Long time provider of opinions. First time asking for one.

[Dime]

Hey guys.
I've got a huge game this week against one of my best mates who's team has been absolutely on fire lately. I really want to win. Whilst overall ranking is very important to me too, this is a grudge match of the highest order.
Basically our teams are quite similar, the only difference being 8 players.

I have:
Lockyer
Kane Cornes
Swan
Goodwin
Lade
Hudson
ROK
Corey Jones

He has:
Birchall
Hodge
Giansiracusa
Kerr
White
Cox
Ablett Jr.
Lucas

Obviously he absolutely mauls me in rucks and wins in the 2 forwards; but I have the edge in the 1 back and I feel the centres aswell.

1) My first option is to back my team in against his. I know for a fact that his captain is Bartel so I could just make Jimmy my captain too and put the faith in my 8 guys beating his 8. However I'm not supremely confident as it could go either way, which side do you think has the edge?

If I decide that I want to switch it up and bite the bullet I've pinpointed two main things I can do.

1) Put the captaincy in Kane Cornes hands as he averages something like 114 against my Hawks in his last 5 or so games.

2) (This was a suggestion from another mate who wants to see my opponent and his new-found cockiness go down). Trade Corey Jones (playing Geelong) for Brendan Fevola (playing Essendon). I know this move is incredibly risky but the Fev has kicked something like 20 goals in his last 3 games against the Dons and seems to be hitting his straps late. CoJo doesn't really have a great propensity for massive scores and against the Cats may not see much of it.

So what would you do? Play it safe and have confidence in your team or go all out with the risks?
I'd really appreciate some opinions on this.
Cheers.

 

[wizardcupfinalblues]

The trade seems like a good option. How much cash? WHo are your other Forwards?

 

[Dime]

I only have 7k but enough to trade Jones to Fev.
Other forwards are Pav, BJ, Hall, ROK and both Browns.

 

[jmeery]

You would have to be insane to put anyone but Jimmy Bartel captain.

You go anyone else, and you are giving away the high ground.

 

[Fatboooy]

Dont go with Kane Cornes as captain IMO. You never know whats gonna happen in Tassie. And he will probs get the job on mitchell/hodge/crawf and mite not be as effective. Go Bartel and back yaself in.

 

[Dime]

Cheers boys. I guess I'm just asking for opinions on whether or not people think my 8 players can beat my friends 8.
At the moment I'm leaning towards leaving Bartel captain; but also doing the trade for Fevola.
Carlton's last 3 games are against Essendon, North Melbourne & Melbourne so it shouldn't really hurt my overall score either.

Keep the opinions coming!

BTW, Nice thinking outside the square in terms of the game being in Tassie Fatbooy. Who knows how the different ground could affect Kane's cheap possession game style.

 

[Beau_Waters for PM]

Sounds like a plan Silencer.
I'd either keep Bartel captain or go with Goodwin. Playing the Dogs he may pull a big one this weekend.
Trading in Fev is a big risk, but you're right about Cojo - you did well to keep him this long anyway, and are now rewarded with his high price.
Go with your gut.

 

[Dime]

Cheers mate. Yeh I think I gotta play it safe in terms of captain choice, so Jimmy is the man it seems. Goodwin could have a blinder too - it's very tempting. And he's a safer option than Kane in terms of knowing what role he'll play. Hmmmmm.

I think I'll pull the trigger on Fev. The risk of him scoring a 50 is the same as it is for CoJo; but the possible rewards for Fev are much greater. Of course I'll end up mulling over it until 10 minutes before lockout anyway

 

[Mulletman]

Agree on the Bartel advice, but you have another choice.

Dump the frustratingly inconsistent Hall. If your opponent has him, he gets stuck with Big Very Bad Barry's score and you don't.

From what you said, you would have about $255K.

Bock is $255.8. Affordable?
Waite is $243. At least he's fit and Ratten has loosened him up a bit up back.
Aaron Davey is $250. Inconsistent but the dees have a fair run home.
A bigger risk? Farmer at $254K. (104 and 102 last fortnight )

You could also look at trading N.Brown. There are some good forwards b/w $260-290 including Q.Lynch, Mooney, Petiffer or Hansen (averaging 90 in the last month). Little Nathan is looking pretty tired in recent weeks, which an interrupted pre-season will do. I'm stuck with him (no trades) but ain't confident he's going to more than 70's in the run home.

Good luck.
Cheers,

 

[Clanger]

I think you'd have a fair chance but keep Bartel captain perhaps look at Barry Hall especially if you both have him.

 

[Dime]

Agree on the Bartel advice, but you have another choice.

