LaHug's Captains 2019 - Round 9

[LaHug]

Captains for Cancer Council.

https://myownway.everydayhero.com/au/will-huggett-s-2018-fundraising

Please pledge funds to help fight cancer! Examples of ways you can help:
1.   Pledge an amount (e.g. $5) for every time LaHug nails the top captain of the round.
2.   Pledge an amount (e.g. $5) for every time LaHug's POD cracks the 120 mark.
3.   Pledge an amount (e.g. $5) for every time LaHug gets egg on his face and his number 1 scores under 100.
4.   Make a once off donation.

Did you know that this is the 9th year I've done this? I'll continue to help with a smile and free of charge but, if you want to thank me, please donate to my charity efforts! Each week I will tell you some statistics on a player's last 3 games, their last 3 against this week's opponent, and their last 3 at this ground. I will also do a quick overview on my thoughts and have a guess at their score for this week. From all this, I'll give you my top 5 captain choices for the week and a speicial POD choice.

The facts & thoughts:

Andrew Gaff
Last 3: 108, 144, 91 (114 avg)
Last 3 against Melbourne: 101, 76, 101 (93 avg)
Last 3 at Perth: 144, 115, 134 (131 avg)

Absolutely dominating at home this season and coming up against an out of form Melbourne. Gaff's highly likely to go big this week! Prediction - 130

Max Gawn
Last 3: 91, 121, 112 (108 avg)
Last 3 against West Coast: 78, 111, 96 (95 avg)
Last 3 at Perth: 78, 111 (95 avg)

Max scored 111 against the Eagles last year before having his colours lowered with a 78 against them in the Prelim. No versatile Lycett in WA to work Max over this time though. Prediction - 115

Brodie Grundy
Last 3: 149, 99, 123 (124 avg)
Last 3 against St Kilda: 135, 118, 91 (115 avg)
Last 3 at MCG: 149, 123, 153 (142 avg)

I said it last week and I'll say it again. Grundy LOVES to play at the MCG. Rowan Marshall is no pushover but he's still an inexperienced opponent and Grundy will feast. Prediction - 140

Dayne Zorko
Last 3: 134, 136, 75 (115 avg)
Last 3 against Adelaide: 95, 119, 82 (99 avg)
Last 3 at Gabba: 136, 88, 106 (110 avg)

Back to back scores above 130 and I'm starting to pay attention to Zorko. Adelaide happily let Rocky rack it up against them inside last week so it's Zorko's turn now. Prediction - 125

Patrick Dangerfield
Last 3: 96, 38, 138 (91 avg)
Last 3 against Bulldogs: 100, 156, 135 (130 avg)
Last 3 at Kardinia: 138, 66, 134 (113 avg)

I can't back a guy that's not 100% fit and healthy but geez those numbers against the Dogs are nice. Danger's back at home this week where he usually does well. Prediction - 120

Mitch Duncan
Last 3: 142, 120, 130 (131 avg)
Last 3 against Bulldogs: 111, 169, 99 (126 avg)
Last 3 at Kardinia: 130, 95, 108 (111 avg)

Huggy's POD strikes again! Duncan scored that 140 I said he could and now comes against a Doggies team he's previously smashed a 169 on. Tempting trade in target. Prediction - 130

Tim Kelly
Last 3: 141, 113, 99 (118 avg)
Last 3 against Bulldogs: 119 (119 avg)
Last 3 at Kardinia: 99, 58, 111 (89 avg)

For whatever reason, two of Kelly's three worst scores are at home this year. He was huge last week and good in his game against the Dogs last year so I'm not too worried. Prediction - 120

Zach Merrett
Last 3: 136, 104, 108 (116 avg)
Last 3 against Fremantle: 112, 78, 144 (111 avg)
Last 3 at Docklands: 143, 99, 119 (120 avg)

I called him out last week and Merrett responded with a great 136. Back at Docklands this week where he does his best dirty work against a Dockers outfit that are starting to struggle. Prediction - 125

