Top Defenders Poll

[dmac07]

Though this would be an interesting survey to take to see the consensus top scorers for a position. Good for noticing trends or seeing how unique your opinions might be.

If you have someone in mind who isnt on the list let me know.

[LordSneeze]

Do you mean top averages or top total points?

As mine are different for that.

[crowls]

Do you mean top averages or top total points?

As mine are different for that.

Can we add a second poll for total points?

[RaisyDaisy]

From what I'm seeing most teams seem to be starting with just 3 prem defenders

I've been doing this too, but I'm looking at changing and going with 4 because I just don't think there will be 5 rookies that can be relied on week in week out

Keeffe is a lock, and were hoping Scharenberg or Hampton get a game, but besides them the only rookies that I think actually have a chance of lining up rd 1 and getting regular games are Ryan and possibly Newman and Stewart

As for Top Defenders, I've just booted Shaw and replaced him with Doch

Did some looking around and Shaw only averaged 87 over the last 11 games of the season. Teams started making him more accountable and I can't see that stopping, so I'm going with Doch instead and will look to pick up Heater when he's cheaper, and if he is still going super well

IMO, you pick one of Doch/Simmo/Shaw, then one, maybe two of Montags/Rance/Adams/Laird and then take a shot on a cheaper guy if you're game - HH, Hibberd, Bob etc

[Bully]

From what I'm seeing most teams seem to be starting with just 3 prem defenders

I've been doing this too, but I'm looking at changing and going with 4 because I just don't think there will be 5 rookies that can be relied on week in week out

Keeffe is a lock, and were hoping Scharenberg or Hampton get a game, but besides them the only rookies that I think actually have a chance of lining up rd 1 and getting regular games are Ryan and possibly Newman and Stewart

As for Top Defenders, I've just booted Shaw and replaced him with Doch

Did some looking around and Shaw only averaged 87 over the last 11 games of the season. Teams started making him more accountable and I can't see that stopping, so I'm going with Doch instead and will look to pick up Heater when he's cheaper, and if he is still going super well

IMO, you pick one of Doch/Simmo/Shaw, then one, maybe two of Montags/Rance/Adams/Laird and then take a shot on a cheaper guy if you're game - HH, Hibberd, Bob etc

I wouldn't get too caught up in the stats re. Shaw, he's a SC stalwart and determining his peaks and troughs is a guessing game. I'm more concerned about Doch, one year doesn't maketh the man, we've seen it before with guys like Malceski. There's more chance teams will put a hard tag on the new kid on the block.

[RaisyDaisy]

Yeah he's an SC stalwart, but he's never really had players tagging him and making him accountable and I think that's going to change

87 over 11 isn't exactly a small sample size and I think it's relevant being the last 11 games he's played

No doubt he will average 95+, but just think it might be better to not start him, and get him as an upgrade target later

As for Doch, 108 and 87 the year before that - based on his young age and upside I think he's a pretty safe pick. Might not go 108, but 100+ and he rarely ever goes below 80. In fact, he tonned up 16/22 games which is remarkable

[Bully]

Yeah he's an SC stalwart, but he's never really had players tagging him and making him accountable and I think that's going to change

87 over 11 isn't exactly a small sample size and I think it's relevant being the last 11 games he's played

No doubt he will average 95+, but just think it might be better to not start him, and get him as an upgrade target later

As for Doch, 108 and 87 the year before that - based on his young age and upside I think he's a pretty safe pick. Might not go 108, but 100+ and he rarely ever goes below 80. In fact, he tonned up 16/22 games which is remarkable

The football world have known about Shaw for aeons, if it were that easy they would have tagged him every game for the past 10 years. Not suggesting Docherty is a bad pick but I'm always reluctant to part with big cash based on one solid year.

[GoLions]

You'll want both come the end of the year, and I'd say Docherty is a greater chance of losing cash than Shaw is, so Shaw starts for me

[tommy10]

From what I'm seeing most teams seem to be starting with just 3 prem defenders

I've been doing this too, but I'm looking at changing and going with 4 because I just don't think there will be 5 rookies that can be relied on week in week out

Keeffe is a lock, and were hoping Scharenberg or Hampton get a game, but besides them the only rookies that I think actually have a chance of lining up rd 1 and getting regular games are Ryan and possibly Newman and Stewart

As for Top Defenders, I've just booted Shaw and replaced him with Doch

Did some looking around and Shaw only averaged 87 over the last 11 games of the season. Teams started making him more accountable and I can't see that stopping, so I'm going with Doch instead and will look to pick up Heater when he's cheaper, and if he is still going super well

IMO, you pick one of Doch/Simmo/Shaw, then one, maybe two of Montags/Rance/Adams/Laird and then take a shot on a cheaper guy if you're game - HH, Hibberd, Bob etc

I wouldn't get too caught up in the stats re. Shaw, he's a SC stalwart and determining his peaks and troughs is a guessing game. I'm more concerned about Doch, one year doesn't maketh the man, we've seen it before with guys like Malceski. There's more chance teams will put a hard tag on the new kid on the block.

Not so sure about Doch especially that Tuohy has left. How will this impact his scoring? Doch hasn't backed up last year's performance yet, so question marks there. He'll be a downgrade target for me and most likely starting with Shaw instead.

