SC 2015: Rico's Boys

[Ricochet]

Ok few little changes before the new year

Still going with a majority of rookies in defence, I think its the best line at this stage for rookies
Fyfe to Pendles after Fyfeys back injury
a few little rookie changes
Greene to DMartin now he's escaped criminal punishment
Boyd to Bartel just for the extra cash, I still think Boyd is a better pick but will have to be an upgrade target at this stage

74k left over for rookie fixups

[ben_020285]

Hey mate. Just wondering why you think the defence is the line where many rookies will be available? I actually think it will be the hardest line to find rookies. Of the ones you have in there right now, only Brown looks like playing round 1 with Adams a possibility. Wagner won't play round 1. Tucker and Broad are extremely unlikely to play round 1.

So with regards to your team I think you need to find at least one extra spot for a keeper in your defence. I do like all three of your keeper picks in McVeigh, Bartel and Smith.

Your midfield looks great but I think you're batting too deep. I would drop Selwood to a rookie as he has a lingering foot issue and always has a dip in his scoring during the season and then comes home like a freight train. With the money saved on Selwood I would bring in a keeper defender and someone for ruck coverage in your fwds.

Set and forget rucks with two who are very likely to be the top two again next year. Nice.

Deledio for me is too expensive and it's highly likely he will miss games next year due to his chronic achilles issue. I like the Dusty and Barlow picks. Wells just has to be picked at his price if he plays round 1. Initially I wasn't planning on having ruck coverage but now I think it's too important as trades are way too precious to be used when a ruckman misses a week or two which they always do so I would think about bringing in a fwd/ruc. Leuey looks good value as the number 1 ruck at the Bombers, hopefully he averages 90 or more and can become an F7 which provides coverage by season's end.

[Ricochet]

Thanks for your thoughts man.
I'll be looking to a rookie as ruck coverage, i want to see more of Leuey but at this stage i don't want to start too many midpricers.
and I'm happy to pay for Lids, he'll easily be a top 3 fwd

On the defender rookies i disagree. There is plenty of quality there
My thoughts are below

MBrown - should play at Essendon with Carlisle gone now
Wagner - mature ager thats gone to Melb who uses it well. Will slot across hb and will play imo
Tucker is a bit ify but he's a gun kid and can see him slotting in across half back for Freo
Adams is already huge and ready to go
Nathan Broad - mature ager and Richmond need his run and carry out of defence imo
Mitch Brown - will be like Nath Brown this year
Clem Smith - 50/50 - but Blues will get games into some of these kids
Golds - 50/50 - moved to the pies and their backline is far from set
MHibberd - 50/50 - but is a good size and ready to go
Whitecross - 50/50 - Suckling gone now but a bit more expensive at 198k
AFrancis - should play but a bit more expensive
Mullett - 50/50 - but i like him
Andy Otten - unlikely - just had a cleanout of the knee but will be back training at the end of Jan

Plus there is always an Oxley that pops up every season just before round 1

Only need 5 of those

If its not viable yeh i'll upgrade 1 to Bartel and downgrade in the middle but atm i'm trying something a little different

[Mat0369]

I am of the same opinion in that defense is the spot to go cheap. Defenders tend to fluctuate too much from one year to the next because most of the top guys lose their DPP status. Basically the guys I would be looking at starting at least one are Boyd, McVeigh, Shaw, Bartel, Enright, Murphy and Simmo. They are all guys that have scored well in the past (over 95) but they all have question marks heading into the season based on age or body.

I was looking at McVeigh and Boyd as my D1 but McVeigh is coming off a knee surgery and will take some time to get going while and Boyd has had the calf the last few years causing him to miss a few games. At the moment I have Bartel in because he is the cheapest due to the 5 in round 3. The others I will look at as upgrade options down the track when they either drop in price or put a line through them if they look cooked.

Then guys like Smith and Jaensch seem to be good value for money. Smith had the repeat concussions and was subbed off on 3 different occasions so he is under-priced. He never really had a chance to get going so it will be interesting to see if he bounces back but I guess you have to back him in so I am with you on that one. Jaensch probably won't be ready so that's a line through him.

The thing is right now I see more in terms of value for rookies in the forward line just in terms of names on paper, once the NAB gets going we will get a better idea. I am hoping one of Byrne/Sheehan can get up and going for us. Both looked good in the opportunities they were given. My team is structured pretty similarly in that regard, it is just a few different names

[Ricochet]

Thanks Mat, i reckon that strategy in defence is definitely viable.

On the defensive premos i share similar concerns on Boyd and McVeigh but i know they'll be a top 5 defender so I'll be starting one of them.

Enright surely has to drop off this year, but who knows. Simmo is always an upgrade target in my book. And history shows Shaw surely comes back a bit after a massive 2015.

One pick that might be a bit risky that i don't mind is Daniel Rich. Set to play a more permanent midfield role again next year apparently

[Peter]

Rico - how do you read Ben Reid?
JS excellent, injury possible but cheap

[Ricochet]

Rico - how do you read Ben Reid?
JS excellent, injury possible but cheap

a bit too pricey for me at 303k i think man. I'd prefer Leuey if i went down that path, but trying to limit the midpricers i have this year

[Mat0369]

Thanks Mat, i reckon that strategy in defence is definitely viable.

