LaHug's Captains 2019 - Round 8

[LaHug]

Captains for Cancer Council.

https://myownway.everydayhero.com/au/will-huggett-s-2018-fundraising

Please pledge funds to help fight cancer! Examples of ways you can help:
1.   Pledge an amount (e.g. $5) for every time LaHug nails the top captain of the round.
2.   Pledge an amount (e.g. $5) for every time LaHug's POD cracks the 120 mark.
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Did you know that this is the 9th year I've done this? I'll continue to help with a smile and free of charge but, if you want to thank me, please donate to my charity efforts! Each week I will tell you some statistics on a player's last 3 games, their last 3 against this week's opponent, and their last 3 at this ground. I will also do a quick overview on my thoughts and have a guess at their score for this week. From all this, I'll give you my top 5 captain choices for the week and a speicial POD choice.

The facts & thoughts:

Josh P. Kennedy
Last 3: 127, 107, 103 (112 avg)
Last 3 against Essendon: 75, 109, 118 (101 avg)
Last 3 at SCG: 107, 84, 120 (104 avg)

JPK is one of the rare lights in Sydney's season this year. He's got a good bit of form behind him but there are probably higher scorers to pick this week. Prediction - 110

Zach Merrett
Last 3: 104, 108, 143 (118 avg)
Last 3 against Sydney: 99, 86, 120 (102 avg)
Last 3 at SCG: 86, 120, 117 (108 avg)

Two weeks ago, Merrett was the pick of the mid upgrades. A 108 and a 104 aren't exactly horrible returns but we wanted a bit more from him. His record against Sydney isn't great and Hewett is a real threat this week. Prediction - 95

Jack Macrae
Last 3: 99, 91, 100 (97 avg)
Last 3 against Brisbane: 155, 126, 95 (125 avg)
Last 3 at Ballarat: 112, 151, 149 (137 avg)

What is happening to Jack Macrae? Even against the Tigers, a team he loves to play, he couldn't get a ton. His record against Brisbane is also incredible and he's dominated each of the Ballarat games. Surely this is the week? Weather could be shocking in Ballarat this weekend but that shouldn't affect Macrae too much. Prediction - 120

Marcus Bontempelli
Last 3: 116, 85, 83 (95 avg)
Last 3 against Brisbane: 117, 122, 105 (115 avg)
Last 3 at Ballarat: 61, 56 (59 avg)

The Bont also loves playing Brisbane and is a bit of a sneaky POD this week. Relies a bit more on marks and goals than Macrae so I'd be worried about the weather. Prediction - 100

Patrick Cripps
Last 3: 111, 99, 93 (101 avg)
Last 3 against Collingwood: 146, 89, 100 (112 avg)
Last 3 at MCG: 101, 106, 146 (118 avg)

Last time Cripps played the Pies, he scored a huge 146! It's possible that Greenwood tags him this week but he's typically good in the space of the MCG. Prediction - 110

Scott Pendlebury
Last 3: 126, 148, 93 (122 avg)
Last 3 against Carlton: 101, 114, 109 (108 avg)
Last 3 at MCG: 148, 81, 79 (103 avg)

Pendles is back! Two big weeks in a row and he comes up against a Blues team he has no problems scoring against. Prediction - 120

Brodie Grundy
Last 3: 99, 123, 78 (100 avg)
Last 3 against Carlton: 103, 141, 83 (109 avg)
Last 3 at MCG: 123, 153, 122 (133 avg)

Grundy has been killing in at the MCG this year and will come up against an underdone Kreuzer or Andrew Phillips this week. I can't see why he won't kill it again. Prediction - 125

Adam Treloar
Last 3: 120, 105, 120 (115 avg)
Last 3 against Carlton: 66, 84, 82 (77 avg)
Last 3 at MCG: 105, 82, 98 (95 avg)

I'm not sure why Treloar's been so average against the Blues but it's something I'm wary of this week. His form makes him a great pick and I'm confident he's a top 8 mid but I'm looking elsewhere this week. Prediction - 100

