Eaglesman first look n beyond

[Colley Dogs]

I look at most sides and I'm like... meh.

Structurally, your team is so close to mine I always run off and have a big play around with my own team. So that's a compliment and a thank you in your direction.

Everything about your latest draft ticks the box... except for Houston at M5. If you're running with Houston it needs to be on the defensive line imo (with Starc etc on the Mid bench to allow the switch... rather than the other way around).

I used to place a lot of importance on channels between lines pre-season, but these years I'm of the opinion you can overplay it. Rather start with on-field players in their strongest positions, and then through the season draft in dual-position Rookies to create the channels i.e don't start with big differentials simply to have channels. The game's far too dynamic to withstand intricate plans.

For me... with this structure, I'd rather Sam Walsh at M5 (something I'm seriously considering, but I'm a Carlton fan, so you can take that with a grain of salt).

As you've seen from previous posts in other topics, my personal dilemma is F3 (I currently have a premium priced Rookie at F3). Assuming the nuances of your latest structure (with Gawn at R2)... it comes down to Fyfe & Prem Rookie v. S. Walsh/D.Houston & J. Steven.

If you go back to ROB I'd put the cash into Houston and stick with Steven.

As it stands I'd go Walsh over Houston, or reconfigure and place Houston on the Defensive line.

I predict the eventual cookie cutter team (with Gawn at R2) to test the notion of an additional high priced Rookie at F3 and an ultra-premium Mid at M5 (or M4, if you have Oliver at M5).

But if the season started tomorrow I'd be very content with your team.

Nice work, as always.

[RaisyDaisy]

If you're running with Houston it needs to be on the defensive line imo (with Starc etc on the Mid bench to allow the switch... rather than the other way around).

Makes zero difference whatsoever. Whether Houston starts in his DEF or MID, he's still on the field either way. Eventually, he'll swing Houston to defence and bring in a prem mid during the season

No point spending 450-500k on a mid who won't be a keeper - starting a MID/DEF or MID/FWD who can be moved to the DEF/FWD line later in the season and be a keeper from the start is a better choice

As it stands I'd go Walsh over Houston, or reconfigure and place Houston on the Defensive line.

Walsh won't be a Top 10 mid, so why would you pick him? Houston should be a Top 10 def

[Colley Dogs]

If you're running with Houston it needs to be on the defensive line imo (with Starc etc on the Mid bench to allow the switch... rather than the other way around).

Makes zero difference whatsoever. Whether Houston starts in his DEF or MID, he's still on the field either way. Eventually, he'll swing Houston to defence and bring in a prem mid during the season

No point spending 450-500k on a mid who won't be a keeper - starting a MID/DEF or MID/FWD who can be moved to the DEF/FWD line later in the season and be a keeper from the start is a better choice

As it stands I'd go Walsh over Houston, or reconfigure and place Houston on the Defensive line.

Walsh won't be a Top 10 mid, so why would you pick him? Houston should be a Top 10 def

Just my opinion re Walsh.. and my opinion re Houston.

(I don't proclaim to know anything btw)

I don't believe Houston will be a top 6 (10) defender.

Houston being viable is entirely dependent upon where he plays; Walsh being viable is entirely dependent upon his improvement.

I don't have either in my team, but if I had to gamble I believe Walsh has more chance of replicating what Oliver did in his second year, than wishing upon Houston being played through the midfield all year (O. Wines will come back; and for Houston to end up as a premium SC defender he needs to play through the midfield in real footy).

Like I said, I'm a Carlton supporter. And if Walsh comes off I'll hate myself for not having him. But in this equation, I go for Walsh over Houston every day.

As an M5 - to offset the spin-off effect - Walsh needs to average 105 minimum, and 108 optimum. I think he'll average 100 flat. That's why I don't have him. For Houston to finish top 10 he needs to average 95 minimum imo. I don't believe he will.

However, I think there's more chance of Walsh averaging 105 than Houston averaging 95. Neither will do this. That's why I have neither.

But in that price band price band I go Walsh. That's all I'm saying.

(Ps bringing in a premium mid during the season will require +1 trade compared to bringing in a premium defender; so you need to calculate the cost of a trade into the equation as well).

