First attempt at breaking into top 5k

[hoon1]

I have had a rethink following some of the JLT games and come up with the following team:

Def: Laird, Hibberd, Sicily, Coffield, Doedee, Finlayson (Keefe, Mihocek)

Mid: Dangerfield, Mitchell, Kelly, Fyfe, Cripps, Coniglio, O'Meara, Banfield (Barry, Kelly, Holman)

Ruck: Goldstein, Gawn (Olango)

For: Billings, Smith, Petracca, Rioli, Christensen, Fritsch (Ryan, Garlett)

Remaining: $14,100

Like many I think the safe defensive premiums are Laird and Hibberd, Sicily looks good in his intercept role so I am happy to bank on him being a top 6 defender or forward, Coffield Doedee Finlayson look like the rookies with the highest job security

I think Martin will drop at some point during the season as his seasons before last season did have inconsistencies, for this reason I have instead chosen Kelly, the other picks are all pretty cookie cutter.

Stock standard rucks, chosen the loophole over Cameron

Forward line I have taken quite a few risks as the top 6 spots are very open this season, therefore to save some cash I have chosen players that could improve and potentially finish close to top 6 including Petracca and Smith, Smith looks to be playing midfield and I think it is realistic that Hogan/Oliver will swap with Petracca in the midfield meaning 20 posessions and 1.5 goals and high contested possession numbers are possible for Petracca. I have chosen Billings as my only certified premium. Rioli is a risk given no preseason games and limited build up but he has pedigree with consistent 90+ average seasons so I would expect him to make money and perhaps even by useful as an f6. With Christensen at f5 it allows me to only have to play 1 forward rookie which was a focus as I do not trust their job security, Fritsch is the only one looking like have decent scoring capabilities on a consistent basis.

This strategy leaves me with 14 arguable keepers not including O'Meara, Rioli, Christensen

Bye Structure for those 17 players is 12/9/13 which is workable with no rookies taken into consideration

Let me know what you think?

[Ringo]

Fair team to sit on till we see what rookies are playing.

Remember mid rookies will be the ones that make the cash so maybe drop Coniglio or O'Meara down to a rookie and then see if you can get an upgrade in defence as Sicily may be a bit weak at F3.
Rioli is a gutsy pick given he is in doubt for Rd 1.

So Based on rookies playing Rd 1 I would  downgrade Nigs or Omeara to the rookie and upgrade Rioli to a prem defender you can afford moving Sicily to F4 but allowing him to swing with Keeffe.

[GoLions]

DEF: May be a bit light on there, so be prepared to drop someone like Conigs or Cripps to a rookie to upgrade your defence if not enough def rookies come up for rd 1. Premium picks are good though, and Coff/Doedee/Finlayson also good rookie choices.

MID: Strong mids, maybe a bit too strong. As mentioned before, you'll probably have to drop someone here before rd1 starts. Will Brodie should be a great rookie this year, and is one I'd look to downgrade to if necessary. I'm also a bit unsure on Dusty myself, expecting him to drop, but you need them to drop when you're ready to make the upgrade, and I don't want to be in a situation where I can't bring him in when he bottoms out unless I cull a rookie way too early. Like the Kelly pick though.

RUCK: Fairly standard (if you can say that about rucks this year?). I had Goldy and Gawn until about 3 days ago, where I went Goldy to Ryder. It'll probably change back though haha

FWD: Not a huge Petracca fan (for this year anyway). Rioli also a risk as you have mentioned. But I guess with the way the fwds are looking this year, it's hard not to take a risk.

All up, a pretty good team, if enough def rookies come up then should be good for rd1 :)

[hoon1]

Thanks for the thought out comments Ringo and GL O'Meara down may be the way to go, he hasn't completely convinced me yet anyway. Nigs I think is a must this year given he is more than capable of hitting 100-105 which is extremely handy for an m8-9

[Money Shot]

Although having O'meara at M7 makes the midfield look perfect it just leaves the other lines looking weak in my opinion.

Smith/Petracca are both somewhat speculative picks and if you add Rioli/Christensen as well it just looks like a line that is doomed to fail.

Not a bad team by any means just think O'meara down and a slightly stronger forward line could be the way to go.