Max Gawn
Last 3: 121, 112, 97 (110 avg)
Last 3 against Gold Coast: 111, 111, 106 (109 avg)
Last 3 at Metricon: 138 (138 avg)

Big Max is in some good form himself and is pretty good against the Suns. Witts isn't an easy beat but Gold Coast play a stoppage heavy games so there are some more hitout points up for grabs. I haven't mentioned the Melbourne mids here because they've been so inconsistent but Oliver/Brayshaw might be good too. Prediction - 115

Andrew Gaff
Last 3: 144, 91, 115 (117 avg)
Last 3 against St Kilda: 102, 92, 115 (103 avg)
Last 3 at Docklands: 154, 92, 92 (113 avg)

That 91 may have scared some people off but Gaff bounced back with a huge 144 against the Suns. Not the best record against the Saints but Gaff should be good. Prediction - 115

Travis Boak
Last 3: 108, 127, 79 (105 avg)
Last 3 against Adelaide: 78, 84, 103 (88 avg)
Last 3 at AO: 127, 109, 138 (125 avg)

Boak's killed it at home this year and should be big in this week's Showdown. No Wines or Gray means Boak will have to carry a big load and the Crows aren't tagging much. Prediction - 120

Matt Crouch
Last 3: 120, 105, 108 (111 avg)
Last 3 against Port: 134, 97, 116 (116 avg)
Last 3 at AO: 120, 108, 101 (110 avg)

Crouch has been doing pretty well this season and loves a Showdown. Expect good things from him. Prediction - 115

Rory Sloane
Last 3: 105, 82, 125 (104 avg)
Last 3 against Port: 106, 124, 139 (123 avg)
Last 3 at AO: 105, 125, 120 (117 avg)

Another guy that loves a Showdown, Sloane should be a big scorer this week too. He's been great at home this season. Prediction - 115

Stephen Coniglio
Last 3: 82, 115, 126 (108 avg)
Last 3 against Hawthorn: 118, 119, 90 (109 avg)
Last 3 at MCG: 135, 152, 120 (136 avg)

Cogs is pretty good against the Hawks but very good at the MCG. There's a great chance he goes big this week against a Hawks team that probably can't keep up with the Giants. Prediction - 125

Nat Fyfe
Last 3: 124, 124, 92 (113 avg)
Last 3 against Richmond: 128, 95, 75 (99 avg)
Last 3 at Perth: 124, 78, 103 (102 avg)

Fyfe's back to his best with two 124s in a row. At home against a injury depleted Tigers, he should get there again. Prediction - 125

LAHUG'S POD!

Mitch Duncan
Last 3: 120, 130, 86 (112 avg)
Last 3 against North: 105, 106, 111 (107 avg)
Last 3 at Docklands: 111, 117, 134 (121 avg)

He's probably slipped under the radar with Danger, Ablett, Kelly, Selwood taking the headlines, but Duncan's had two great scores in a row. He likes to play the Roos and Dangerfield will probably miss this week so plenty of centre bounces for Duncan this week. Potential - 130

The verdict:
1.   Stephen Coniglio (125)
2.   Nat Fyfe (125)
3.   Brodie Grundy (125)
4.   Travis Boak (120)
5.   Jack Macrae (120)

[Football Factory]

Going to stick with Macrae  :-\

[LaHug]

Going to stick with Macrae  :-\

History makes him bloody tempting, doesn't it? But it made him bloody tempting last week too...

[Football Factory]

Going to stick with Macrae  :-\

History makes him bloody tempting, doesn't it? But it made him bloody tempting last week too...

Just going to stick with him and hope for the best  :'(

[LaHug]

Going to stick with Macrae  :-\

History makes him bloody tempting, doesn't it? But it made him bloody tempting last week too...

Just going to stick with him and hope for the best  :'(

I'm flipping a coin between Grundy and Coniglio. Don't have Fyfe and am afraid of Macrae. Tempted to loop Macrae in DT but playing at the same time as Grundy is annoying...