[RaisyDaisy]

Just comes down to personal choices I guess. I think Houston will be a Top 10 defender, which is why I would pick him

Walsh could do what Oliver did, I wouldn't rule that out completely, but I think Houston being a keeper def is much safer than Walsh being a keeper mid

The other alternative eaglesman could consider is replacing Houston with someone like Greenwood or even Heeney if he can find the exta $ - those two will be Top forwards

Point is, it's near impossible to start 5 legit prem mids without crippling another line - it is however looking like 4 prem mids plus a 400-500k M5 doesn't cripple another line, and seeing as most mids in the price range are unlikely to turn into keepers, starting a def or fwd at M5 is looking like a decent play

My only worry with that, is that it means we will need to bring in 4 prem mids during the year, and it's not easy bringing in 550-600k+ guys, so doing that 4 times as opposed to 3 can be a challenge

[eaglesman]

If you're running with Houston it needs to be on the defensive line imo (with Starc etc on the Mid bench to allow the switch... rather than the other way around).

Makes zero difference whatsoever. Whether Houston starts in his DEF or MID, he's still on the field either way. Eventually, he'll swing Houston to defence and bring in a prem mid during the season

No point spending 450-500k on a mid who won't be a keeper - starting a MID/DEF or MID/FWD who can be moved to the DEF/FWD line later in the season and be a keeper from the start is a better choice

As it stands I'd go Walsh over Houston, or reconfigure and place Houston on the Defensive line.

Walsh won't be a Top 10 mid, so why would you pick him? Houston should be a Top 10 def

Just my opinion re Walsh.. and my opinion re Houston.

(I don't proclaim to know anything btw)

I don't believe Houston will be a top 6 (10) defender.

Houston being viable is entirely dependent upon where he plays; Walsh being viable is entirely dependent upon his improvement.

I don't have either in my team, but if I had to gamble I believe Walsh has more chance of replicating what Oliver did in his second year, than wishing upon Houston being played through the midfield all year (O. Wines will come back; and for Houston to end up as a premium SC defender he needs to play through the midfield in real footy).

Like I said, I'm a Carlton supporter. And if Walsh comes off I'll hate myself for not having him. But in this equation, I go for Walsh over Houston every day.

As an M5 - to offset the spin-off effect - Walsh needs to average 105 minimum, and 108 optimum. I think he'll average 100 flat. That's why I don't have him. For Houston to finish top 10 he needs to average 95 minimum imo. I don't believe he will.

However, I think there's more chance of Walsh averaging 105 than Houston averaging 95. Neither will do this. That's why I have neither.

But in that price band price band I go Walsh. That's all I'm saying.

(Ps bringing in a premium mid during the season will require +1 trade compared to bringing in a premium defender; so you need to calculate the cost of a trade into the equation as well).

It depends on who you want on field. My team is currently centred around getting blokes on field who I know will play and at this stage I am more confident in the scoring potential of mcasey over mchenry and him actually playing over Bennell/byte/someone else

Reality is I’m confident mcasey plays but unsure on scoring ability. Fully expecting Gould to be the better value for money scorer but I’m not 100% sold he will actually play and doubting there is another playing mid/def rookie to plug in either the Houston or mcasey positions.

You swap Mcasey for a cheap rookie and that cash can go to Houston Walters and chuck him forward or Zac Williams/Caleb Daniel to defense without any issue.
Aesthetically it looks better no doubt but at this early stage and my less than hopeful rookie forecast this is the mix I felt was best.

[Colley Dogs]

Point is, it's near impossible to start 5 legit prem mids without crippling another line - it is however looking like 4 prem mids plus a 400-500k M5 doesn't cripple another line, and seeing as most mids in the price range are unlikely to turn into keepers, starting a def or fwd at M5 is looking like a decent play

You're right RD... this is the point.

We're all trying to find that little extra cash to field one more Keeper.

At this stage it looks like the money is coming from one of three places:
- R2 (if you run with ROB or the like)
- M5 (trying to find that breakout Keeper in the 400K - 500K bracket)
- F3 (what I'm currently running with i.e. additional high priced Rookie forward)

None of these options fills me with confidence. It feels like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Maybe it won't make a difference? If you play the rest of your team with a straight bat, it doesn't matter where you draw the cash from. We're all going to have a weakness somewhere.

I'm starting to think the key is to not get out of order in other spots; so that whatever's unique to your team is isolated and can be corrected with 1-2 trades. 

