Jamie Murphy ------ Twitter: @jamiedmurphy
Here it is! The final installment of my Round 1 previews. This evening, I'll be taking a look at the significant INs and OUTs for this weekend's games, my top three captain nominees, giving you my top two rookies from each DEF/MID/RUCK/FWD line (from the teams who haven't played) and finally some tips for SuperCoach success in 2012.
Fixture & Teams (All times local)
Friday, March 30th
Hawthorn v Collingwood (MCG) @ 7:50pm
Saturday, March 31st
Melbourne v Brisbane (MCG) @ 1:45pm
Gold Coast v Adelaide (Metricon) @ 3:45pm
Fremantle v Geelong (Patterson) @ 4:45pm
North Melbourne v Essendon (Etihad) @ 7:45pm
Sunday, April 1st
Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles (Etihad) @ 1:10pm
Port Adelaide vs St Kilda (AAMI) @ 4:10pm
Teams
Click HERE to see the updated Round 1 teams
Key Inclusions & Exclusions
INCLUSIONS
McCauley, Gunston, Bouman (HAW); Clarke, Paine, Seedsman, Yagmoor (COLL); Clark, Magner (MELB); Hudson (BRIS); Hall (GCS); Lynch (ADE); Smedts, Stephenson (GEEL); C.Smith, Dickson (WBD); J.Hill (WCE); Redden, Wingard, McCarthy (PORT); Ledger, Milera (STK).
EXCLUSIONS
('*' denotes emergencies)
Roughead* (HAW); Beams (COLL); Couch* (MELB); Longer* (BRIS); Sexton*, Weller* (GCS); Shaw*, Kerridge* (ADE); Byrnes* (GEEL); Panos* (WBD), Weedon* (WCE); Pfeiffer* (PORT); Wilkes* (STK).
Captain's Corner
1. Gary Ablett - $689,000 (MID)
2011 Ave: 127.1
Ave vs ADE: 142, 198 (2011) 76 (2010) 115, 197 (2009)
NAB Cup Form: 140 (N1), DNP (N2), 114 (N3); Average: 127
It's not often one of your nicknames originates from you success in fantasy footy. Of course, Ablett is the exception. Affectionately labeled 'perma-captain' due to his multiple years of Supercoach excellence, and ability to churn out huge scores on a consistent basis, there is perhaps no safer lock than Ablett when it comes to nominating your weekly SC leader. If that's not enough, he this week plays a team he loves racking up the numbers against in Adelaide. Four of his last five scores against the South Australians have been 115+, including a 142 and a staggering 198 and 197.
2. Lance Franklin - $600,600 (FWD)
2011 Ave: 110.79
Ave vs COLL: 102 (since R1, 2009), 127.8 (since R1, 2008)
NAB Cup Form: DNP (N1), 123 (N2), 117 (N3); Average: 120
Doesn't have to battle against his usual opponent in Tarrant, and has notched up 110+ scores in two of his last three H & A outings against the lads from the Westpac Centre. Played more midfield time during the NAB Cup, but without Roughead and Bailey, you'd suspect he'd be spending 85% of his match time as a forward. Ripped out some monster scores (162 & 171) against the Pies back in 2008, so could we see a 150+ with no Tarrant, Maxwell or Brown?
3. Scott Thompson - $589,800 (MID)
2011 Ave: 110.45
Ave vs GCS: 148.5 (since R1, 2011)
NAB Cup Form: DNP (N1), 56 (N2), 133 (N3); Average: 95
Tore the Suns apart in both fixtures last season, registering 135 (34 disposals, 9 marks & 6 tackles), and 162 (51 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles) SuperCoach points. Has pre-season form on his side, and it's hard to deny those numbers.
Others to consider: Pendlebury, Swan, Boyd, Cox, Goddard and Selwood.
