WXV: Moscow Spetsnaz

[Jukes]

1st: Ryan Griffen
18 games, 119.2 average, 52 votes
Was there any doubt over who would take home the best and fairest? To put it simply, Griff was best on ground for the Spetsnaz 5 times, was the best Spetsnaz player in the representative round (32 votes in those 6 rounds), improved his average by 14 points (almost 14%), and averaged the 3rd most of any player despite being injured in one game (without that game, his average was 123). Griff was captain of the team of the week once, vice-captain once, and a midfielder in another. Since his injury, he had 12 100+ scores in 14 games, including 7 scores of 135+; and he still has a game against Melbourne to come. Griff has averaged 30 possessions (3rd), 3.4 marks, 5.1 tackles (31st), 6.2 clearances (5th), 2.9 centre clearances (4th), and 6.1 inside-50s (1st); elite. Ryan completely deserves this accolade, for the magnificent season he has had.

[Jukes]

inb4 Tambling wins.

I had Brad Dick pencilled in until I counted it up

[Jukes]

Preliminary and Grand Final Exhibition Scores

Preliminary Final Week
Moscow Spetsnaz vs Scandinavian XV, Friends Arena (Sweden)
Moscow 25.9.159 def. Scandinavian XV 17.15.117
Total Score: 1590
D: H. Shaw 122, R. Murphy 81, C. Dixon 89, K. Hardingham 67
M: R. Griffen 114, N. Fyfe (c) 122x2, C. Ward 88, A. Treloar 77
R: J. Darling (OOP) 32
F: D. Martin 137, A. Monfries 58, M. Walters 109, T. Vickery 117
U: P. Seedsman 126, J. Thomas 129
Emg: S. Colquhoun 93, S. May 77, D. Tyson 17


Grand Final Week
Moscow Spetsnaz vs Italy, San Siro
Moscow 18.13.121 lost to Italy 19.10.124
Total: 1209*
D: H. Shaw 92, R. Murphy 122, C. Dixon 51, J. Frawley 59
M: R. Griffen (c) 76x2, P. Seedsman 85, J. Thomas 90, D. Tyson 65
R: S. Colquhoun (OOP) 28
F: D. Martin 89, A. Monfries 71, J. Mellington 58, T. Vickery 83
U: R. Tambling 67, J. Blake 97

*Players unavailable include Fyfe, Treloar, Ward, Darling, Naitanui, Adams, Walters and May; 7 of the best 15, and a fringe DPP player.

[Jukes]

Trade News

With the trade window having just opened, the Spetsnaz have already arranged and applied for two trades, to be processed in a week's time.

TRADE 1
Moscow gives Shaun Higgins and Pick 53 to Mexico City for Daniel Currie and Pick 38

Shaun has recognisable talent, but his constant injuries and likely inability to be in our best four forwards have forced us to trade him for a player who fills in our secondary ruck role. Currie is yet to play an AFL game at 24, after spending 5 years on Sydney's list, winning the NEAFL best and fairest in 2011, but his 2013 was disrupted by injury and consequently is yet to play a game. Dan has good talent and with a good pre-season should get a fair amount of games, filling in for Goldstein for North and NicNat for Moscow. The pick upgrade adds incentive.

TRADE 2
Moscow gives Michael Walters and Jack Darling to Dublin for Jesse Hogan and Sam Docherty
Michael and Jack are very promising young players, but we feel that they may have reached near the end of their developments, meaning we should capitalise. Jesse is an elite young man who should be one of the best forwards in the competition within a few seasons, and we are extremely fortunate to have lured him here. Sam is entering his third year in the AFL and should break-out to be part of the player he promises to be.

[CrowsFan]

Michael and Jack are very promising young players, but we feel that they may have reached near the end of their developments, meaning we should capitalise.

Walters is 22 and Darling 21, as if they are anywhere near the end of their development!

[Jukes]

With their style's and current teammates, can't really see them climbing too much more.

[Jukes]

Trade News

TRADE 3
Moscow gives Nat Fyfe to Dublin for Jaeger O'Meara and Pick 31

Nat is a super player, as shown by his top 3 Best and Fairest Finish and Assistant Coaches Award. However, we see him as a reasonable price to pay to receive a future champion of the game in Jaeger, and a good draft pick on the side which may assist us in future trades.


In addition, Shane Tuck, Brad Dick and Jason Blake will not take their places on the Spetsnaz roster for 2014 following their retirements.

