Ask Ziplock pre-season

[Adamant]

Hey Zip, im looking for a 4th premium defender. Who do you think is the better pick

Birchall or Enright?

cheers

[Adamant]

Also Mumford or McEvoy?
Cheers

[elephants]

Oh hahahahahahahahaha thanks zip.

[Ziplock]

Hey Zip, im looking for a 4th premium defender. Who do you think is the better pick

Birchall or Enright?

cheers

honestly neither... enright is getting old, and appears to have peaked (like most the cats), while Birchall had a career best season on his 6th season, purely because of his teams changed style of football. That doesn't really inspire me to pick him. If I had to go for one... Birchall, based on his age, playing in an improving team.

mcevoy and mumford are a bit of a line.... mcevoy, just, because he's the only pure ruckman at the saints...

[Galea89]

Hey Zip,

My main strategy is to go midpriced in the ruck departments for the first 5 or so rounds until my mid pricers increase and I can determine which of Sandi, Cox, Leunberger, Goldstein, Mumford, and McEvoy willbe this years premium rucks. I was thinking going H.Mac, I.Maric, Giles, Stephenson.  What do you think of this strategy due to maric's increased job security and H-Macs potential?

Also, What is your opinion on Morabito and Steven Morris?

[Ziplock]

Hey Zip,

My main strategy is to go midpriced in the ruck departments for the first 5 or so rounds until my mid pricers increase and I can determine which of Sandi, Cox, Leunberger, Goldstein, Mumford, and McEvoy willbe this years premium rucks. I was thinking going H.Mac, I.Maric, Giles, Stephenson.  What do you think of this strategy due to maric's increased job security and H-Macs potential?

Also, What is your opinion on Morabito and Steven Morris?

'Maric should be first ruck, and is priced at something like 53 ppg am I right? That makes him underpriced, and honestly I think he can average around 70. But that's not really enough to warrant him a second ruck spot- you'd really be wanting an 80 average.'

honestly, I'm not a huge fan of Maric for a second ruck. I think Hmac can get the job done,  but I doubt maric. You might be better off going someone like kreuz, or all the way down to rookie, fielding giles instead.

Morabito is just named as a mid this year isn't he? Pass if so, many better options in the midfield.

mmm, morris could be a decent option. Richmond say they have a role for him, and he is mature bodied which is always a plus. However, I have no idea about his scoring potential.... one to look out for in NAB I guess.

[Galea89]

Gives me something to think about :)

I read a nice little write up from DTtalk on James McDonald. Do you think he would represent better value when you compare him to someone like Morabito or Steve Clifton? Clifton has been winning their time trials and as mature aged player i can see him getting game time, but im not sure on his potential given shiel is an animal, ward, palmer, scully, coniglio and power will be winning the high posessions. Do you think Clifton will play a lot of games and score well, over players such as Dom Tyson and Hoskin-Elliot?

I have 3 other players that im seriously considering as 4th & 5th backman being Nathan Grima and Tony Armstrong, and my 6th forward being Allen Christensen. Christensen is a beast for a small midfielder and ripped some pretty nice numbers last season, with another pre season, can you see him breaking into the Cats starting midfield now with Ling retired? Nathan Grima also appears to be back to his 2010 fitness winning their 3km time trial and by all reports killing the track. I can see good value in him for his price, do you think he has the potential to finish in the top 7 defenders? Tony Armstrong appears like he could be a steal, whats your opinion if he can keep injury free and stay sober, lol?

[Ziplock]

I rate mcdonald above mora for scoring potential (and he's cheaper). Clifton I haven't heard much about, remember athletic ability isn't all there is to afl... I would probably still put mcdonald above him, regardless of his age in scoring and JS. As you said, GWS has a stocked midfield- most of their mid youngsters won't be getting consistent games, regardless of their high draft picks.

Honestly I see armstrong as a far better option than grima- even if grima reaches his 2010 form, he's still only averaging 70 odd, while armstrong could be good for 80+Basically, his value is  way more than grima's. I agree he could be a steal. As for christensen, I seriously rate him- there's a midfield spot open, and the guy seriously domianted the last half of last season- he looks good to me.

[dubizzy]

koby stevens?  :-\

[Ziplock]

koby stevens?  :-\

Stevens- Scoring potential isn't really an issue for this guy, it seems to be js. Unless there's an injury I don't know about? Really struggled to get a game last year.

I'd be concerned either way, if he gets named round one, sure. But if not... the eagles went from nothing to a top 4 team last year, I can't see them messing significantly with a team structure that is clearly working.

[demon_spud]

Do you like Dick (WCE)?

[Ziplock]

Do you like Dick (WCE)?

Dick's issue has never been his talent- if he can string together a full season, he can probably stay in the 21 and pull together some decent scores.

but his injury history isnt promising...

[AndrewY]

Any advice on Brodie Martin and Paul Bower in defense?

[Ziplock]

their JS just isn't good enough. Bower barely scraped into staying in carltons side, and martin has played 9 games in 3 years... and if he couldn't get a gig with adelaide last year, that's pretty worrying.

I rate bower over martin at this stage, but I'd probably try  to look past both unless we got some serious pre-season indications.

[AndrewY]

Good man and thanks