Hey Doc. Is Steele Sidebottom going to play again this year? I have him in my team and I'm unsure whether to trade him out or not? Cheers, Russell ($72,000, three trades)
The key man here is Dayne Beams, Russ. Well, Mick Malthouse is probably the key man, but Beams is important when we weigh up whether Sidebottom's going to get another go.
The two have only played in the same side once this season and that was in round eight, the last of Beams' six games in his first run in the side.
You sense Malthouse will want to make up his mind soon, if he hasn't already, on which of these two first-year players he takes into the finals – and after Beams' maiden DT century last week, he has to be in front.
Beams scored 102 against Freo and was among the Pies' best in his return to the seniors, leaving young Steele on the outer I'm afraid. Sidebottom had a good run in his six games, rising $103,700 in value to a respectable $214,300.
The question is where do you have him? If you are looking for bench cover, I would wait to see how Hayden Ballantyne plays this week and then trade the young Freo forward next week before his third game.
If you need to fill a spot on your field, then there are two big Eagles within your budget that I’d be looking at. Mitch Brown ($227,200) has moved forward in the last few weeks and is averaging 65 DT points in that period.
Josh Kennedy ($279,900) is starting to hit his straps in the Wild West and is averaging 74 for the season.
He's an extra $50,000, but Kennedy for mine.
Hey Doc. I have a bit of a midfield dilemma. With Beau Muston being dropped from the Hawks side this week I’m left one short in my midfield with no playing emergencies. I already have Rich, O’Bree, J. Selwood, G. Ablett and Judd with Swift and Cockie as my emergencies. Who should I look at trading and who should I bring in? Thanks, Caroline ($10,400, six trades)
Looks to me like you need some star power in there, Caroline. Sure, Judd is one of the biggest names in the game, but in DT terms The Little Master is your only gun midfielder.
Unfortunately, working exclusively in your midfield, it's hard to find the money needed to upgrade Muston to the star your side needs.
I reckon this one needs to be a gradual upgrade. A trade for you to do this week is Muston to Liam Anthony. Cockie and Swifty aren't plump enough for you to trade out and, with both named as emergencies this week, there are still opportunities for them in 2009 with the developing West Coast. I'm not so sure about Muston as Hawthorn gets players back.
The next stage should be to upgrade Rich.
The young Lion has done a great job piling on $180,600, but the time is right to get yourself a big name. Well, as big a name as you can afford with $415,900.
Jimmy Bartel ($435,000) is just out of your reach, but a score of 87 last week could see him drop if he repeats it. That's the gradual upgrade option, but I wouldn't bank on it.
After a month of sub-100 scores, Bryce Gibbs bounced back with 103 last week and his price has dropped to a manageable $380,400. With a season average of 105, he's your man.
Hey Doc, I lost Pavlich and Warren on the weekend and already have Ziebell and Macaffer on the sidelines with injuries. Should I trade Kade Simpson for Liam Anthony and use the spare cash and last trade to get Didak or Chapman? Or, should I keep Simpson and trade for two cheaper players in the forward line so all spots are filled? – Kev ($14,500, two trades)
Oh you're bold, Kev. You are bold. Down to your last two trades and you're still talking double trades involving rookies. Well it's time to get serious and do some surgery my friend – you're staring at two donuts this week and, the way things have gone this season, who knows how many that will turn into in weeks to come.
Forget the Simpson trade – he's playing. Ziebell and Warren aren't – possibly for the rest of the season – and Macaffer is far from a selection lock once he's back from a knee injury.
Those last two trades should be used to farewell the two Kangaroos, and I can see two options for you.
The first is for Ballantyne ($86,600) and Jonathan Brown ($369,100). This is the way I'd go, and if everything goes to plan you'll only have Balla on your field for one or two weeks with the Pav returning.
Brown looks to be running into some serious form as the finals get closer and this is your last chance to get on him.
The second option is strictly if you don't have faith in young Ballantyne to hold his spot (which I think he will). Eagle Mitch Brown ($227,200) we have discussed and you could pair him with Hawk Campbell Brown ($234,000), who scored 95 against West Coast and is guaranteed to hold his spot for the rest of the season.
There's less risk, but also less reward. Ballantyne and Brown for mine.
Hey Doc. I'm looking at possibly trading Jimmy Bartel, as he gets 100-plus most weeks but is not scoring as heavily or consistently as some in his price bracket. Who in the midfield could I pick up for around that price bracket that is guaranteed to produce huge hundreds? - Andrew ($46,500, two trades)
Short answer, Andrew: save your last two trades.
Long answer:
Jimmy Bartel:
- Ranked third in the AFL for DT points scored
- Averages 113.46
- Has scored 100+ in 11 of his 13 games
- Gun
I take your point that he hasn't scored the big hundreds that Swanny's been reeling off, but that's a decision to make when you're selecting your initial squad in the pre-season – you can't trade him out at this stage. Make him your skipper this week and play him back into form…
Captains
Jimmy's 87 last week will put some off, but so did The Little Master's 76 in round 12 and look at what he did last week.
Let's start with Jimmy. He scored 123 the last time the Cats faced the Saints, and he's averaging 104 over the last three weeks. There's a big score on the way.
Ablett is averaging 126 over his last three weeks and racked up a nice 129 the last time he faced the Saints. A safe bet.
For emphasis, let's stretch Swanny's average out over the last five weeks. He's averaging 146 in that period and after his 141 against the Bombers on Anzac Day you just have to lock him in.
Two options outside of the big three are in action at Subiaco Oval on Sunday. There's an underground movement for Aaron Sandilands after his 138 last week. The giant ruckman is averaging 114 in the last three weeks and racked up 139 DT points against the Blues in round seven.
Bryce Gibbs scored 142 in the same match but has hit a DT slump. He's averaged 92 over the last three weeks with 103 last week. He's a big chance to sneak free on the Subiaco expanses and rack up a big score against Freo's depleted midfield.
This week's top three:
Swan (158 last week)
Bartel (87)
Sandilands (138)
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
