An undermanned Hawthorn overcame injuries to beat the Swans in an eight-point crunch game.
Two late changes meant that Hawthorn lost another two defenders, Campbell Brown and Tom Murphy, from an already undermanned back line. Robert Campbell and third-gamer Ryan Schoenmakers did their best to fill holes in the defence. Then it lost one of its best playmakers, Cyril Rioli, during the first quarter, and Luke Hodge and Xavier Ellis carried injuries through the game. A gutsy team effort was needed in circumstances that favoured the Swans stoppage style of play. Lance Franklin (DT92/SC99) and Jarryd Roughead (95/139) returned to form, and a badly underdone Hodge played with heart all day. Beau Muston returned to earth with a thud, and the Hawks won the day despite scoring 100 less in both DT and SC. Hodge and Buddy may prove to be excellent choices for those fantasy coaches upgrading in the next few weeks.
For the Swans, Adam Goodes (124/166) was BOG, with Ryan O’Keefe (103/139) making it 4 weeks in a row of excellent fantasy scores. Darren Jolly (113/128) continues to prove that he was excellent pick-up for those fantasy coaches that chose him at the start of the year. Barry Hall spat the dummy and picked up 4 points in SC. The form of Nick Malceski (11/9) is puzzling to those coaches who expected him to step up this year.
Earlier in the day the Crows beat the Bombers in a high scoring game, and Tyson Edwards (166/136) celebrated his 300th match with a BOG. To be honest, I expected him to slow down this season. Perhaps the most amazing fantasy player of the round was Kurt Tippett (130/136). Those who kept Taylor Walker (31/22) over Mitchell Brown would have been disappointed.
For Essendon, Scott Lucas returned to the team and form, rattling out 4 goals and a DT/SC ton. Patrick Ryder continued his form in the ruck and Hayden Skipworth rewarded those coaches who sat him on the bench for five weeks.
In Perth, Geelong did the minimum possible to beat a determined West Coast Eagles. Fantasy coaches hoping for a scoring rampage would have been disappointed, with only 4 DT tons and 8 SC tons. Despite coming into the game with an injury question mark, Gary Ablett jnr (155/175) was the star player, with Dean Cox (131/147) doing his best to inspire his team. Steve Johnson (62/38) was tagged closely by Tyson Stenglein (69/78).
How’s your round been so far? Have you already slotted Ryder into backs? Can Tippett only get large scores against an undersized Essendon? Is it too late to pick up O’Keefe? Was picking up Steve Johnson this week a mistake?
NastyNige
June 8, 2009 at 5:49 pm
didn’t expect a big score from Muston against Sydney. I was one of the mugs who cashed in Brown, and not walker :-/
Prospector
June 8, 2009 at 6:51 pm
No GAJ just killing me in SC. On a mission now.
Jim Bean
June 8, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Happy with my team’s performance this week, a few good performances.
Tippet did very well as my second ruck, and is starting to pay off. Didak had a good week, and i hope he can back it up next week. Bartel is ever consistant, and Bowden is back to his best. But i have a problem…
I am looking to upgrade Rich to a ultra-premium midfielder. SWAN or ABLETT?? Who will be bets in the long run?
atrain
June 8, 2009 at 7:26 pm
what do u kids think of a straight swap from andy otten to nathan van berlo whos been pretty piss poor this year but looking at last year was the same until he really stepped up in the 2nd half
Prospector
June 8, 2009 at 9:36 pm
@JB, I reckon Swan in DT, Ablett in SC. Pity Swan’s a pie!
SimonOz
June 9, 2009 at 1:41 am
Would like to spend no more than 425k on a Fwd upgrade to replace Krak……JBrown or Didak or am I missing someone ????
Or is the better policy to wait 2 weeks for SJ’s 38 to run thru ???
Disco DB
June 9, 2009 at 7:50 am
It’s become so bad for Malceski it can only go full circle from here where he’s thrown him into the guts. Or banished to the 2’s for a long time.
ronl
June 9, 2009 at 9:22 am
@JB There is one main difference between Swan and GAJ (I have both in SC) Swan falls to pieces when tagged, while Gazza laughs at taggers on his way to another 40 .
jo3balls
June 10, 2009 at 12:11 pm
As im one of the douches who doesnt have ablett in sc, i dont feel as bad not having in my dt team but yes anyway i have swan in both and have had him every year, been my most consistent player and would never tradehim, except for injury of course.
@JB the simple answer is sc go gaj and dt id say swan..
@ronl why would u bother tagging swan, he is a great dter but a playing pov if i was carltons coach id let him rack up his 50 possies because he aint going to have that much of an influence in a game then others
jehan
June 10, 2009 at 4:46 pm
im not sure what to do…not having gaj is killing me as many of my opponents have him, however the only real option i can see to get him is to trade haselby (dt)but im not sure i want to do it although i did buy haselby to be traded at the start of the season, i also have the option of kruzer to cox. i am at a crossroads, any help would be appreciated
dmdunne
June 10, 2009 at 11:11 pm
SC – Franklin cheaper then Roughead should I make the upgrade or is it a downgrade???? I’m confused