Footy Tragic

For the season’s final weekly wrap, I thought I might attempt something different - rather than reviewing the week that has been (I figured that with this the last week of DT, a ‘get on’, ’get off’ review may seem pointless!), I will review the entire year. Don’t be afraid – this won’t be a waffle encapsulating all 176 games from the season, but rather a review of each club, their most improved players, their biggest 2009 DT duds, and most importantly, my top three picks for 2010.  

Adelaide: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Bernie Vince – Had a breakout season, highly unheralded by the media. He was the Crows key playmaker, often the highest DT scorer.

2/ Kurt Tippett – The Crows leading goalkicker had his breakout season – kicking seven goals against Essendon as his personal best. Looks to be a great player for the future.

3/ Andy Otten – Played every game off the half-back flank. He is designed for Dream Team, and with another pre-season under his belt will only get better.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Nathan Bock – A season that started with a club-imposed ban for beating his girlfriend never really took off to become anything special, eventually ending in a heel injury. Disappointing season for a proven performer.

2/ Brent Reilly – Couldn’t back up his good NAB Cup campaign, frustrating those who had taken the punt.

3/ Jared Petrenko – Whilst you will always take some points over none at all, Petrenko’s 12 points became a bit of a running joke. Will get better with time and experience, but 2009 probably wasn’t his break out year.

2010 Top Three

1/ Kurt Tippett – Will continue to get better and 2010 could be the year he really starts to dominate games – has all the tools to do so.

2/ Shaun McKernan – Looked great in his first game, but then broke his arm, not playing again for the rest of the season. Watch his pre-season as he could be a great seventh forward option.

3/ Rory Sloane – Highly rated at Adelaide and I liked his debut game – if he can break into the team, he should make a mark. 

Brisbane: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Daniel Rich - Has come into the football world in fantastic form - debuted in round 1 and hasn’t looked back. Incredible left boot and a tenacious tackler. He is a shoe-in for the Rising Star.

2/ Mitch Clark - Went from an injured underperformer to one of the game’s elite ruckmen. His consistency and ability to be in the right spot at the right time is incredible - along with Paddy Ryder, he has redefined the role of a ruckman.

3/ Jack Redden - A great in-and-under midfielder who came mid-season from somewhat obscurity. Clearly models his game around coach Michael Voss with his high-intensity and happiness to put his body on the line.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Travis Johnstone – Has felt the wrath of Michael Voss because for his lack of intensity – ability to find the ball is not what Vossy wants – he is after the ability to win the ball.

2/ Bradd Dalziell – Many took the punt on the man who seemed unable to score under 100 points. Unfortunately it didn’t pay off with Voss giving him a different role, mixed with injuries. By the end of the year, he found himself on the outer.

3/ Josh Drummond – He is a great player, and had a great year. But us DTers found out the real difference between DT and Supercoach – just because he is a great user of the ball, 20 possies a game won’t get you across the line is DT.

2010 Top Three

1/ Mitch Clark – Due to the slow start to the season, he will be underpriced for 2010. He could be the new Dean Cox – the must have ruckman.

2/ Matthew Leuenberger – The man touted to lead Brisbane’s ruck brigade may be forced to play second fiddle. But may be cheap enough to be a great third ruck option.

3/ Jarred Brennan – Had some great games mingled with injured ones this year, forcing down his price. I stand by my word saying that he will be a superstar if able to stay injury free. 

Carlton: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Bryce Gibbs – Took the step everyone knew he would take and progressed to an elite midfielder. He finds the ball well and uses it with precision.

2/ Kade Simpson – Had his break-out year, able to keep his position whilst surrounded by some highly talented midfielders.

3/ Marc Murphy – Another reason for the Blue’s great season was the continued development of Murph. He set himself as an elite DT player, yet he still looks like he could get better!

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Andrew Carrazzo – The DT star was given a tagging role this year, burning the many coaches who paid over $400,000 for him.

2/ Ryan Houlihan – Every second coach had him through the pre-season, but after being dropped mid-season, his form was quite average, never giving the high scores he promised in the pre-season.

3/ Chris Johnson – After being traded from Melbourne, Carlton was meant to be the move his DT game needed. Alas, none of the potential came through and he had a shocking year.

