Stack the Forward & ditch Gaz & Rocky?

[SilentBob]

Thoughts on my current (post-NAB) team?

Def: Newnes, Lumumba, Kolodjashnij, Sheppard, Geary, Saad (Smedts, Brown)
Mid: Beams, Sidebottom, Griffen, Neale, Hallahan, Newton, Cripps, Vandenberg (Ellis-Yolmen, Anderson)
Ruck: Lobbe, Goldstein (Holmes, Cox)
Fwd: Bartel, Martin, Gray, Swan, Bontempelli, Clarke (Salem, McCarthy)

Have decided to leave Rocky & Ablett out due to price & lack of pre-season games from GAJ.
Happy to stack the forward line & go with mid-price options in defence given the options this season.
Prefer the set & forget option in the rucks, particularly with doubts over Leuenberger, Kreuzer & Bellchambers.
Have tried to find some value in the mids to use as stepping-stones to premiums a bit quicker than strictly guns & rookies.

Happy to rate others if you leave links to your side.

[rweeks]

Take B.Smedts out (As most likely won't play rd 1) and select B.Goodes as will most likely get elevated to the Senior list.
Great fwd line. 8/10

[rhyatt]

Nice team SilentBob - 9/10

I chose weaker rucks and adjusted accordingly.
What do you think?

Def: Newnes, Lumumba, Kolodjashnij, Ibbotson, Geary, Saad (Dick, Hamling)
Mid: Beams, Sidebottom, Fyfe, Wines, Griffen, Van Berlo, Rich, Newton (Cripps, Vandenberg)
Ruck: bellchambers, leunberger (Holmes, Cox)
Fwd: Bartel, Martin, Gray, Swan, Bontempelli, Clarke (Salem, Lambert)

[SilentBob]

Nice team SilentBob - 9/10

I chose weaker rucks and adjusted accordingly.
What do you think?

Def: Newnes, Lumumba, Kolodjashnij, Ibbotson, Geary, Saad (Dick, Hamling)
Mid: Beams, Sidebottom, Fyfe, Wines, Griffen, Van Berlo, Rich, Newton (Cripps, Vandenberg)
Ruck: bellchambers, leunberger (Holmes, Cox)
Fwd: Bartel, Martin, Gray, Swan, Bontempelli, Clarke (Salem, Lambert)

Although obviously stronger in the mids, I don't like the idea of BOTH Van Berlo & Rich - don't mind taking the risk on one (they'll both make money if they stay fit), but don't think their ceilings are high enough to justify both, when there's just as much chance of a rookie (like Cripps, who you have on your bench) scoring similar numbers for less $$.
As for the rucks, is there a plan B if one or both of them go down with injury/suspension? Kreuzer could be an option after a few rounds & Giles could be an option if you have a bit of coin left over, but that's one reason why I prefer the set & forget options - they should score consistently & won't need to find cash if there's an injury.
Solid team, though not without its risks.


I've also modified my team a little from what I originally posted ...
Changes:
Def: Goodes in, Sheppard out (bench now Oxley & Lambert)
Mids: Ablett in, Hallahan out (Ellis-Yolmen on field & Vandenberg on bench)
Rucks: Naitanui in, Lobbe out
Of course that assumes Gaz is fit for round 1, otherwise I'm thinking of going with Lewis.
Would really like to fit Dahlhaus in my forward line, but think Bontempelli should score similarly for less outlay.