Hey Doc, I have Shaun Higgins in my team and he's been good so far. But if this injury keeps him out I need to get rid of him. I am thinking of either getting Jonathan Brown or Ryan O'Keefe. – Joel (five trades, $66,600)
I like O'Keefe ($349,900) as a potential in, Joel, and I'd consider Daniel Giansiracusa ($332,500) as well. Brown ($355,000) has just posted a DT score of 49 and plummeted $23,600 as a result, so hold off two to three weeks there.
But before we go any further, I couldn't help pausing on the word 'need' in your query. With five trades left I reckon there's something else you need to do, Joel: hold tight on Higgins!
Sure, if it emerges that his groin injury is more serious than first thought and he'll miss an extended period, trade the young fella. But as things stand on Friday morning, he's going to be put through his paces in the week's final training session and given until the "death knock" as Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia put it.
For those wise coaches that can't count their remaining trades on one hand, Gia, O'Keefe and Lance Franklin ($315,700) are good buys. But I reckon the trade is much more valuable at this point, particularly for you, mate.
Hey Doc, I am seriously considering trading Chad Cornes for a consistent performer like a Josh Drummond. Is this a good move, or should I just persist with Chad? - Peter (10 trades, $18,200)
Okay, Peter, what game are you playing? Is this a prank? Am I being punk'd? That's only for the rich and famous? Okay, never mind.
But we do need to bring out the numbers here, because I suspect there are some veteran DT coaches out there with Corn Flakes currently dripping from their monitors.
Chad has had a bad fortnight, with low scores of 65 and 77 reflecting his poor form. But the champ has a long and illustrious history in this fantasy game and with an average of 98.3 this season he's far from trade bait.
Josh Drummond's past month does give the impression that he's always good for an 80 or 90, but look a little deeper and there's a 76, a 54 and a 64 hiding in there too.
DT points aside, Drummond is enjoying some stellar form at the moment, much better than Chad's. But those same veterans wiping their monitors and telling anyone who'll listen what Chad has done for them over the years, they know what Drummond could have become in DT land, and unfortunately hasn't.
Fourteen games in 2005 remains Drummond's highest tally so far, with 2006 (seven games), 2007 (11) and 2008 (13) all injury-scarred.
Let's hope 2009 is his year, but if you want a consistent performer, Peter, stick with Chad through this rough patch.
Dr Dream Team, as a first-time player I am loving the game and winning my league. My question is how does this rolling three-week pricing work for players? I am looking to strengthen my forward line with Hayden Skipworth, but I am scared his hamstring injury will only flare up again. Am I right to think he will need to play three more games before his value changes? – Thanks, St Drabs (five trades, $38,100)
Well done, old sport, I'm glad there's been plenty to celebrate in your debut season. And you're not alone in your confusion when it comes to the three-week rolling pricing system – much like a coronary artery bypass, it seems to overwhelm newcomers.
Basically, a player's three most recent scores and his current price are all that is taken into account when his price changes at the end of each round. Season averages don't come into it.
If we use Skipworth as an example, the Bomber has played four games this season, scoring 124, 80, 69 and 54 in the first four weeks before injury struck.
Skipworth started the year valued at $196,600 and his first price move was a hike of $46,100 after the first three rounds, due mostly to that impressive 124 in round one.
However, the following week the 124 was no longer a part of his most recent three scores and taking into account his 80, 69 and 54 his price went up $8,100.
So what is happening is the player is moving towards the price tag his three most recent scores suggest he should be wearing.
Conversely, if a highly priced player's three most recent scores suggest he should be valued at $200,000 then he too will move down some way towards that price.
But don't buy Skipworth, St Drabs; he's not guaranteed for the rest of the year for mine. Have a look at the risky yet potentially brilliant pair of Justin Koszitchke ($268,900) and Des Headland ($263,300).
Hi Doc, I've got a bit of a dilemma in my forward line. I just don't know what to do with Brett Ebert – he's too inconsistent! I don't know whether to have him on the bench, play him or trade him. Ziebell and Sidebottom consistently scored around 70. What do I do? - Brendan (7 trades, $25,000)
Brendan, I suspect you picked up Ebert on a hunch he was going to deliver well beyond what his starting price of $253,100 suggested he might. It hasn't happened but with a couple of high scores in there and a price lift of $28,200 you can't really complain.
The time isn't right to trade him down with a lack of bottom-priced forward options. But now that you know Ziebell and Sidebottom can do the same job for you I reckon Hayden Ballantyne out west will be a good swap for Ebert in a couple of weeks. Before you know it you're cashed up and ready to upgrade one of those two gun rookies.
Captains
It would have taken some serious spine to sling the Little Master back into the leadership last week, but those that did were laughing all weekend after a return effort of 116 on the Friday night stage.
Other top captain picks such as Dean Cox (91), Jimmy Bartel, (69) and Nick Riewoldt (80) only further vindicated the choice made by that savvy few.
A two-week lay-off obviously diluted the Ablett-owning pool, so there's sure to be a spike in Bartel backers. But if you stuck with Ablett he's a good thing this week against Essendon with an average of 109 in his last four games against the Bombers.
Monster scores this year of 152 and 122 at the Docklands will have Bryce Gibbs fans locking in the 'C' before Friday night's clash with the Eagles, while Dean Cox rarely puts in two bad weeks and should be considered.
This week's top three:
Ablett (116 last week)
Gibbs (86)
Bartel (69)
Best of luck to you all Dream-teamers!
