Hey Doc, I have Luke Hodge, Josh Fraser and Dale Thomas in my Dream Team, but they were all injured last week. I've only got one trade left for this week. What should I do? I was thinking trade Fraser out because he is my main ruckman and I can't really afford for one of my ruckmen to score poorly. – Matt (13 trades, $23,400)
Alright Matt, you've broken a golden rule by trading early, but let's sit down and do the sums here. You need to look at how long you're likely to miss each player, and where you need cover.
Looking at these three guys I reckon Hodge is going to miss the longest (up to four weeks) and Fraser is filling a position you rightly said is costing you points. Cue Operation Get Cox.
Hidden out west at Subiaco last week was a young man that's dropped off the DT radar but is promising big things for those prepared to take a risk. Matt, I suggest you trade Hodge for promising young Demon Jack Grimes ($186,400) who scored 109 last week in his second AFL game. Then trade Fraser up for Dean Cox next week, when you're able to use your trades again. Hold tight on Dale Thomas, he should be back in your team shortly. Fixed!
Hey Doc, what should I do with Scott Lucas? He is on my bench at the moment but my forward line is weak with two first-year players and some out of form stars. I don't want to trade but think I might have to. Should I trade out Lucas or get rid of Steele Sidebottom, who I have had in all season? - Vince (10 trades, $85,500)
Vinnie, old sport, I reckon Mick Malthouse and Matthew Knights have made this decision for you. Sidebottom has been named in the centre and poor old Scotty Lucas hasn't been recalled.
If there's one thing you can't afford to carry in DT, it's out-of-favour players – Ryan Houlihan should be on the trade table for exactly the same reason. Unfortunately there aren't too many options up forward under Lucas' $264,900 price tag. If you're happy to break with convention, buying Taylor Walker ($185,500) despite his $98,900 price hike could be the move after the young Crow notched 115 DT points last week.
A more seasoned choice is Mark LeCras at West Coast. The small forward also had a season-high game last week, scoring 126, and looks like having spells in the midfield with West Coast suffering a few engine-room injuries.
Doc, I'm constantly looking to improve my struggling Dream Team. So far I'm averaging a lowly 1,685 per round and struggling in the bottom eight of my league. However, my biggest problem is that I am addicted to trading. I have made 14 and have many I would still love to do. – Sgt Swanny (six trades, $87,100)
Swanny, Swanny, Swanny! Some would say your namesake went a bit hard in the federal budget this week, but as far as spending your way out of a recession goes, I reckon you've got him covered.
Now, I'd be interested in what sort of philosophy you took into the 2009 DT season, because come mid-February I'm constantly hearing from coaches preaching their conservative approach and the premium they place on budget surpluses and late-season trades.
I know creating jobs can be tough – ask any forward line coach this week with Higgins, Ziebell, Thomas and Houlihan out of work – but you can not expect to be competitive in the second half of this season with just six trades left. Cop a few zeroes, Swanny, you'll learn a thing or two about DT management and be better for the run next season.
Hey Doc, I was banking on Daniel Kerr being a bargain buy but I was wondering, should I cut my losses, pick up Steele Sidebottom or Adam Cockie and make a little money? – Glenn ($230,600, 11 trades)
He did look good pre-season, Glenn, but the season is starting to settle into a rhythm now and Daniel Kerr is well and truly missing the beat. He's out this week with an adductor (yep, the word gives me shivers too) so take the chance to look elsewhere.
After a wretched run in 2008 with OP (now there's an acronym you don't hear too often nowadays), West Coast ain't taking any risks with Kerr. On the other hand, a couple of Eagles who appear to be over their own groin troubles are Chris Masten ($247,100) and Sam Butler ($213,800). Both had good games last week, will get plenty of opportunities in the middle and can come in under Kerr's price, a big ask in itself. Adam Cockie is also a good money-spinner if you're after quick cash.
Captains
We're only one week off having Old Faithful back, we hope, so let's see who can fill the void in round eight.
We've made a bit of a habit of underrating Essendon's defence here, most recently suggesting Lance Franklin as a captain against the Baby Backline Bombers. Buddy kicked five goals but scored just 78.
Lesson learned? Nope. This week's skipper of choice is the big Saint Nick Riewoldt.
You have to go back to round two for Roo's last sub-100 score (and that was 93) and he's been superb with 126, 119 and 136 in the last three weeks.
He's averaged 108 in his last five games against the Bombers and shapes as a nice skipper pick if you have him in your team. He'll get up around the ground and take more marks than Buddy against the Bombers.
Dean Cox has been reliable over the past three weeks despite a slight dip in form, scoring 112, 103 and 138. But the Swans' stoppage-heavy game tends to take away from his marking and kicking stats around the ground, so beware.
Jimmy Bartel (108 last week) and Bryce Gibbs (142) are also pretty handy skippers if you have them in your team.
This week's top three:
Nick Riewoldt (126 last week)
Jimmy Bartel (108)
Dean Cox (112)
Best of luck to you all Dream Teamers!
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