2010 Top Three

1/ Bryce Gibbs – I don’t think he has reached his potential yet. I would put my money on him being one of the most dominant players of the competition in 2010.

2/ Chris Yarran – Made no impact in 2009, but has been working on his fitness through the year. Hopefully we can start to see some of his highly publicised skill in 2010.

3/ Robert Warnock – Played exactly zero games after being traded by Freo. This means a very low 2010 price, and if he is fit, he is a lock for the third ruck position. 

Collingwood: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Dayne Beams – Started the year slowly, but over the last month has come along fantastically. He is a highly skilled inside midfielder who is not afraid to put his head over the ball or break the lines.

2/ Dane Swan – Went from a consistent dream-teamer to an elite one. He has had statistically the best DT season EVER! He is even favourite for the Brownlow Medal!

3/ Cameron Wood – It took him half the year, but he finally secured his spot in the team with some good form, especially in the absence of Fraser.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Paul Medhurst – After a fantastic All-Australian year in 2008, his 2009 was terrible. It stared marred with injury, but the second half was just poor form. Hopefully he can bounce back as he will be very cheap next year!

2/ Martin Clarke – Went backwards this year after a great 2008. Worries are that he is homesick – if interested for 2010, make sure he is in the team and all these rumours have been squashed.

3/ Dale Thomas – Once again, didn’t live up to the hype. I have a feeling that we are seeing all that there is to see of Thomas.

2010 Top Three

1/ Steele Sidebottom – One more pre-season will do him well and hopefully he will be able to break into the team next year. If so, we know his DT potential is massive!

2/ John McCarthy – Had a number of good games in 2008, but only played round 22 this year. Keep an eye on his position in the team come round one as he could be a good smokey.

3/ Paul Medhurst – Forgettable 2009, but if pre-season form warrants selection, he could be a bargain in 2010. 

Essendon: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Paddy Ryder – When David Hille went down with a knee injury, Ryder took over and grabbed the chance with both hands. Has had a brilliant season and is one of the most improved across the AFL.

2/ Michael Hurley – It is rare for a KPP to have much effect on the game in their first few seasons, but Hurley has been amazing. Knights has flicked him between CHF and CHB and he has been brilliant in both. Has the potential to become one of Essendon’s greatest players.

3/ Andrew Lovett – After nearly being traded in the off season, he bounced back with vengeance, having the best year of his career. May it continue!

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ David Hille – Started his season very slow, disappointing many of his owners. Unfortunately, he did his ACL not long into the season and was forced to the sidelines. Hopefully he will bounce back in 2010.

2/ Hayden Skipworth – He had a massive pre-season, only to spend the real season either on the sidelines or in quite average form.

3/ Scott Gumbleton – Gotta feel sorry for the kid – struck down with injury prior to the season after being a lock for many coaches seventh forward.

2010 Top Three

1/ Michael Hurley – As stated above, this kid will be a superstar and you want to have him in your team when it happens. Take special note if he is playing CHF in the pre-season.

2/ David Myers – Highly rated young player, drafted in 2008. He only played half a dozen games, struck by injury and form. With a low 2010 price, he could be worth the punt.

3/ David Hille – His injury will see his start price very cheap next year. A possible second ruck if his is fit. Note: Do not take a punt if he is still recovering from the knee injury. 

Fremantle: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Greg Broughton – Elevated off the rookie list to become the best DT rookie for the year, averaging a whopping 90 points! Not only that, but he is a great hard-nosed defender who will only get better!

2/ Paul Duffield – The ex-rookie had his best season for the club, often used as their go-to man off half back. He had some incredible games early in the season, but looked to tire as the season was coming to a close.

3/ Aaron Sandilands – Continued his gradual improvement with his most consistent season yet. He dominated most matches and deserves an AA Jersey.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Chris Tarrant – Has been in a decline since being traded, but his move to full back (which saved his career) ruined his DT potential. Any Tarrant owners would have been very disappointed!

2/ Daniel Gilmore – I still remember his finish to the 2007 season – he was brilliant playing as a mobile ruckman, but since then, his form has been very poor. He managed only a few games in 2009.

3/ Adam Campbell – Played well at the end of last year, exciting a few coaches who were doing their DT homework. Unfortunately, it turned out that he is rubbish and has spent most of the season on the sidelines.

