Sam MITCHELL - Hawthorn - $500,400 Av 90
The biggest name to go down last weekend was Hawk midfielder/defender Sam MITCHELL. Selected in an incredible 50% of teams, MITCHELL now has a significant hamstring injury which will see him miss up to 8 weeks of football – too much to bother keeping him on the pine. To add insult to that horrendous injury, MITCHELL went down very early in the match, scoring a paltry 9 points. Ouch. Time to move him on…but who to?
Options As a Defender : David SWALLOW (GC) - $506,200 Av 109
Shaun BURGOYNE (Haw) - $490,800 Av 106
Andrew WALKER (Carl) - $491,900 Av 88
Options As a Midfielder : Jaeger O’MEARA (GC) - $502,200 Av 103
Dion PRESTIA (GC) - $497,000 Av 105
Shaun BURGOYNE (Haw) - $490,800 Av 106
Verdict : Let’s face it – you can’t really go wrong with any of these guys. As a defender, I’d lean towards SWALLOW as the replacement if you don’t already have him – he’s a star and has been very consistent in an ever-improving team. As a midfielder, I’d again look to plunder the Gold Coast Suns by either selecting O’MEARA or PRESTIA, who are great POD’s who will never get tagged with GAZ in the team. (Obviously your own bye strategy comes into play, with GC having a bye this week. If you need someone for this week, BURGOYNE would be your man)
Matthew JAENSCH (Adel) - Adelaide Crows - $422,800 Av 92
One of the revelations of the year so far, JAENSCH has managed to find his way into 16% of SC teams after a ripping start to the season. Rising $124,700 in cash, JAENSCH has been rock solid in defence, getting plenty of the ball and using his run off the half backline to set up much of the Crows forward thrusts. Finally finding some consistency, that all fell away last weekend when he was crunched – broken ribs now seeing him out for 3 to 4 weeks. Reluctantly, I think he has to be moved on.
Options : Trent McKENZIE (GC) - $426,200 Av 77
Jack GRIMES (Melb) - $419,900 Av 86
Dustin FLETCHER (Ess) - $414,000 Av 90
Verdict : It’s hard to go past the old Bomber in FLETCHER - who has been in some sparkling form - however I like the POD value of GRIMES in a slowly improving Melbourne lineup. With a bye in round 10 the Dees Co-Captain can help your score this weekend, and just might be the difference between a W and an L.
Tom HICKEY - St Kilda - $376,800 Av 91
Someone at the Saints has cursed the injury Gods, with a number of players already out in 2014 with significant injuries that will see them miss substantial game time. HICKEY is one of the latest to go down, a foot injury seeing him out for the next 6 to 8 weeks in a huge blow. Finally stringing some quality games together, HICKEY’s average of 91 pts per game had him high in the overall list of ruckmen this year. Still in 9% of teams, the time has come to move him on.
Options : Nic NATANUI (WCE) - $391,500 Av 69
Billy LONGER (St K) - $279,100 Av 59
Verdict : Only two options here, as the way I see it there are only two ways to go. As a straight swap, NICNAT is clearly the way to go – fingers crossed his form improves. If you are looking to free up some cash and just need an R2 who will play every week without setting the world on fire, LONGER is your man. His position is assured until HICKEY returns.
Tom NICHOLLS - Gold Coast - $443,300 Av 79
Another ruckman to fall last weekend was GC big man Tom NICHOLLS. Selected in a surprisingly small amount of teams (0.5%) despite a very impressive 2013, NICHOLLS was travelling okay until a knee injury last weekend. As a result he will now be on the sidelines for around 10 weeks, which is a huge blow to the SC teams who have him as well as his young GC team mates. If you are unlucky enough to have him, you need to get him out – now.
Options : Dean COX (WCE) - $472,200 Av 91
Shaun HAMPSON (Rich) - $431,700 Av 95
Matthew LOBBE (Port) - $430,300 Av 85
Mark JAMAR (Melb) - $420,700 Av 114 (From 2 games)
Verdict : Whilst JAMAR has the highest average from the least amount of games in 2014, it’s impossible to go past one of the premier ruckmen of all time in COX. Do what you can to get that extra $30,000 and go the straight swap to the big Eagle, and watch your team benefit.
Jarryn GEARY - St Kilda - $384,800 Av 69
Another Saint to fall to the long-term injury curse, GEARY hyper-extended his elbow last weekend and will now miss the next 12 weeks – ending his fantasy football relevancy for 2014. Selected in only 0.5% of teams, GEARY is a defender who gives 100% all the time, and has managed to increase his SC scoring in recent seasons. In the Saints leadership group, he will be much missed by his young team mates whilst he recovers.
Options : Harry TAYLOR (Geel) - $388,400 Av 75
Steven MAY (GC) - $376,500 Av 83
Verdict : Not much on offer for GEARY’s price, but for what he can bring to the table TAYLOR is an absolute steal at his price, having dropped $118,600 for the year so far. He is struggling, by a ton last weekend could see big harry turn it around. Get on board I’d say – even with the bye this weekend.
Tom T LYNCH - Adelaide - $378,200 Av 47
Unintentionally involved in the now infamous Jack VINEY report, LYNCH has unfortunately sustained a broken jaw as a result of the incident and will be missing for the next 6 weeks. A unique forward who has the ability to score big on occasion, LYNCH was in some good form having scored 128 two rounds back – however, it’s all come crashing to a halt for the 0.3% of teams who have him.
Options : Steven MAY (GC) - $376,500 Av 83
Drew PETRIE (Nth) - $374,000 Av 58
Chris DAWES (Melb) - $367,700 Av 89
Verdict : DAWES looks to be the obvious choice on paper, but can he continue to score well? If you have LYNCH chances are you like taking a punt on players, and if that’s the case PETRIE is your man – surely he can’t continue to play as poorly as he has started 2014? With a drop of $180,000 he could be an absolute bargain.
That’s it for this week – it’s the bye week, so remember you have the option of using 3 trades if you need to but remember, this SC gig is a marathon not a sprint! Using up all your trades to gain a victory or two over the next three week period could have significant repercussions later on in the season. If you need to trade, do it – if not, hang tough! There’s a long way to go.