[Football Factory]

Going to stick with Macrae  :-\

History makes him bloody tempting, doesn't it? But it made him bloody tempting last week too...

Just going to stick with him and hope for the best  :'(

I'm flipping a coin between Grundy and Coniglio. Don't have Fyfe and am afraid of Macrae. Tempted to loop Macrae in DT but playing at the same time as Grundy is annoying...

Yeah i'm going to loop Macrae in RDT with Coniglio captain i think.

[LaHug]

Going to stick with Macrae  :-\

History makes him bloody tempting, doesn't it? But it made him bloody tempting last week too...

Just going to stick with him and hope for the best  :'(

I'm flipping a coin between Grundy and Coniglio. Don't have Fyfe and am afraid of Macrae. Tempted to loop Macrae in DT but playing at the same time as Grundy is annoying...

Yeah i'm going to loop Macrae in RDT with Coniglio captain i think.

I think I'll wuss out and go Grundy into Cogs. Cogs already has some risks associated with him so double risk feels a step too far.

[Thunderbolts]

Going to stick with Macrae  :-\

History makes him bloody tempting, doesn't it? But it made him bloody tempting last week too...

hmmm Macrae at this stage...will see if it still sits with me at lockout...

Just going to stick with him and hope for the best  :'(

I'm flipping a coin between Grundy and Coniglio. Don't have Fyfe and am afraid of Macrae. Tempted to loop Macrae in DT but playing at the same time as Grundy is annoying...

Yeah i'm going to loop Macrae in RDT with Coniglio captain i think.

I think I'll wuss out and go Grundy into Cogs. Cogs already has some risks associated with him so double risk feels a step too far.

[LaHug]

Here's one for you guys in DT. My entire bench is playing except for Bailey Scott. If I want to loophole a captain, I'll have no bench cover after the Melbourne game (last time I can change E onto Lockhart - not the best cover anyway). I have Cogs, Crouch, and Stack all playing after that game that I would have to rely on not being late outs. Is it worth the risk?

[Ringo]

Who are you other 2 mid benches by comments assuming Lockhart one. Do you have a D/M eg Dursma that you can move around if need be as well. Play around with DPPs if you have them to gain maximum benefit. Who is the VC that you want to select. If early enough you should be able to work something.

[LaHug]

Who are you other 2 mid benches by comments assuming Lockhart one. Do you have a D/M eg Dursma that you can move around if need be as well. Play around with DPPs if you have them to gain maximum benefit. Who is the VC that you want to select. If early enough you should be able to work something.

Going to VC Grundy I think and will take 120+ (still tempted to VC Macrae instead). Mid bench of Lockhart, Hayes, Scott after trades with Answerth and Duursma down back (and Clark too). If I use Duursma to cover a late out, it still has to be done before the Melbourne game to swing with Lockhart. I don't want to do the swing preemptively because then I'm fielding Lockhart over Duursma by default. Basically, I can't find a way to have cover after Melbourne start playing.

That said, I haven't heard anything about Cogs, Crouch, or Stack being potential outs so should be fine.

[Rusty00]

I was really close to making Merrett Captain again in AF, but ended up going Grundy :-\

Oh well, at least he’s still somewhat of a POD

[Thunderbolts]

I was really close to making Merrett Captain again in AF, but ended up going Grundy :-\

Oh well, at least he’s still somewhat of a POD

Rusty - Grundy still should do well and you should be fine...You never know it could be a 150+ for him....

[Rusty00]

I was really close to making Merrett Captain again in AF, but ended up going Grundy :-\

Oh well, at least he’s still somewhat of a POD

Rusty - Grundy still should do well and you should be fine...You never know it could be a 150+ for him....

You called it mate - the big 150 ;D

[Thunderbolts]

I was really close to making Merrett Captain again in AF, but ended up going Grundy :-\

Oh well, at least he’s still somewhat of a POD

Rusty - Grundy still should do well and you should be fine...You never know it could be a 150+ for him....

You called it mate - the big 150 ;D

I call that more a fluke of a call than anything else  :P