View Alligator Pav’s Team
Round 16 Score: 2,007
Current Overall Ranking: 12,900
Trades Left: 3
Remaining Salary Cap: $160,600

NEW TO FOOTY TRAGIC

Dear Footy Tragics,

From now until season’s end, the “Submit Your Team” section will be broken up into two parts:

  • PART 1 - The “Submit Your Team” section as per normal;

 

  • PART 2 -The NEW section where I unearth a hidden gem who I expect to make an impact in 2010. These players are under priced because they have been in the AFL system for 3 years or less & are still trying to establish themselves as AFL footballers. I’m looking for the next Andy Otten, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitchell Brown or Taylor Walker.

PART 1:

Dear Alligator Pav,

Thank you for submitting your team.

I’m reluctant to recommend any trades this week, because it is in your best interest to retain these for the finals. Additionally, with the possible return of Josh Fraser this week, you should have a solid team of 22 players this week. Having said that, I’m going to focus more on your team structure & advise you where to use your remaining 3 trades:

  • TRADES 1 & 2 - Assuming no injuries, I would hold off on any more trades until Round 19 (Week 1 of finals) & then do a 2 for 1 trade. Your 7th defender Nathan Grima has done well to average 66 points per game, but you need to upgrade him to a premium defender (e.g. Brendon Goddard or Paul Duffield) to bolster your defence. You could consider offloading Stephen Hill or Ryan Houlihan instead of Grima, depending on what is the most appropriate option at the time.

Anthony To free up sufficient cash to make this trade, I would recommend offloading either Liam Anthony or Daniel Rich (you’ll need to make that call prior to Round 19). I’d keep one of these two as your 6th midfielder & sell the other for a cheap playing midfielder who could be used as an emergency in the finals. It’s worth noting here that Beau Muston was named in the best players for Box Hill last weekend, so he could still return to AFL action in 2009. 

  • TRADE 3 -Hold this trade until either Round 21 or Round 22 to cover for an injury. By following my recommendation above, you should have approximately $150,000 - $200,000 in the bank to make your final trade. This means that you’ll be able to select an absolute gun with your final trade, to replace an injured premium.

 

If you do not pick up any injuries to your premiums between now & Round 22, insert either Dane Swan or Nick Riewoldt to finish off your team in style.

Good luck! 

PART 2 (NEW):

Hidden gem Week 1: Tom Lynch -  St. Kilda - Forward - $102,600

Tom Lynch was drafted by the Saints with pick 13 in the 2008 National Draft. Lynch was recruited from the Sandringham Dragons as a 192cm, 85kg forward, in the mould of Ryan O’Keefe from Sydney.

While Lynch has played the majority of his under age footy as a fast & hard leading forward, he has the endurance to play midfield (he was 9th overall in the beep test at the 2008 draft camp) & the versatility to play defence.

Tom Lynch Lynch was co - captain of the Vic Metro Under 18 team in the 2008 Under 18 National Championships, where he averaged 13.5 disposals, 5 marks & 1.5 goals per game.

Lynch has been super impressive for Sandringham in the VFL this season, having been named in their best players numerous times, as well as being a regular goal kicker. In Lynch’s most recent game 2 weeks ago, he kicked 4 goals in a losing side against Collingwood (Sandringham had the bye last weekend).

One thing I like about Lynch is that he can be selected in your dreamteam as a “forward”. As we all know, there is always an abundance of cheap midfield options to select, but it can be tricky selecting a quality under priced forward.

In summing up, despite Lynch’s very impressive form at VFL level this season, he is unlikely to make his AFL debut in 2009 because St. Kilda is flying. While this is not great news for Lynch, it is great news for dreamteamers, because we will be able to pick him up for a bargain price in 2010. What’s more, by then he’ll have two pre - seasons under his belt.

Please feel free to post a comment to let me know your thoughts on the new section. Please also advise if you’ll be considering Tom Lynch in your dreamteam in 2010.

Thanks & good luck!