Worst Team Ever VII

[meow meow]

No point making a team yet. I toyed with it for a little bit before but then hit clear team and will leave it that way until an hour before Richmond vs Carlton. At this point all I've got a list of players that I'm considering.

Adelaide: Sloane, Crouch (M not B), Hampton, Smith, Laird, Gore, O'Brien, Milera
Crows have an extremely difficult start to the season and I think they'll be looking to 2017 by the time they get to the bye so Gore and Milera might be good downgrade targets. Not too keen on any of the Crows at this point. Laird might get a run since he's set to see plenty of the ball and he's a good contest winner.

Brisbane: Harwood, Rockliff, Beams, 3 mid rookies, Stefan
Not too interested in Zorko or Robbo since their roles are uncertain at this point and not worth the risk. Can't understand the interest in Rich. Stefan has a nice run of opponents after the initial challenge of Nic and Goldy. Have a brutal first half of the season but a dream run post bye so will look at bringing in the premos like Beams and Zorko later on. I was not keen on Rockliff at all last year but I think he'll be in this year. Not a certainty though!

Carlton: Simmo, Gibbs, Daisy, Kerridge, Cuningham, Philips, Gallucci
STK, BRIS, MELB, ESS in the finals makes me want to have a Blue but Simmo is the only real premo option, and he is prone to some shocking 30 games so may be best suited as an upgrade. I want at least a 30 point rise from rookies or cows and I have never been burnt by Thomas. He has to average 87 to get there and I think he still has it in him so I will probably be tempted. May also look at Gibbs as a stepping stone to my first mid upgrade even though he doesn't fit the criteria. I like Philips and think he can get that 30 point rise if given the opportunity.

Collingwood: Langdon, Aish, Pendles, Treloar, De Goey, Cox
I think Langdon can rise by 5ppg and if he plays 22 he'll be a good selection. I don't rate Bucks as a coach and he might do something silly like move Pendlebury out of the midfield a little more and let Treloar and Adams run the show so Pendles isn't an auto lock despite looking cheap. Treloar might outscore him. Cox should get a debut at some point. Aish is capable of getting the 30 ppg price rise so I'll consider him down back. Can't see any rookies getting much of a look. Pretty easy start to the year with STK, MELB, ESS, CARL, BRIS coming in the first 8 rounds.

Essendon: Brown, Hartley, Dea, Goddard, Simpkin, Crowley, Polk, Wallis, Grimley, Cooney, McKenna, Langford
Putting it out there - years from now Essendon will look back on the 2015 draft and lament the fact that they selected Francis so early. One of the more overrated players getting around IMO. Not keen on Parish at his price either, would prefer the forgotten Oliver instead. Crowley, Dea and Simpkin will get that 30 ppg price rise so have to be considered. Cooney may be a stepping stone if he looks fit and playing midfield, Langford is a talent and might get a spot if he spends some time in the middle in the NAB. I like McKenna a lot more than Kommer. Will have most of Polk, Brown, Hartley and Grimley if they line up in round 1. Goddard might have to carry the mids ala 2014 Nathan Jones. Opportunity is just as important as talent in SC and Goddard has all the opportunity in the world to score.

Fremantle: Collins, Fyfe, Blakely, Sandi, Barlow
Will lock in Collins if he plays rd1, think his JS should be solid. Sandi probably won't get rested even with the interchange cap, he'll just spend more time on the bench when taking a breather. Barlow close to a lock with Mundy saying he'll spend a little more time across half back. Will pick Fyfe since he's cheaper than he should be thanks to his lousy finish to the year before the broken leg.

Geelong: Enright, Bartel, Mackie, Danger, Menegola, Menzel, Cockatoo
Very tempted to go Enright over Bartel as a POD, but might run with both. Mackie had an impressive 2nd half of the year and may outscore the other two. Dangerfield won't be as popular as he should be and seems to thrive under pressure. Want him more than Pendles at this point. Cats don't have the most difficult run either, and have a very nice finish to the season so I can see plenty of them in my final team, including J. Selwood.

