The most popular player to bite the dust this week was Carlton defender Chris YARRAN (Av 71). After
appearing injured the week before, YARRAN ended up being named for the 10% of SC teams who have him, however it quickly became a disaster – one handball (and a score of 2 pts) and he was out of the match with a hamstring injury. Now THAT hurts. It’s not official, but 2 to 3 weeks would be best case scenario, meaning he may have to go. Best options look to be Harry O’BRIEN (Av 82) or Trent MACKENZIE (Av 92) – or if you’re looking to make some cash, sneak a look at James GWILT (Av 98), who would free up $50,000 and has been in some good form since returning from injury.
4% of SC teams but will now miss 2 to 3 matches with a broken jaw, courtesy of Eddie BETTS (see below). My advice would be to keep him if you can, but if you must trade then look at securing Nick
VLASTUIN (Av 72), Jack HUTCHINS (Av 51) or Will SIERAKOWSKI (Av 53). SIERA will give you about $70,000 in the kitty too, and he’s right on the bubble this week.
Of course, if you break a guys jaw you can expect a holiday, and Eddie BETTS (Av 75) falls into that
category with a 3 week suspension. Only in 2% of teams, I’d look to move him on - he hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this season anyway. Possible additions to your side for the “baggy-shorted one” could be Jay SCHULZ (Av 89), Steven MOTLOP (Av 81) or Quentin LYNCH (Av 81).
In a surprising 3.5% of teams, Crow-turned-Tiger Chris KNIGHTS (Av 71) is another who has ended his season as a result of a sickening knee injury. KNIGHTS had performed okay at his new club, but now has to be replaced, and look to either Robbie GRAY (Av 63) or Aaron BLACK (Av 88) to do the job. Either have the potential to improve on their scores as the season progresses – personally I’d lean slightly toward GRAY.
The knee-injury curse continued in round 7, with Fremantle being dealt yet another blow with replacement ruckman Jonathan GRIFFIN (Av 90) going down with a season-ending ACL tear. Having a productive season up to that point, GRIFFIN will be sorely missed by the Dockers, and by the 3% of SC teams who had him. Still, the silver lining is the quality of replacement – look at Tom BELLCHAMBERS (Av 90), Mike PYKE (Av 95), Matthew LUENBERGER (Av 98) or ‘Sauce’ JACOBS (85). All quality big men, but LUEY would be my choice.
Just under 2% of coaches would’ve been sickened by the bone-crunching collision that ended Friday night’s game for Taylor HUNT (Av. 69), as they now need to find a replacement for the Geelong hard nut who will miss the next 8 weeks with a shoulder injury. Not much on offer either – look at Jake MELKSHAM (Av 68), Lachie WHITFIELD (Av 73) or Robbie GRAY (Av 63) to take his place.
There are some undisciplined, ordinary acts seen on the footy field, but the cheap shot dished out by Colin SYLVIA (Av 80) last week was right up there with the worst of recent years. He can consider himself very lucky to only get a 3 week suspension, but nevertheless the 1.3% of SC teams who have him must get him out. If you have him as a forward, look to replace him with Michael WALTERS (97) or Jack RIEWOLDT (92). As a mid, the best options look to be Angus MONFRIES (Av 95) or Ben HOWLETT (Av 92).
(James KELLY –suspended for 2 weeks – and Shane TUCK –out for 6 to 8 weeks with a shoulder injury – were others to stumble last round, however as they are owned by less than 1% of SC teams, they are not taken into consideration for this article. Special mention
also to all those who jumped on the very affordable Daisy THOMAS last weekend,
only to hear that he is going back on for ankle scans today and could miss more
weeks…now THAT’s gotta really
hurt)