After a delayed start we’re happy to announce that Trade Winds is back for 2014. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) we have chosen to return in a week when there is very little action in terms of injuries or suspensions to popular players – however a couple of rookies are on the bubble and might need to be upgraded or downgraded, depending on how your team is shaping up.
Richard DOUGLAS - Adelaide Crows - $502,700 Av 94
The only player to get more than one week’s suspension from last weekend’s matches is Crow midfielder Richard DOUGLAS. The engine room specialist will be missing for the next two matches – and can probably consider himself pretty lucky after knocking Callan WARD into next week with an unexpected shepherd. At a touch over half a million dollars and sitting in less than 1% of SC teams, DOUGLAS was probably a decent POD, but now owners face the dilemma to trade him or keep him. If you are desperate for a win and have plenty of trades up your sleeve, it might be necessary to move him on.
Richard DOUGLAS - Adelaide Crows - $502,700 Av 94
The only player to get more than one week’s suspension from last weekend’s matches is Crow midfielder Richard DOUGLAS. The engine room specialist will be missing for the next two matches – and can probably consider himself pretty lucky after knocking Callan WARD into next week with an unexpected shepherd. At a touch over half a million dollars and sitting in less than 1% of SC teams, DOUGLAS was probably a decent POD, but now owners face the dilemma to trade him or keep him. If you are desperate for a win and have plenty of trades up your sleeve, it might be necessary to move him on.
Options : Nathan JONES (Melb) - $502,200 Av 114
David SWALLOW (GC) - $502,900 Av 115
Marc MURPHY (Carl) - $496,900 Av 110
Verdict : As a straight swap, JONES is your man. A great POD, hard at the footy, heart and soul of his team and manages to fight through the tag. Good option.
Ed CURNOW - Carlton - $451,900 Av 101
In surprisingly as many teams as DOUGLAS, CURNOW has slipped under the radar somewhat as a POD midfielder in 2014. With scores of 115, 101, 61, 131 and 99 in a struggling Carlton lineup, CURNOW has risen $41,000 in value and looked to be on track for a good year. That’s gone now after he fractured his fibula last weekend, and looks set to miss the next 6 weeks or so. With Juddy also gone, suddenly the Blues midfield looks sad and sorry.
Options : Dayne ZORKO (Bris) - $448,700 Av 102
Luke HODGE (Haw) - $449,600 Av 78
Brad HILL (Haw) - $434,900 Av 103
Verdict : CURNOW has to go, and whilst HODGE represents great value, I’d definitely get ZORKO in board if looking at a straight swap scenario. Otherwise find a little cash and reach up to McRAE.
Xavier ELLIS - West Coast - $278,100 Av 65
Ah, how we love to cull the cash cows. Whilst ELLIS hasn’t set the world on fire, his scores previous to last weekend’s injury-affected 2 read quite well – 66, 98, 93, and 66, leading to a $119,000 price rise for the 46% of teams who have him. However, last week he tweaked his troublesome calf and, with a breakeven this weekend of 101, the time seems right to move Xavier on and make some cash.
Options : Nick ROBERTSON (Bris) - $117,300 Av 61
Nathan GORDON (Rich) - $149,800 Av 48
Jack BILLINGS (StK) - $207,300 Av 57
Verdict : Whilst I like the look of BILLINGS, the value bet is ROBERTSON, whose job security looks pretty good in a struggling Brisbane lineup – as well as making you the most money in the transaction.
Dom TYSON - Melbourne - $325,100 Av 81
Another ‘near-rookie’ who has fattened up nicely for us is Melbourne midfielder Dom TYSON. Starting off the year on fire with scores of 111, 105 and 94, TYSON’s output has decreased in the last two weeks, returning ordinary figures of 50 and 49. Rising $108,000 but with a breakeven of 98 this weekend against Sydney, it might be time to move TYSON on – possibly in a double trade with ELLIS, downgrading one and upgrading the other?
Options : Look at the time guys as listed above for ELLIS, however if you are doing the double trade, then attractive gun midfielders like KENNEDY, MONTAGNA, WATSON, GRIFFEN and JONES certainly catch the eye to strengthen your team.
That’s it for this week. It’s good to be back, and I look forward to putting up a few more trade options following this weekend’s round of footy.
David SWALLOW (GC) - $502,900 Av 115
Marc MURPHY (Carl) - $496,900 Av 110
Verdict : As a straight swap, JONES is your man. A great POD, hard at the footy, heart and soul of his team and manages to fight through the tag. Good option.
Ed CURNOW - Carlton - $451,900 Av 101
In surprisingly as many teams as DOUGLAS, CURNOW has slipped under the radar somewhat as a POD midfielder in 2014. With scores of 115, 101, 61, 131 and 99 in a struggling Carlton lineup, CURNOW has risen $41,000 in value and looked to be on track for a good year. That’s gone now after he fractured his fibula last weekend, and looks set to miss the next 6 weeks or so. With Juddy also gone, suddenly the Blues midfield looks sad and sorry.
Options : Dayne ZORKO (Bris) - $448,700 Av 102
Luke HODGE (Haw) - $449,600 Av 78
Brad HILL (Haw) - $434,900 Av 103
Verdict : CURNOW has to go, and whilst HODGE represents great value, I’d definitely get ZORKO in board if looking at a straight swap scenario. Otherwise find a little cash and reach up to McRAE.
Xavier ELLIS - West Coast - $278,100 Av 65
Ah, how we love to cull the cash cows. Whilst ELLIS hasn’t set the world on fire, his scores previous to last weekend’s injury-affected 2 read quite well – 66, 98, 93, and 66, leading to a $119,000 price rise for the 46% of teams who have him. However, last week he tweaked his troublesome calf and, with a breakeven this weekend of 101, the time seems right to move Xavier on and make some cash.
Options : Nick ROBERTSON (Bris) - $117,300 Av 61
Nathan GORDON (Rich) - $149,800 Av 48
Jack BILLINGS (StK) - $207,300 Av 57
Verdict : Whilst I like the look of BILLINGS, the value bet is ROBERTSON, whose job security looks pretty good in a struggling Brisbane lineup – as well as making you the most money in the transaction.
Dom TYSON - Melbourne - $325,100 Av 81
Another ‘near-rookie’ who has fattened up nicely for us is Melbourne midfielder Dom TYSON. Starting off the year on fire with scores of 111, 105 and 94, TYSON’s output has decreased in the last two weeks, returning ordinary figures of 50 and 49. Rising $108,000 but with a breakeven of 98 this weekend against Sydney, it might be time to move TYSON on – possibly in a double trade with ELLIS, downgrading one and upgrading the other?
Options : Look at the time guys as listed above for ELLIS, however if you are doing the double trade, then attractive gun midfielders like KENNEDY, MONTAGNA, WATSON, GRIFFEN and JONES certainly catch the eye to strengthen your team.
That’s it for this week. It’s good to be back, and I look forward to putting up a few more trade options following this weekend’s round of footy.