2010 Top Three

1/ Nic Suban – His final rounds to the season were fantastic – his run down the wings is very impressive, and as he builds up more fitness and strength over the off-season, his scoring potential will greatly grow.

2/ Rhys Palmer – The 2008 Rising Star did his ACL early in the season, causing a very low average, meaning a very low 2010 starting price. If his fitness is OK in the pre-season, he is well worth looking at.

3/ Chris Mayne – A forward who only played the last few games. But he is highly rated at the club and has great skills and the potential to play more up-field. A very good 2010 option! 

Geelong: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Joel Selwood – The kid just keeps getting better and better. He is one of the most watchable players in the AFL, and holds the record for the highest DT score in the 2009 season – 185.

2/ Simon Hogan – Played many more games than expected on the HFF. He is getting better with each game and if he can consolidate a regular spot, he may be a great 2010 option.

3/ Shane Mumford – Took over Blake as the preferred Ruck option, only to tire late in the season. Can only get better.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Matthew Stokes – Started the year well, but it has ended terribly! He is in such poor form, many Cats supporters are demanding he be dropped. He is not working hard enough for the ball – he is too goal focussed.

2/ Jimmy Bartel – Still had a great year, but it wasn’t the one expected by all the DTers who spent over $500,000 on him at the start of the year. He was used to fill many holes in the Geelong team (especially in defence), meaning a decline in his scoring potential.

3/ Paul Chapman – He is a great player – in fact, he is elite and in the top three at Geelong. But his problem is keeping on the park – once again, his body broke down at the business end of the season, costing many coaches the cup!

2010 Top Three

1/ Josh Hunt – The running half-back was sorely missed this year when he went down with an ACL injury in the pre-season. If he is back in time, he should be a great value pick who could average around 70.

2/ Joel Selwood – What? He could get even better?? Just you watch…

3/ Matthew Stokes – His 2009 has been horrible, but if he shows signs of bouncing back, we are all aware of his potential. Definitely worth keeping an eye on him. 

Hawthorn: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Ben McGlynn – Has played very well in the second half to the season as an attacking midfielder. One of the better kids coming through the ranks for Hawthorn.

2/ Brad Sewell – Had his best year yet, playing a more attacking role than in years gone by. His tackling has been superb and will be towards the top of my midfield wish-list for 2010.

3/ Cyril Rioli – He is coming along brilliantly and is already winning games off his own boot – will continue to get better at a very fast rate.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Lance Franklin – Averaged very poorly for his initial starting price, and then when he finally started showing some form (and many other coaches traded him in), he got suspended for the Grand Final.

2/ Luke Hodge – Same as Buddy – came into the season well underdone and spent several weeks on the sidelines mid-year. Fortunately he turned his form around for the last month and a bit of the year.

3/ Travis Tuck – Many took him as their smokey pre-season, but he never backed up his NAB Cup form, only playing a handful of games.

2010 Top Three

1/ Rick Ladson – One of many Hawks who spent the majority of their season on the sidelines. He is a high scoring half-back who should start the year at a very tempting price.

2/ Luke Hodge – One bonus about him having a poor year is the subsequent low price caused by his average. If he plays as a midfielder, he could be a bargain.

3/ Buddy Franklin – Buddy is good for two reasons – same story as Hodgey, he will be well underpriced. Secondly, many coaches will pick a team of players who are named for round one. Many may avoid Buddy because of his round one suspension. Whilst he won’t be unique, he may not be in 50% of teams like this year. 

North Melbourne: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Liam Anthony – Was a godsend in finals time, averaging close to 100 points thanks to some brilliant games of footy. Should continue on next year.

2/ Jack Ziebell – Was great through the first half of the year before being struck down with injury. Looks like a great leader and a player who will flourish under new coach Brad Scott.

3/ Andrew Swallow – After a forgettable 2008 spent at Werribee, Swallow worked hard on his work rate over the off-season and it paid dividends this year having some massive games.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ David Hale – Suffered one of the biggest price drops of the year after having some absolute shockers. May struggle to get back into the side.

2/ Lachlan Hansen – Was at a tempting price at the start of the year, but really did nothing to further his profile.

3/ Leigh Harding – Was the player everyone jumped on after two big first two games… only to do nothing much after that.

