Dr Dream Team

EACH week, Dr Dream Team answers your questions and queries about the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition. Drop him a line at dreamteam@afl.com.au and don't forget to include bank and trade details.

Hey Doc, is there anything suss going on with big Coxy? Can't seem to trace when his injury happened, and if he's going to miss weeks I wouldn't mind getting him out now with a big fixture in the league. What do you know? – Chris ($31,000, 3 trades)

I know this is a certified DT tragedy, Chris. It's the sort of injury that gives you nightmares, but thankfully it's a scenario we haven’t had to deal with for some time.

You need to go back to round seven, 2007 for the last game Cox missed, and he's missed a total of eight games since round 14, 2003. The big fella is durable, and that's one of the reasons why we love him in this game.   

He's a warrior, and he proved last year that he can play through injury. Obviously not this one for now, but I’d back him to miss just the one week.

Therefore, you need to take the hit, but the odds are your opponent this week is taking it on the chin as well.

As for where the injury came from; coach John Worsfold said the earliest he knew of it was after the side's loss to Richmond in round 12. The whispers suggest he's been carrying it for four to five weeks, and with a couple of rare sub-100 scores sprinkled in there, the whispers may just be right.

But back the warrior in, Chris. He doesn’t want to be heaping all that ruck responsibility on the club's most precious young talent for too long. 

Hi Doc. I want to trade out Jack Ziebell, the problem is who for? I already have Jarryd Roughead, Nick Riewoldt, Steve Johnson, Brendan Fevola, Daniel Bradshaw, Taylor Walker and Steele Sidebottom. Do I go for someone of equal or higher value or another youngster and put some cash away? Cheers. – Mike ($45,700, 5 trades)

Definitely a youngster at this point, Mike. Looking at your forward line, and this week's team, you'll need to upgrade Steele Sidebottom before too long and there's a bit of value floating around in the forward line right now.

Now it goes against a lot of DT coaches' policies, but I reckon you need to bring in young Fremantle forward Hayden Ballantyne, who is debuting against the Pies this week.

If I can re-dredge up an old nugget from Mark Harvey: "I think once we get him in you'll see him in for a substantial period of time."

That was before the 21-year-old was pulled out late against Port Adelaide with a back complaint, but he's been declared fully fit and Harvey's record with the kids this season speaks for itself – if you're going to get on a rookie, get on a Freo rookie. 

Trading Ziebell down to Balla frees up $157,000 and with your bank balance you can afford Magpie Alan Didak, who's dropped $42,800 but scored a massive 141 last week.

Good Doctor, I am in dire need of advice. I have both Daniel Motlop and Jack Ziebell currently in my team. They're both facing long spells and as it gets closer to the business end of the season I need some quality replacements.  I have a spare $106,400 in the bank. Who do you suggest? – Peter ($106,400, 5 trades)

Let's get the calculator out again shall we, Peter. It's a shame Motlop couldn't repay the faith you showed in him, but this is a good opportunity for you to trade in some reinforcements as the finals approach.

Now you've got a nice little wad of $596,500 to splash out here, but I can’t seem to find you two solid recruits.

When you're trading late in the season you want to eliminate the risk and I would recommend making at least one of your inclusions a risk-free gun like Steve Johnson.

The Norm Smith Medallist comes in at $424,300 meaning your other inclusion would have to be bottom-priced, with the previously discussed Ballantyne the likely lad.

Didak ($377,700), Jonathan Brown ($342,200) and the out-of-sorts Lance Franklin (284,700) are the other options that might allow you to spend a tad more on your second inclusion, but there's not a lot jumping off the screen to be honest.

Johnson and Balla for mine, with the young Freo forward likely to score well early in his career from a forward pocket. 

Captains

The Little Master let us down last week, and there wasn't a Creepy Crowley in sight. Byron Schammer is the man to blame if that's your game, but let's not dwell – there's options a plenty this week. 

Brave coaches will back Gaz in this week, but the numbers around him suggest there are plenty of safer options.

The Cats have played four games at Skilled Stadium this season, and Jimmy Bartel's racked up scores of 125, 137, 108 and 139 down there.   

Teammate Steve Johnson was well held by Greg Broughton for much of last week's clash with Freo, but he still managed to break free late in the game and finish with a solid 130. He's a good option this week with some monster scores of his own at Skilled Stadium (149, 130, 124 and 72 this season).

The Pies are playing Fremantle and it's impossible to go past Swanny if you have him. A big 127 last week against the Stingy Swans topped off a month where the star Pie has averaged 143. Lock him in.

The other option at Collingwood is the red-hot Alan Didak. Dids scored 141 last week against the Swans, and 127 the week before against Melbourne. He's likely to face a young Freo defender on Saturday and should score very well. 
 
This week's top three:

Dane Swan (127 last week)
Jimmy Bartel (113)
Steve Johnson (130)

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