I’ve decided to take a different approach to my article this week. If you have a trade left, well screw you, I’m jealous and sick of giving you advice. I’ve been sitting here with no trades left for what feels like the last 10 weeks! Besides, for the few people who do have a trade left it’s impossible for me to predict where you’d be best using it, so no point featuring one value player to trade in. 

Instead I’m going to look at a few sweet captain options to take you to Grand Final glory! Besides, on Tuesday in our weekly poll there was a resounding call for more statistical analysis on Footy Tragic and I’m a people person so will add a bit in that regard today. Also, I assume the lack of votes for humour was due to amount of witticisms I already include in my articles. 

By the way, they’re all in alphabetical order, so it’s not a countdown list or anything. For what it’s worth, I considered Hayes, Murphy and Selwood for this article too, but their form line stacks up as pretty indifferent. There’s nothing super outstanding in their numbers one way or the other. 
 

Super sweet captain choices 

Jimmy Bartel vs. Freo at Skilled Stadium

Last 5 games: 94, 121, 87, 109, 100 = 102.2

Last 5 vs. Freo: 126, 85, 85, 134, 113 = 108.6

Skilled Stadium in 2009: 119.6 in six games (only one sub 100 score) 

As if the stats needed to convince you. Just look at that title. Jimmy Bartel vs. Freo at Skilled Stadium. Does that not just sound like a scoring explosion waiting to happen? Jimmy ticks a lot of boxes as a captain this week. He loves playing down at Kardinia Park and has a strong record against Freo. On top of that he’s in great form. His form line reads better than anyone’s this week. NOTE: If the forecast is for rain (and it is so far), do not consider anyone else for captaincy. Jimmy is even better in the rain. 

Joel Corey vs. Freo at Skilled Stadium

Last 5 games: 111, 101, 81, 139, 122 = 110.8

Last 5 vs. Freo: 74, 130, 112, 121, 132 = 113.8

Skilled Stadium in 2009: 101.0 in seven games (two sub 100 scores) 

Once again, sexy heading, sexy form line. Corey has been in good form lately and over the last few years against Freo. It’s important to note that Freo invest so much time in stopping Ablett (with some success, might I add) that it allows Bartel and Corey a bit more freedom. The most impressive stat is how much Corey really carves Freo up. Take out that 74 from five games ago and all of a sudden his average in his last four against them is a remarkable 123.75. 

Nick Dal Santo vs. Melbourne at MCG

Dal Santo Last 5 games: 101, 132, 86, 115, 54 = 97.6

Last 5 vs. Melb: 141, 64, 96, 121, 114 = 107.2

MCG form: Unfortunately not good. Saints haven’t played there yet this year, but he last scored a ton in 2006 at the G. 

There’s a few more question marks over NDS than most of these other guys, but I’ve got a bit of faith in him. His recent form has been good, apart from an absolute stinker last week. Yes, that last game is a bit of a worry but when he got his next lowest score this season (60) he bounced back with a 114 against none other than Melbourne. Obviously the Saints haven’t played at the G this year and he’s actually got some pretty ordinary form there, but that last ton he scored at the ground back in 2006 was an epic 141 vs. Melbourne. Probably the riskiest option of the guys I’m looking at. Massive upside, but equally massive downside. 

Alan Didak vs. Western Bulldogs at Docklands

Last 5 games: 96, 103, 141, 109, 61 = 102.0

Last 5 vs. Dogs: 85, 69, 53, 80, 140 = 85.4 

Sometimes you don’t have it all laid out for you and you have to go with your instincts a bit more. Didak is an appealing option as far as I’m concerned, even if he doesn’t have the greatest form line. I just remember watching him rack it up with ease against the Doggies when they met earlier this year at the Dome. Same settings this week, so can he provide a similar score? Big call, but he’s at least worth mentioning. I almost put him in “tread with caution” but he’s a risk I’d be more likely to take. 

