Team 1 v Team 2

[Maggie May]

Team 1:
Def: McVeigh, S. Mitchell, J. Grimes, D. Swallow, Suckling, L. McDonald (Clurey, Fuller)
Mid: Ablett, Pendlebury, Selwood, Murphy, D. Beams, J. Martin, Sheed, Dunstan (Honeychurch, O'Rourke)
Ruc: Grundy, Sandilands (Brown, Nankervis)
Fwd: Dangerfield, D. Martin, Dixon, Clark, Hogan, Fasolo (Taylor, Garlett)
Cash: $19,100

Team 2:
Def: McVeigh, S. Mitchell, H. Shaw, Suckling, Kolodjashnij, L. McDonald (Gardiner, Fuller)
Mid: Ablett, Pendlebury, Watson, Murphy, D. Beams, J. Martin, Sheed, Dunstan (Honeychurch, O'Rourke)
Ruc: Grundy, Sandilands (Currie, Nankervis)
Fwd: Dangerfield, D. Martin, Franklin, Gunstan, Hogan, Fasolo (Taylor, Garlett)
Cash: $4,500

Feedback greatly appreciated.

[shaker]

Team 1 just but with Selwood just having foot surgery probably evens it out , don't like rucks to big of risk I think cheers

[Keeper27]

DEF - Grimes/Swallow v Shaw/KK. Personally uncomfortable with playing 2 rookies in the Backline. Grimes should improve in an improving side. Whats Shaw's role gonna be?? Swallow to get more mid time, and to improve. Solid DEF line.

Winner - Grimes/Swallow

MID - Jelwood v Jobe. hmmm... i would've said Jelwood easily, but reports of surgery now makes it a coin toss. Strong MIDS.

RUC - Grundy/Sandi both should improve their scoring. slightly weak though.

FWD - Dixon/Clarke v Buddy/Gunston. not a fan of Dixon, and Clarke is risky but could go 80+ and be a HUGE bargain.
Buddy to improve without contract talks and Sydney's gun Mids feeding him, Gunston should improve with Roughie getting the #1 tag.
strong FWDS, Dusty going to play DEF this year.

winner - Buddy/Gunston.







check out & rate my team

[johnnytheboy1]

Would Go With Team 2 as it has a stronger Midfield and more depth up forward.
With The Def Team 1 seems to be the Clear winner as team 2 has 2 rookies
Mids: As there has been an injury scare to selwood and he is the only difference i would have to go with team 2 but only marginally
Rucks:  No Difference here but i can see improvement in Grundy
Fwds: I think Gunston will improve his scoring as he will be the No 2 forward behind Roughy this year.I think team 2 will make up for what they lose in defence here. I also have heard Dusty will playing a defencise role may improve his scores if he has a similar role to Mcveigh had last year.

I can't seperate these 2 as both have strong lines so i give them a 7.5/10

[Maggie May]

Would Go With Team 2 as it has a stronger Midfield and more depth up forward.
With The Def Team 1 seems to be the Clear winner as team 2 has 2 rookies
Mids: As there has been an injury scare to selwood and he is the only difference i would have to go with team 2 but only marginally
Rucks:  No Difference here but i can see improvement in Grundy
Fwds: I think Gunston will improve his scoring as he will be the No 2 forward behind Roughy this year.I think team 2 will make up for what they lose in defence here. I also have heard Dusty will playing a defencise role may improve his scores if he has a similar role to Mcveigh had last year.

I can't seperate these 2 as both have strong lines so i give them a 7.5/10

In some ways I think it is going to depend on whether both Kolodjashnij and McDonald can get a spot for their respective teams.  We know that they are thought of highly at their respective clubs.  If both play, then I think team 2 is a much stronger line up as there is more depth in the Forward line. 

The other thought I have been tossing up is maybe doing a bit of a combo.  Keep the defence of team 1, and change Selwood to Watson.  I could then either change Dixon to Franklin and leave enough for the option of upgrading Clarke to Tex Walker if he's fit to play, or I could change Dixon to Wingard/Roughhead for a POD and keep Clarke (or I could change to Franklin, keep Clarke and have about $50-$60k in the bank).  This combo still leaves my Forward line a little week, relying on 3 starting rookies or cheap players returning from injury, though how risky that is is hard to tell this early in the year.

[Master Q]

Both ruck and forward lines could use some improving.

[Maggie May]

Both ruck and forward lines could use some improving.

Yeah, it does seem to be this year with pricing, particularly with the rookie prices increasing, that you almost need to have a weaker line to fit into the cap.  Add to that the shortage of the defensive rookie/bargains, and it's making things difficult.

My instinct is to build my team around a strong forward and midfield line, as these are the positions that seem to be the ones that score more heavily.  That's why I'm leaning towards Team 2, as that structure of a defense of 3 $500k+, 1 Mid price & 2 rookies/bargains and a forward line of 2 premium, 2 cheap premium, 2 bargains/rookies to me looks stronger.  But I would be relying on 2-3 rookie defenders emerging that can consistently get games for that.  There seems to by more forwards who can do that job (Walker, Clarke, Higgins, Fasolo, Boyd, Hogan, Taylor, Garlett, Kersten etc), which is the strength of Team 1 and worthy of consideration.

The view on Rucks seems to come down to a personal preference.  I personally don't see much value in getting a $600k ruck as there hasn't been one (with the exception of Cox) that has been able to back up the following year once they get the premium price tag.  I know barring injury Grundy & Sandi will play and should at least score well enough to be cash cows that can turn into a premium later on, and hopefully at least one may turn into a keeper.