SilverLions 2018

[SilverLion]

Hey all! Figured I'd get started nice and early for next year like the rest of us and whip up a preliminary team.

Aiming to back up last year with another Top 5k finish.



$100 in the bank ;D

Rookies are placeholders for now of course.

Probably the most notable aspect of the side is the same as it was last year for me, not picking Dangerfield. My strategy last year revolved around using the funds that could've been spent on him in other areas, whilst also ensuring that I left myself with a viable captain option.

Currently my side's structure means that if I want Danger, the player that would go would be probably Zorko and to get the funds to get him I would have to downgrade either a prem back to Birchall, Coniglio to Armitage or a prem forward to Bennell.

I think I have enough captain options to avoid the need for Danger early, with Zorko, Crouch and Fyfe all viable VCs with Titchell a lock for C.

I tried to avoid mid-pricers this year due to them being the major part of my team that I got largely wrong last year (Swallow, JOM...). However I've opted for Brayshaw down back and Christensen up forward at least for now. I can see them both averaging 85+ which is good enough for their prices.

Forward and back prems were the hardest to pick for mine, Menegola and Laird were locks but after that I struggled for options. Witherden is a gut instinct pick, didn't put a foot wrong last year and can only see him getting better. Hanley, based off what I've read here and found online is shaping up as a viable option down back, and should hopefully average 90+. Heeney and Billings are just IMO the best options of the forward prems available.

Unfortunately, Blakely isn't a DEF/MID like he should be otherwise he would've been a lock as well.

Rucks are the stock standard currently, GawnNat with English the floater.

Players I'm watching closely: Birchall, Bennell, Armitage, J. Lyons.

Thoughts and advice much appreciated!

[Money Shot]

Love the teams structure with your ultra premiums as well as some underpriced premiums which means you can get an extra premium or 2 that are genuine top 10 chances in there positions.

some really good pods in here as well.

great start mate.

I think Danger is a must but you have already said your reasoning behind leaving him out which is fair enough.

[GoLions]

WitherGOAT. ZZZZZZZZZZORKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. WouldCoach/10.

[crowls]

Your team is well balanced and can see the logic.  for me zorko to danger is needed.  would do it by downgrading menegola to bennell and english to a wc non playing ruck.     

[Nige]

I see WitherGOAT, I approve.

[SilverLion]

Love the teams structure with your ultra premiums as well as some underpriced premiums which means you can get an extra premium or 2 that are genuine top 10 chances in there positions.

some really good pods in here as well.

great start mate.

I think Danger is a must but you have already said your reasoning behind leaving him out which is fair enough.

Cheers MS. I'm considering bringing him in, I just struggle to justify that extra $140k odd at the moment, think it can be used better in other areas. Though I might crack and bring him in anyways hah.

Your team is well balanced and can see the logic.  for me zorko to danger is needed.  would do it by downgrading menegola to bennell and english to a wc non playing ruck.     

Feel like Menegola is a must up forward, with basically every other FWD prem providing reason(s) not to pick them. The only one for me with Menegola is how Ablett affects his role, for now I think I'll keep him, but we'll see how he goes in the JLT, I may yet take him out.

Heeney to Bennell is shaping up as a logical swap if Bennell lines up Rd. 1, both have been proven to come with enormous risk, and Bennell is $280k cheaper.

WitherGOAT. ZZZZZZZZZZORKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. WouldCoach/10.

I see WitherGOAT, I approve.

Thanks guys, glad ya see the team for what it really is 8)

[Nige]

Also for what it's worth, I'd probably avoid Hanley, I think there are safer options available. I'd try exploring them even if it means reworking other selections.

[enzedder]

Danger is the Danger omission.
Not sure how you tweak things to get him in but the 100k helps.

The cheap forwards on offer may allow you to upgrade him and maybe Brayshaw who I don't like. He's at an ugly price and has never consistently scored the numbers that would make me want to have him. Potential is there but I'd only consider him if he was 150k cheaper.

Armitage is an interesting option. At 310k and 2015 form he'd be pick of the season. Unfortunately I don't think he's going to get back to those heights again. Each time he's worked back towards full training he's had a set back (the last three times) and he's still not in full training with the main group. I'm afraid he won't have the miles in his legs from a good pre season. His last good year followed a strong pre season. Funny that. With Dunstan, Ross, Steven, Steele, Billings, Stevens and draft picks (Clark and Coffield) who'll see game time as well he's no guarantee to play R1. He's in the best 22, no doubt, but he'll need to be 100% to cement his spot..hope he does as at his best he is an absolute beast. He's on my pre season watch list too but I'm thinking that's about where he will stay.

[shaker]

Thought I should reply to your team as you took the time to reply to mine ;) well agree with EZ Danger is the obvious one out his scoring is so much higher and reliable than anyone else and not having him for C is to risky for me , backline looks a bit light but rest of team looks very solid a very good first up team

PS : I saw you are keen to get into ELXAM league but need a bit of a post frenzy to get to the 1000 go for it I'm sure everyone on here will oblige in some banter to help you get there  ;)

[SilverLion]

Also for what it's worth, I'd probably avoid Hanley, I think there are safer options available. I'd try exploring them even if it means reworking other selections.