2010 Top Three

1/ Jack Ziebell – As said above, Brad Scott will be great for Ziebell and he will surely be groomed as a future captain, given plenty of midfield time.

2/ Gavin Urquhart – A great user of the ball – he had a very inconsistent 2009, but hopefully under some better guidance he can get back into his early season form. Watch his pre-season, but I think he could be a great pick.

3/ Ben Warren – had a breakout season playing as a small forward, but has the potential to move upfield. As is often the case under a new coach, watch for any role changes in 2010. 

Melbourne: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Colin Sylvia – After being told in the pre-season to pull his finger out, he worked extremely hard for the team and had the season he has promised to have for many years after being such an early draft pick.

2/ Aaron Davey – Stepped into the elite bracket this year – his only flaw is his inability to break a close tag. But if moved to the midfield in 2010 he could progress even further.

3/ Liam Jurrah – Hard not to mention ‘The Cougar’ after he lit up many games this year – he is a freakish talent and should be a star for years to come!

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Simon Buckley – After a great 2008, hardly made it on the field in 2009. Will hopefully bounce back next year at an uber-cheap price!

2/ Rohan Bail – Jumped on by the media as a pre-season ‘must have’ only to go on and play one game.

3/ Ausin Wonaeamirri – Missed the whole season with injury – disappointing for such a good 2008 player. But just think how cheap he will be next year!

2010 Top Three

1/ Cale Morton – Due to Bailey’s constant experimentation, Morton, a natural ball-winner, was often forced to play in negating roles. This caused his average to be lower than expected and a low 2010 price will follow. Keep a VERY close eye on him in the pre-season.

2/ Jamie Strauss – One of Melbourne’s higher draft picks from 2009, but yet to play a game due to injury. Should start the year priced at 86K and will play most games (barring injury)

3/ Tom Scully – What felt like seconds after they lost to the Saints, Melbourne declared him their draft target (if it wasn’t already obvious). This kid is a ready-made star and will fit straight in from round one. He is a 2010 must have! 

Port Adelaide: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Travis Boak – Continues to improve after some great games in previous years. It was really at the latter stages of the year we took notice as he grabbed a couple of games by the throat and won them off his own boot.

2/ Nathan Krakouer – Had a break out year, and whilst his form tapered, he definitely made a major improvement on his game. As his body gets stronger, so should his form.

3/ Jason Davenport – I love watching him go round as he reminds me so much of an eighties footballer – a nuggetty little hard-tackling dynamo. He could become quite a star in a few years.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Steven Salopek – Dropped and injured on several occasions – he was highly rated as a junior, and if he saves the ‘Cull’ at Alberton, he will hopefully bounce back next year.

2/ Brett Ebert – Played 20 games, but was incredibly out of form for most of the year. Surely Port can’t trade an Ebert, so he along with the rest of the Port boys will hopefully bounce back to a stronger year next year after what promises to be a tough pre-season.

3/ Chad Cornes – The Reign of Chadly as a DT superstar is over. He looks likely to finish his career at Half-Back, limiting his scoring output. Injuries have also gotten the better of him.

2010 Top Three

1/ Travis Boak – Should continue on his late season form and become one of Port’s leading midfielders.

2/ Robbie Gray – Has played mainly around the goals, but if moved upfield in the pre-season (which is definitely possible!), he could start to dominate games.

3/ Matthew Lobbe – A young ruckman yet to play a game who should replace Lade. Played well in the SANFL this year and will be a good third or forth ruck option. 

Richmond: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Richard Tambling – Who’d have thought he would ever average more than the great man Buddy – the player whom he is always compared to because of where he was taken in the draft. Had his best year for the club, especially once Wallace left.

2/ Robin Nahas – A surprisingly good year for such a small player. His forward pressure was a highlight, gaining him many points for tackles.

3/ Alex Rance – A hard-nosed defender that had a great first half to the season before his battle-scared body started to tire. Will be a great player for Richmond for a very long time.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Andrew Raines – Was in around 50% of teams to start the year, but a round one injury was then only compounded by the fact it turned out he was just plain rubbish.

2/ Troy Simmonds – Became quickly out of favour as the Tigers looked to play their younger players. Disappointing after such a good 2008.

