Is buddy a must have ?

[Colliwobblers]

I have buddy budgeted for, andfeel since I don't have Robinson or Stevie that not having buddy either would be a risk, but I'm starting to hear sen in the idea of. Not starting with and upgrading to buddy and Stevie.... Jury still how for me but at least I have budgeted for buddy already, changing from here is easy.

[Windigo]

I see a lot of people saying he ain't must have.

The majority of you have  picked him your side, then you must think that he is bloody damn well important to your FWD line. Just get him and don't second guess yourself.

[elephants]

In my opinion YES.
He is an absolute lock in gun. The Hawks have a side built around him and he's capable of 140+ scores. Get one and take the Budwood through thick and thin IMO.

[Football Factory]

LANCE Franklin's maturity as a footballer and person has been rewarded with elevation into the Hawthorn leadership group for the first time.

Franklin, who turns 25 tomorrow, is one of nine in the group, headlined by captain Luke Hodge.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/franklin-to-join-hawk-leaders-20120128-1qnbu.html

[Windigo]

He'll lead from the front.......I predict an unruly elbow in NAB...Out for 5 weeks.  :P

[Football Factory]

He'll lead from the front.......I predict an unruly elbow in NAB...Out for 5 weeks.  :P

Probably  :P

[Windigo]

His gotta show the new recruits how to get a holiday.  ::)

[elephants]

He'll lead from the front.......I predict an unruly elbow in NAB...Out for 5 weeks.  :P

At least he did it in the NAB so we have time to trade him out for free.

[picker_man]

i dont c the point in not starting him, ive tried to find ways to convince myself not to and all's i can think of is his first 2 games not a good enough reason compared to others like goodes and stevie j

[Football Factory]

i dont c the point in not starting him, ive tried to find ways to convince myself not to and all's i can think of is his first 2 games not a good enough reason compared to others like goodes and stevie j

What is your reason for not starting Stevie J ? Best forward in the comp unless you want to save yourself 30k. He played in the grand final injured and was one of the best players on the ground and still scored 94 points. Absolute superstar

[picker_man]

ive gone with the mid / fwd options this yr have 3 of them as there all about 90k cheaper then stevie j, dont get me wrong ive put in 2 big fwd targets for security buddy nd pav and just prefered to have stevie as an upgrade target as want to see how he preformes early with a shortened pre season due to last yrs injuries which  could b a worry as he mite have less time in the mids this yr as he's a vital player for the cats just to be on the field so they may protected him from the midfield more with him getting older and new young mid cats coming through. So yeah he will prolly b the highest scoring fwd again but a few lil concerns stopping me paying a premo price 4 him nd i'll pick him up when he's bit cheaper hopefully

[hardnut]

want to see how he preformes early with a shortened pre season due to last yrs injuries which  could b a worry as he mite have less time in the mids this yr as he's a vital player for the cats just to be on the field so they may protected him from the midfield more with him getting older and new young mid cats coming through. So yeah he will prolly b the highest scoring fwd again but a few lil concerns stopping me paying a premo price 4 him nd i'll pick him up when he's bit cheaper hopefully

I agree with this. Lock in Buddy as he'll just keep getting better but Stevie J and the Chapstick do present a degree of risk though I expect both to carve they will be susceptible to "rests" and I expect Geelong to give the kids a run in the middle. Of course when Buddy gives his first high bump of the year 5 mins into rnd 1 I may regret this choice.

[St.FatBoy]

For mine Buddy id a must have!  He is capable of the ripper scores and barring injury/suspension will always play and never be subbed.  The Hawks do look for him and his running burns off a tag so he still gets plenty.  His scores for the past few season speak for themselves.  If suspended during the NAB, at least R1-2 don't count for head to head this year.  He'd never be captain, but def a started IMO

[Artax]

Isn't it the bye rounds that don't count? Meaning head to head kicks off in round 1? Could be wrong..

[hardnut]

Isn't it the bye rounds that don't count? Meaning head to head kicks off in round 1? Could be wrong..

h2h kicks off in rnd 3, most definitely playing thru the bye rnds....