LS 2020

[LordSneeze]

With only 2 days to go before the start of the Marsh Series, I thought it was about time to release my starting team. Any changes people would suggest?




Still have $202k in the bank to allow for rookie changes where I might need to add in a slightly higher priced rookie.
All Rookies are placeholders only at this stage. These will be chopped and changed over the Marsh period.
Rookie availability will determine where the remaining cash will be used to strengthen.

Def
Laird was a no brainer and I feel Sicily is underpriced slightly and has potential to be top 6. Im more confident on taking him than Houston or DBJ. Docherty must be selected, but if he doesn't get up for R1 likely swap to one of these options. Williams, Crisp, Haynes, Stewart or Lloyd (If I have the cash)

Mid
Not planning on taking risks on the starting Mid picks. 5 bonafide super prems that should be top 10 at year end. Was considering Newnes or Curnow as a left field pick, but didn't like the risk vs reward of to picks. If required for rookie setup (Ala not enough Def or Fwd rookies) I would drop Oliver down to a rookie and upgrade where required.

Ruck
GG - No Brainer.
Looked at Jacobs with Ceglar, but Ceglar to me has a 85 average ceiling even as a number 1 ruck, while Jacobs is also not a keeper. 85 + 85 = 170 vs 115 + 55 = 170 & 3 trades vs 2 to upgrade. To lose out here I feel Jacobs & Ceglar both need to be 95+ averages.

Forward
This is where I plan on going light as I am not confident on who will be top 6 or even top 10 forwards. Martin to be is a safe choice and given I have very little risk elsewhere Im willing to take Greenwood and if required can sideways him as a correction.
I don't like Steven or Smith as options, but there if I need to and have cash I might take one, no chance of picking both.

[RaisyDaisy]

Won't comment on rookies as they're just place holders as will definitely change

DEF/MID/RUC all seems good and standard

That forward line though...

Gotta bolster that up - running with Hill at F3 and 5 fwd rookies (who are usually horrible scorers) is just way too much exposure

Imagine Hill pulls a hammy early on - have fun fielding 4 fwd rookies each week  :-X

I know you don't like them, but Steven/Dev or even someone unique like Wingard, TMac etc - just need to get someone else in there imo

[Sven]

Totally agree with RaisyDaisy, that forward line is trouble waiting to happen.

Would look at downgrading Oliver to a rookie like Stephens and then use the cash to bolster the forward line.

Otherwise team looks solid. Best of luck!

[LordSneeze]

Yes forward line is weak, but as you already know, if selecting GG there is going to be a line where you need to take a hit or you need to add in more risking MP options. For me it was the FWDs weaker to start.

The issue I have is that I don't really love any picks in the Fwd line, there are alot of good options, but they are likly guarenteed top 20 not top 10. If I was taking a punt it would likely be on a M/F DPP in Mids to allow a quick swing to Fwd if needed, but if rookies work, this might allow 2 prems vs 1 Prem to start.

Its part of why ive left cash over and will wait for rookies to know if I can get away with 2 prems or not, or if i need to look at the backup options.

Backup options I have are
Smith or Steven as F3 with Oliver

Downgrade Oliver to a MP M/F option Parish, Gray, Gresham, Wingard, Caddy etc.  Which would mean I could take a Rookie to a FWD 450k-550k Prem. Again this all is reliant on $$$ after rookies.

[LordSneeze]

70k or so still in bank.

Houston added, eventhough not 100% sold I feel he will at worst be a good D6/D7, but could manage to be a top 5

Gawn changed to Jacobs with Ceglar as F3. Jacobs is a big risk and not sure if I will go this way just yet and Ceglar is not locked in, but wanted to see how it looked. I have little risk elsewhere, so this might be worth taking a chance on, still need to see Jacobs & Gawn before I make a decision

[Colley Dogs]

Nice team. A lot to like here.

Very interested to see a trend emerging of an additional defensive keeper (e.g. Houston) with Docherty pushed out to D4. With question marks over Young, Mcasey, and the other Rookies we had pencilled in before Marsh, this seems like the right play.

My only query (and this is a personal thing), is Sauce Jacobs with Ceglar.

I can sort of understand Gawn + Ceglar (for insurance should Gawn not take the field in Round 1). But if it were my team, I'd go Grundy + Ceglar in the rucks, and run with Dev Smith at F3. Then use the leftover cash with the 70K in the bank to address some of the question mark Rookies (Mcasey; Dev Robertson; Weightman etc.).

Good luck for the season! I'm sure it's going to be a strong one for you  :)

[Colley Dogs]

My only query (and this is a personal thing), is Sauce Jacobs with Ceglar.

Actually... since I posted my comment I've been playing with Jacobs - Xerri - Ceglar (as it fits to my own team... with Docherty at D4), and I can see the merits of this set-up.

If Ceglar ends up as a top eight averaging forward, this structure starts very strong points-wise.

Do you believe Ceglar will average 93+?

[frenzy]

Do you have a plan or even a want to get Gawn back in.? At this stage, I think I'm keeping Max in the team. But starting Ceglar as the back-up from rnd 1. I would not normally worry about a backup for GG, but the start of this season appears different. Ultimately Xerri plays rnd 1 and I can keep Cegs Fwd.
$700k Ruckmen are hard to bring in and Maxy has a soft draw for 10 or so weeks after the trip to perth rnd 1. So his price won't drop much, if at all.

