If you were able to tip eight winners this week, congratulations, you must have a knack for tipping. For the rest of us tipping was very challenging.
You could have gone either way with the game Friday night in which St Kilda pumped Port, Collingwood were favourites on ANZAC day, but yet again disappointed in the final minutes and on Saturday night Richmond and Fremantle managed their first wins of the season.
Injuries could come at a big cost with fantasy sides already feeling the punch from Raines, Anthony, Cousins and Ottens; the list goes on. This week there were some big names casualties; David Hille, Brent Harvey and Matthew Richardson. Hille is out for the season and Harvey will be sidelined for an extended period, while Richo could miss just the one week.
Fantasy favourite, in particular in Dream Team, Bradd Dalziell added to the injury woes up north, he is out for two-three months.
In some more bad news on the injury front, last years Rising Star winner, Rhys Palmer will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury on his right knee and Lachie Hansen will be out for at least a month with a troublesome hamstring.
Luckily there were no major reports to talk of, in what was an average week of Fantasy football. Â
I have not added the players scores next to their names this week as I presume you already know most of them. If you would like me to in the future, please comment.
Â
St Kilda 15.12.102 def Port Adelaide 5.6.36
Geelong beware. A St Kilda side, who notched their sixth comprehensive win against Port Adelaide, are rampaging and gathering momentum - fast. In the lead up to round 5 it was arguably match of the round; by half time it had become the farce of the round. Port had kicked just nine points to half time (including a dubious free kick which resulted in a goal) compared with St Kilda’s 65. Two sides coming off two big wins were put on the same park, in Aami Stadium and the
Saints excelled at every point.
The Saints backline, consisting of great users, Sam Gilbert, Farren Ray and Sam Fisher were too good for a Port Adelaide forward line who had kicked 39 goals in their past fortnight leading into the match. Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes played superbly and reached their breakevens. Leigh Montagna and Jason Gram both reached SC tons despite knocks.
Port Adelaide were beaten in every area, including the fantasy scores. Dominic Cassisi, Steven Salopek and Nathan Krakouer would have pleased their coaches and to a lesser extent Travis Boak and Chad Cornes.
Last year the most talked about lead up to a match was round 17 when the two heavy weights, Geelong and Hawthorn played off. Will round 14 this year be the same as 17 last year? They are already talking of a relocation to the MCG.
Star Man: Lenny Hayes. Leading disposal getter on the ground with 32, which included 12 contested, seven tackles and a goal.
Shocker: Danyle Pearce. Well held by Jones and only could manage 12 disposals.
One to watch: Hamish Hartlett. Second week in a row as the OTW but his price rises this week and with Mitch Robinson not finding a game will you trade for him?
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Essendon 13.15.93 def Collingwood 12.16.88
Most ANZAC day matches provide a great contest between the Pies and Bombers and this year was no exception. Like most games played on Saturday and Sunday in the south, the players had to contend with driving rain – nothing compared with what the game was honouring mind you. Only the ’95 contest could rival this ANZAC day clash. The Pies fans will always look for excuses, this time with injuries, but David Hille went down early leaving the Bombers one short for the whole match.
David Zaharakis, a name probably only known to fantasy coaches and Essendon supporters before 5.30pm Saturday afternoon, stole the show with a goal just seconds out from the siren to get the Bombers over the line. Joffa already had his gold jacket out with the Pies up by 14 points with less than five minutes left, before the Bombers kicked three unanswered goals to steal the win.
Patrick Ryder won the ANZAC Medal and deservedly so, he had to shoulder the ruck duties single-handedly after Hille was struck down in the second minute. Jobe Watson and Brent Stanton played well and Ricky Dyson kicked a beauty as part of the comeback, he was the late replacement for Mark McVeigh.
The usual high scoring pair of Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan combined for 67 touches, 37 of which belonged to Swan to be best for the Pies. Leon Davis had 32, seven tackles and two goals in a great display.
Star Man: Patrick Ryder. The Medal judges got this one right.
Shocker: Anthony Rocca. Kicked the first goal but didn’t do a thing afterwards.
One to watch:Â Jaxson Barham. Watch the amount of people who jump off him this week.
Â
Hawthorn 11.8.74 def West Coast 7.14.56
Hawthorn should never be challenged against West Coast at Aurora Stadium. The Hawks had an extra day’s break than the Eagles and had to fly three hours less. But that says a lot about Hawthorn’s title defence, wiry and shaky. Hawthorn were lucky their opponents didn’t kick straight, the Eagles had two more scoring shots.