But I am worried I've talked myself into believing Walsh will be something he's not  :o

[eaglesman]

Team update prior to marsh.

Laird Sicily docherty Roberton mcasey young (starc Gould)

Cripps Titch danger treloar Oliver Rowell Stephens Pickett

Grundy Jacobs (comben)

Whitfield Martin Ceglar Smith hill georgiades (king rankine)

16k.

If another 123k defender pops up to get rid of starcevich treloar will be fyfe.
If I find $200 but not enough for Fyfe treloar will be Dunkley. (Maybe someone for georgiades)
Otherwise will back treloar in as don’t mind his start.

Obviously big drop is Gawn to sauce. I just don’t mind sauces start to the year.

Other big drop is macrae for no real reason other than he isn’t worth 40k more than Mitchell if that beast is fit.

Backing my gut for now but I’m sure marsh changes things

[Colley Dogs]

Team update prior to marsh.

Laird Sicily docherty Roberton mcasey young (starc Gould)

Cripps Titch danger treloar Oliver Rowell Stephens Pickett

Grundy Jacobs (comben)

Whitfield Martin Ceglar Smith hill georgiades (king rankine)

16k.

If another 123k defender pops up to get rid of starcevich treloar will be fyfe.
If I find $200 but not enough for Fyfe treloar will be Dunkley. (Maybe someone for georgiades)
Otherwise will back treloar in as don’t mind his start.

Obviously big drop is Gawn to sauce. I just don’t mind sauces start to the year.

Other big drop is macrae for no real reason other than he isn’t worth 40k more than Mitchell if that beast is fit.

Backing my gut for now but I’m sure marsh changes things

I think you have to go with Sauce. You've been talking about him all pre-season, and if he comes off and you don't take him you'll regret it.

I get the Ceglar pick, but personally if you take Jacobs... back him all the way.

Downgrade Ceglar to Steven & Comben to Conroy, and find another 25K or so from your Rookies to turn Treloar back into Macrae.

Or...

Dowgrade Treloar to a Kelly / Coniglio type, and turn Ceglar into Heeney.

That's just me.

But you're right... you have everything in place with your Gawn-team and Sauce-team... now just to wait on the Marsh series to see how the chips will fall.

[eaglesman]

Laird Houston docherty Robertson young Hill (brander?? Gould)

Macrae cripps Mitchell danger Oliver Rowell Stephens Serong (Starcevich Pickett budarick)

Grundy Williams (xerri)

Whitfield Martin Greenwood ceglar bonar Georgiades (rankine king)

[Colley Dogs]

Laird Houston docherty Robertson young Hill (brander?? Gould)

Macrae cripps Mitchell danger Oliver Rowell Stephens Serong (Starcevich Pickett budarick)

Grundy Williams (xerri)

Whitfield Martin Greenwood ceglar bonar Georgiades (rankine king)

Strong team.

* Do you mean Williams in defence & Nic Nat at R2? When I first checked you had Nic Nat at R2, but now I see Williams there.

Very little to add. Every line makes sense.

I think where we differ is how we're approaching R2. I understand Jacobs in your previous versions; and I understand Nic Nat in this version.

Personally, I'm going Gawn until the last moment (I may even go Gawn if he misses Rd 1, and it’s a Perth thing).

So from my point of view, with your team, it's effectively:

Nic Nat + Whitfield v. Gawn + D. Smith

If I were to go without Gawn, definitely it would be to Sauce… and with an extra Keeper in defence, pushing Docherty out to D4.

Whatever you do, I think the smart play is Ceglar up front for insurance. Gawn, Nic Nat, Jacobs all need Ceglar.

[eaglesman]

Laird Houston docherty Robertson young Hill (brander?? Gould)

Macrae cripps Mitchell danger Oliver Rowell Stephens Serong (Starcevich Pickett budarick)

Grundy Williams (xerri)

Whitfield Martin Greenwood ceglar bonar Georgiades (rankine king)

Strong team.

* Do you mean Williams in defence & Nic Nat at R2? When I first checked you had Nic Nat at R2, but now I see Williams there.

Very little to add. Every line makes sense.

I think where we differ is how we're approaching R2. I understand Jacobs in your previous versions; and I understand Nic Nat in this version.

Personally, I'm going Gawn until the last moment (I may even go Gawn if he misses Rd 1, and it’s a Perth thing).