Gold Coast: Ablett, Rosa, Fiorini, Nichols + Currie
GAJ is the man, plain and simple. Fiorini will score like a machine if he gets games, averaged 130 DT in the TAC. Tempted to go with the rucks for cover and I think Nichols could go at 100 until I could get him to Goldy, Naitanui or Stefan if I don't start with them. Not touching JOM or Swallow. Too much competition for stats amongst KK, Malceski, Saad and Harbrow down back so I am not keen on starting any. Balanced draw throughout the season.

GWS: Ward, Shiel, Griffen, Hopper, Mummy, WHE, Steele, Himmelberg
At the end of the 2010 season the Bulldogs took a look at their list and decided that they needed a 6 year plan to win the premiership. Gaining guns like Libba, Wallis, Dahlhaus and JJ in the draft was the first step, but the second secret step was to send their future captain to GWS since we thought they'd be our competition. Bob is set to hand over the captaincy at the end of the year after Callan has a sensational season and drags his team into the Grand Final, only to double cross his GWS teammates and come back to his real home. WB noticed that GWS still weren't good enough despite being handed every concession you could imagaine, so they decided to send a second mole up there, lulling the fools into believing that they're got a superstar but he just went through the motions for a bit. He'll start trying again to ensure that GWS makes the final so the double cross can take place. Those two along with Shiel are going to have to have big seasons for this club to finally make the progress that should have come long ago.
WHE is an example of why they're failing. 77 unsubbed average in 2014, 41 in 2015 so he's value. If he doesn't play 3rd tall then HH might and he's a McCarthy clone who has some talent. Hopper could and should average 80 if given the chance.

Hawthorn: Birchall, Burgoyne, Whitecross, Rioli
Not much to say here. I've started Cyril too many times and he has to repay me someday like Higgo did last year. Might try to get the oldest backline that I can so Burgoyne appeals.

Melbourne: ANB, Oliver, Trengove, Gawn, King, Hogan, Frost, Petracca, Grimes
ANB and Oliver will have significant price rises if they get played in the middle where they should. I don't think Trengove will be ready for round 1 but could be a good downgrade, same for Petracca. Frost could get that 30 ppg rise if he can establish himself at CHF. I think there will be one key forward who sneaks into the top 6 forwards despite it looking obvious that the mid-fwds will dominate, and why not Hulk? The guy is a freak and Melbourne will rely on him once again so he should get all the opportunity in the world to score.
Gawn destroys the bad ruckmen and is average against the good ones. Might be enough to pump out a good average.
Not a fan of Ben Kennedy, don't think he's AFL quality and I don't want to pay that for someone who I'd drop if I was in charge of team selection.

North Melbourne: Macmillan, McDonald, Clarke, Todd, Daw, Higgins, Wells, Anderson
Goldy is the most influential player in the AFL and there's absolutely no reason why he should drop despite history telling us otherwise. Has a few tough opponents early but it don't matter. Macmillan has developed into a solid player and seems like a safe pick. Clarke was underrated on draft night and could get a look early. My man Higgins was good every week last year and there's nothing stopping him from carrying on and pushing a 100 average to finishing in the best 6, and it's likely that I'll have some of that POD action. Wells is a preseason specialist but too darn cheap to ignore.

Port Adelaide: nah

Richmond: Houli, Broad, Marcon, Soldo, Lids, Dusty, Conca, Ellis, Menadue, Rioli
Not much talk of Houli this year and with Yarran injured he should be the man to bring the ball out of defense again. Rance's SC was bullshower last year so I won't be picking him incase CD get their shower together and stop giving him points for nothing. Would probably go with Dusty over Lids due to price. Conca and Ellis should get that +30 that I'm looking for.

St Kilda: Roberton, Gilbert, Armitage, Gresham, Holmes, Billings, McCartin
Robbo is one of the most efficient kicks in the game so his scoring wasn't a fluke. The ankle injury is a bit of a concern. Gilbert averaged 90 in the 2nd half of last year playing through the mids. Billings will average 100 one year and if he's fit and firing it could be as early as this year. McCartin should get that +30 rise but I don't want to pay 200K for an output of 66.
Freeman's hamstrings rule him out. I don't want a rookie who might play 10 minutes and score 2.

