Rico's Advice Thread 2015

[Ricochet]

G'day Rico,

I have built 2 teams, and I would like to know which one you prefer, and why.

Team 1:

DEF: Shaw, Hibberd, Newnes Lumumba, Dalgleish, Saad (Oxley, McIntosh)

MID: Pendlebury, Selwood, Sloane, JPK, Griffen, Rich, Cripps, Ellis-Yolmen (Heeney, Vandenberg, Steele)

RUCK: Maric, Naitanui (Read)

FWD: Gray, Goddard, Swan, Salem, Clark, Lamb (Hogan, Lambert)

or Team 2:

DEF: Shaw, Hibberd, Newnes, Lumumba, Dalgleish, Saad (Oxley, McIntosh)

MID: Pendlebury, Selwood, Sloane, JPK, Parker, Griffen, Cripps, Ellis-Yolmen (Heeney, Vandenberg, Steele)

RUCK: Maric, Naitanui (Read)

FWD: Gray, Bartel, Bellchambers, Salem, Clark, Lamb (Hogan, Lambert)

Don't worry about rookies, I will deal with them when round 1 teams are named, at the moment I just have my preferences in. Also, assume Essendon are free to field their strongest team.

Cheers,
Sam.

Option 2 mate, beats Option 1. Obviously a stronger midfield and you have ruck cover with Bellchambers. Also I'm not sold on Rich.
I'd look at Gray/Bartel to Swan though

[Ricochet]

Hey Rico, you're a legend for doing this.

I would really appreciate some of your expertise for my team, this is the second version of it.

Backs: Simpson, Hibberd, Hurn, Lumumba, Geary, Brown.
Bench: Goddard, Saad.

Mids: Pendlebury, Fyfe, Selwood, Watson, Griffen, Van Berlo, Cripps, Heeney.
Bench: Boekhurst, Vandenberg, Freeman.

Rucks: Naitanui, Luenberger.
Bench: Cox.

Forwards: Martin, Swan, Bontempelli, Mitchell, Clark, Salem.
Bench: Hogan, Krakouer.

Cash: $9,600.

The players in bold are ones that I have having worries about, so would love your insight on them and also my rookie selections. I've been away for all of the NAB cup, so I'm just going off what I have read.

Thanks in advance mate.

Hey man no problems at all.
DEF: Simpson picks himself and both Hurn and Lumumba are great value. I think we need to start planning for life without Bombers boys because its looking more and more likely they will miss the start of the season, so you may need to find a replacement for Hibberd. Geary suffered a slight hamstring strain but should be ok for round 1. In saying that I'm not sold he is a graet pick. Consider guys like BGoodes or Ibbotson over him. Your rookies are fine at this stage mate. I don't expect Goddard to be there round 1 though now that Saints have Delaney, Fisher and Dempster all available. Consider KMcIntosh.

MIDS: I like the structure of 5 premo mids. Your top end premos in Pendles, Fyfe, Jelwood are great picks. Watto is another one I think we need to plan without. Griffen is decent value, a bit risky given he is at a new club but his NAB form has been solid. Rookies are pretty good. Boeky doesn't look like a huge scorer and may cop vests, and Freeman didn't play in NAB3, played in the VFL and was average. So may need to replace these two. Look at Newton, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Cockatoo and Lambert. All four shoudl be locks for round 1.

RUCKs: NicNat is a lock mate. Had his first ever preseason and was just warming up last weekend. Don't worry about him just lock him in. Leuey I'm not so sure on. At his price he is great value but he has to share ruck duties but SMartin and may not score well because of it. You also need to keep some cash on hand for R3, as we all need ruck cover and you may need to upgrade Cox to a more expensive rookie when teams are named.

FWDS: Martin is a great pick, he will take it to the next level this year. Swan is agreat value. Bonts I'm not sure about. Looked good in NAB but not sure he'll get that freedom come RD1. TMitchell is a great pick. Had his first ever preseaosn and is flying down at Swans apparently. Rookies are fine, but also consider Lamb, Karnezis and Lonie. Maybe just Lamb over Kraks at this stage, as Kraks still needs to be upgraded from the rookie list

[Ricochet]

Hey mate, started a thread on my side, but I thought I'd get a fellow Dockers opinion. Got a heap of cash to spend, thinking of upgrading NicNat, Wells or maybe Ibbo, although I think he will have a higher scoring role this year (biased?). If I drop Gaz then I'll bring in Selwood or Beams and keep the extra cash for a Gaz upgrade. Cheers for any advice given.

