2019 Defenders

[Southstorm]

Thought the backline could use a thread.

Toying with playing Hibberd as an alternative to Williams at D3. Priced at $400k, played 1 on 1 defender last year but with the May acquisition does that possibly free him up a bit? Solid history of going 90+ when playing loose.

[Bully]

Hibberd on the never again list.

[shaker]

Williams has much more upside than Hibberd

[RaisyDaisy]

I think we have 3 clear tiers

Lloyd, Laird, Sicily, Simpson and Whitfield

Everyone in the 400-500k range

Brodie Smith, Dylan Roberton, Pearce Hanley

There's a heap of guys in that second tier that could finish up Top 10 but picking the right ones is tricky. Guys like Blakely, Witherden, even Mills etc

Williams I exempt even though he's in that price range

As of now, I'm picking two from Tier 1, Williams and one from Tier 3. Avoiding Tier 2

[Southstorm]

I think we have 3 clear tiers

Lloyd, Laird, Sicily, Simpson and Whitfield

Everyone in the 400-500k range

Brodie Smith, Dylan Roberton, Pearce Hanley

There's a heap of guys in that second tier that could finish up Top 10 but picking the right ones is tricky. Guys like Blakely, Witherden, even Mills etc

Williams I exempt even though he's in that price range

As of now, I'm picking two from Tier 1, Williams and one from Tier 3. Avoiding Tier 2

Good post. I'm going with the same strategy with Williams at the moment, I assume most people will follow a similar structure in the absence obvious mid-price keepers and good defensive rookies. It's also very tough to fit in three tier 1 defenders with the expensive rucks this year.

Feel most people will be starting Williams though, would be nice to have a second option.

[Bully]

I'm leaning towards Laird, Mills, Williams & Roberton. Certainly carries some risk but still allows room to upgrade to 3 more premiums, most likely Sicily, Simpson & Whitfield. Bottom line with Mills is he's likely to be a midfielder which could entail a Brayshaw type season. By doing this I can also have Wingard at F4.

[quinny88]

I've had Laird, Whitfield, Williams all pre season but I'm starting to wonder if I'm better off finding value in the guys that take heaps of kick ins. Gonna be really interesting to see how much of a difference it makes to players scores

[shaker]

I think we have 3 clear tiers

Lloyd, Laird, Sicily, Simpson and Whitfield

Everyone in the 400-500k range

Brodie Smith, Dylan Roberton, Pearce Hanley

There's a heap of guys in that second tier that could finish up Top 10 but picking the right ones is tricky. Guys like Blakely, Witherden, even Mills etc

Williams I exempt even though he's in that price range

As of now, I'm picking two from Tier 1, Williams and one from Tier 3. Avoiding Tier 2

One of the heaps of guys in tier 2 is Ryan you did not name are you hoping people have lost his scent ?  ;D

[ubeaut]

Thought the backline could use a thread.

Toying with playing Hibberd as an alternative to Williams at D3. Priced at $400k, played 1 on 1 defender last year but with the May acquisition does that possibly free him up a bit? Solid history of going 90+ when playing loose.

He played plenty of games in the first half of the season where he didn't lock down. Frost, McDonald and Lever were the lock downs until Lever got injured.
In that time Hibberd had 4 scores in the 70s 2 in the 60s and a 48.
May is coming in but Lever is still injured.

[Ringo]

I think we have 3 clear tiers

Lloyd, Laird, Sicily, Simpson and Whitfield

Everyone in the 400-500k range

Brodie Smith, Dylan Roberton, Pearce Hanley

There's a heap of guys in that second tier that could finish up Top 10 but picking the right ones is tricky. Guys like Blakely, Witherden, even Mills etc

Williams I exempt even though he's in that price range

As of now, I'm picking two from Tier 1, Williams and one from Tier 3. Avoiding Tier 2

One of the heaps of guys in tier 2 is Ryan you did not name are you hoping people have lost his scent ?  ;D

With Blakelys injury scent will grow.

[elephants]

I wasn't even one of the ones burnt by Hibberd last season and I wouldn't touch him. Would much rather punt on a break out than get on someone who has forgotten how to football. Just simply not required to play the quarterback role in the Dees system and I honestly can't see how that changes in 2019

[elephants]

Another who I probably couldn't touch in salary formats but I could see pushing 80-85 even 90+ is Adam Tomlinson. For me he is a phenomenal athlete who is simply a victim of his own unique skill set and apparent positional flexibility.

I mean look, he's a 25 yr old utility at 194cm and he an run all day. There is no real comparison to him in the AFL imo as he's not an inside player like a Cripps is (similar size) but he makes up for it by being able to cover defensive roles, play as a tall wingman or fill a 2nd or 3rd tall fwd position all in the space of one match.

Take his 2018 season.

He started the season as a lockdown defender, was then moved onto a wing and finally thrown forward and back again as the year progressed. He's in good nick now too, was about to win the 2km time trial before pulling up short with a calf niggle on the final lap.

For 2019 I see him getting more time as that 2nd chop-out ruckman and this is where I see a lot of his improvement come from. Lobb is gone, he is a much more flexible ruckman than Simpson or Mumford and can play forward which allowed the Giants to actually pick a ruckman at times. In 2019 they will not be afforded this luxury. Mumford and Simpson are not forwards, they are not versatile ruckman that can play a number of roles and as a result only one will be picked on a week to week basis.

Now who will chop out for the Giants you ask? I see three options. My boy Tomlinson, Lachie Keeffe and Jon Patton. We an strike off Patton as he has done his ACL and will be in rehab all season. Lachie Keeffe played 8 games last year and 2 of those were only as late inclusions very late in the season. I dont think he is best 22. Which just leaves AT!

In games where Tomlinson recorded 3 or more hitouts his fantasy averages were 84SC and 83DT, not numbers to really get excited about but still a demonstration that he could be up to 10-15 points underpriced for 2019.

This could all be a tremendous waste of time, as if he plays chop out ruck and a key fwd or defensive post his scoring may remain in the low 70s, but who knows, he could be a massive flyer if given enough time around the ball!

TLDR: no I do not have some kind of unhealthy obsession with Tomlinson nor am I related to him in anyway haha.

[quinny88]

I'm calling it now, Jayden Short will average 100+ this year

[quinny88]

Anyone tempted by Brandon Ellis?

$387k and before 18' he went 97, 100, 85, 91

Fell out of favour a bit last year with the emergence of Short playing the rebounding role and taking over the kick ins but Ellis has a huge tank and is very durable and said he's having a role change this year and playing on the wing

[Peter]

Big call with Richmond’s game plan