Sam Mitchell continued his up and down season with a massive score and 40 possessions, Gary Moss‘ four goals were golden for the Hawks, he also had 24 touches and nine marks. Jordan Lewis had 34 disposals and Brad Sewell was again impressive with eight tackles.
Dean Cox confirmed his status as the games number one ruckman, he had 31 hit outs and a lazy 30 touches. Matt Priddis had 32 possessions and 10 tackles and Matt Rosa had 35.
Star Man: Sam Mitchell. Was everywhere, especially early, 40 disposals at an efficency of 85% was tremendous.
Shocker: Mark Williams. Just the three disposals, all at 100% efficiency though.
One to watch: Gary Moss. Has turned into a real find as a fantasy player. His price will never be as low this season as it is now.
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Richmond 13.16.94 def North Melbourne 7.16.58
It’s amazing what one win can do for a footy club. After Richmond’s wait for it, SPIRITED win Saturday night people seem to have forgotten they’re hungry for Terry Wallace’s head and turned to thinking of finals time. It is still a long long way off for the Tigers, but if they can continue to play the way they did against the Roos it may become a reality. Both clubs and many fantasy teams lost favourite sons in the early stages (Matthew Richardson and Brent Harvey), but it was the Tigers who looked more hungrier and ready to play.
Mark Coughlan is a cheap fantasy player and a former best & fairest winner at the Tigers, he finally made his return to the top level and looked injury free. He had 16 touches from 69% TOG as Richmond looked to ease him back into the big time. Joel Bowden and Jordan McMahon did what they do best and Robin Nahas would have pleased those who chose him as a replacement for Hayden Skipworth. Daniel Jackson didn’t have to tag anyone, he seemed better off, finishing with 33 posessions and 11 marks.
Andrew Swallow, Gavin Urquhart and Adam Simpson were the only Roos players to eclipse 20 touches, on a night where Richmond had 406-312 overall. Swallow kicked three to be the only multiple goal scorer and Hamish McIntosh got the better of the ruck duel.
Star Man: Joel Bowden. Played all 100% of the match, had 28 touches and kicked two goals.
Shocker: Richard Tambling. Didn’t want to give it to him but there was no one else. Earned a recall and didn’t show much to prove he wants to keep it.
One to watch:Â Levi Greenwood. Looked decent on debut and there is a shortage of good defensive rookies.
Â
Fremantle 18.13.121 def Sydney 16.4.100
15 goals were all that were needed by winning teams this weekend in seven of the eight games. The eighth game was this one, Sydney booted 16 goals and just four behinds – some tremendous accuracy. That would have meant nothing to Paul Roos, his Swans didn’t collect the four points. Fremantle kicked 18 sausages and proved they can beat more highly fancied opponents. The Dockers went into the game averaging less than 10 goals a game, they kicked 16 here, they will need to continue the trend of this game if they’re any chance at making the top eight this season.
David Mundy had only 20 possessions but returned the chocolates for his owners this week. Matthew Pavlich found some well needed form, he played large amounts of time in ball and kicked three. Aaron Sandilands was too good for Darren Jolly. The comps tallest player amassed 46 hit outs. Michael Johnson was also among the best for the Dockers.
Brett Kirk was awesome in his 200th, 27 disposals and 12 tackles. Jude Bolton had a game high 13 tackles to add to his 28 touches. Adam Goodes kicked three goals as well as 21 possessions and eight tackles, he may have playedwel enough to pick up a Brownlow vote, he always polls well.
Star Man: Matthew Pavlich. The critics were on his back all week, he did the best thing possible to get them off, perform! When he performs it looks as though his team mates follow as well.
Shocker: Chris Tarrant. The ex-pie played 95% TOG, yet only touches the ball five times.
One to watch:Â David Mundy. Not a highly-priced player played terrificly. The question is, will he be able to do it week in week out.
Â
Geelong 18.18.126 def Brisbane 5.3.33
Watching this match on T.V you wouldn’t have got the real picture, Geelong were awesome. The conditions didn’t warrant 18 goals from one side but as only Geelong would have been able to do, they conjured the 18 goals. It was freezing, cold and the worst part, windy. A 93-point win was satisfying for those that braved the conditions.
Cameron Mooney and Tom Hawkins would have been in my top five for best-on-grond performances. Two talls, a wet day, it seemed impossible. Yet together they were awesome, each should have finished with five goals but passed up opportuinties, in Mooney’s case to his team mates, for Hawkins to the Lions. If Gary Ablett doesn’t win the Brownlow the umpires have a severe problem. He had 42 touches and two goals, including a pearler in another magical performance that keeps him drawing closer and closer to his father. Jimmy Bartel, Darren Milburn, Joel Selwood and Corey Enright all had a lot of the footy.
