Footy Tragic

Welcome to the first of the Weekly Wraps for 2010! I hope that once again that I and the team at Footy Tragic can assist you in creating, coaching and managing the greatest dream team possible in 2010! This year’s wraps will be formatted a little differently to last year – where last year I used most of the article to discuss the game, this year I will spend the effort talking about individual players – I assume everyone knows which teams are best for DT, etc etc, and also if anyone wants a wrap of the games, have a look at the AFL site – I am here to talk exclusively about dream team, not about which teams look most likely of winning a flag! I hope you enjoy it! – Toby

Carlton vs Richmond:

Looking Good:

Andrew Carrazzo: Looked back to his best of a couple of years ago, winning the ball at will. The fact he was given captaincy in the absence of Judd suggests to me he is much more respected within the club than he was 12 months ago and therefore is likely to be given more responsibility this year (unlike last year where he simply played bit-part roles).

Kade Simpson: He really is an important cog in the Carlton side, but will never ever get attention from the opposition with the quality of teammates he has. Has a real ability to win the ball and his 119 points proved this.

Eddie Betts: Became the key target in the Blue’s forward line with Fevola’s absence and scored accordingly. His off season indiscretions and the punishment that followed may have been the rocket he needed to work extra hard on the field. As a small forward his consistency will be a worry, however he seems to be more a small forward playing the role of a tall.

Daniel Connors: Far from the best player on the ground, but I thought it was good he did fulfil the promise he showed us in the pre-season. He has always been the type to tease but never deliver.

Disappointing:

Troy Simmonds: He is lucky that Richmond have no other option but to play him. Like this time last year, he spent the game dropping marks and grubbing kicks.

Chris Newman: Really didn’t contribute very much ‘captain’s spark’ to the game – played a key role in defence and saw very little time up field.

Lachie Henderson: Shows real signs that he will be a player, but those expecting him to replicate Fev’s numbers in his first year are just stupid.

Geelong vs Essendon:

Looking Good:

Brent Stanton: His pre-season form carried into the real season, and this time it was against some decent opposition. I expect these kinds of scores (145ish) to continue on this year – Watson will always be the first choice to tag due to Stanton’s average disposal skills. His greatest attribute is his ability to find the ball – exactly what we want in dream team!

Gary Ablett: I was concerned about his form through the NAB cup, but against Essendon he was already looking back at his best. All the concerns about his move to the Gold Coast look like they aren’t effecting his ability on the field – briefly, he’s a star and is worth every cent of his whopping price tag.

James Kelly: I mentioned a lot through the pre-season that Kelly looked likely to move back to the midfield in 2010, and his game proved the point, scoring a very good 106 points – great for a player priced at under $400,000.

Disappointing:

Josh Hunt: We knew he would play a defensive role this year, but a score of 46 whilst playing purely as a stopper was pretty ordinary. We will be furiously hoping that Geelong start to need his penetrating long boot within the next couple of weeks!

Scott Gumbleton: Gumby’s score of 17 was true punishment for all the coaches who selected him for the sole reason of him being named in round one.  He is at least guaranteed games in the future and the fact that this game was against the reigning premiers will allow him some grace. Should improve in time but I would not be expecting a breakout year.

Melbourne vs Hawthorn:

Looking Good:

Luke Hodge: Played the entire game through the midfield, which was simply divine to watch! Despite being tagged, he racked up 34 disposals – the greatest on the ground. Is an absolute steal at his price and if you don’t have him he is almost worth the cost of a trade to get him.

Jordan Lewis: Great through the midfield with his  inside work and hardness at the contest. What surprised me is that he only had three tackles for the game – I expect this to grow and hence his scoreline accordingly.

Rick Ladson: Looked much better than he did in the pre-season, bringing a bit more urgency and better disposal to this match. At his price he is a steal – it is just a shame that his NAB form turned so many off.

Jordie McKenzie: One of the Dees best, but what stood out from a DT perspective was his 11 tackles!

Disappointing:

Brent Renouf: Just because he is Hawthorn’s only ruckman, it doesn’t mean that he will score amazingly. And score amazingly he did not, pulling in only 54 points from (nearly) a full game in the ruck.

James Strauss: Disappointing to see him playing as a defender as he was initially drafted as a ball-winning midfielder. Unfortunately, it looks like this position will suck all life out of any DT potential – at least for now.

St.Kilda vs Sydney:

Looking Good:

Ryan O’Keefe: Was in everything, playing the entire match as a midfielder. What is really amazing is how well he plays under the packs for a player who has spent most of his career as a leading forward. There is every chance his game could go to another level in 2010, so make sure you have him when it happens!

Nick Riewoldt: Was great all day, and what made his score so impressive is the fact that it was against Sydney – a team he NEVER plays well against. His huge fitness base is going to see him be a very big DT scorer this year.

Tahdg Kennelly: Was great off half-back, although the Saints didn’t put a lot of effort into stopping him (as it allowed Gilbert to be free at the other end). My only worry is whether he will back this up – Kennelly has never been a good DT player, so I would be waiting another week before pushing any trade buttons to get him in your team.

Nick Malceski: Spent time as both a rebounding defender and a midfielder – both great DT positions. He really looks to be back to his 2007 form and I would be surprised if he doesn’t continue his round one form through the rest of the season.

Disappointing:

Martin Mattner: Many coaches wondered how it was possible for Sydney to have four rebounding defenders in their team and who in turn would be shunted – the answer it seems is Mattner. He was given the very DT-unfriendly position of playing as a tagging forward – this to me rules him out of any chance of being in my team, and it should be the same for you.