Hey man, I was going to go through every line but tbh there's not much I'd change. I would use that cash to upgrade Wells and then keep the rest to fix your rookies up when teams are named. Guys like Steele probably won't be there given he didn't play NAB3, and Miller may not play when GAJ and Jaeger come back into the side. PLus you may need some ruck cover

But other than rookies its a structurally fine. Good team mate

[Ricochet]

Rico, would love to hear your thoughts on these 2 options.

OPTION 1:
RUCKS: Goldstein, Naitanui (Read)
FWDS: Martin, Bennell, Swan, Salem, Clark, Lamb (Hogan, Lambert)

OPTION 2:
RUCKS: Naitanui, Luenberger (Read)
FWDS: Martin, Bennell, Swan, Bellchambers, Salem, Clark (Hogan, Lambert)

In other words, would you rather have ruck coverage with Leuenberger, or get a better ruck with no cover.
Cheers mate.

i definitely rate ruck cover mate, and if Belly wasn't looking like getting a ban then I'd go with option 2. But its not looking good for the Bombers, so Option 1 it is. Just try and keep some cash on hand, in case you need to upgrade Read to a more expensive rookie when teams are named.

[My Chumps]

Turned into a bit of 'get Ric to rate your team' thread here :P

Just a simple one from me champ; is having Ibbo and Pearce down back too much? And now after the NAB games, who are you rating as a better pick?

[Ricochet]

Turned into a bit of 'get Ric to rate your team' thread here :P

Just a simple one from me champ; is having Ibbo and Pearce down back too much? And now after the NAB games, who are you rating as a better pick?

Ha yeh it did didn't it.

I've been backing in Ibbo all preseason long mate and have him firmly locked away. Clancee's JS is a lot better now, but role will be inconsistent which will show in his scores as well. Ross has been pretty keen to see him in a run-with role. So I'm not expecting premo scores but I can see him making 150k. I have both in my side atm

[My Chumps]

Turned into a bit of 'get Ric to rate your team' thread here :P

Just a simple one from me champ; is having Ibbo and Pearce down back too much? And now after the NAB games, who are you rating as a better pick?

Ha yeh it did didn't it.

I've been backing in Ibbo all preseason long mate and have him firmly locked away. Clancee's JS is a lot better now, but role will be inconsistent which will show in his scores as well. Ross has been pretty keen to see him in a run-with role. So I'm not expecting premo scores but I can see him making 150k. I have both in my side atm

Yeah I've had similar thoughts. Had Ibbo stuck there for a while now but Clancee's been in-and-out.

Currently got Ibbo, Pearce and Goodes taking up D4-6.

[Ricochet]

Turned into a bit of 'get Ric to rate your team' thread here :P

Just a simple one from me champ; is having Ibbo and Pearce down back too much? And now after the NAB games, who are you rating as a better pick?

Ha yeh it did didn't it.

I've been backing in Ibbo all preseason long mate and have him firmly locked away. Clancee's JS is a lot better now, but role will be inconsistent which will show in his scores as well. Ross has been pretty keen to see him in a run-with role. So I'm not expecting premo scores but I can see him making 150k. I have both in my side atm

Yeah I've had similar thoughts. Had Ibbo stuck there for a while now but Clancee's been in-and-out.

Currently got Ibbo, Pearce and Goodes taking up D4-6.

I have those three as well man. Its the year to do it, we can grab boys that might only be top 15-30 defenders and it still won't impact our scores too much

[Cookie Monster]

I'm really struggling to find a perfect fit for that 5th defender. I like the value of players like Seedsman and Ibbotson but could put in a Nathan Brown and use the cash somewhere else. Could you please have a look at my team and see where i could improve?
Also note that the rookies aren't locked in position, i could play other rookies depending on round 1.
And this would be the team if Essendon players will play round 1.

Backs: K.Simpson, B.Smith, M.Hibberd, J.Newnes, G.Ibbotson, K.McIntosh (Saad, Hamling)

Mids: G.Ablett, N.Fyfe, D.Heppell, D.Martin, M.Bontempelli, P.Cripps, J.Anderson, C.Ellis-Yoleman (Steele, Lambert, Boekhorst)

Rucks: W.Minson, T.Bellchambers (Read)

Forwards: B.Deledio, H.Bennell, B.Goddard, D.Swan, C.Salem, M.Clark (H.Goddard, Laverde)

[benharris222]

Hey Rico, you're a legend for doing this.

I would really appreciate some of your expertise for my team, this is the second version of it.

Backs: Simpson, Hibberd, Hurn, Lumumba, Geary, Brown.
Bench: Goddard, Saad.

Mids: Pendlebury, Fyfe, Selwood, Watson, Griffen, Van Berlo, Cripps, Heeney.
Bench: Boekhurst, Vandenberg, Freeman.

Rucks: Naitanui, Luenberger.
Bench: Cox.