[LordSneeze]

Nice team. A lot to like here.

Very interested to see a trend emerging of an additional defensive keeper (e.g. Houston) with Docherty pushed out to D4. With question marks over Young, Mcasey, and the other Rookies we had pencilled in before Marsh, this seems like the right play.

My only query (and this is a personal thing), is Sauce Jacobs with Ceglar.

I can sort of understand Gawn + Ceglar (for insurance should Gawn not take the field in Round 1). But if it were my team, I'd go Grundy + Ceglar in the rucks, and run with Dev Smith at F3. Then use the leftover cash with the 70K in the bank to address some of the question mark Rookies (Mcasey; Dev Robertson; Weightman etc.).

Good luck for the season! I'm sure it's going to be a strong one for you  :)

Thanks, Rookies at the moment are still all placeholders.

Yeah im a little worried about Def rookies right now. I wasn't liking the look of 2 prems without being able to run a few expensive rookies.

To me I would never take Sauce without the ability to have cover for him.
I would also never start Ceglar in the rucks as it completely removes the ability to make an effective correction on him. If you need to correct you would be wanting to take the Prem ruck, which you will be unlikely to have cash for and it leaves you in a pickle.

If you start him Fwd and you need to correct Sauce you can use Ceglar as a stop gap short term
or
If you need to correct Ceglar drop him to a rookie and keep the $ available for Sauce upgrade if you need to.

The question mark on me with Ceglar is his ability to score consistently, his history has been of negative DT to SC conversion which means even if he gets 100 DT he is likely to fall around the 90SC mark. That is where my worry is.

[LordSneeze]

Do you have a plan or even a want to get Gawn back in.? At this stage, I think I'm keeping Max in the team. But starting Ceglar as the back-up from rnd 1. I would not normally worry about a backup for GG, but the start of this season appears different. Ultimately Xerri plays rnd 1 and I can keep Cegs Fwd.
$700k Ruckmen are hard to bring in and Maxy has a soft draw for 10 or so weeks after the trip to perth rnd 1. So his price won't drop much, if at all.

Yeah, Plan would be for him to be back in at some point.
I wouldn't start him if not playing R1, so looking at the options if that occurs. I half expect it and you know how quickly a 1 week can become 3-4.

If I don't go Ceglar I will end up going either Gawn or Goldy, But I might change Oliver to a MP Fwd DPP and add in D Smith or J Steven.

[LordSneeze]

Def - Im confident we will have 4 rookies, but 5 might be a stretch if we expect them to all score. No change to my previous structure other than Def placeholders

Mid - Went Zerrett over Macrae as the $ is important. Might upgrade him or Oliver after I finalise rookies. Put Budarik on Mid bench as it allows a swing to FWD and the choice on who I want to play from all rookies. If not enough rookies Greenwood or Smith will slot in as M6.

Rucks - Couldn't find a structure I liked with the rookies to make Gawn work. So took Smith rather than Naismith. Feel Smith has better security and a higher ceiling to Naismith for the same price.

Fwds - Used Ceglar as taking Smith needs to backup just incase. Went Brander Fwd as I dont want to play King on field. If either Xerri or Cameron are named they will be in the FWDs with the other on the Ruck Bench, but if not 1 will be replaced.

I left 184k over for rookie cleanup and will then use that to upgrade or bring in a mid pricer if needed. right now im not confident the rookies selected will all play and that there are others im really confident in picking, but feel we will have enough on each line in this structure to atleast fill the team.

[Samsturmfels]

What is your opinion on tobe watsons? as i dont know anything about him.

Not sure on injury update, but isnt Witts playing round 1? was listed as a test 8 days ago. Where exactly will smith be playing when Witts is in the side?

[LordSneeze]

What is your opinion on tobe watsons? as i dont know anything about him.

Not sure on injury update, but isnt Witts playing round 1? was listed as a test 8 days ago. Where exactly will smith be playing when Witts is in the side?

Completely forgot about Witts, hello Naismith.

Watson is a tall mature aged defender, plays a bit of a intercept game. I have him as a better option than McAsey etc which is why I have him there now.

[Samsturmfels]

What is your opinion on tobe watsons? as i dont know anything about him.

Not sure on injury update, but isnt Witts playing round 1? was listed as a test 8 days ago. Where exactly will smith be playing when Witts is in the side?

Completely forgot about Witts, hello Naismith.

Watson is a tall mature aged defender, plays a bit of a intercept game. I have him as a better option than McAsey etc which is why I have him there now.

yeah with hamling injury for quite a while, he should be able to get quite a few games, Im just not sure how well his scoring potential is (have never seem him play though).

[LordSneeze]

What is your opinion on tobe watsons? as i dont know anything about him.

Not sure on injury update, but isnt Witts playing round 1? was listed as a test 8 days ago. Where exactly will smith be playing when Witts is in the side?

Completely forgot about Witts, hello Naismith.

Watson is a tall mature aged defender, plays a bit of a intercept game. I have him as a better option than McAsey etc which is why I have him there now.

yeah with hamling injury for quite a while, he should be able to get quite a few games, Im just not sure how well his scoring potential is (have never seem him play though).

50-70 id be saying. For his price if named im confident in picking him.