Yeah I've been on and off with him so far, I think he does have the potential to be a top 10 DEF, but he does come with a huge amount of risk, hasn't played a full season in years and I do have my doubts over whether or not he can return to his best.

Danger is the Danger omission.
Not sure how you tweak things to get him in but the 100k helps.

The cheap forwards on offer may allow you to upgrade him and maybe Brayshaw who I don't like. He's at an ugly price and has never consistently scored the numbers that would make me want to have him. Potential is there but I'd only consider him if he was 150k cheaper.

Armitage is an interesting option. At 310k and 2015 form he'd be pick of the season. Unfortunately I don't think he's going to get back to those heights again. Each time he's worked back towards full training he's had a set back (the last three times) and he's still not in full training with the main group. I'm afraid he won't have the miles in his legs from a good pre season. His last good year followed a strong pre season. Funny that. With Dunstan, Ross, Steven, Steele, Billings, Stevens and draft picks (Clark and Coffield) who'll see game time as well he's no guarantee to play R1. He's in the best 22, no doubt, but he'll need to be 100% to cement his spot..hope he does as at his best he is an absolute beast. He's on my pre season watch list too but I'm thinking that's about where he will stay.

That was $100 not $100k  ;)

Armitage is the type of guy I'm going to watch closely throughout the JLT. If he lines up Rd. 1 theres every chance I'd pick him.

Thought I should reply to your team as you took the time to reply to mine ;) well agree with EZ Danger is the obvious one out his scoring is so much higher and reliable than anyone else and not having him for C is to risky for me , backline looks a bit light but rest of team looks very solid a very good first up team

PS : I saw you are keen to get into ELXAM league but need a bit of a post frenzy to get to the 1000 go for it I'm sure everyone on here will oblige in some banter to help you get there  ;)

Yeah I've made a few slight tweaks to my backline for v2, felt it was a bit light too.

So for v2, I've made two versions, one with what the team could like with Danger, one without him. I think the side without him is more balanced and will be more flexible going forward, but the side with him probably looks better on paper.

v2 with Danger: ($14.5k in bank)


v2 w/o Danger: ($56.4k in bank)


Reasoning on moves:

• Not comfortable with picking Heeney at this stage, he has shown he can score well, but really don't want to pay $536k for a guy with a riddled injury history and interrupted pre-season. Therefore, I did Heeney to Bennell in both sides which gave me the cash to open up other options.
• Zorko to Duncan could just be temporary at the moment. Really not sure on that one. Really like both of them. Duncan only went below 100 a couple of times all last year, and avoids attention from opposition midfields due to Jelwood, Danger (and Ablett?) and he will no doubt be a PoD. Zorko is also a gun however, and can pump out the big scores. Would love some feedback on people's thoughts on these two :)
• Gawn to Jacobs is just for some stability in the ruck, wasn't comfortable picking two guys with bad injury histories as my ruckmen.
• Hanley to Williams is to give the defence a boost. Felt Hanley came with just a bit too much risk. I've liked Williams the last couple of years and I believe this will be the year he becomes a consistent performer.
• English to Balta is just guesswork for now.
• Took out Brayshaw after re-thinking as I feel his price is a bit higher for what he offers. I do believe he will average 80+, just unsure on whether he will become a keeper. Downgraded him to Birchall in V2 with Danger for now, though I'm not totally sold on Birchall either. Downgraded to a rookie in v2 without Danger to provide cash to open up other options.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Any thoughts on which v2 is better?

[enzedder]

$100k  :-[
Oh well $100 still helps.
Like the Danger side more.
As an aside, why are you multiple quoting in one post for. Sure it's tidier but in your situation that's a couple of posts that went begging.  ;D

[SilverLion]

$100k  :-[
Oh well $100 still helps.
Like the Danger side more.
As an aside, why are you multiple quoting in one post for. Sure it's tidier but in your situation that's a couple of posts that went begging.  ;D

Wasn't sure if double/triple posting was aloud :-X

Next time ;)

[shaker]

I like the team with Danger his avg's over the last 2 years are just streets ahead of everyone else and yes you wasted a few good tallies to your post count there , keep em brief haha

[crowls]

$100k  :-[
Oh well $100 still helps.
Like the Danger side more.
As an aside, why are you multiple quoting in one post for. Sure it's tidier but in your situation that's a couple of posts that went begging.  ;D

just what I was thinking when I was reading SL's post.    glad you pointed it out for him NZ.

[SilverLion]

I like the team with Danger his avg's over the last 2 years are just streets ahead of everyone else and yes you wasted a few good tallies to your post count there , keep em brief haha

Short and straight to the point, gotcha ;)