In a new feature, FanFooty blogger Mitchell Cleary compares three pairs of popular fantasy players.
var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(234,329,696199,”http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css”)}catch(ex){}}()As the 2009 season draws closer and closer, I have taken a look at three vital match-ups that fantasy coaches will need to assess before the season begins. Which midfield gun, comeback kid or young gun will you pick?
Jimmy Bartel DT $501,800 SC $623,300 vs
Chris Judd DT $378,600 SC $594,500
Two former Brownlow Medallists, two premiership stars, two guns of the game… so which one are you going to pick? Or both? Both players are instrumental to each of their respective clubs’ midfields. Bartel shares the workload with Ablett, Selwood and Corey while Judd shares the locker room with Stevens, Gibbs and Murphy.
All reports say that Judd is back to full fitness and raring to go for a strong 2009, but he has had injury problems in the past and this may haunt him. Taggers love to follow him around the park, but he has shown the way he can break the shackles.
Meanwhile, Bartel has been a tremendous fantasy pick for so long and looks fit for another premiership tilt. Joel Selwood‘s game continues to rise, and with extra midfield rotations could this hamper Bartel’s fantasy season? Gary Ablett jnr always steals the limelight down at Kardinia Park, and this may work into the favour of Bartel as the taggers focus on young Gazza.
Brent Reilly DT $284,000 SC $316,300 vs
Chris Masten DT $306,200 SC $306,900
var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(234,354,696213,”http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css”)}catch(ex){}}()Masten will be given plenty of time this season to impress under John Worsfold as he looks to blood plenty of youth, but is his body ready to step up for a rigorous 22 games of AFL footy?
At the Crows, Reilly will be eased back into action early but should see plenty of TOG in the middle of the season as the likes of Simon Goodwin and Tyson Edwards start to come to the twilight of their career. Injury is another thing for Reilly, who in previous years has struggled to stay on the park.
Jack Grimes DT $186,400 SC $188,400 vs
Andrew Raines DT $188,100 SC $279,900
Looking through the new FanFooty forum, it seems at least 80% of teams have these two players
in starting, or at least one. Both are bargains and with their pre-season form, both look potential steals for fantasy coaches. Melbourne has been crying out for a player that can mop up in defence and provide a decent kick, and they look to have found one in Jack Grimes. His game on the weekend, where he picked up 26 touches, earned praise from Dean Bailey. He has had injury problems in the past, so be wary.
As for Raines, many fantasy fans hope he can return to his best, as he is simply a “cash cow”. Injuries may hamper him, but if he can return to his best he is a must for all fantasy fans.
What are your thoughts? Who would you pick from these match-ups, or who else can be thrown up as potential battles? Most of you reading this post probably have a lot of these players but who will perform in season ’09 or who will crumble? I would love to hear your views.
Nick2
March 6, 2009 at 10:36 am
I don’t have either of the first two.
I have Masten and not Reilly – there’s a debate on BF about this so I won’t go into it here.
I have Grimes and not Raines. I started with Grimes, then JWS, moved to Raines, then Grimes again. I feel as though Grimes may be able to average higher than Raines. Although Raines has looked good in the preseason, it’s worrying that he’s only been able to score 70’s with those sorts of games. For him to score a 90, what sort of incredible game is he going to need? I’d prefer to take a punt of Grimes being more than just a cash cow, and somebody that could make a genuine contribution for 10-12 games.
will
March 6, 2009 at 10:37 am
all of them minus judd
Nick
March 6, 2009 at 11:12 am
If Dream Team worked by how classy the player was, how many possessions they got, what sort of possessions and how effective they were to determine their relative impact on the field when compared to the player on the dream team opposing you that week, then everyone would have Chris Judd. Even if it’s just so the Judd v Judd match-up you’ll run into in your league negates the influence on the result.
As a dream team prospect, I’m not so confident. I really like him as a player,if his handball receives and hardball gets were replaced with marks then he’d be the number one player in the competition, but he’d be less of a footballer for it.
Perhaps if the Stevens’, Murphys & Gibbs’ that will roll into the midfield at Carlton take the game on more it would free up Judd to make some cheap points like Bartel can being that linking player. If that’s what you think is going to happen then get on Judd early. I just don’t see anyone else running through tackles down there yet.
Raf
March 6, 2009 at 11:22 am
The difference for DT purposes between Judd and Bartel at full fitness is that Judd is his team’s #1 midfielder and Bartel is #2. Judd in Carlton’s midfield is also more taggable, as for all their other strengths Carlton’s midfield don’t block for Judd anywhere near as well as the old West Coast midfield did, or as well as Geelong’s midfield block for Ablett/Bartel.
