The Watchlist - 2023 Edition

[Mat0369]

Round 10

Score: 2400
Rank: 45,715
Round Rank:  36,416
Cash: $32,000

Trades

LDU>Smith
Hopper>Kelly
McKenna>Sharp



Good: Sicily, Doc, Sheezel, Oliver, Neale, Green, Rozee, Ashcroft, Marshall, Dunkley, Smith, Cogs, Mitchell
Pass: Dawson, Stewart, Kelly, Gulden
Bad: Day, Ziebell, Ryan, Gawn
Ugly: Hollands, Simpson, Sharp, Davey

It was a bit of terrible week when all things are considered. I had two LTI's I had to deal with, while the two premium players I brought in were serviceable, it wasn't the best duo I could have brought in. I now have Oliver, my only reliable captain choice, injured and out until likely after his bye week.

Why this week is a bit of a disaster, I had 3 rookies all subbed out killing their cash gen. The worst one is Hollands who was playing okay footy and subbed out, for the second week in a row, at HT for tactical reasons. I also don't have the cash to turn Hollands/Simpson into a premium with one downgrade and one upgrade. I'm struggling to work out where the cash is going to come from with Sharp subbed, Cincotta dropped, Cowan not on the horizon, Roberts injured, Constable a ghost, Ryan topped out and Davey terrible.

I need to get a couple of rookies in that will make some cash this week. The one that stands out is Wardlaw but he has only played one game. This draft class has been pretty damn good and he is up there with the best of the kids. He is a must for me even at the more expensive price tag. The next best option appears to be Baldwin who is priced at 172k and seems to be scoring okay for the Bombers as a key defender. Otherwise it is spend an extra 60k and try and get on Weddle late. So what I am considering this week

Hollands>Wardlaw
Simpson>Baldwin

It leaves me with 198k in the bank.

I can also use my last boost and turn Ryan into Steele. That will leave me with $24,900, 11 trades and 3 upgrades left. That is while holding Oliver through his hamstring since I figure he will be unobtainable down the stretch.

[Mat0369]

I just read Josh Kelly is out with a hamstring

[Bully]

I just read Josh Kelly is out with a hamstring

I'm not surprised, just thank your lucky stars it wasn't during a match.

[arbel]

I just read Josh Kelly is out with a hamstring

Yeah saw that.
Nothing more annoying than bringing in a player, a premo at that and they get injured and pretty much have to come straight back out.
Made worse with the Oliver injury as well. If possible to bench one I would, cos would suck to burn 2 trades on premos to have to bring them back.
I'm in the same boat with the rookie dilemma

[Bully]

I reckon you guys need to hold Oliver & trade Kelly to Laird/Merrett, Kelly only averaged 105 last year so look at it as an upgrade. There's a silver lining here in my opinion.

[Mat0369]

My team is screwed

[Bully]

My team is screwed

Mine too, Sharp, Cincotta, Drury (probably dropped), Johnson (sub most likely), Absolute carnage, don't know where to start or how to fix.

[arbel]

My team is screwed

Mine too, Sharp, Cincotta, Drury (probably dropped), Johnson (sub most likely), Absolute carnage, don't know where to start or how to fix.

I'm joining the I'm screwed boat as well.
Have Constable, Duncan, Cincotta, Sharp, Simpson, Roberts, Drury (likely dropped) Wilmot on extended bench but should hopefully hold.

To make matters worse look at the rookie selection options available..
Lord, probably not big cash maker ... O'donnell, not going to be good. Mullin, first game and won't hold spot when players back.
Wardlaw, only good option but only 2nd week. Hate brining in rookies early in case of injury/form (already looks like burnt from Drury)
Berry, was sub last week and probably not good enough.

There's no one else unless you pay up a bit for Humphrey/Weddle

[Bully]

My team is screwed

Mine too, Sharp, Cincotta, Drury (probably dropped), Johnson (sub most likely), Absolute carnage, don't know where to start or how to fix.

I'm joining the I'm screwed boat as well.
Have Constable, Duncan, Cincotta, Sharp, Simpson, Roberts, Drury (likely dropped) Wilmot on extended bench but should hopefully hold.

To make matters worse look at the rookie selection options available..
Lord, probably not big cash maker ... O'donnell, not going to be good. Mullin, first game and won't hold spot when players back.
Wardlaw, only good option but only 2nd week. Hate brining in rookies early in case of injury/form (already looks like burnt from Drury)
Berry, was sub last week and probably not good enough.

There's no one else unless you pay up a bit for Humphrey/Weddle

I'm coming to the realisation I may never fully upgrade this side, I think I will stick with Atkins and grab Wardlaw next week, Fyfe is another who might come in for a burnt rookie like Sharp.

As a plan for those struggling with cash generation, here's some possible fixes for the bye period.

Sharp to Fyfe
Van Rooyen to Wardlaw

These trades are more or less damage control trades but the cupboard is bare for good rookies. I reckon I'll only be able to afford a player like Mills down the track.

Oliver I have a plan for, Horne-Francis up to Clarry in round 15.

I think I'll be keeping Ratugolea for the year, Gawn currently at 35% forward time so won't get DPP in all likelihood.

Roberts is out of the brace and is running again, he's a hold at this stage.

[Mat0369]

Sam Butler is another I have an eye on. 2 great scores outside of the sub score. About 210k though so not cheap

[Bully]

Sam Butler is another I have an eye on. 2 great scores outside of the sub score. About 210k though so not cheap

Also keep an eye on Lachlan McAndrew, ruck DPP so could be handy with Ladhams out injured.

[Ringo]

I am keeping an eye on McAndrew as an option as well even Cincotta to McAndrew will make 90k.

[Mat0369]

Also keep an eye on Lachlan McAndrew, ruck DPP so could be handy with Ladhams out injured.

Hickey in this week had me worried, I stayed away in AF for that reason alone.

I ended up grabbing Butler for Cowan, held Hollands which was a mistake since he ended up getting injured and finished on 40 odd. Cincotta will be back next week with Newman and Hollands out injured. They did move Doc back once Newman hurt himself and he was pretty good post move. I still prefer Doc in the middle and he may play there depending if Cerra gets suspended and how bad Cripps ankle is.

Kelly unfortunately has to go, he won't return until round 16 with the byes, I either need to use him one of two ways right now and hold Oliver. Trades are as below

Cowan>Butler using Constable and Davey DPP
Simpson>Wardlaw
Kelly>Libba/Steele

I still really want Libba and Kelly is the easiest way to do that. Making that trade leaves me with 36k in the bank which could be a disaster with the lack of rookies. Going to Steele leaves me with 133k which makes upgrading players a lot easier. In terms of upgrades and sub-premos, here is my list

Rookies to field

Ashcroft
Ryan
Mitchell
Hollands/Wardlaw

Sub-premium players

Day
Gawn

I would have 11 trades with those guys left to upgrade or sideways at some point. I also have Sheezel who I think most will have as a keeper at this point. With 4 upgrades I think I have to take Steele and the cash as much as I may want Libba, it just makes more sense in the long run. Steele also has the early bye which gets it out of the way

[Mat0369]

I doubled down and made Steele captain. Giant turd of a week

[Bully]

I doubled down and made Steele captain. Giant turd of a week

Not alone, fielded Atkins and he looks like getting dropped, Cincotta back makes me want hit my head against a brick wall.

In any case I think I'll be trading up instead of down with Atkins, Ridley about 430k so very doable.

Gawn was 34% forward time so probably misses the DPP, that sucks as I now have to find a replacement for Ratugolea.

And there's Cripps to worry about, my team is like a half eaten ham sandwich, I'm close to throwing in the towel.