By The Goat and The White Maggot
Player of the Week: Andrew Carrazzo (134)
Carrazzo didn’t get the highest score for the week – that honour went to Chad Cornes (144). Sam Fisher was next highest (142) but both of those guys played against weak opponents – Melbourne and Carlton respectively. Carrazzo went head to head with one of the form midfields in the competition (St Kilda) and managed 134. His 38 touches were a career high and the highest possession number for a Carlton player since 2000. 25 of these coming in the first half, one off the all time record of possessions for a half which is 26.
Honourable Mentions: The Chad (144), Sam Fisher(140), Jared Brennan (129), Rhan Hooper (122)
Biggest Disappointment: Josh Drummond (26)
Only played 47 per cent game time due to injury, but 26 points is 26 points. He has been a star this season but at that price you need better.
Other Points of Interest:
– Number one football caller Brian Taylor wasn’t slow in naming his man for the week as Nick Gill (Adelaide). 83 is a fair return for a first gamer, especially as a key forward. Has a great leap and a fair amount of guts – if only he could kick straight! Two misses from straight in front at crucial times in a game can hurt your DT scores. The 24 year old has been in the system for a while (once a Kangas rookie) so needs to show the signs quickly.
– The Chad found plenty of the ball playing forward and nailed 6 goals 2. It was a fair return from the big fella, but if he is going to play forward every week there is the potential for some low scores. Still with Warren Tredrea due back anytime he should move back in to the midfield and continue to find the footy. He is going to need to if he wants to start winning the sibling competition with brother Kane, (the highest possession winner gets lunch bought for them).
– The West Coast midfield is again a scary prospect with the return of Benny Cousins, giving it (dare I say it) a shot in the arm. Following up lasts weeks 140 with a solid 93 he certainly is an attractive option to strengthen your finals bound midfield. Will drop dramatically this week in price but nevertheless a very tantalising upgrade option since not many players will have him.
– The Osteitis Pubis curse seems to have hit everybody’s favorite Praying Mantis, Aaron Sandilands. With rumours coming out of the West that Sandi was struggling with the dreaded OP, the stats tell of a disappointing performance. Frankly 32 points from a starting gun ruckman leaves him now valued at a low $251,600. I’m off the Giant!
– Brisbane’s stunning performance against Collingwood brought a smile to many eyes, and the show that Jared Brennan (129) put on was simply stunning. Dreamtime was back at the G with the aforementioned Brennan and Rhan Hooper enjoying the limelight immensely. Chuck in Jonathan Brown (111) and Jed Adcock (121) to the equation and you have some pretty impressive scores.
– What is it with the Kangaroos? If it’s not Drew Petrie kicking a bag full of goals it’s Corey Jones (129). The run has got to stop at some point though surely.
– Steve Johnson (134) and Joel Corey (130) continued the rout that has been the Geelong midfield this year.
– Matthew Boyd stepped up in the absence of the injured Scott West to score a total of 130 while Wayde Skipper (remember him?) scored 108 for his first game of the year.
– The Rising Star Award goes to… Joel Selwood. With Scott Pendlebury (just three points) going down with what looks like a season ending injury, there is only one man for the prize. (Ed: Unless he gets suspended.)
– The New Coach Factor: Out goes Pagan and miraculously ‘The Fevolution’ is able to punch out a ‘measly’ 92. Not bad for a bloke with a 30 cm calf tear during the week. Youngster Ryan Jackson (107) pulled out a ton in first game under Brett Ratten, while Eddie Betts’ extended run in the midfield netted a return of 86 this week, smashing his average of 53. Meanwhile, not much has changed at either Melbourne or Freo with the change of coach but Brent Moloney (66) has seen a return to the squad and Nathan Jones (82) has found a fair bit more game time on the ball.