So from my point of view, with your team, it's effectively:

Nic Nat + Whitfield v. Gawn + D. Smith

If I were to go without Gawn, definitely it would be to Sauce… and with an extra Keeper in defence, pushing Docherty out to D4.

Whatever you do, I think the smart play is Ceglar up front for insurance. Gawn, Nic Nat, Jacobs all need Ceglar.

Nope bailey Williams r2 also needing ceglar

Greenwood in

[Colley Dogs]

Laird Houston docherty Robertson young Hill (brander?? Gould)

Macrae cripps Mitchell danger Oliver Rowell Stephens Serong (Starcevich Pickett budarick)

Grundy Williams (xerri)

Whitfield Martin Greenwood ceglar bonar Georgiades (rankine king)

Strong team.

* Do you mean Williams in defence & Nic Nat at R2? When I first checked you had Nic Nat at R2, but now I see Williams there.

Very little to add. Every line makes sense.

I think where we differ is how we're approaching R2. I understand Jacobs in your previous versions; and I understand Nic Nat in this version.

Personally, I'm going Gawn until the last moment (I may even go Gawn if he misses Rd 1, and it’s a Perth thing).

So from my point of view, with your team, it's effectively:

Nic Nat + Whitfield v. Gawn + D. Smith

If I were to go without Gawn, definitely it would be to Sauce… and with an extra Keeper in defence, pushing Docherty out to D4.

Whatever you do, I think the smart play is Ceglar up front for insurance. Gawn, Nic Nat, Jacobs all need Ceglar.

Nope bailey Williams r2 also needing ceglar

Greenwood in

Okay... I get it now.

Bold.

The only challenge... Williams will need to appreciate a significant amount to require only 3 trades (2 down / 1 up) to get to Gawn.

With Williams and your current structure: 13 keepers / 22 trades to complete (minimum).

With Sauce / Nic Nat: 13 keepers / 21 trades to complete.

If you run with Williams, I'd much rather see him in the defensive line in place of Brander. My view, at least. (With Hill on the Forward line).

(I currently have Brander)

[eaglesman]

Laird Houston docherty Robertson young Hill (brander?? Gould)

Macrae cripps Mitchell danger Oliver Rowell Stephens Serong (Starcevich Pickett budarick)

Grundy Williams (xerri)

Whitfield Martin Greenwood ceglar bonar Georgiades (rankine king)

Strong team.

* Do you mean Williams in defence & Nic Nat at R2? When I first checked you had Nic Nat at R2, but now I see Williams there.

Very little to add. Every line makes sense.

I think where we differ is how we're approaching R2. I understand Jacobs in your previous versions; and I understand Nic Nat in this version.

Personally, I'm going Gawn until the last moment (I may even go Gawn if he misses Rd 1, and it’s a Perth thing).

So from my point of view, with your team, it's effectively:

Nic Nat + Whitfield v. Gawn + D. Smith

If I were to go without Gawn, definitely it would be to Sauce… and with an extra Keeper in defence, pushing Docherty out to D4.

Whatever you do, I think the smart play is Ceglar up front for insurance. Gawn, Nic Nat, Jacobs all need Ceglar.

Nope bailey Williams r2 also needing ceglar

Greenwood in

Okay... I get it now.

Bold.

The only challenge... Williams will need to appreciate a significant amount to require only 3 trades (2 down / 1 up) to get to Gawn.

With Williams and your current structure: 13 keepers / 22 trades to complete (minimum).

With Sauce / Nic Nat: 13 keepers / 21 trades to complete.

If you run with Williams, I'd much rather see him in the defensive line in place of Brander. My view, at least. (With Hill on the Forward line).

(I currently have Brander)

Haha yeah I agree

[eaglesman]

Laird Houston docherty Milera Roberton young (Williams Gould)

Cripps Mitchell danger Oliver boak Rowell Stephens Pickett (McHenry Bennell? Budarick)

Grundy sauce (Xerri)

Whitfield Martin cellar bonar hill georgiades (rankine king)

Don’t mind it

[eaglesman]

Houston docherty Roberton young Williamson  greaves (williAms Gould )

Macrae cripps Mitchell Dangerfield Oliver Rowell anderson green (Pickett Mahoney budarick)

Grundy Gawn xerri

Whitfield Martin ceglar brayshaw hill georgiades (king rankine)

Changes