Sydney: McVeigh, Hannebery, JPK, Titchell, Parker, Mills, Kurt, Buddy
No idea which premo mid will be the best of the Swans this year so may have to wait and see, very tempted to have a piece of Mitchell though. Mills is pricey so I don't think I will pay that for a rookie half back. Tippett could be heaps of value as a fwd-ruc and he could even average 100 as a full time ruck so there's a big watch on him. I'm happy to pay for Buddy's potential.

West Coast: Yeo, Wellingham, Brown, Gaff, Partington, Naitanui, Duggan
I think Yeo should be free to play all over the place like Bartel does, especially with the same marking ability up forward. Wellingham was awesome at the end of the year and could pump out a 90 average. Gaff took huge steps last year and is borderline elite. I think Redden will eat into Priddis' ponying a little. Nic Nat seems to have enormous upside but I don't think I'll jump on from round 1. Duggan should make the +30 price rise at some point and I would prefer to take him over a Mills or Parish, especially since he has DPP.

[eaglesman]

Bloody good read all this. Confirmed lots of my thoughts actually

[fanTCfool]

Not even a bite on Gray or Wines?

[meow meow]

Port Adelaide: Gray, Gray, Polec, Lobbe, Westhoff
Robbie is a gun who has backed it up and should continue to be a gun, had him in my first rough draft. His brother is capable as a midfielder but scored well when there was a significant amount of personnel missing. Polec has to average 86 to be worth it and I think he's capable of that so he's an option. Lobbe had one good season but personally I think he's a pretty average player so Westhoff will have to cover in the ruck sometimes, and that generally leads to some good scores. Not worth it when I could get Barlow for less though.

Wines doesn't interest me since he's never had an elite season. It's reasonably easy to pick the guys who'll get to 100-105 but far more difficult trying to predict who'll take the next step into super premo territory. I'd rather Shiel, Mitchell or Treloar if I absolutely had to pick someone from around the 100 range.

[shaker]

Well you have plenty to choose from over 100 listed good luck  :P

[Ricochet]

If Wellingham goes 90 look out Christchurch  8)

[T Dog]

If Wellingham goes 90 look out Christchurch  8)

Your welli's will be full Rico?  ;D

[Rusty00]

I noticed you didn't say anything about the Doggies......keeping that close to your chest ;)

[meow meow]

I'll get to the dogs later. I've had a good record with them lately. Started Bont and Wallis last year (Wallis wasn't a good pick due to injury but went 60 something to 98), Macrae 63 to 100 the year before, started Minson, Griffen in their elite seasons while also starting Libba as a breakout and Cooney as a 75 up to 100 in the first 7 rounds stepping stone. Started Bob the year he averaged 99 too. Goodes last year has been my only mistake.

[jeesh]

you locking in Dahl Meow?

[meow meow]

Nah. I think he's a safe bet for 95+ and should score more in the first half of the year but I can't be sure that he'll be in the 6 best forwards so I won't be paying top dollar for him. Barlow is likely to be my most expensive forward since I like a lot of the value picks there and will probably with a stronger backline than most teams I've seen so far.

[eaglesman]

Nah. I think he's a safe bet for 95+ and should score more in the first half of the year but I can't be sure that he'll be in the 6 best forwards so I won't be paying top dollar for him. Barlow is likely to be my most expensive forward since I like a lot of the value picks there and will probably with a stronger backline than most teams I've seen so far.

Best value pick between 400-500k in your opinion?

Other than buddyLOCK

[jeesh]

If someone had a crystal ball and could tell me that Buddy was gonna play at least 20 games this season he would have to be the best value pick in the 400k-500k range but the fact he might only play somewhere between 16-19 games due to injury, reporting and mental health issues I don't think I can take him.

[jeesh]

Other than buddyLOCK

lol

[Nige]

Bloody good read all this. Confirmed lots of my thoughts actually