The Lions could only manage one DT ton and zero in SC compared with Geelong’s seven and eleven, that probably summed up the match. Jared Brennan and Simon Black would have been among their best. Jonathan Brown kicked three of the Lions five goals.
Star Man: Gary Ablett. Can they build a league so he can go play on his own?Â
Shocker: Ashley McGrath. Just the eight touches.
One to watch:Â Brisbane. Most scores were low, so a good week to pick up some bargains.
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Carlton 21.7.133 def Western Bulldogs 13.12.90
The odds in the lead up to the match were even and rightly so, two of the most attacking clubs and aesthetically pleasing were matched-up together. The comfort of Etihad Stadium greeted them and conditions were perfect for the game. High tempo, quick and skilful were words you would use to describe the opening three quarters, before Carlton opened up a 27-point buffer at the last break and strolled home to take the four points. They booked themselves third spot on the ladder and the respect from the AFL community.
Their kicking the week before was shocking (9.13), but this week they had just 6 more scoring shots and were better off 66 points. Whatever Brett Ratten and his staff did this week will not be forgotten. As for the Dogs, they have looked out of sorts in the past fortnight and will need to sharpen up this week in the lead-up to their crunch game against the red-hot Saints who will be coming off the back of an extra two-day break, priceless in this day and age.
Kade Simpson continues to fly under the radar and had another 29 touches and two goals, Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs each had 25 disposals and one goal to be among the best for the Blues. Ryan Houlihan earnt back some respect lost from last week, 29 disposals and two goals. Heath Scotland returned well from an absence to have 26 disposals. The Bulldogs forward line is the shortest in the comp, which meant Bret Thornton had no real match-up and roamed free to have 27 touches at 96% efficiency.
To a greater degree than Simpson, Matthew Boyd has flown well under the radar this season. He amassed another ton in DT and SC with 26 disposals. He has scored a ton in both DT and SC in all but one game this season. Brad Johnson kicked four, but had no other genuine help up forward. Shaun Higgins continued his good form, while Daniel Cross had just four kicks among 21 possessions.
Star Man: Heath Scotland. Did well in just his second game this season. 26 disposals at 92% efficiency was a great effort.
Shocker: Nick Stevens. Only the 12 disposals and Eagleton had the better of him.
One to watch: Aaron Joseph. Mesmerising how he still manages a game, murdered by Higgins.
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Adelaide 7.9.51 def Melbourne 4.10.34
Just a total of eleven goals between the two sides pretty much sums up this game of football. Just 14,219 people attended this contest, a little over 10% of the whole MCG full. You would have been forgiven if you thought it was an Adelaide home game, they were louder than those from Melbourne, but it wasn’t as if the Demon fans had much to cheer about. Just one goal up until three-quarter-time, they managed three goals in the last quarter, but it was clear Adelaide had already started to think of next week, a derby against bitter rivals the Power.
Simon Goodwin was impressive as always across the half-back line and racked up 35 possessions. Scott Thompson was among the Crows best with 29 disposals and nine tackles, while Bernie Vince would have impressed his coaches. Ben Rutten and Nathan Bock ran off their opponents with ease, combining for 56 disposals. Jared Petrenko and Taylor Walker were in many starting 22’s they only had 50% TOG each. Kurt Tippett recorded his first two tons of the season with 19 disposals, 19Â hit outs and two goals.
Brock McLean and Brent Moloney each had 29 possessions and could hold their head high. Cameron Bruce had 26 touches and Aaron Davey was probably the best for the Demons with accurate disposal.
Star Man: Simon Goodwin. Game-high 35 touches, again proved his status among fantasy elite.
Shocker: Brad Miller. Amazing last week, just six disposals and 0.2 this week.
One to watch: Jack Grimes. Is he in line for a call-up after a solid display in the reserves?
Â
Were Richmond and Fremantle’s wins flukey?
Apart from Gary Ablett who else shined for you this week?
How were you affected by injury this week (Harvey, Hille, Richo, Dalziell, Hansen, Palmer)?
How many trades will you be using and how many do you have left?
Who is on your chopping block?
Welcome to a free-for-all in the comments below.
Charlie
April 29, 2009 at 3:33 pm
m0nty – please make registration compulsory for posting on your site.
