Round 9 dished up quite a mixed bag in terms of injuries and suspensions, with several big names and lesser lights finding themselves out of action for at least the next fortnight as a result of the past weekends matches. As we approach the all important bye rounds (and with the midway point of the season not too far off) we need to take stock of our trade situation and work out just whether or not the frenzy of early trading can continue. Remember, if you hope to make the Grand Final of your respective leagues, that may be up to 14 actual games away. If your team is starting to have as the same number of trades as there are weeks to go, you might need to ease up a little.
First cab of the rank in popularity this week is Brisbane Lion big man Matthew LEUNBERGER (Av 95). A very fashionable selection in 33% of SC teams, the big fella has injured his thumb and won’t return for 4 to 6 weeks. If you have coverage in the form of BLICAVS then you might want to hold LUEY, but I think the better option is to move him on. Try to get some cash to transform him into NICNAT or
COXY – if however a straight swap is all you can afford, look at Tom BELLCHAMBERS (Av 85), Zac CLARKE (Av 92) or Matthew KRUEZER (Av 78).
Almost as popular a selection in 30% of SC teams is fellow Lion Tom ROCKLIFF (Av 103). A success story in 2013, ROCKY has returned to his past glory after a quieter year last year, however a quad strain is set to see him miss at least 2 weeks – and might that stretch into a few more? Able to be chosen as a forward or mid, the replacements in the guts look to be Michael BARLOW (108) or Joel SELWOOD (108), while down forward the best options seem to be Brent HARVEY (108) or Andrew WALKER
(106). My advice would be to get on BARLOW – he’s a gun.
Next in line in 5.5% of teams is a rookie – Gold Coast midfielder Jesse LONERGAN (Av 55). A very juicy downgrade option a few weeks ago, LONERGAN has torn his hamstring and looks like he will be gone for 4 to 6 weeks. That’s quite a while, and if you need some bench coverage and extra cash in that midfield, then the arrival of the Bulldogs pocket dynamo Nathan HROVAT (Av 86) could not have come at a better time. The swap nets you $102,000 – handy cash, especially if you are also looking to trade and upgrade LEUNBERGER this week.
Also in 5% of SC sides is Tiger backman Brandon ELLIS (Av 72). All the rage a few weeks back after putting together some very appealing scores, ELLIS went down with a hamstring tear at training and was
a late withdrawal last weekend. The Tigers are now saying he will be gone for 2 to 3 weeks, which might just be too long to hold onto him. If you need to move him on, have a squizz at Andrew MACKIE
(Av 83), Ryan LESTER (Av 93) or Nick VLASTUIN (Av 89).
The Match Review Panel didn’t leave the fantasy football world unscathed this week either, with Kangaroo midfielder Jack ZIEBELL (Av 95) AGAIN suspended for front-on, unwarranted contact. Given a 3
week holiday this time around, it seems ZIEBELL needs to reign that part of his game in a little, or risk letting his team down further. Fortunately he has some able replacements in the midfield at his price,
the best of them being Dan HANNEBERRY (Av 104), Bryce GIBBS (Av 100) or Brent STANTON (Av
100).
Finally, we look at out-of-luck Swan forward Sam REID (Av 63). Selected in a somewhat surprising 2.5% of SC teams, REID has strained his quad, and looks to be gone for close to a month. The good news for those who have him is the a straight swap for Brent STAKER (Av 85) – who should score much the same if not better than REID – allows you almost $200,000 in change to play with. Maybe
every cloud does have a silver lining?
As we sneak up on the bye rounds, lets hope this week gives us a little respite from the injury curse and
allows us to meet the challenge of the byes head-on, and with as full a squad as possible!
COXY – if however a straight swap is all you can afford, look at Tom BELLCHAMBERS (Av 85), Zac CLARKE (Av 92) or Matthew KRUEZER (Av 78).
Almost as popular a selection in 30% of SC teams is fellow Lion Tom ROCKLIFF (Av 103). A success story in 2013, ROCKY has returned to his past glory after a quieter year last year, however a quad strain is set to see him miss at least 2 weeks – and might that stretch into a few more? Able to be chosen as a forward or mid, the replacements in the guts look to be Michael BARLOW (108) or Joel SELWOOD (108), while down forward the best options seem to be Brent HARVEY (108) or Andrew WALKER
(106). My advice would be to get on BARLOW – he’s a gun.
Next in line in 5.5% of teams is a rookie – Gold Coast midfielder Jesse LONERGAN (Av 55). A very juicy downgrade option a few weeks ago, LONERGAN has torn his hamstring and looks like he will be gone for 4 to 6 weeks. That’s quite a while, and if you need some bench coverage and extra cash in that midfield, then the arrival of the Bulldogs pocket dynamo Nathan HROVAT (Av 86) could not have come at a better time. The swap nets you $102,000 – handy cash, especially if you are also looking to trade and upgrade LEUNBERGER this week.
Also in 5% of SC sides is Tiger backman Brandon ELLIS (Av 72). All the rage a few weeks back after putting together some very appealing scores, ELLIS went down with a hamstring tear at training and was
a late withdrawal last weekend. The Tigers are now saying he will be gone for 2 to 3 weeks, which might just be too long to hold onto him. If you need to move him on, have a squizz at Andrew MACKIE
(Av 83), Ryan LESTER (Av 93) or Nick VLASTUIN (Av 89).
The Match Review Panel didn’t leave the fantasy football world unscathed this week either, with Kangaroo midfielder Jack ZIEBELL (Av 95) AGAIN suspended for front-on, unwarranted contact. Given a 3
week holiday this time around, it seems ZIEBELL needs to reign that part of his game in a little, or risk letting his team down further. Fortunately he has some able replacements in the midfield at his price,
the best of them being Dan HANNEBERRY (Av 104), Bryce GIBBS (Av 100) or Brent STANTON (Av
100).
Finally, we look at out-of-luck Swan forward Sam REID (Av 63). Selected in a somewhat surprising 2.5% of SC teams, REID has strained his quad, and looks to be gone for close to a month. The good news for those who have him is the a straight swap for Brent STAKER (Av 85) – who should score much the same if not better than REID – allows you almost $200,000 in change to play with. Maybe
every cloud does have a silver lining?
As we sneak up on the bye rounds, lets hope this week gives us a little respite from the injury curse and
allows us to meet the challenge of the byes head-on, and with as full a squad as possible!