With the finals now on our doorstep, everyone will find themselves in a variety of different circumstances – whether you have made the top four, just missed it, or are sitting outside the eight, you will be working on your own strategies to deal with the next month – a month which will build to that one day in August – the dream team grand final.

As well as everyone having different finishing positions, everyone will also find themselves with varying amounts of trades. We have talked many times on this site about the ‘ideal number’ of trades, but whether you have stormed in with six or limped in with one, you must use them all very wisely. The first issue that will test coaches will be player resting, which will likely happen over the next month or so. Fortunately, the Saints and Hawthorn losses on the weekend will make it very hard for them to rest any players, just as Freo and the Bulldogs will be needing to win every match to snare fourth spot. Collingwood and Geelong on the other hand are another story – whilst Collingwood may play around a bit with their lineup, I can’t imagine them really resting too many stars since they far from have top spot sealed. Geelong is the real DT enemy this year – they have already forecast resting Enright, Chapman and Ablett, after already resting Podsiadly and Bartel this week. We as coaches are going to have to think very long and hard about what to do if one of our stars is put out for a week through finals, and I think it will differ depending on where you sit on the finals table;

  • If you are in the top four, and have bench cover, you can certainly consider saving a trade. I probably wouldn’t trade if your opposition the rested player too, but would certainly consider it if you are going in as the underdog.
  • If you are ranked 5-8 (whether in the top or bottom league), I would probably trade unless if you have very good bench cover (i.e. a mid priced player who could score 80+ points). You have no second chance here so you need to go in with the best team possible.

When trading in players in the finals series, suddenly trading strategies become a bit different. When through the season, trading in a Swan, Ablett or Montagna are all good picks, it can be worth looking at who your main opposition has in their team. If all of the top four have Ablett and Swan, what is the point of trading them in? All that you will do it match them point for point when ideally you want to be beating them. Look to less common players like Boyd, Tuck, Hayes, Cross or Corey to give you an edge on the opposition. Whilst your player may not outscore theirs, it is a risk worth taking at this time of year. Over the next three weeks, my ‘Who’d You Rather’ article will focus on these less common picks.

This above point can also be made about Captain choices. I know some coaches who intentionally try to pick the same captain as their opposition every week – this is simply just not backing your own judgement and it certainly won’t help you win matches. Whilst Swan is probably going to be the best captain choice through the finals, why wouldn’t you select an in-form Montagna, Goddard, Chapman or Hodge who may be able to give you an extra 20-30 points? Swan only got 114 points on the weekend to Boyd’s 145, proving that the great Dane is not always going to be the BEST option for you every week (make sure to read Dan’s Wednesday article on Captain choices for hints and advice!).

I have already spoken about trades, but to go back over it, I want to remind you to use ALL of your trades! This probably sounds laughable to all the people limping in with one or two, but there is a chance of getting to the final week with one or two still in hand. Whether this means using the spare trades to upgrade your 7th forward or defender, or possibly just upgrading on your bench, it won’t harm your finals aspirations in any way. And by this same theory, if you are in an elimination final, throw everything you have at it – remember that if you lose this game your season will be over.

At the end of the day, I think there is one rule more important in dream team than any other – and that is showing off, talking yourself up, rubbishing your mates team and being anything but humble in either victory or defeat. It has been a long season and we have finally hit the business end – I must comment that it has been a thoroughly enjoyable year on Footy Tragic. I can speak on behalf of the rest of the boys when I say that we have really appreciated the comments, feedback and ‘robust discussion’ on the site this year and can’t wait to show you the bigger and better site layout that has been in development all year (hence some occasionally short articles!) – hopefully we can get it online before the season closes.

Best of luck to you all over this next month and keep the comments flying – great to hear how everyone is doing in their own personal leagues!