3/ Nathan G Brown – This turned out to be the final year of his career, and it was marred with constant injuries, restricting his output.

2010 Top Three

1/ Trent Cotchin – Pick two from the 2008 draft is yet to have a pre-season. He finished this season early so he could start the 2010 pre-season early. Great signs as this kid will be a star, so at a good price is a lock for next year.

2/ Nathan Foley – Struggled with many injuries through the year, keeping him to a low average. He is still young and has plenty of upside in him. Monitor his pre-season form.

3/ Brett Deledio – A new coach could be just the medicine he needs. 2009 was indifferent and nearly saw him dropped. Judging by his last two games for the season, he may be able to bounce back into some form next year. 

St.Kilda: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Sam Gilbert – Played the season as an attacking halfback with incredible skill and poise. Proved to be a star of the future.

2/ Leigh Montagna – Took the step from a good player to elite. He had his best season by a mile, looking to poll high in the Brownlow voting.

3/ Farren Ray – Traded from the Dogs last year as a fringe player, but took his opportunity with both hands and cemented his spot in the team, being the Saints best player on several occasions.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Luke Ball – The former captain has had a significant fall from grace and form, being threatened to lose his place in the team coming into finals. From a DT point of view, his season was greatly disappointing, only making it over 100 on a couple of occasions.

2/ Matt Maguire – Didn’t play a single game all year, despite often being named as an emergency. Many would have taken a punt on him at his tempting price.

3/ Leigh Fisher – All the words from the Saints pre-season was about Leigh Fisher and how good he was training. Hopefully you weren’t one of the many who fell for that trick!

2010 Top Three

1/ Sam Gilbert – Still young and developing – will hopefully continue next year, expectantly averaging over 90.

2/ Tom Lynch – The one position the Saints are lacking is a third forward – and that is exactly why they drafted Lynch. He is developing well and may just take that role going into next year.

3/ Brendon Goddard – Goddard could become the most important player in the Saints team by next year – he does everything – wins his own ball, kicks goals, tackles and delivers the ball with precision. A must-have elite player. 

Sydney: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Jesse White – Only in the last month or so has White stepped up into Hall’s old position at full-forward. Whilst still developing, he is coming along well and definitely looks a player of the future.

2/ Dan Hannebery – Still in school, yet Sydney still wanted to play him. He hasn’t had a massive impact in his games so far, but has done some special things to suggest they have a decent player on their hands.

3/ Matthew O’Dwyer – Played four games and looks good running off half back – his skills are good and he looks well poised.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Nick Malceski – Seems to never have recovered from his knee injury two years ago. I doubt he will ever get back to what he originally showed.

2/ Barry Hall – Was in great form before forced into retirement. It’s disappointing he couldn’t have gone out on a better note.

3/ Ed Barlow – Two years ago, the Swans claimed he would be the next Adam Goodes… So far I can’t quite see it. He has had some good games, but then some absolute disasters.

2010 Top Three

1/ Patrick Veszpremi – I highly rated forward-flanker in the style of Stevie Johnson. Played only four games with little reward, but it shouldn’t be long before he comes out of his shell.

2/ Matthew O’Dwyer – His role is well suited to dream team, and Sydney are going to start playing more kids over the next few years, meaning players like O’Dwyer should get plenty of opportunities.

3/ Lewis Johnston – If the Swans are really committed to playing the kids, then they will play their first pick from the 2009 draft. Spent this year at school, but spending more time at the Swans next year should see him play at least a few games. 

West Coast: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Mark LeCras – To kick nearly 60 goals in a bottom team like West Coast is a fantastic feat. He deserves AA selection.

2/ Shannon Hurn – Showed what he has always promised as an attacking rebounding defender. His scoring potential is massive and with a booming kick, West Coast will want it in his hands.

3/ Tim Houlihan – Only played the last month or so, but loved to break the lines and take the game on. Was a big part in several of their wins at the latter end of the season.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Daniel Kerr – Suffered many reoccurring injuries, allowing for one of his worst seasons to date. Means for a low 2010 price though!

2/ Ben McKinley – Was so good in 2008, yet so poor in 2009. Just couldn’t deliver consistently, which cost his spot in the team on several occasions.

3/ Dean Cox – The Ruck Master spent many weeks out injured before finally hanging up the towel. Many teams suffered thanks to this.