Forwards: Martin, Swan, Bontempelli, Mitchell, Clark, Salem.
Bench: Hogan, Krakouer.

Cash: $9,600.

The players in bold are ones that I have having worries about, so would love your insight on them and also my rookie selections. I've been away for all of the NAB cup, so I'm just going off what I have read.

Thanks in advance mate.

Hey man no problems at all.
DEF: Simpson picks himself and both Hurn and Lumumba are great value. I think we need to start planning for life without Bombers boys because its looking more and more likely they will miss the start of the season, so you may need to find a replacement for Hibberd. Geary suffered a slight hamstring strain but should be ok for round 1. In saying that I'm not sold he is a graet pick. Consider guys like BGoodes or Ibbotson over him. Your rookies are fine at this stage mate. I don't expect Goddard to be there round 1 though now that Saints have Delaney, Fisher and Dempster all available. Consider KMcIntosh.

MIDS: I like the structure of 5 premo mids. Your top end premos in Pendles, Fyfe, Jelwood are great picks. Watto is another one I think we need to plan without. Griffen is decent value, a bit risky given he is at a new club but his NAB form has been solid. Rookies are pretty good. Boeky doesn't look like a huge scorer and may cop vests, and Freeman didn't play in NAB3, played in the VFL and was average. So may need to replace these two. Look at Newton, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Cockatoo and Lambert. All four shoudl be locks for round 1.

RUCKs: NicNat is a lock mate. Had his first ever preseason and was just warming up last weekend. Don't worry about him just lock him in. Leuey I'm not so sure on. At his price he is great value but he has to share ruck duties but SMartin and may not score well because of it. You also need to keep some cash on hand for R3, as we all need ruck cover and you may need to upgrade Cox to a more expensive rookie when teams are named.

FWDS: Martin is a great pick, he will take it to the next level this year. Swan is agreat value. Bonts I'm not sure about. Looked good in NAB but not sure he'll get that freedom come RD1. TMitchell is a great pick. Had his first ever preseaosn and is flying down at Swans apparently. Rookies are fine, but also consider Lamb, Karnezis and Lonie. Maybe just Lamb over Kraks at this stage, as Kraks still needs to be upgraded from the rookie list

Thanks a lot mate. I've done some corrections, would love to hear your thoughts!
Hibberd-> H.Shaw
Geary-> ibbotson
Goddard->KMcIntosh

Watson->Boak
Boekhurst-> Ellis-Yolman
Freeman-> Lambert

Bontempelli->?? Cooney??
Krakouer-> Lamb

Thanks so much Rico, that has helped me out so much!!!!

[essendon]

Hey Rico,

would love some advice on this team i have got currently. Would love a full run down.
Havent done as much research as i usually have in the past 5 years.

Thanks in advance pal!

[BomberSam]

G'day Rico,

I have built 2 teams, and I would like to know which one you prefer, and why.

Team 1:

DEF: Shaw, Hibberd, Newnes Lumumba, Dalgleish, Saad (Oxley, McIntosh)

MID: Pendlebury, Selwood, Sloane, JPK, Griffen, Rich, Cripps, Ellis-Yolmen (Heeney, Vandenberg, Steele)

RUCK: Maric, Naitanui (Read)

FWD: Gray, Goddard, Swan, Salem, Clark, Lamb (Hogan, Lambert)

or Team 2:

DEF: Shaw, Hibberd, Newnes, Lumumba, Dalgleish, Saad (Oxley, McIntosh)

MID: Pendlebury, Selwood, Sloane, JPK, Parker, Griffen, Cripps, Ellis-Yolmen (Heeney, Vandenberg, Steele)

RUCK: Maric, Naitanui (Read)

FWD: Gray, Bartel, Bellchambers, Salem, Clark, Lamb (Hogan, Lambert)

Don't worry about rookies, I will deal with them when round 1 teams are named, at the moment I just have my preferences in. Also, assume Essendon are free to field their strongest team.

Cheers,
Sam.

Option 2 mate, beats Option 1. Obviously a stronger midfield and you have ruck cover with Bellchambers. Also I'm not sold on Rich.
I'd look at Gray/Bartel to Swan though

Thanks a heap Rico!

[pendles93]

Thoughts on M. Johnson Rico? Great pre season with beaut nab scores but he did have back surgery, he's 30 and had a poor finish last year. couldn't be more 50/50  :-[ :-[

Do you just play it safer and go lumumba?

cheers big fella!

[BomberSam]

Sorry for all these questions Rico, I really appreciate that you are taking the time to answer them all.

Naitanui + Bartel + $70k

or

Mumford + Bellchambers + $190k

[benharris222]

Just wondering your thoughts on BGoodes at D5? Allows me to have maric over luey.
Also, what are your thoughts on Cooney? Thanks mate.