[enzedder]

You'll want both come the end of the year, and I'd say Docherty is a greater chance of losing cash than Shaw is, so Shaw starts for me

Shaw will lose cash at some point... just about guaranteed.
I waited patiently for Docherty to become affordable last year, it didn't really happen, nearly sold the farm to get him, so not so sure about ^

[crowls]

Normally paying top market price for def is a no no.   until this year I would only start one player in def over 500k.
this year I have Adams, Laird and tossing up TMAC, J Lloyd, Montagna.     Considering HH and Hibberd if I am short of cash.   
Simmo has been a stalwart of my team for past 3 years.   I see him, doc and shaw as all upgrade targets from round 9 onwards.   Hopefully at 500k or less.

[iZander]

Normally paying top market price for def is a no no.   until this year I would only start one player in def over 500k.
this year I have Adams, Laird and tossing up TMAC, J Lloyd, Montagna.     Considering HH and Hibberd if I am short of cash.   
Simmo has been a stalwart of my team for past 3 years.   I see him, doc and shaw as all upgrade targets from round 9 onwards.   Hopefully at 500k or less.

lock TMAC in, especially over those 2 :P

[GoLions]

You'll want both come the end of the year, and I'd say Docherty is a greater chance of losing cash than Shaw is, so Shaw starts for me

Shaw will lose cash at some point... just about guaranteed.
I waited patiently for Docherty to become affordable last year, it didn't really happen, nearly sold the farm to get him, so not so sure about ^

Doch had a huuuge year, averaged 108.5, I really can't see him backing that up regardless of his age and all that. Shaw had a decent year, but could have been better. He's likely to lose cash at some point, but Docherty is gonna have to score much better with a worse scoring history than Shaw to maintain his price.

[Mat0369]

From what I'm seeing most teams seem to be starting with just 3 prem defenders

I've been doing this too, but I'm looking at changing and going with 4 because I just don't think there will be 5 rookies that can be relied on week in week out

Keeffe is a lock, and were hoping Scharenberg or Hampton get a game, but besides them the only rookies that I think actually have a chance of lining up rd 1 and getting regular games are Ryan and possibly Newman and Stewart

As for Top Defenders, I've just booted Shaw and replaced him with Doch

This is spoken about every year but more often then not but there are normally a ton of solid rookie defenders and a couple will be looked at as keepers. Half back is a bit easier to pick up some cheap stats then forward rookies and there are generally a couple of mature guys recruited to play a half back flank role.

I traditionally hate spending money in defense because the premiums tend to score less then every other line and are far more inconsistent. This is also why I am happier to start rookie defenders because the drop off from the top guys to the rookies is less then any other position.

This year is a bit different because the forwards seem to be the line where guys are a bit of a question mark and there are 5 or 6 defenders that look good for a 100+ average. I still wouldn't go with 4 defensive premiums, 3 is the max I would look at and I'd rather use the cash to grab another midfield premium. 2 is a number I have gone with in the past but I think I have had one of the low end guys as a breakout contender as my D3.

I wouldn't get too caught up in the stats re. Shaw, he's a SC stalwart and determining his peaks and troughs is a guessing game. I'm more concerned about Doch, one year doesn't maketh the man, we've seen it before with guys like Malceski. There's more chance teams will put a hard tag on the new kid on the block.

With the way Carlton set up in defense Doc will still be able to impact contests as a third man. You also need to remember we have Simmo back there who can punish teams as well. Simmo can probably hurt teams more with his disposal as well so a coach would look to put a defensive forward on him before they do Doc. Plus when teams have focused on Simpson in the past he has struggled at times which makes him a target.

Not so sure about Doch especially that Tuohy has left. How will this impact his scoring? Doch hasn't backed up last year's performance yet, so question marks there. He'll be a downgrade target for me and most likely starting with Shaw instead.

Tuohy is irrelevant to Doc. Tuohy was never a high possession guy and was used to shut down the opposition's best small forward. He is a great kick but he had a completely different role. He will be replaced by Sheehan/Byrne or maybe even Buckley if we move him back to defense. Simmo and Doc set up behind the play, set the zone up and read the ball in the air. What helped Doc tremendously is his run and carry and intercept marking. He isn't the cleanest kick at times but he will kick it long which SC love and I think he lead the team in intercept marks, pressure acts in defense and some other random stat which was to do with defensive contests that I can't remember. Doc will still get a ton of the ball, it's his disposal efficiency which is the only worry in SC.

As for Doch, 108 and 87 the year before that - based on his young age and upside I think he's a pretty safe pick. Might not go 108, but 100+ and he rarely ever goes below 80. In fact, he tonned up 16/22 games which is remarkable

The best comparison I can come up with for Doc is Heath Scotland. The difference is Scotland used to start up on the wing and drift to half back while Doc starts at half back and stays there. Scotland has better disposal but Doc is a bit better overhead and a bit better defensively. Look at Scotland's SC averages, I see Doc keeping a similar line.

[Mat0369]

Doch had a huuuge year, averaged 108.5, I really can't see him backing that up regardless of his age and all that. Shaw had a decent year, but could have been better. He's likely to lose cash at some point, but Docherty is gonna have to score much better with a worse scoring history than Shaw to maintain his price.

I don't agree with this. Shaw has peaked in his career considering age, form etc. He went at a 6.5:1 kick to handball ratio last year, that's just ridiculous and the highest of his career. Is he going to go 10:1 this coming season?

Doc's dropped to 1.7:1 from 1.8:1 last year which isn't a lot. It shows he is winning more of the ball considering his spike in average.  He also had 2 total scores under 100 from round 12 (87 and 92). Add in the fact he didn't drop under 70 last year so you are getting something super rare in defense which is a consistent performer.