[Jukes]

Trade News

TRADE 4
Moscow give: Adam Treloar, Will Hoskin-Elliot, and Picks 36 and 71
New York give: Dyson Heppell and pick 10

Adam is a good player, as shown by his Young Player of the Year award for 2013, but we feel he is a necessary pawn to get Heppell, a gun youngster, and pick 10. Treloar and WHE could suffer from the midfield and half-forward depth of GWS in the future, which is why I'd be worried about all GWS players aside from their superstars such as Ward and Coniglio. Heppell most likely will not have defender eligibility in 2014, but we feel that he can become a superstar, and pick 10 can be used as either super trade bait or to draft a super young player.

[Jukes]

Trading Week-One Wrap

Players coming in:
Dyson Heppell
Picks 10 and 31
Jaeger O'Meara
Jesse Hogan
Sam Docherty

Players going out (trades):
17. Adam Treloar
11. Will Hoskin-Elliot
Picks 36 and 71
7. Nat Fyfe
10. Michael Walters
18. Jack Darling

Players going out (retirement)
25. Jason Blake
21. Shane Tuck
38. Brad Dick

Current Squad Number Vacancies (to 40)
7, 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 25, 33, 36, 38, 40

Squad Number Allocations
Dyson Heppell: 17
Jaeger O'Meara: 11
Jesse Hogan: 18
Sam Docherty: 7

[Jukes]

Trade News

Moscow give: Dom Tyson
Cape Town give: Blayne Wilson + Pick 37

Dom is a promising young man, but we feel he may become a victim of the aforementioned GWS curse, where their midfield talent will undermine each individual's talent. Blayne has had a decent first season and we feel he has a bright future. Blayne is also a very unique and neat name, and we feel he can definitely build on his 66 average in his first season, in addition to providing good back cover in the short term. Pick 37 also can pick us up a quality draftee.

[Jukes]

TRADE NEWS

Moscow give: Robert Murphy and Charlie Dixon
Dublin give: Zachary Clarke, Tom Lee and Pick 67

Bob and Charlie were both top 10 best and fairest finishers for 2013, and Bob won the coaches award, but we feel this was a necessary opportunity to take. Zac is a young star ruckman- 96 average in 2013, and will only get better, while Tom is a good Claremont boy who should provide good cover short term and challenge for a best XV position in the near future. Bob is aging a bit, while Charlie's ankle's are a problem, which makes this a suitable trade to make. Pick 67 could be handy, too.

[Jukes]

Trading Week Two Wrap

Players coming in:
Blayne Wilson
Picks 37 and 67
Zachary Clarke
Tom Lee

Players going out:
14. Dom Tyson
2. Robert Murphy
23. Charlie Dixon

Current Squad Number Vacancies: 2, 7, 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 23, 25, 33, 36, 38, 40

Squad Number Allocations
Blayne Wilson: 25
Zachary Clarke: 7
Tom Lee: 21

Updated Squad Number Vacancies: 2, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 33, 36, 38, 40

[Jukes]

Trade News

Moscow give: Shaun Higgins and Alex Sexton
Cape Town give: Lynden Dunn and Pick 33

Higgins has talent, but is injury prone and was a valuable bargaining chip in acquiring Dunn, who adds substance to our lacking backline, in addition to having forward eligibility too. Dunn's career hasn't started off that brightly, we hope that, at 26 coming off an 82.3 average, his scoring ability has taken a turn for the better. As Melbourne improve, Dunn should be able to better his consistency and hopefully steer himself towards a 90 average. Pick 33, our third second round selection, should allow us to either pick up a talented young player, or be offered as a solid trade bolsterer.

Higgins and Sexton leave squad numbers 19 and 37 vacant.
Dunn will be allocated number 11.
Updated Squad Number Vacancies: 2, 10, 17, 19, 18, 23, 33, 36, 37, 38, 40

[Purple 77]

Dunn was.... very sadly.... Melbourne's third highest averaging player this year  :-[

[Jukes]

Projected 2014 Line-Up (will be updated)
D: H. Shaw, D. Heppell, P. Seedsman, L. Dunn
M: R. Griffen (c), J. O'Meara, C. Ward (vc), J. Thomas
R: Z. Clarke
F: N. Naitanui, D. Martin, A. Monfries, J. Hogan
U: N. Vlastuin, S. Docherty

Emg: T. Vickery, J. Simpkin, J. Frawley, J. Jenkins, J. Hombsch

*Using player positions assigned in the fanplanner. We acknowledge that Martin, Heppell and Seedsman may be midfielders only and not have forward/defender eligibility, but we have chosen to use the resources available.