Brendan Goddard vs. Melbourne at MCG

Last 5 games: 121, 136, 95, 66, 112 = 106.0

Last 5 vs. Melb: 85, 96, 108, 116, 132 = 107.4

MCG form: Once again, Saints haven’t played there in 09 but it’s his second highest scoring ground behind Gold Coast (only a small sample of two games at GC too) 

Any bloke with a 105+ average in the top two categories has to be considered. Melbourne are his second best side to match up on DT wise over his career and as I mentioned above, he has a good history at the G. His 66 a fortnight ago isn’t a huge concern for me. I’m more likely to consider that a blip on the radar compared to NDS. 

Leigh Montagna vs. Melbourne at MCG

Last 5 games: 118, 96, 129, 109, 106 = 111.6

Last 5 vs. Melb: 63, 81, 108, 102, 146 = 100.0

MCG form: Not much to speak of form wise, but the big ground should suit his outside game well. 

Montagna is a slightly more unique choice being that he’s only in less than 30,000 teams. His last three scores against Melbourne are the ones to look at, because he’s really come of age over the past two seasons (this year especially). He’s not got a great history at the G, but combine the fact he’s only recently broken out as a DT star with the fact the Saints haven’t played there this year. I’d say he’s unproven on the G rather than no good and to be honest, the bigger ground should really suit him (he scored a 166 over at Subi this year for example). 

Nick Riewoldt vs. Melbourne at MCG

Last 5 games: 126, 131, 82, 101, 114 = 110.8

Last 5 vs. Melb: 105, 84, 98, 108, 110 = 101.0

MCG form: Once again, no games in 2009, but he has a great history at the ground. 

His recent form against Melbourne probably isn’t as good as you would expect, considering they are completely devoid of experienced key defenders (I actually quite rate Warnock, but he’s still learning). St.Nick needs a good solid hit out before the finals, so he certainly won’t be taking this one lightly. Melbourne’s midfield won’t offer much protection, so the Saints will have pretty easy access to the big man. 

Brent Stanton vs. Hawthorn at MCG

Last 5 games: 103, 94, 88, 100, 104 = 97.8

Last 5 vs. Hawks: 99, 105, 110, 123, 147 = 116.8

MCG form: It’s his second best ground. Good numbers, but not stunning. Wide open spaces should suit though. 

Stanton’s record against Hawthorn is absolutely phenomenal. I know that I hadn’t long traded him in when he scored that 147 against them last season. I could have kissed him in a totally non-gay way. His form over the last five doesn’t look as strong as some of the other candidates, but he’s been consistent lately, scoring five tons in his last seven games (consistency has been a knock on his DT game in the past). 

Dane Swan vs Western Bulldogs at Docklands

Last 5 games: 131, 122, 103, 125, 90 = 114.2

Last 5 vs. Dogs: 114, 56, 76, 85, 121 = 90.4

Docklands form: 6 tons in his last 9 games there. 

His recent history against the Dogs isn’t that great at all, but let’s face it, the waddling duck had scored 12 consecutive tons before Sydney broke that run on the weekend (the Swans are renowned for doing just that). I wouldn’t worry about his history against the Dogs too much, because he’s never been in form as good as this year. A 121 against them earlier this year at the same ground is solid enough for a guy scoring so well in 2009. 

Tread carefully!!! 

The following guys worry me for various reasons. I’m happy to go into more detail in the comments section, given that by now I’m currently running on a Toby length article, but for now I’ll just list them and give a quick line why I’m not a fan this week. 

Gary Ablett - has struggled badly against Freo in his last three against them (granted he got injured in one of them, but has been shut down twice - some say Crowley factor, but Crowley didn’t play last time they met). 

Jonathan Brown - Bolton keeps him quiet. Never scored a ton against Sydney. 

Fev Kane Cornes - good history against North, but hasn’t been scoring like the Kane of old lately. 

Brendan Fevola - Rutten usually shuts him down. Never scored a ton against Adelaide. 

Sam Fisher - one Saint I would stay right away from. Shocking history against Melbourne (ball not down there very much?) 

Bryce Gibbs - never scored a ton against Adelaide 

Luke Hodge - poor history against Essendon (note: he did get injured against them last time making that history look a bit worse than it really is). 

Chris Judd - never scored a ton against Adelaide (even when he was at West Coast). Shirley usually beats him, but he’s out this week. Even so, Judd’s not been scoring well lately. 

Matthew Pavlich - is playing against Geelong at Skilled. Yuck!