David Armitage: Tried hard, but suffered from poor time on ground and from the fact he was playing Sydney – typically a team which generates poor scores for the opposition midfielders. Before you write him off, watch him again next week – I think he will improve.

Brisbane vs West Coast:

Looking Good:

Jonathon Brown: Stood tall as the main target in the new-look Brisbane forward line, squashing any worries that Fevola would get in his way. If anything, Fev’s arrival will push Brown further up field, allowing him to get more marks and possessions through the midfield.

Jared Brennan: My main man Brennan set the Gabba alight with a sparkling performance, playing the entire game on the ball, clocking up an impressive 31 disposals. With Black, Power and Rich in the team, Brennan will rarely get tagged and has the ability to bring home some pretty big scores as demonstrated by his 121 points against WCE.

Adam Selwood: I love this new form of tagging – get as many disposals as possible to force your opponent work hard the other way too. It is made exclusively for DT and it is a tactic heavily employed by Selwood. He proved late last year and early this year that he is capable of some massive scores and I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes one of the better DT options by seasons end.

Disappointing:

Dean Cox: As expected (after no pre-season), Big Cox didn’t participate in a huge amount of the game, and when he did he didn’t look like himself. All we can hope is that his price will drop enough to trade him into your team on the cheap. Just be thankful that he’s not already in your team, right?…. Right…???

Mitch Clark: The other premium ruck on the ground did even less than Cox – he couldn’t seem to work out how to play on Naitanui and in turn played a pretty poor game. Here’s hoping there’s improvement ahead.

Port Adelaide vs North Melbourne:

Looking Good:

Kane Cornes: He’s back! All this pre-season talk about him playing as a forward is obviously rubbish as he spent his day running through the midfield and racking up a whopping 39 disposals along the way! Cornes at his best is a DT superstar – so don’t expect this score to be a flash in the pan!

Liam Anthony: It can sometimes be hard to talk up a player as young as Anthony, but also the same price as him. However, he proves time and time again that he is a DT stud – he can’t keep away from the ball and is always seen running alongside teammates, calling for the ball even when he isn’t in the best position – this isn’t always great for his team, but is damn good for coaches who own him in DT!

Jack Ziebell: Looks more mature this year than last and really sets an example for his teammates with his efforts and tackling. Should be a real improver this year and would be a strong chance to take out the rising star award.

Disappointing:

Chad Cornes: It is so sad to see him playing a defensive role nowadays – clearly his body isn’t up to playing through the midfield anymore, but sometimes it is hard not to think back to all the tons he has scored us in the past number of years. Unfortunately, you don’t want Chad anywhere near your team in 2010.

Sam Wright: I’ll use Wright as an example for all of the young Roos players who showed great form in the NAB cup – his (and also that of Warran and Campbell) form in round one is disappointing from the inevitable value increase they suggested only a few weeks ago. Should definitely get better, but the jury is still out on how much better that will be.

Robbie Gray: The man was a late withdrawal and I want to bitch about it one more time… clearly.

Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood:

Looking Good:

Dane Swan: I was nervous coming into this season that Swan would take a massive dive in his point scoring due to the increased attention he got from the opposition at the back-end of last year. But fortunately, he has already disproved this theory, beating every opponent that Collingwood threw his way. So expect another point-scoring bonanza of a year from Dane Swan, Dream Team’s greatest hero.

Heath Shaw: Shaw seems to be now playing his role in the side much better than he did a couple of years ago when he would either get shut out of the game or his opponent would kick a bag. Now he has worked out that happy middle ground between defence and attack and it has already translated to a personal-best disposal total of 36 – could really get some big numbers this year.

Matthew Boyd: Boyd is Mr.Consistent when it comes to dream team – he will almost always crack 100 points, just as he has done here. He is the perfect player to put in your team – you know always what you will get.

Disappointing:

Ryan Hargrave: Followed Medhurst around all day and didn’t do much himself – worrying signs for a player who still has never stamped himself as a consistent dream teamer. Whilst many coaches pick him up, the truth is that he has always been a mixed bag with scoring – defensive one week, attacking the next, never settling on one or the other.

Darren Jolly: Was just terribly out of form, never really looking like having much effect on the game. I imagine he will turn this form around, but the worry is still there.

Fremantle vs Adelaide:

Looking Good:

Michael Barlow: Was brilliant in his first game, kicking two goals and winning plenty of disposals and clearances. It won’t take long until the taggers cotton on, but until that point he is a bargain at $100k.

Paul Duffield: He played a great game running off the half-back like and through the centre, but the real bonus is how well he places himself to win the cheap ball. He will consistently score well thanks to this last fact alone – although it does also help that he is a very good footballer too.

Taylor Walker: Kicked four goals and looked about the only live body in the Crows forward line. Had a shocking pre-season so it is good to see him turning the form line around.

Disappoining:

Adam McPhee: Absolute stinker again – I think even the Freo crowd booed him at one stage. Do not go anywhere near this bloke!

Anthony Morabito: I feel mean to pick on the new kid, but it needs to be emphasised, Morabito is NOT a dream teamer – he has great skills and pace and size (etc etc), but he does lack the ability to win the ball. He is not a bad pick perse, but there are just so many other better ones to go for in his price bracket.

Richard Douglas: I still don’t understand why he gets games (I have honestly been saying this for years) – he had another stinker with absolutely no contribution to the result. Yes, he can run, but what the hell else does he do??