To start with Buddy Franklin or not?

[Colliwobblers]

yeah not for me too expensive and not sure he will give us a huge score every round for the first few rounds...

Lots going on in the Hawks FWD line with Roughead, Hale, Bruest, Gunston all stepping it up last season...

don't get me wrong buddy is a superstar.. but no not for me (from the start that is )

[tor01doc]

I think it depends on whether your aim is overall or league.

If you miss his early massive scores you'll be behind from the outset. Even before his price rise (ie on the bubble) your going to need at least one, if not 2 trades, to grab him. This leaves you lacking in trades to jump on / off the rookies that you've misjudged.

Of course he's inconsistent, but who can predict when he'll go bang and when he'll flop?

Rounds coming up in 2013 with teams and his last 3 year average against them -

Gee 93 (but no Scarlett now) WCE 109 Coll 100 Fre 97 NM 148 Ade 100 Syd 90 GWS 109 for an average of 109.

This means he'll drop $40000 or so. Not much of a saving given his upside. Contract schmontract too!

He is the most dominant in his position after Ablett in the mids.

If you are aiming for league, then you could save by getting later but same can be said of Ablett, Swan and the one NOBODY has mentioned yet...Goddard. Why is he in so many teams when we don't know his role yet.

I'll take Buddy and Atley / Yarran (for instance) over Goddard and Breust / Watts anyday.

Phew. Sorry about that. Got on a roll.

So grab Buddy and Ablett and wait for Goddard if saving a lousy $40000 is all you'll get.

[tbagrocks]

Yeah Buddy this Buddy that, probably all warranted but, look at who were the best scorers last year all 22 year olds :o

Sidemum, Dangerman, Beams and could could put in Naitanui as he is forward this year

Why pay huge premiums when young players will breakout?

[tor01doc]

I need to pay out before the season on tried and tested players like Ablett and Buddy because my retrospectoscope is broken.

Now, tbag, give me 2 things.

1 - the list of this year's breakouts
2 - the list of last year's NON breakouts.

Just saying.  ;)

[tbagrocks]

Yeah good call Doc, didn't take a genius to see Sidemule and Dangerpants would go over 100 though, and yeah many were burnt by Martin

All i'm trying to say is I know of a twenty two year old that can easily our score Buddy ;) but who could that be :o  :-X

Could take a risk on guys that should improve, De Boar, Wright, Martin, Christensen, Higgins and at least with 30 trades swap one that doen't really fire after they do rise a little to a Buddy that drops and this is a likely scenario

[EL TIGER]

With the lack of rookie talent in the FWDs this year, save yourelf trade headaches later and get him in from the start...

[PICCOLLO]

Its certainly a question of what you can get INSTEAD of Buddy.  He will come down and hes likely to miss games but when is the big question and at what cost? Without him i can get a 4 super premium midfield plus a midpricer, with him im looking for a bargain like Fyfe, who is also a risk.  This year is the year to skip him to begin with, as good as any. Contract talk, avg preseason, hard start; it all boils down to an avg start.  Buddy is Buddy though, nothing can really stop him when he's going.

[My Chumps]

• Tough draw - The Hawks have an incredibly hard start to the year, playing every one of last year's finalists before round 8. They play Geelong, West Coast, Collingwood, Fremantle, North Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney all in a row. Buddy is destined to have a bad game or two against these quality opponents and you could consider trading him in at round 8 after playing the hardest teams. If he goes down in price, his next three matches are; GWS, Gold Coast and Melbourne, and he'll definitely score well.

This is the main factor in my decision.

I'll take Cox instead of Buddy to start off.

[Jroo]

• Tough draw - The Hawks have an incredibly hard start to the year, playing every one of last year's finalists before round 8. They play Geelong, West Coast, Collingwood, Fremantle, North Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney all in a row. Buddy is destined to have a bad game or two against these quality opponents and you could consider trading him in at round 8 after playing the hardest teams. If he goes down in price, his next three matches are; GWS, Gold Coast and Melbourne, and he'll definitely score well.

This is the main factor in my decision.

I'll take Cox instead of Buddy to start off.

Yeah Chumps, I'm starting Cox over him and getting Buddy at round 8

[Hawka]

I wanna start Bud so bad and i think i will in the end, i struggled to find forward premiums who really stood out above the rest, and no one can deny the scoring power he brings!
Though saying that there is some tasty options from the hawks in the forward line

[My Chumps]

• Tough draw - The Hawks have an incredibly hard start to the year, playing every one of last year's finalists before round 8. They play Geelong, West Coast, Collingwood, Fremantle, North Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney all in a row. Buddy is destined to have a bad game or two against these quality opponents and you could consider trading him in at round 8 after playing the hardest teams. If he goes down in price, his next three matches are; GWS, Gold Coast and Melbourne, and he'll definitely score well.

This is the main factor in my decision.

I'll take Cox instead of Buddy to start off.

Yeah Chumps, I'm starting Cox over him and getting Buddy at round 8

Exactly my thinking. And excellent write up by the way JRoo :)

[Jroo]

• Tough draw - The Hawks have an incredibly hard start to the year, playing every one of last year's finalists before round 8. They play Geelong, West Coast, Collingwood, Fremantle, North Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney all in a row. Buddy is destined to have a bad game or two against these quality opponents and you could consider trading him in at round 8 after playing the hardest teams. If he goes down in price, his next three matches are; GWS, Gold Coast and Melbourne, and he'll definitely score well.

This is the main factor in my decision.

I'll take Cox instead of Buddy to start off.

Yeah Chumps, I'm starting Cox over him and getting Buddy at round 8

Exactly my thinking. And excellent write up by the way JRoo :)

Cheers Chumps  :)

[SydneyRox]

• Tough draw - The Hawks have an incredibly hard start to the year, playing every one of last year's finalists before round 8. They play Geelong, West Coast, Collingwood, Fremantle, North Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney all in a row. Buddy is destined to have a bad game or two against these quality opponents and you could consider trading him in at round 8 after playing the hardest teams. If he goes down in price, his next three matches are; GWS, Gold Coast and Melbourne, and he'll definitely score well.

This is the main factor in my decision.

I'll take Cox instead of Buddy to start off.

logical, concise, wow what are you doing on FF?

[tor01doc]

Delve deeper.

He scores well against everyone bar Geelong (now Scarlettless) and Sydney.

Round 5 anyone?  ;D

[SydneyRox]

he doesnt always score poorly againsy the swans. two sub 80 games and a 128 last year, but reckon his avg vs the swans would be 100+