2010 Top Three

1/ Mark LeCras – Should play much more upfield in 2010, allowing for an even greater scoring potential. As the team improves around him, he could start pushing an average of 100.

2/ Shannon Hurn – His great form was only in the latter half of the season, meaning a low starting price next year. Jump on him early and smile as he racks up the points.

3/ Beau Waters – A hard-nosed defender who has spent the year on the sidelines injured. If his is injury free next year, he is good for an average of 80 points.

Western Bulldogs: 

2009 Most Improved:

1/ Shaun Higgins – We all knew he would and all had him in our teams. Despite struggling with injury, he has been one of the best DT picks of the year.

2/ Callan Ward – Is consistently getting better and better each week. He will be a superstar – guaranteed!

3/ Ryan Hargrave – Saved many DT teams seasons with some great scores in the second half of the year. Changed his role for the better and his scores and form changed accordingly.

2009 Biggest Disappointments:

1/ Daniel Giansiracusa – Not a lot of disappointments on the Dogs list, but Gia has been the most inconsistent. He never really got started before going down with an injury, ruining most of his remaining season.

2/ Ryan Griffen – Once again, another player who thinks 20 disposals is a good game – IT’S NOT! Sucks us in with great form, before averaging only 80 points!

3/ Andrejs Everitt – Many put him in their teams as a pre-season smokey only to get burnt

2010 Top Three

1/ Callan Ward – I guarantee this kid will be a star – he is a midfielder who kicks goals, and I can see him taking the same step that Joel Selwood did this year. Definitely worth getting on!

2/ Shaun Higgins – Whilst he won’t have the same improvement he did this year, he is still going to get better! Will still be good value after some low scoring games due to injury.

3/ Jarrad Grant – It will be his third year on the list, and should be a good enough size to play as a key position forward. The Dogs need a player like him, so they should be playing him at every opportunity. 
 

Well that’s if for the weekly wraps for 2009! Hopefully you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them for you! Let me know what you think of the yearly wrap, and I’d love to hear your comments on some of the above players! I’ll look forward to writing more for you all next year! And until then, good luck, and GO YOU MIGHTY SAINTERS!!!! – Toby

Expert: Dan
Team: Hank Scorpio EDT
Round 22 Score: 2,158
Final Overall Ranking: 3,515
Trades Remaining: 0
Remaining Salary Cap: $4,500
Team Changes This Week: None

Expert: Toby
Team: Fiora’s Hardnuts
Round 22 Score: 2,064
Final Overall Ranking: 431
Trades Remaining: 0
Remaining Salary Cap: $1,300
Team Changes This Week: None

Expert: Ben
Team: The Redbacks
Round 22 Score: 2,099
Final Overall Ranking: 1,479
Trades Remaining: 0
Remaining Salary Cap: $34,800
Team Changes This Week: None

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

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. 

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!

NEW TO FOOTY TRAGIC

• 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 and 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:

View In Watts We Trust’s Team
Round 21 Score: 2,145
Current Overall Ranking: 620
Trades Left: 0
Remaining Salary Cap: $7,300

      Thank you for submitting your team.

Congratulations, you have made the Grand Final of your private league and you appear certain to finish inside the top 1,000 teams overall in 2009. 

Unfortunately, I can’t help you this week because you have run out of trades, but I will take the opportunity to give you some assistance for 2010. 

As I’ve mentioned previously, my aim each year is to win the car. We all know that there is no prize for coming 2^nd. At the mid point of the season, I conducted a full analysis of my dreamteam and faced the reality that I had no chance of winning the car in 2009. Rather than fade meekly towards Round 22, I’ve used the past 10 rounds to experiment and try a few different strategies in my preparations for 2010. Here is the verdict: 

• Experiment 1 -Burn my trades early - In previous seasons, I’ve always stuck by the theory of keeping 1 trade up my sleeve for every week remaining in the competition. This theory has merit, but consider this alternative: The dreaded 0 has the same effect whether you cop it in Round 10 or Round 22. Why save a trade in Round 10 and cop a 0, just in case a player gets injured later in the season when you might need that trade? Why wouldn’t you cover the 0 in Round 10 and back your trading strategy in to have sufficient depth by Round 22 to cover for a couple of injuries?