Dump the frustratingly inconsistent Hall. If your opponent has him, he gets stuck with Big Very Bad Barry's score and you don't.

From what you said, you would have about $255K.

Bock is $255.8. Affordable?
Waite is $243. At least he's fit and Ratten has loosened him up a bit up back.
Aaron Davey is $250. Inconsistent but the dees have a fair run home.
A bigger risk? Farmer at $254K. (104 and 102 last fortnight )

You could also look at trading N.Brown. There are some good forwards b/w $260-290 including Q.Lynch, Mooney, Petiffer or Hansen (averaging 90 in the last month). Little Nathan is looking pretty tired in recent weeks, which an interrupted pre-season will do. I'm stuck with him (no trades) but ain't confident he's going to more than 70's in the run home.

Good luck.
Cheers,

Hmmmm.
Thanks for giving me some more options
I guess the only thing that scares me about Hall is that he has the ability to just go off for 100 any week, even in the state he's in. It was only 3 weeks ago that he scored 111 out of the blue.
The guys you mentioned are definately options but I just worry about the weeks to come aswell. I definately don't have the balls to touch Farmer or Waite, and I had Bock at the beginning of the year but dropped him.
Aaron Davey is definately an option.
In terms of NG. Brown I think I'd rather take him over the 4 you mentioned, as they are all so close in potential at the moment that I'm not sure it'd be worth the trade.

Hmmmm. Davey though. He did explode at one stage this year for a patch of 3 100's and 3 90's in 7 games.
Thanks mate.

Lol. I've got some pondering to do.

 

[Dime]

Just realised I could afford Lucas aswell.
Hmmm. He seems just as much of a chance as Fev to go off with a massive score. Carlton's backline are shocking.
However all this would do would cancel him out seeing as my opponent has him. Why oh why did I not investigate this further until now?

 

[Nebula1971]

Just realised I could afford Lucas aswell.
Hmmm. He seems just as much of a chance as Fev to go off with a massive score. Carlton's backline are shocking.
However all this would do would cancel him out seeing as my opponent has him. Why oh why did I not investigate this further until now?

This will be a little late as I only just read your post, but here it goes anyway.

Bartel must be your captain... I played Swan last week, when I had Pavlich as captain up until Friday, to try and make ground on some of the leaders. I ended up losing 106 points...

I like the Fev idea, contrary to what most would say. Although I doubt Fev is going anywhere, he loves Rats & will play his heart out for him over the next 3 weeks.

What did you end up doing?

 

[Dime]

This will be a little late as I only just read your post, but here it goes anyway.

Bartel must be your captain... I played Swan last week, when I had Pavlich as captain up until Friday, to try and make ground on some of the leaders. I ended up losing 106 points...

I like the Fev idea, contrary to what most would say. Although I doubt Fev is going anywhere, he loves Rats & will play his heart out for him over the next 3 weeks.

What did you end up doing?

I know what you mean with the captain choice. I had Bartel last week up until Thursday until I changed it to Swan. I would have won my league match if I hadn't. So this week Jimmy gets the gig.

Well after sitting here biting my nails and watching the clock countdown I eventually just went with the risk and took Fev.
I was incredibly close to just picking Lucas and thus making it a battle between our 8 players. But where's the fun in that

Anyway cheers for the vote of confidence (even if I didn't read it until it was too late )
Thanks to all the boys who offered advice. Here's hoping!

 

[Mulletman]

Hmmmm.

Hmmmm. Davey though. He did explode at one stage this year for a patch of 3 100's and 3 90's in 7 games.
Thanks mate.

Lol. I've got some pondering to do.

Phew that was close. Hammy again and done for the year.

Smart people always avoid my advice.

Cheers,

 

[Dime]

Phew that was close. Hammy again and done for the year.

Smart people always avoid my advice.

Cheers,

Well there's my firs bit of luck. Hopefully I have more.

Not going too bad so far. Me with Lockyer (76) and Swan (94) and him with White (63).

 

[Cartman121]

Ouch... bad luck silencer on going with fev! I would have gone with the more consistent Lucas myself.

 

[B&W Army]

Well there's my firs bit of luck. Hopefully I have more.

Not going too bad so far. Me with Lockyer (76) and Swan (94) and him with White (63).

Fevola (15) and Fev to miss remainder of season

Ouch... looks like ya luck run out

 

[Dime]

Ouch... bad luck silencer on going with fev! I would have gone with the more consistent Lucas myself.

Hindsights a wonderful thing mate

Well as UnIQuEZ so subtley put it, my luck has run out.
LOL this one trade is pretty much going to ruin my overall ranking aswell

 

[Dime]

Pfffft. I need Hudson & Goodwin to outscore Gia by 99.
Not looking like it.