Rico's Advice Thread 2015

[Sven]

Hi Rico,

Fan of your thread, great work mate! :)

Was wondering if you could take a look at my team for me? Thanks in advance.

If anyone else wants to rate it as well, here's the link.

http://forum.fanfooty.com.au/index.php?topic=100264.msg1565191#msg1565191

[The_Fitz]

Hey Rico

Appreciate any advice you can offer.  3rd year playing, slowly getting there

DEF   H Shaw, J Gibson, H Lumumba, T Lonergan, B Goodes, N Brown (K McIntosh, A Saad)   
MID   S Pendlebury, N Fyfe, J Selwood, R Sloane, T Mitchell, B Newton, P Cripps, I Heeney (A Vandenburg, C Ellis-Yolmen, T Miller)   
RUC   T Goldstein, I Maric (T Read)   
FWD   R Gray, D Martin, D Swan, J Lamb, C Salem, M Clark (J Hogan, K Lambert)   
   SALARY   103,000

[Ricochet]

I'll have a look at these now boys

[Ricochet]

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)

Ok man lets see
DEF: Very strong mate. 4 possible premo's and Ibbo at D5 is perfect. I think you can look at Goodes at D5 but I wouldn't go with a rookie like Brown. Maybe look to downgrade one of your premos to Goodes for cash, only because I think Ibbo is great value also.
MIDS: I've never been a huge fan of starting premo fwds in the midfield man, you'lll get left behind when others have top end 110+ premos in there. If you're looking for a dpp link then use rookies.
RUCKS: Are fine as long as Belly gets off, but I think you'll need to look at some ruck cover. Atm I have an expensive rookie at R3 so it gives me a little wiggle room to upgrade/downgrade when teams come out.
FWDS: Very very very strong. ALl great premo picks. Although most teams will go with only 3 premos and 3 rookies. I think this is where you can find some cash to upgrade your midfield. I would recommend to drop one premo to a rookie and get some top end premo's in the mids man.

[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

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!!!!

Love all those changes except for the Bontempelluy to Cooney and the Watson to Boak. How much cash do you have for these two spots?
How about Watson to Steven and Bonts up to a top end premo like a Bartel or Lids?

[crowls]

Rico,  appreciate the effort you are putting in here mate.   Learning heaps from your analysis and feedback on others teams and questions.   Thanks

[Ricochet]

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!

OK man lets have a look

DEF: Structurally very good. Premos are good picks, Lumumba and Goodes are great value and rookies are fine at this stage. Nice defence
MIDS: Another great line mate. Top end premo's a great, and Griffen is good value. I'm not completely sold on him just yet but he's still a decent pick. Rookies are fine at this stage. Also consider NVB, Newton and Cockatoo. I'd look to replace Miller because when GAJ and Jaeger come back in I'm not sure he'll have a spot.
RUCKS: Perfect, nothing wrong with the premos. I'd look at keeping some cash for R3 so you can afford some ruck cover. Look at an expensive rookie there so you have some wiggle room to upgrade/downgrade when teams are out.
FWDS: Again mate, another good line. Structurally its perfect and guns and rookies are great picks.

Great side mate, hard to fault

[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

Thanks a heap Rico!

No worries champ :)

[Ricochet]

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!

Yeh go Lumumba for now man. He's a great pick this year

On Johnson, with Dawson out and Silvagni injured atm as well, we'll need Johnno to play more of a lockdown role. So we may see his scores suffer at the start of the year. When Dawson is back in, Johnno will go to the 3rd tall and get a bit more freedom

[Ricochet]

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

All good mate thats what I'm here for

NicNat and Bartel definintely. Two keeps and pts-wise, NicNat won't be too far off Mummy while Bartel smashed Belly

[Ricochet]

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

Yep do it mate. I currently have Goodes at D5 as well, but I woudln't go any higher. We just need him to get upgraded, which he shoudl next week. And Maric is a great ruck pick too

I think Cooney will have a great year footy-wise. But in terms of SC there is a bit too much going on with the Bombers drug saga, plus him coming into a new club, plus his injury history, for me to consider him as a pick. But I won't be surprised if he does have a good year

[Ricochet]

Hi Rico,

Fan of your thread, great work mate! :)

Was wondering if you could take a look at my team for me? Thanks in advance.

If anyone else wants to rate it as well, here's the link.

http://forum.fanfooty.com.au/index.php?topic=100264.msg1565191#msg1565191

THanks mate, lets have a look

DEF: Structurally its good man. Shaw, Newns and Lumumba are all great picks and Goodes is great value. I'm not completely sold on Fisher but he can score premo numbers, so up to you there. Rookies look at NBrown and KMcIntosh over Edwards and Oxley.

MIDS: Top end premos are perfect. I think you can do better than Boak though, maybe look at Dangerfield or even Jack Steven. For your rookies also consider NVB, Newton, Cockatoo. Be careful with Miller, when GAJ and Jaeger return he might be pushed out of the side.

RUCKS: Goldy is a great R1 mate. I'm not sold on Leuey and think SMartin will affect him too much, but in saying that he is great value.  I'd look at keeping some cash for R3 so you can afford some ruck cover. Look at an expensive rookie there so you have some wiggle room to upgrade/downgrade when teams are out.

FWDS: Gray, Bartel and DMartin are great top end picks mate, and Swan is value. ROokies are fine but also consider Salem.

Overally your premo picks are good mate but i think you'll need some more cash to upgrade your rookies. Maybe look at Fisher to Ibbotson/a midpricer to free up some cash

[Ricochet]

Hey Rico

Appreciate any advice you can offer.  3rd year playing, slowly getting there

DEF   H Shaw, J Gibson, H Lumumba, T Lonergan, B Goodes, N Brown (K McIntosh, A Saad)   
MID   S Pendlebury, N Fyfe, J Selwood, R Sloane, T Mitchell, B Newton, P Cripps, I Heeney (A Vandenburg, C Ellis-Yolmen, T Miller)   
RUC   T Goldstein, I Maric (T Read)   
FWD   R Gray, D Martin, D Swan, J Lamb, C Salem, M Clark (J Hogan, K Lambert)   
   SALARY   103,000

Hey mate lets see

DEF: Shaw, Gibson, Lumumba are great premo picks and Goodes is great value. Need to upgrade Lonergan though man. He's only averaged over 54 once in his career and I don't see than changing any time soon. Look at midpricers like Ibbotson, Or up further to Newnes.

MIDS: Great premo picks mate, and lover the Sloane POD. I've never been a huge fan of starting premo fwds in the midfield man, you'lll get left behind when others have top end 110+ premos in there. If you're looking for a dpp link then use rookies. I'd look to upgrade TMitchell, or go down to a rookie. Rookies are very strong but also consider NVB and Cockatoo. Be careful with Miller, when GAJ and Jaeger return he might be pushed out of the side.

RUCKS: Very very strong mate, love the Goldy and Maric picks.  I'd look at keeping some cash for R3 so you can afford some ruck cover. Look at an expensive rookie there so you have some wiggle room to upgrade/downgrade when teams are out.

FWDS; Structurally perfect mate and you premo picks are great. Rookies are also perfect man, good line

[Ricochet]

Rico,  appreciate the effort you are putting in here mate.   Learning heaps from your analysis and feedback on others teams and questions.   Thanks

No worries legend! Happy to help :)

[The_Fitz]

Thanks Rico, appreciate the advice,
Love the thread, keep it up, its great to have some sage advice for anyone starting out or struggling with some player choices.  Refreshing to find someone offering advice and actually replying back for a change