Dicko
April 29, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Monty For god’s sake please ban this wanker!…. Or maybe you have I see he is now Haryscary instead of Hairyscary
SammyP
April 29, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I agree with Jimmy and hairy scary – its a disgrace.. I mean most people on this site have terrible teams.. but to those of us who actually have selected a competitive side it is important we have access to live stats. Simple as that.
Explain please monty as to whether this will improve or not
Pierce (Environment) Brosnan
April 29, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Gentlemen, all this energy and anger is wasted. Harness it and use it more productively.
Perhaps you could assist me in campaigning to protect the environment.
adamjones2
April 29, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Monty, is it possible to have the quarter by quarter SC scores up next to the dream team scores during the game or aren’t you allowed to show them until the very end? This would save us having to flick between different sites and stop the question “How do you know the SC scores” coming up a thousand times every single game!
Brad
April 29, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Chiudi quel cazzo di culo!!!
same as last week
April 29, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Just wondering Mr Scary, how is your team going?
Milly
April 29, 2009 at 4:15 pm
@SammyP
How is it important to have live stat’s just because you have a competitive team. Its not like you can change your side half way through a round. You will learn alot more about your players by watching the game it self than seeing some numbers tick over. The stats will still be the same after the game.
MrMagoo
April 29, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Palmer OUT – A.Selwood IN
Skipworth OUT – Moss IN
2 trades I’m happy with.
is Simmonds gonna be playing this week? or do I hope that Naitanui will be in this week.
Brad
April 29, 2009 at 4:23 pm
@ MrMagoo,
Natanui will not play this week.
Simmonds is doubtful.
Korza
April 29, 2009 at 4:34 pm
This site is manifested by parasites,no wonder it keeps crashing.
I agree with Hairyscary,however in defence of Monty,is Hairy asking the AFL for an explanation why thier site got the wobbles on the weekend.
Brady
April 29, 2009 at 4:57 pm
In SC, am looking to trade pertrenko out, does anyone know of a good replacement who should be a defanante regular in there side for the rest of the season?
thanks.
McHavok
April 29, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Brady, consider Hodge / Cornes / Enright / Bock / Houlihan / Bowden.
No need to thank me.
ash
April 29, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Love your work Pierce…yes but it is also important to find some time for yourself (which aparantly involves riding horses on the beach)……
Tuos
April 29, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Thinking of upgrading hasleby this can get anyone tossing up between bartel or Nicky Dal? thoughts appreciated thanks
Dicko
April 29, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Either. Bartel is more consistent but Dal Santo will give you the odd higher score.
noffle
April 29, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Hey Monty, can we get breakdowns of a player’s score at each ground?
AndyJ
April 29, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Alrighty, i too dislike the downtime associated with the live scoring over the last few weeks and would appreciate some kind of headsup as to where the situation stands atm.. But seriously, calling people cowards isnt gonna get anybody anywhere. Play nice or build your own god damn site and do it better.
*point Hairyscary*
Fishy
April 29, 2009 at 7:31 pm
McPhee or Thornton???
Snnn
April 29, 2009 at 8:13 pm
McPhee because he’s better overall
Fishy
April 29, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Okie dokie….thanks! =)
playEr
April 29, 2009 at 8:32 pm
@ Craig
Very sound crap advice!
diddley
April 29, 2009 at 10:14 pm
i think things around here are getting a little too heated up. anyone know a good joke. keep it clean…
then we can go on with talking about footy.
doing good there mitch and monty. keep it up.
craig
April 29, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Mhmmmm 😉 i know. I’m a DT legend. Once you see through the sarcasm and extract the real facts.
wal
April 29, 2009 at 10:19 pm
lol @ Pierce
he’s got so used to monty’s pro-hawthorn bias that he can’t read a blog written by an opposition supporter
lol @ hairy
hates the site, ignores the advice, but he’s such a rampant masochist he just keeps coming back for more
try injecting some creativity or humour into your trolling lads – there’s enough random abuse online as it is
keep up the good work mitch & keep up the good site monty
Jdog
April 29, 2009 at 11:13 pm
natanui probably wont play this week. he will play for swans in the WAFL.
for those who havent seen him play before i would strongly suggest aginst buying him. here are a few reasons why.
1. he is coming off an injury and might take a while to get back into it. if he has a shocker in his first game, might get dropped.
2. his price is a bit high at around 150k, if he was under 100k then maybe.
3. he simple isnt that good yet. yes he is a freak athlete, but does not have a football brain. watching him the WAFL, he is constantly giving away free kicks and doesnt read the play very well.
he will be a very good player one day, but we will be waiting a while.