On the defensive premos i share similar concerns on Boyd and McVeigh but i know they'll be a top 5 defender so I'll be starting one of them.

Enright surely has to drop off this year, but who knows. Simmo is always an upgrade target in my book. And history shows Shaw surely comes back a bit after a massive 2015.

One pick that might be a bit risky that i don't mind is Daniel Rich. Set to play a more permanent midfield role again next year apparently

Considering we have the first bye I am looking at Simmo as an upgrade as well. I would also like to see what role Bolton uses him in, if he moves back into the midfield on a more permanent basis or if he is used elsewhere. If I was leaning towards starting one of McVeigh or Boyd I would lean towards McVeigh. I'd like to see if the Dogs season was just a flash in the pan and how these guys bounce back so Boyd as an upgrade target makes sense.

I was thinking the same with Enright last year, surely he had to be done and dusted then but he came out and played pretty well.  He is another I couldn't start but would be worth a look down the line. Same goes for Andrew Mackie if we're talking Geelong players. Once he got his body right he averaged 100 from round 15 and 110 over the last 5.

Agreed with Shaw, I'm not starting the top guy in defense, especially after what happened with Malcho last year.

I'm not sure on Rich, they should have a healthy Hanley and he can't exactly replace Redden on the inside. They probably need his class out of half back but he might be one to monitor. Once I realised Aish has DPP and is a bit over 275k I jumped on. While he probably won't be a keeper, he should provide some job security and a few decent scores.

[Ricochet]

Thanks Mat, i reckon that strategy in defence is definitely viable.

On the defensive premos i share similar concerns on Boyd and McVeigh but i know they'll be a top 5 defender so I'll be starting one of them.

Enright surely has to drop off this year, but who knows. Simmo is always an upgrade target in my book. And history shows Shaw surely comes back a bit after a massive 2015.

One pick that might be a bit risky that i don't mind is Daniel Rich. Set to play a more permanent midfield role again next year apparently

Considering we have the first bye I am looking at Simmo as an upgrade as well. I would also like to see what role Bolton uses him in, if he moves back into the midfield on a more permanent basis or if he is used elsewhere. If I was leaning towards starting one of McVeigh or Boyd I would lean towards McVeigh. I'd like to see if the Dogs season was just a flash in the pan and how these guys bounce back so Boyd as an upgrade target makes sense.

I was thinking the same with Enright last year, surely he had to be done and dusted then but he came out and played pretty well.  He is another I couldn't start but would be worth a look down the line. Same goes for Andrew Mackie if we're talking Geelong players. Once he got his body right he averaged 100 from round 15 and 110 over the last 5.

Agreed with Shaw, I'm not starting the top guy in defense, especially after what happened with Malcho last year.

I'm not sure on Rich, they should have a healthy Hanley and he can't exactly replace Redden on the inside. They probably need his class out of half back but he might be one to monitor. Once I realised Aish has DPP and is a bit over 275k I jumped on. While he probably won't be a keeper, he should provide some job security and a few decent scores.

Yeh don't mind Mackie either actually.

I'm not sold on Aish. I question if he's even walk up best 22 yet, and honestly have no idea where he fits in at the Pies

[Mat0369]

I don't think Aish would have gone to Collingwood if he wasn't a fan of the role they plan to use him in or if he wasn't going to be considered best 22. He may as well have stayed in Brisbane or gone to Carlton where he would have had opportunity. Looking at it right now it's tough to figure out how Collingwood plan to structure up. It might be a wait and see approach

[Ricochet]

I don't think Aish would have gone to Collingwood if he wasn't a fan of the role they plan to use him in or if he wasn't going to be considered best 22. He may as well have stayed in Brisbane or gone to Carlton where he would have had opportunity. Looking at it right now it's tough to figure out how Collingwood plan to structure up. It might be a wait and see approach

Yeh but every club sells opportunity ;)

His JS at Carlton would have been a lot higher

I'm just not as sold as some yet

[enzedder]

Having justified why your defence is set that way and looking at your team elsewhere it's brilliant Rico. Come round 1 when all those defenders are named I'm sure we'll use your team as the prototype and load up on all those mids... ;)I'm presently jealous that you've got an extra super premium mid than I have.
If past history is anything to go by defence is where to go cheap. Good work.

[Ricochet]

An update:


Consider SMartin to Lobbe

It allowed me to go Sloane to Fyfe and BSmith to MBoyd in defence

Still sticking with the same strategy, loading the defence with rookies and going strong elsewhere

[GoLions]

Not a bad midfield :P

My only worry is Boyd, as IMO he's basically a certainty to miss a couple of games just to make sure he can get through the season, so I don't know if he's worth the price tag. Apart from that, looks really good.

[eaglesman]

Thinking I might try a similar strategy in defence and load up the mids ...