I used my final trade prior to Round 19, but it’s fair to say the last 3 weeks of my season have been easily my best of the season. What’s more, I had 25 players to choose from in Round 19 (when Ross Lyon rested half his team) and I’ve had 28 players to choose from the last 2 weeks. Had I saved up my trades for Round 22 it would have been a waste because I’ve already got a full squad of players. 

Another very important factor to consider is that our team values rise significantly over the course of the season. While we all understand that this translates into higher scores this time of year, it also means it’s easier to select 22 quality players because you should have already made $100,000 plus on each of your early season cash cows. This cash can be spent boosting players 15 – 22. 

One of the reasons this strategy has worked for me in the later part of 2009 is that I stay well away from injury prone players e.g. Paul Chapman. I don’t understand why Paul Chapman is in 45,452 teams. Sure, he averages 112 points per game when he plays, but he has only played 17 games this year. What’s even more significant are the weeks he has missed, Rounds 8, 10, 19, 20 and most likely 22. Note that the Rounds in bold are our finals! As my fellow Footy Tragic panelist Dan would say, “I’d never consider Paul Chapman, the man has hamstrings made of crepe paper”. 

While I have changed my tune from previous seasons about saving up your trades, I’m seriously considering adopting the burning trades early strategy again in 2010.  

• Experiment 2 – The unique selections – I don’t want Gary Ablett, Chris Judd, Tarkyn Lockyer or Nick Riewoldt, I want Scott Thompson, Marc Murphy, Paul Duffield and Colin Sylvia. If your aim is to win the car, you don’t pick the same players that the leaders of the competition have. You need a point of difference. How can you make up a gap of 1,000 points from Rounds 10 – 22 when you make trades that make your team almost identical to the competition leader? The answer is, you can’t!

Don’t be afraid to be an individual and pick someone a little bit different. It may not work, but you’ll never know if you don’t have a crack. There is nothing I hate more in dreamteam than the sheep. Just remember, sheep get slaughtered, literally. Don’t be a sheep. 

Now back to In Watts We Trust, best of luck for your Grand Final this week. The return of Stevie Johnson this week is timely with the unfortunate (and utterly ridiculous) suspension of Buddy Franklin. 

      PROPOSED ACTION THIS WEEK (WEEK 4 OF FINALS):

      None – no trades left.

PART 2 (NEW):

Hidden gem Week 6: James Strauss – Melbourne – Midfield – 2009 price $86,600.

In my final article in this six-week series, I’ve chosen a player who has been cruelled by injuries in 2009. He has played only 7 games of footy this year (3 VFL senior games and 4 VFL reserves games) due to a combination of ankle / leg injuries which restricted him early in the season and a left shoulder injury which required a reconstruction in July this year.

James Strauss was selected by Melbourne with pick 19 in the 2008 National Draft. Strauss was recruited from the Oakleigh Chargers and is listed as 185cms, 82kgs. Strauss represented Vic Metro in the 2008 Under 18 National Championships, where he averaged 14 possessions over his 5 games in the carnival.

Strauss is a very athletic, fast (4^th overall in the 2008 Draft Camp for the 30 metre repeat sprints) and hard running midfielder, with elite endurance. Strauss also reads the play very well and is an excellent kick of the football on both sides of his body.

While Strauss has been unable to get out of 2^nd gear in 2009 due injury, the good news is, he will be up and running for the start of Melbourne’s 2010 pre season campaign in October. I also like the fact that Strauss has a fairly strong body for a 19 year old, which gives him a greater chance of playing senior footy for Melbourne in 2010. In addition, Melbourne has proven that they are not afraid to throw their young kids into the deep end, because basically they have no choice.

There is no doubt Strauss has the potential to play a number of games for Melbourne next year. With the benefit of a 2^nd pre season and the hope of remaining injury free during the season proper, Strauss is definitely one to keep a close eye on over the pre season.

Good luck James!

PS - It was great to see my Week 3 hidden gem Max Bailey get through the game against Richmond last Saturday night and perform solidly, collecting 66 dreamteam points along the way. Keep up the great work Max!

      Please feel free to post a comment, we welcome all feedback.

Please also advise if you’ll be considering James Strauss for your dreamteam in 2010.