THE FLOATING DONUT

[Jroo]

A floating donut is used to utilise the captain loophole. It's a non-scoring player (a player who is not playing) who is put onto your field and made captain if you are happy with your vice captain's score, meaning you'll get your vice captain's score as captain. Ultimately, you can get two bites of the cherry each round when selecting your captain, which is vital if you want SuperCoach success.

Due to the rolling lockout, a floating donut is now important. When selecting a floating donut you should pick them in the position you need least, which is your fourth ruckman. Because you only need two ruckman on your field, it's not vital to have a strong bench there. I would only look to pick one bench ruckman who is likely to play games, so you can use him as an emergency and cash cow, but your other bench ruckman should be as cheap as possible. This guy will be your floating donut.

The position left blank is your fourth ruckman. He can be used as the floating donut. I'll give you the best options to fill this position.

Usually when selecting your fourth ruckman, you wouldn't put much time into it. But now your fourth is now an important part of your SuperCoach side, as selecting the right one can be the difference between a win and a loss in a league game or even $50k.

When looking for a floating donut, there are four possible options this year, who are all priced at the minimum price of  $102,400. They are Jason Holmes (St.Kilda), Max King (Melbourne), Patrick Mitchell (Sydney) and Archie Smith (Brisbane). Now I'll help you pick the best option.

To fully utilise the captain loophole, we'll be looking for players whose team plays as late as possible in the round, meaning we get more options when using the captain loophole. So I've gone through the fixtures of each of these four player's teams, to see who is the best player to select to as our floating donut.

Sydney and Brisbane each play only four Sunday games this year, so straightaway they're crossed off the list. So it's down to Max King (Melbourne) vs. Jason Holmes (St.Kilda).

St.Kilda play eight games on Sunday/Monday, while Melbourne play 10 games on Sunday/Monday, from a possible 21 (please note the fixture is only available for 21 games, as the round 23 fixture is yet to be announced).

Max King is the guy you should lock in as your fourth ruckman, as his side Melbourne regularly plays late in the round, meaning you have more choices to pick from, when using the captain loophole. It's unlikely that he'll get any game time this year, but he'll still make a valuable contribution to your SuperCoach side.

However, there are some people who oppose the floating donut, as it can be considered risky. Some people like to start the year with a SuperCoach team full of players who are playing in round one. If you're fourth ruckman is getting games he can't be used for the captain loophole, but he'll be making money, which is equally important. If he's playing you can also use him as an emergency, just in case one of your ruckman is injured, suspended or rested throughout the year and he could save you a donut. Also, selecting your vice captain's score over your captain's score may not always be beneficial, as this is a game of skill as well as luck, so you wontt always pick the right option.

If you're not looking at selecting a floating donut as your fourth ruckman, then you should look at selecting one of Sam Michael, Craig Moller, Michael Apeness, Dan Currie, Tom Derickx, Fraser Thurlow, Ben Brown, Toby Nankervis or Rory Lobb, as the guys are much more likely to get games than the others, but they'llll cost you a bit more than your floating donut options.

In my opinion, I'd look to save the cash and go for a floating donut, in Max King. I think it will be more beneficial to your side and it's rare that you actually need to use your fourth ruckman on-field and you will be left behind if you don't use the captain loophole, as most other teams are getting two chances to pick their captain, while you'll only get one, unless you have another player who isn't playing.

What do you think? Will you go for a floating donut in Max King or Jason Holmes, or will you pick a ruckman who's likely to get games this season such as Dan Currie or Toby Nankervis?

http://www.supercoachhq.com/16/post/2014/02/1.html

Thanks for reading  :)

[shorty3264]

Totally agree mate, did it last year and will do it again. Often lucky to anything more than cover out of our R3, so the fourth one is certainly best utilized for that purpose. Nice article!

[Bully]

Ben Brown for me, North have a ton of Sunday games early in the year, which is the time when a floating donut is most critical. Anything after say round 6 or 7, and injuries will take their toll. He's also likely to see some game time as the season progresses, perhaps as insurance for a raw Majak Daw. The other selling point is his DPP status.

North Sunday games -

Round 2,3,4 & 7 (note Friday round 1 is a split round with only 3 games to follow, Collingwood & GC play early)   

[shaker]

Gotta have one to use the loophole or rely on players that are omitted and they need to have a lot of saturday night and sunday games and yes the ruck seems to be the place this year also last year for me and good work JR

[Speculator]

I'll probably use Ben brown as I like having ruck cover in my fwd line which I can dpp into my rucks because the ruck rookies are useless.

[Jackross10]

Great article JRoo. I wasn't going to but this I think may change my mind. Max King looks the best option!

[elephants]

Great article.

Brown or King look like good options unless a couple of rookie priced rucks come in an tear apart the NAB!

[Jroo]

Cheers guys, I have Max King in but Ben Brown is a Nother good option if you've got left over $$$.

[timtim]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but is anyone considering this in 2014?

I wasn't at first, but just had a quick look and if you're fielding both Gaz and Pendles, Max King would allow you to loophole these two most weeks including every week from 1-7 up until the Round 8 bye.

With Nankervis no guarantee to play, and the lack of quality rookie rucks could your R4 be put to better use until a decent rookie option makes itself known? (i.e. offset the extra $$ of starting Gaz/Pendles and maximise overall team points)

[Hippo]

I love a rolling donut!

For me this is a must loophole to take advantage of when going for overall

[ben_020285]

The floating donut and building a team to suit the byes are the main reasons why I had a high ranking last year.

I will be using the floating donut again.

Also, the 'floating' part refers to a non-scoring player who has dpp. A non-scoring player who can only play in one position is simply a donut. Max King for example is not a floating donut.

[BigBob]

Onya JROO8, great article!!! Thanks so much for the research. My problem late last year was that too many of my bench was playing! :o The rookies were getting crappy scores, so no use on the field, but twas hard to find a donut for the loophole. In in!!! :P

[Football Factory]