Personally I’m taking the third option, Joel Corey.
Reilly and Masten are both midpricers who should improve but not enough to be keepers or cash cows, therefore not touching them, especially with injury concerns on both.
Raines AND Grimes, duh.
t-bomb
March 6, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Anyone considering Jarryn Geary of STK in the mix with Raines and Grimes?
Same price and has been doing well in the pre-season….
peppers
March 6, 2009 at 1:34 pm
my SC opinion:
both bartel and judd (proven guns coming of sub-par 2008s)
neither reilly nor masten (too risky for that price bracket)
raines over grimes (raines has potential to be a keeper, grimes a little pricey for a cash cow and has unpredictable coach)
Fatty
March 6, 2009 at 1:34 pm
How risky is having Raines, Hill and Grimes? Am I cutting off my jacobs and handing them to the opposition?
Fatty
Heater
March 6, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Fatty, I have those three and I reckon they’ll all go ok this year. Grimes will get game time, Raines will be a cashcow and Hill could be anything so worth a punt IMO.
I have both Judd & Bartel but not Masten or Reilly, though Masten is on the watchlist ATM.
Bryan
March 6, 2009 at 2:35 pm
too many rhetorical questions and not enough answers!
geary wont be get time of day when the season starts i reckon.
personally i’m going presty.
Bryan
March 6, 2009 at 2:40 pm
on another note, how sexy does juddy look??
this is like having deep, lustful, horny feelings for an ex-girlfriend that dumped you without warning and took off with another guy across the other side of the continent.
Chad
March 6, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Raines and Grimes aren’t a sure thing for round 1 are they?
Dan
March 6, 2009 at 3:19 pm
@Bryan
Did she leave you because you were ghey? 😉
dicleo
March 6, 2009 at 3:27 pm
All u have to know is that Jimmy Bartel is a fantasy legend and should always be ur first pick of the year. His start to the year wasnt that great last year for his standards yet he still ended the year with an average of 113, need i say anymore.
ong111
March 6, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Chad, I think they both have a good chance of playing round 1.
andy
March 6, 2009 at 3:43 pm
nick there is a game where it measures what sort of possessions players get and how effective they are..it called supercoach..c judd vice captain gary ablett captain
Dicko
March 6, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I’m starting to worry about you Bryan!
Fudd
March 6, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Is there any comparison between judd and bartel???
Its not really apples and apples is it?
Hayden Churchill
March 6, 2009 at 5:06 pm
i need to no a good cheapish forward im having trouble. My forward line is too good and i need a cheaper player to upgrade adcock for a better midfielder
stevo
March 6, 2009 at 5:41 pm
cashcow fowards that will play every game
zeibel, skipworth, higgins, krakour
even maybe rusling, hentschel
Ryan
March 6, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I currently have raines and grimes starting with hill as cover on the bench. not that risky i don’t think
Mitch
March 6, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Everyone’s opinion is great…maybe not Fatty’s; Grimes, Raines and Hill all look great Fantasy prospects this year.
Are there any other pairs people believe should be assessed?
Disco (UK)
March 6, 2009 at 6:28 pm
How about…
Gibbs vs Selwood
Malceski vs Drummond vs Adcock
Knights vs Boak
Chapman vs S.Johnson
Pavlich vs Reiwoldt
Yarran vs Sidebottom
Fraser vs Ottens vs Jolly
Al.Davey vs Rioli
Ziebell vs Laidley
m0nty vs Molly
Tom
March 6, 2009 at 6:29 pm
yer good article…maybe compare different people rather than the obvious. like bradly ottens and matt kruzer?
Pete
March 6, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Would be interested in peoples thoughts on..
Gibbs vs Dalziell vs Selwood
All #3 midfielders in a good midfield
sam
March 6, 2009 at 7:55 pm
how about:
Mcintoch or leuenberger
Cornes or Bock or Shaw or lockyer or houli or adcock?
jooooel
March 6, 2009 at 8:58 pm
thats great
well done on that artcile its a good comparison
lol
stevo
March 6, 2009 at 10:35 pm
give houli some time and he will be a supercoach freak!
fryzie
March 7, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Disco :
Gibbs vs Selwood – Gibbs. Showed at the end of 08 that he is capable of big scores and won’t get tagged ahead of Murphy/Judd/Stevens, Selwood might due to how damaging he is compared to Bartel/Corey who are great ball winners but not as slick as Selwood with their disposal.