Nat Fyfe
Last 3: 111, 124, 124 (120 avg)
Last 3 against Essendon: 123, 88, 95 (102 avg)
Last 3 at Docklands: 125, 88, 114 (109 avg)

We expected more from Fyfe last week against his favourite team to play but a little bit of junktime still got him to 111. Should be good again this week but there are better C options. Prediction - 115

Tom Rockliff
Last 3: 149, 69, 107 (108 avg)
Last 3 against Gold Coast: 106, 123, 127 (119 avg)
Last 3 at AO: 149, 107, 132 (129 avg)

The strategy for getting ahead right now is to pick the best mid against the Suns. Coming off a 149 last week, Rocky may well crack the 150... Prediction - 140

Travis Boak
Last 3: 113, 108, 127 (116 avg)
Last 3 against Gold Coast: 113, 72, 153 (113 avg)
Last 3 at AO: 113, 127, 109 (116 avg)

Boak has an argument for best mid against the Suns too this week. Might not have the ceiling that Rocky has but certainly has the safer floor. Prediction - 130

Stephen Coniglio
Last 3: 76, 82, 115 (91 avg)
Last 3 against Carlton: 144, 109, 50 (101 avg)
Last 3 at Showgrounds: 108, 161, 94 (121 avg)

Hugely let me down last week and now I can't trust Cogs at all. He's been huge against the Blues before but I have lost faith. Prediction - 100

Josh Kelly
Last 3: 115, 113, 106 (111 avg)
Last 3 against Carlton: 153, 107, 103 (121 avg)
Last 3 at Showgrounds: 100, 126, 107 (111 avg)

Kelly's back and comes against the Blues this week. Last time they played, the Giants embarrassed them despite half their team getting injured and Kelly was the main reason. Prediction - 130

Patrick Cripps
Last 3: 115, 111, 99 (108 avg)
Last 3 against GWS: 118, 73, 67 (86 avg)
Last 3 at Showgrounds: 67, 88 (78 avg)

I fear a de Boer tag this week after keeping JOM to 15 touches and 72 points (helped a lot by 7 tackles). I wouldn't touch Cripps considering that. Prediction - 85

LAHUG'S POD!

Josh P. Kennedy
Last 3: 104, 127, 107 (113 avg)
Last 3 against North: 27, 122, 122 (90 avg)
Last 3 at Hobart: 102, 114 (108 avg)

JPK seems to be slipping under people's radars this year. He's averaging 108 for the season and 113 in his last three. His high against North is only 129 but he seems to consistently deliver against them (barring his injury game). If you want a safe POD in a league game that your opponent's captain may flop in, he's almost a lock for 120. Prediction - 120

The verdict:
1.   Tom Rockliff (140)
2.   Brodie Grundy (140)
3.   Travis Boak (130)
4.   Josh Kelly (130)
5.   Andrew Gaff (130)

[timmy16744]

For the first time in years I have every single top 5 verdict and am hopelessly stuck between the 5. Grundy did me proud last week so may just leave the c on him

[LaHug]

For the first time in years I have every single top 5 verdict and am hopelessly stuck between the 5. Grundy did me proud last week so may just leave the c on him

Wanna swap teams?

[Thunderbolts]

I have the top 3 but so do many others... ;D

[PowerBug]

Rockliff for me. Will be at the game, get to see Rocky go about his stuff. Only potential worry is that rain is expected.

[LaHug]

Rockliff for me. Will be at the game, get to see Rocky go about his stuff. Only potential worry is that rain is expected.

He's been around the contest all season so rain just means more tackles and more disposals (even if it's slightly more handballs than kicks). The fact I don't have either of Rocky or Boak makes me pray that somehow Gold Coast get good...

[Football Factory]

Think i will just close my eyes when selecting a captain this week, can't do any worse.

[Chelskiman]

It's a weird week because there are options but I'm wary about all of them.  I think I'll go for glory and take Rocky in Fantasy and put the VC on Gaff and hope he has a blinder.  If he doesn't Grundy or Boak might be my next best options.  :-\