Brad
April 29, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Need some advice chaps. I have
Backs (need 2 to play) – Hill, Cheney, Petrenko, Broughton
Mids (Need 1) – Beams, Rich, Robinson
Fwds (Need 3) – Ziebell, Harvey, M. Brown, Skipworth, Garlett.
Am thinking two trades, Robinson for Barham as 1. Was thinking Skipworth for someone and holding on Harvey to see what happens with the price of some premuims, Franklin etc.
Thoughts on this. Who is a good choice for skippy that would make me some money??
Cheers
Gutrunner
April 29, 2009 at 11:37 pm
does anyone else think it’s weird to criticise an article written on a fantasy football website for being concerned with fantasy football performances rather than football performances????
Jdog
April 30, 2009 at 12:03 am
@ brad
are teams sound very similar.
im probs gonna do the same thing with harvey. there are a lot of good forwards with relativly high BE’s this week. buddy, stevie J, richo.
i have hille though, so i will trade him out for kruzer and get some extra cash. if these forwards get their BE’s and go up in value i will still be able to afford them.
would go with hill (seems to be hitting some form). steer clear of peterenko though, has struggled the last 2 weeks.
rich is solid, he was down on his average this week, but he played geelong.
who sould i trade skipworth for? thinking a downgrade.
Seafood Taco
April 30, 2009 at 12:24 am
A little boy from Melbourne had gone to Rome on holiday with his family hoping to see the Pope. Anyway, a couple of days after they’d arrived, the Pope was doing a tour of the city in his Popemobile. The little lad was a bit worried that the Pope wouldn’t be able to pick him out in the crowd, so his Mum said “Don’t worry, the Pope is a footy dan, so wear your Carlton jumper and he’s bound to pick you out and talk to you.”
So, they’re in the crowd, but the Pope-mobile drives past them, and stops a bit further down the street where John Paul gets out and speaks to a little boy in a Collingwood jumper. The lad is distraught and starts crying. His Mum says “Don’t worry, the Pope’s driving around tomorrow as well, so we’ll get you a Collingwood jumper and then he’s bound to see you.”
The next day arrives, and the boy’s got on his new Collingwood jumper. The Popemobile stops right by him, John Paul gets out, bends down and says to the lad “I thought I told you to f*** off yesterday!”
Seafood Taco
April 30, 2009 at 12:31 am
Did you know that the toothbrush was invented in Collingwood.
If it had have been invented anywhere else, it would have been called a teethbrush.
office spac
April 30, 2009 at 1:14 am
Get a life – you dont need live scores. Go to the pub and enjoy footy for what it is – you are a bunch of whinging flowerheads.
Hairyscary – go F yourself…hahahaha
wal
April 30, 2009 at 3:15 am
@brad
robinson to barham is a bad trade, especially considering the strength of your midfield rookies. barham had 7 clangers from 14 possies last week and will be lucky to get more games. robinson had 30 possies in the vfl and will get more games very soon, maybe this week. hang on to robbo, he’s still got good growth potential.
Roy
April 30, 2009 at 9:59 am
yarran will come in before robbo, hes in ripper form 9 goals the past 2 weeks in the VFL!
Michael
April 30, 2009 at 10:51 am
@ Hairy not so scary
You must lead a really interesting life logging on to a website you dislike and having a crack at the people that run it. I bet if fanfooty was to stop operating you would be the first one running to your mummy for a cry!
Top class knob jockey!
Jake
April 30, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I’m holding onto Robinson.
He’s a proven high DT scorer at underage, and just because he had one or two bad scores and gets dropped doesn’t mean ill drop him, he will come back, one or two injuries and he will be back in.
Roy
April 30, 2009 at 1:38 pm
how on earth is steele sidebottom not getting a game can somebody please tell me? his VFL form has been amazing
Brad
April 30, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Ok thinking 1 trade. Skipworth out for someone. Got 130k as well. Should i go a premium such as buddy or someone likely to make me money. If so who. Cheers lads.
chris
April 30, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Gonna let Skippy sit on the bench for now with M.Brown/Taylor starting, he’s listed as 2-3 weeks off returning and his average is still a fair bit ahead of his BE so can still get a bit more $$. SC(avg/BE) 86/44.64, DT(avg/BE) 82/65.1
Ben
April 30, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Brad – if you can get a premium player, you get them, don’t fuck around.
Riewoldt if you can afford him, then Pavlich, then Buddy.
Brad
April 30, 2009 at 5:05 pm
No Sidebottom again!!
Raines and Kosi back.
James
April 30, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Have Whitecross, Haseleby and Rich as well as Liam Anthony in midfield.
Who do i swap for Hartlett?