keep him, he’ll be nice bench cover as the season progresses.
Next in line is Blue big man Matthew KREUZER (Av.86). Showing signs of a bit of a breakout year, KRUZE had been impressive so far in 2013, something his 12% of coaches would’ve been enjoying. However, his thumb has been fractured, and he will now miss a minimum of three weeks. That is the awkward amount in SC terms, but given the extra trades this year I’d probably move him on - and there are some juicy prospective replacements. Mike PYKE (Av. 98) and Matthew LUENBERGER (Av. 97) are most obvious, with LUEY getting the nod purely on the cash you will make from the trade.
Another big man to fall foul of the curse of round 3 was Bomber Paddy RYDER (Av 96). RYDER, like most of his teammates, has had an exciting start to the year, and the 9% of teams that have him would’ve been expecting that to continue this week, however its not to be. A head-high hit on Luke McPHARLIN has seen RYDER ousted for three weeks, and for mine that is too long. Trade him out for Sam JACOBS (Av.104) or Will MINSON (Av. 121) and your team will actually be better for it. JACOBS would be the one I reckon, although Will would be a great POD if he can keep it up.
Adelaide are struggling so much even the captain has jumped ship, with midfielder Nathan Van BERLO (Av.67) out for a month with a bruised knee. Only in 1.5% of teams, Van BERLO has failed to fire so far in 2013, and simply has to be traded – look to bring in Isaac SMITH (Av. 79), Taylor HUNT (Av.95) or Chad WINGARD (Av.118) as the best replacements. Even though his average will drop, I still think WINGARD is well worth considering, only just ahead of SMITH.
Selected in a surprising 1.2% of teams, GWS ruckman Dean BROGAN (Av. 96) is yet another to get suspended after last weekend’s matches, out for 3 weeks following a behind-the-play bump on St Kilda youngster Jack NEWNES that left him with a broken jaw. BROGAN can count himself very lucky it was only that amount of weeks, and not a fair few more. Anyway, he has to go – only one real option, Lions big man LUENBERGER (Av. 97) again the best option.
Finally, we come to two Bulldogs to round off proceedings. Firstly unsung forward Tory DICKSON (Av.60), who hasn’t quite been able to find the form that saw him rise in stocks last year, has been struck down with a ruptured ankle ligament and won’t be seen for the next 8 weeks. Thankfully he’s only in 1% of teams, but those who have him need to move him on – look at Cat Steven MOTLOP (Av. 81) or Magpie spare-parts-man Tyson GOLDSACK (Av. 75), with MOTLOP getting the nod due to better job security. The second Bulldog to go down after round 3 is – yep, you guessed it – perennial SC disappointment, Shaun HIGGINS (Av. 59). Incredibly, HIGGINS was selected this year in a touch under 1% of teams, and has unfortunately succumbed to a serious foot injury that will see him miss the entire season. However if you have him all is not lost, with decent replacements Quentin LYNCH (Av. 91), Matthew STOKES (Av. 98) and Josh J KENNEDY (Av. 116) all more than worthy replacements. LYNCH or KENNEDY would get the nod from me, with KENNEDY a nose ahead.
Wow, what a weekend. If you had two, three or more of these players in your lineup, I feel for you – do what you have to, get up off the canvass and carry on. Better to get the injuries now rather than on the eve of the finals, when it really hurts. Let’s hope round 4 doesn’t present us with similar issues in next week’s column.
Good luck!
Next most popular player to go down after round three is Bomber rookie Nick KOMMER (Av.61), who is selected in a significant 18% of teams. Performing at a nice level for a rookie, KOMMER has fallen foul of the MRP, out for a fortnight for a pretty ordinary late clip on Docker Kepler BRADLEY. My advice – keep him, he’ll be nice bench cover as the season progresses.
Next in line is Blue big man Matthew KREUZER (Av.86). Showing signs of a bit of a breakout year, KRUZE had been impressive so far in 2013, something his 12% of coaches would’ve been enjoying. However, his thumb has been fractured, and he will now miss a minimum of three weeks. That is the awkward amount in SC terms, but given the extra trades this year I’d probably move him on - and there are some juicy prospective replacements. Mike PYKE (Av. 98) and Matthew LUENBERGER (Av. 97) are most obvious, with LUEY getting the nod purely on the cash you will make from the trade.
Another big man to fall foul of the curse of round 3 was Bomber Paddy RYDER (Av 96). RYDER, like most of his teammates, has had an exciting start to the year, and the 9% of teams that have him would’ve been expecting that to continue this week, however its not to be. A head-high hit on Luke McPHARLIN has seen RYDER ousted for three weeks, and for mine that is too long. Trade him out for Sam JACOBS (Av.104) or Will MINSON (Av. 121) and your team will actually be better for it. JACOBS would be the one I reckon, although Will would be a great POD if he can keep it up.
Adelaide are struggling so much even the captain has jumped ship, with midfielder Nathan Van BERLO (Av.67) out for a month with a bruised knee. Only in 1.5% of teams, Van BERLO has failed to fire so far in 2013, and simply has to be traded – look to bring in Isaac SMITH (Av. 79), Taylor HUNT (Av.95) or Chad WINGARD (Av.118) as the best replacements. Even though his average will drop, I still think WINGARD is well worth considering, only just ahead of SMITH.
Selected in a surprising 1.2% of teams, GWS ruckman Dean BROGAN (Av. 96) is yet another to get suspended after last weekend’s matches, out for 3 weeks following a behind-the-play bump on St Kilda youngster Jack NEWNES that left him with a broken jaw. BROGAN can count himself very lucky it was only that amount of weeks, and not a fair few more. Anyway, he has to go – only one real option, Lions big man LUENBERGER (Av. 97) again the best option.
Finally, we come to two Bulldogs to round off proceedings. Firstly unsung forward Tory DICKSON (Av.60), who hasn’t quite been able to find the form that saw him rise in stocks last year, has been struck down with a ruptured ankle ligament and won’t be seen for the next 8 weeks. Thankfully he’s only in 1% of teams, but those who have him need to move him on – look at Cat Steven MOTLOP (Av. 81) or Magpie spare-parts-man Tyson GOLDSACK (Av. 75), with MOTLOP getting the nod due to better job security. The second Bulldog to go down after round 3 is – yep, you guessed it – perennial SC disappointment, Shaun HIGGINS (Av. 59). Incredibly, HIGGINS was selected this year in a touch under 1% of teams, and has unfortunately succumbed to a serious foot injury that will see him miss the entire season. However if you have him all is not lost, with decent replacements Quentin LYNCH (Av. 91), Matthew STOKES (Av. 98) and Josh J KENNEDY (Av. 116) all more than worthy replacements. LYNCH or KENNEDY would get the nod from me, with KENNEDY a nose ahead.
Wow, what a weekend. If you had two, three or more of these players in your lineup, I feel for you – do what you have to, get up off the canvass and carry on. Better to get the injuries now rather than on the eve of the finals, when it really hurts. Let’s hope round 4 doesn’t present us with similar issues in next week’s column.
Good luck!