Rating the (remaining) Rookies
DEFENDERS
Jarrad Bouman (HAW) - $113,200 (DEF)
NAB Form: 86 (N2), 77 (N3), 24 (N4); Average: 62
Prospectus: 'Used as a key defnder for the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL last year, he played 19 games, ranking No.1 in the competition for spoils ans ranking second at the Hawks in marks and rebound 50s.'
Spud: With Gilham set to gradually make his way back into the Hawks' back six, I can see Bouman snaring at least a handful of games across the first five weeks of the season. Scored well in the NAB Cup, so all signs point to him being a decent cash cow option for you backline.
Marty Clarke (COLL) - $170,000 (DEF)
NAB Form: 27 (N2), 70 (N3), 70 (N4); Average: 56
Prospectus: 'He played 46 games in three seasons with Collingwood from 2007-09 and was a consistent ball-winner, collecting at least 10 disposals in all but four matches. Clarke coule be the perfect replacement for Leon Davis across half-back for the Magpies this season.'
Spud: Hopefully the Irishman can pick up his AFL career where he left off and provide some creativeness off half-back. As the Prospectus mentions, Leon Davis has left a hole across half-back, so here's hoping Clarke can fill that void.
MIDFIELDERS
Clay Smith (WBD) - $116,200 (MID)
NAB Form: 37 (N2), 54 (N3), 9 (N4); Average: 33
Prospectus: 'Smith won All-Australian honours at the 2011 NAB AFL Under-18 championships, playing all five games for Vic Country. He ranked third at the carnival in clearnaces and No.1 for his team in kicks, contested possessions and hardball-gets, while also ranking elite at applying pressure.'
Spud: I love it when rookies get named on the ground in their debut games.
Tom Ledger (STK) - $113,200 (MID)
NAB Form: DNP (N2), 41 (N3), 90 (N4); Average: 66
Prospectus: 'Ledger played five matches at VFL level last year, averaging 18 disposals and four clearnaces. As a result he was promoted for two AFL matches (named as the sub for both) before being dropped back to the VFL where he injured his hamstring, ending his year in June.'
Spud: Gram's injury could spell early games for Ledger. Being named on the ground for Sunday's clash against Port is a good sign. He's on my bench at the moment.
RUCKS
If you're going with a three rookies ruck strategy, then your best bets are Redden and Stephenson. If you've gone with two premium/mid-priced ruckmen, then I'd recommend Redden over Stephenson, assuming you already have Giles on your bench.
FORWARDS
Aaron Hall (GCS) - $106,600 (FWD)
NAB Form: 0, DNP, 44; Average: 22
Prospectus: 'A versatile player, he played in a variety of positons for Hobart in teh TSL in 2011, starting the year as a forward before excelling late across half-back.'
Spud: Don't read too much into the mature-age recruit's average pre-season scores. Most reports I'm getting indicate he should feature prominently in Gold Coast's 2012 season.
Tory Dickson (WBD) - $106,600 (FWD)
NAB Form: 52 (N2), 60 (N3), 78 (N4); Average: 63
Prospectus: 'He played 19 VFL games with Bendigo last season and booted 48 goals - ranked seventh in the competition - finishing with multiple goals in all but five matches.'
Spud: GWS aside, Dickson is the FWD rookie who has impressed me most this pre-season. With Barry Hall gone, the Dogs will need someone to help take the pressure off Liam Jones, so job secruity is fairly solid.
FINAL TIPS
Spread your premiums - Try to ensure you don't have an excessive amount of premiums, who share a bye round, on the same line (i.e. Don't start Boyd, Priddis, Thompson & Rockliff, who all share the R11 bye).
Back your research (and your instincts) - No need for any anxious, last-minute changes. Trust your notes and back your judgement on the players you've picked. If you've got a strategy, stick to it.
Spud's Locks: Broughton, Ablett, Selwood & Fyfe. In my opinion, you want to have at least three of the four guys named, as all look set for big years.
CLIP OF THE WEEK
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As always, hope you've enjoyed the content within these four previews. Any feedback, hit me up on twitter: @jamiedmurphy