Malceski vs Drummond vs Adcock – Without durability concerns, Drummond, if you have the fear, Adcock.
Knights vs Boak – Knights, just, and only because there are too many midfielders at Port. Boak will have a great year though.
Chapman vs S.Johnson – Again, durability issues make me lean toward Stevie J, but Chapman if he can play 22.
Pavlich vs Reiwoldt – Pav, lower SD from his average, and he doesn’t cry when he gets hurt.
Yarran vs Sidebottom – Sidebottom, he has a rad name.
Fraser vs Ottens vs Jolly – Fraser, in for a big year, Wood showed how crap he is against Essendon.
Al.Davey vs Rioli – Rioli. He’s way better?
Ziebell vs Laidley – Flip a coin depending on how Laidley’s menopause is going this year.
m0nty vs Molly – Chopper.
DanA
March 8, 2009 at 1:27 am
For me it’s out of
Masten vs Tuck
Gibbs vs Kornes
Adcock vs Johncock
Gia vs S.Johnson
Jolly vs Hille
Brad
March 8, 2009 at 9:54 am
Stuck picking my last fwd spot.
Houlihan v Skipworth v Vezspremi?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Brad
March 8, 2009 at 12:55 pm
DanA
Masten vs Tuck (Tuck at this stage, Masten next year if he can stay fit, Tuck is slightly further advanced in my opinion)
Gibbs vs Kornes (Gibbs, absolutely no question)
Adcock vs Johncock (Adcock)
Gia vs S.Johnson (Line ball but would take Gia)
Jolly vs Hille (Hille)unless he gets rubbed out for round 1 which is a big possibility.
Mitch
March 8, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I would probably take Kane Cornes over Bryce Gibbs
Stuart
March 8, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Match 1: Neither. Bartel overpriced and almost certainly going down in value, and Judd is not a DT player.
Match 2: Masten. Really rate the kid, and is set to improve in a young Eagles side.
Match 3: Both. Can’t say no to either of these very tasty prospects.
Muppet Executioner
March 8, 2009 at 11:36 pm
SC SC SC
I got that old SC chestnut – who is your
No 2 on field ruck? Whilst I can appreciate that it’s not a good place to invest cash – I got stuck with Kreuzer last year and he was worth $188K at the start of the year and about $250K at the end. I’ve tried to keep my mids spend down, whilst having an all star forward line and 3 premiums up back. I have left a handy bench (S.Hill down back) and am pretty well trade proof for the 5 or 8 rounds though in this game, that might last 2 rounds. 2 players strike me as great value, though both have concerns. Maguire might just break down. Gutsy bloke and dead unlucky – at $163K he would be a great banker to flog when he fattens up a bit. Haven’t seen much of a buzz about him. The second one is John Anthony. Big deal if he kicked a bag – Mick loves players like this bloke and I reckon he’ll get plenty of it. In finishing – I had the absolute displeasure of listening Carro on the Run Home on Friday arvo. Her ridiculous, unresearched and shallow attack on Eddie was just wrong. Listening to it, you didn’t know whether to laugh at her or wonder how she gets so much air time. Cant wait for Grant Thomas to line her up on Footy Classified in 09. Bring on the tears Grant, make her bawl.
sean
March 9, 2009 at 7:12 pm
thoughts on option 3?
Raines Vs Grimes Vs Jesse Smith
smith is all the rage on kanga forums and i think the kid has a lot of potential. at $197,000 – 10k more than the others, is he worth it over either raines or grimes? i think ill end up with 2 of the three and atm have raines and smith, just not sure if i should keep it that way
adam
March 9, 2009 at 8:00 pm
fryzie cant take u seriously.people who bags riewoldt about crying normally dont have the footy smarts
fryzie
March 9, 2009 at 9:32 pm
adam,
I also said Laidley has menopause and Sidebottom should be picked due to his rad name, it didn’t cross your mind I threw a few bits of commentary in there for a giggle?
My actual reason for picking Pav over Riewoldt was that his standard deviation from his average is one of the lowest in the league whilst Riewoldt is traditionally a slow starter meaning you can trade him in for one of your cashcows in the forwardline later in the season.
That aside, I couldn’t care less if you take me seriously, however I do apologise if my Riewoldt jab ruined your day possum.
Wazza
March 14, 2009 at 2:12 pm
hi there anyone able to help out with where i can find the results from nab challenge matches.
cheers