Footy Tragic

As the season draws to a halt, I can understand that some of these articles can become a bit irrelevant. That is why I want to write the first of my reflective pieces about season 2010. Over the next week or so, expect articles to shuffle around a bit as we all look back on a season that has been, as well as casting our eyes forward to 2010. Today I will reflect back on my ‘Who’d You Rather’ series from this year, determining who won some of the key battles in hindsight. Next week I will attempt a piece looking ahead to next year and the changes that may arise, whilst Ben will continue to look at the Gold Coast list. Our last official article of the season will be a ‘Season Wrap’ in the place of the ‘Weekly Wrap’ article on Monday week. From there we will certainly be staying active on the site over the off-season and we encourage you to do the same. We will attempt to keep up to date about all the key Gold Coast signings, plus my favourite week in the AFL calendar - Trade Week. We will be on top of the draft too, with our expert on the kids, Dan looking at all the talent for 2011. Articles will be announced soon as we still establish our structure, but remember that Dream Team is really won in the off-season, so having a great DT knowledge base leading into picking your 2011 team will give you the best possible head-start over your mates. And you KNOW that Footy Tragic will be the place for all this info throughout the off-season!

Who’d You Rather: The Hindsight Edition

Round 1: Mark Seaby vs Todd Goldstein

To kick things off, I compared two developing mid-priced ruck options. To this point, Seaby had averaged 104.5 over two games and Goldstein 86.5 and 84% of people said Seaby was the best option. However, from this point on, Seaby averaged 35.5 points over four games, including a season ending mid-game injury in round 6 - a game where he scored just one point! Goldstein proved to be a better option -  whilst he didn’t have a breakout year as predicted, he did go on to average 74.8 for the rest of the year, finishing as the 6^th highest scoring ruck of the season.

Voted: Mark Seaby - 84%

Winner: Todd Goldstein

Round 2: Jarred Brennan vs Jonathan Brown vs Cyril Rioli vs Ryan O’Keefe

This was hardly amazing advice either…  At the time, all four looked amazing, however form and injury have cruelled all of them at separate times through the year. Brown has had abdominal issues and has averaged 73.1 from this point and has missed five games in the process through injury. O’Keefe was great for a while, but after averaging 115 over the first three games, he averaged 82.7 -  at least he hasn’t missed too many games, but nine scores below 80 points have made it an average season at best. Brennan averaged 116 from the first three, and injuries derailed his year - he missed four games not long after this article and struggled to recapture his early form, averaging just 77 points and scoring above 100 points twice. Rioli looked for a while like his 130 points was a blip on the radar, but after averaging 65 points over the next eight games he then hit form, averaging 97 points for the next six – unfortunately he was then hit with a two week suspension on the eve of finals, meaning plenty had to trade him out.

Winner: Ryan O’Keefe

Round 3: Alan Didak vs Steve Johnson

At this stage of the year, neither player had hit form, with Stevie J averaging 86 points and Didak averaging 84. From this point, both have really hit form, with Johnson averaging 99.5 for the rest of the year and Didak averaging 102.5. Didak also played all remaining games, a fact Johnson can’t claim, having missed three games with suspension late in the year.

Voted: Alan Didak - 74%

Winner: Alan Didak

Round 4: Jordan Lewis vs Domenic Cassisi

Two players that were well down on their expected output for the year with Cassisi averaging 68 points to this stage and Lewis 76 points. Immediately after this article both players seemed to hit form with Lewis averaging 98 over the next six weeks, dropping below 100 just once; Cassisi similarly averaged 97 points over the next six. As the season comes to a close, Cassisi has averaged 94.6 since and Lewis has averaged 87.6.

Voted: Jordan Lewis - 70%

Winner: Dom Cassisi

Round 5: Ryan Hargrave vs Paul Bower

We can probably pretend this article never happened - whilst Hargrave was up and down for the remaining rounds, Bower has only played seven games since with an average of 55. Hargrave has at least averaged 84.5 points and only missed the two games, making him the clear winner.

Voted: Ryan Hargrave - 81%

Winner: Ryan Hargrave

Round 7: Lenny Hayes vs Dane Swan This isn’t a particularly difficult one to work out after Swan’s dominant season, although it is worth commenting that you wouldn’t have done too badly picking Hayes either for $40k less. Lenny averaged 113 points since this article with only two scores below 100 and six over 120 points. However, Swan makes these scores look pathetic, averaging a whopping 128 points since, scoring below 100 just once and scoring over 120 on 12 occasions (five of which were over 140!).

Voted: Dane Swan - 73%

Winner: Dane Swan

Round 10: Ash McGrath vs Sam Fisher

I went out on a limb this week and both ended up looking pretty good (until McGrath injured himself). Until the time of this article, Fisher was averaging 82.57 and McGrath 73.25. Since then, Fisher averaged 93 points and McGrath, whilst averaging 122 over the next fortnight, injured himself the next week and went on to score a rather average 55 points for the remaining rounds.

Voted: Sam Fisher - 80%

Winner: Sam Fisher

Round 11: Paul Chapman vs Gary Ablett

This was the battle of the balding Cats and Ablett was clearly the voters choice with 76%. However, since this date, both Cats have been a lot closer than people expected. Firstly, Chappy has missed only one game, whilst Ablett has played every one. Ablett has averaged an impressive 112.9 compared to Chappy’s 107. The fact Ablett has played all games and averaged five points higher makes him the clear winner.

Voted: Gary Ablett - 76%

Winner: Gary Ablett

Round 13: Jack Riewoldt vs Richard Douglas

Two players having clear breakout seasons, with Riewoldt leading the way at this point, averaging 93 compared to Douglas’s 87. However, as seems to happen with younger players, both have waned in recent weeks, with Riewoldt averaging just 68 points since this article. Douglas has still remained a good average of 92 points since the article, suggesting he has been the better performer. Also, for those looking at forwards to replace J Brown or Higgins this week, Douglas could be a great pick, especially with Vince now out for the year – Douglas should line up in his midfield spot.

Voted: Jack Riewoldt - 58%

Winner: Richard Douglas

Round 14: Lance Franklin vs Alan Didak

For the second time this year I looked at Didak - this time up against Buddy in what proved to be the closest vote of the year. To this stage, both players averaged 95 points for the season, however Didak’s was from more matches thanks to Buddy’s couple of trips to the tribunal. From here, Buddy averaged 104 points, however missed one more game from suspension. Didak managed 108 points whilst still playing all seven games between then and now, making him the eventual winner from this article.

Voted: Alan Didak - 54%

Winner: Alan Didak

Round 17: Adam Goodes vs Nick Riewoldt

In the final real ‘Who’d You Rather’  article, I pitched two forward heavyweights against each other -  both had had poor seasons to date with Goodes averaging 86 points for the season and Roo missing 12 weeks with a significant hamstring injury. At the time of writing this article, Riewoldt had played two games since returning, scoring 68 and 71 points. Goodes on the other hand had just played two blinders through the midfield, scoring 158 and 116 points. Both players have continued some good form since though with Riewoldt since averaging 111 to Goodes’ 104. Riewoldt’s DT finals form has been fantastic, averaging 132 points from the two games so far, making him the clear winner over Goodes who has averaged just 86 points in the finals series.

Voted: Adam Goodes - 59%

Winner: Nick Riewoldt