BOOK-ENDS. Every serious premiership contender has them, and the good ones are about as hard to find as a legal mark or goal of the year from Jamie Elliott.
A book-end often means a tall bloke who punches the ball away a lot, or a man mountain who takes a few contested grabs and kicks 1.3 most weeks. Both are a certain recipe for Fantasy failure.
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That’s why versatile talls like North’s Robbie Tarrant [FWD, $210,000] are so valuable. Tarrant’s switch to defence this year is paying dividends for the 11.05 per cent of coaches who have him in their squad. He picked off the Cats’ long-bombs at will last Sunday to the tune of 88 points, after 80 the week before against North. His break-even this weekend is -27, the second lowest in the competition (behind Rising Star nominee Patrick Cripps) as the Roos face Hawthorn. If you’re a believer in the Bulldog hype, Michael Talia [DEF, $283,000] offers similar productivity down back.
The Traders’ round four Fantasy review
Up forward, Mitch Clark [FWD, $260,000] has been about as impressive as you could hope for a man who cost just $156,000 a month ago. However, it’s young Giant Cameron McCarthy [FWD, $273,000] who looks the smartest trade-in this week. He’s owned the second tall-forward slot at GWS vacated by Jonathon Patton’s injury, and has a break-even of -9 this week as the Giants take on the Eagles.
To be a Fantasy cash cow, you don’t have to score big, you just have to get on the park. The Bulldogs gave up too much to secure Tom Boyd [FWD, $243,000] not to pick him. He’s not setting Fantasy records, but the former No.1 draft pick is clunking a few marks each week and averaging 54.5. That’s a $51,000 profit for those who picked him up before round one, with the promise of more to come, courtesy of a break-even of 16 this week against the Swans.
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Sorry, who broke the ton this week?
Sam Butler [DEF, $399,000] – 135 points v Brisbane Lions: There’s just one lone Eagle from the 2006 premiership side still running around for the club, and you’d have got long odds back then that it would be Sam Butler. This super-impressive outing against the Lions looks an outlier at first glance, although Butler did clock up a 140 against Collingwood last year.
Tom Cutler [DEF, $260,000] – 107 points v West Coast: Cutler has NEAFL form, but then so does Adam Goodes right now. His 32 touches on Sunday led all players at the Gabba and at $260,000, he has to be considered for your backline, particularly if he doubles up in the QClash.
You! My team. Now!
Paul Seedsman [DEF, $376,000] – avg 85.7: On a dark night for the Pies in Adelaide in 2013, Seedsman showed his Fantasy credentials with 148 points in a heavily beaten side. This week it was 128 and an Anzac Day Medal for best-afield against the Dons. Now’s the time to sow the Seeds.
Billy Longer [RUC, $353,000] – avg 74.0: Pick No.8 in the 2011 draft, Longer is yet another ex-Lion on the rise. Having taken control of the Saints’ senior ruck slot, he’ll give you solid numbers at a reasonable price, and the occasional breakout game – such as Saturday’s 128 against Carlton.
I’m not angry, just disappointed
Lachie Neale [MID, $482,000] – 36 points v Sydney Swans: The 126-point gap between what Neale delivered in the Western Derby (162) and this tepid effort sets a Fantasy record for those not affected by injury or substitution. It only cost him a $3,000 drop in value but it sure put the frighteners up coaches who were lured in by the promise of cheap points (such as your correspondent).
Rory Sloane [MID, $594,000] – 61 points v Western Bulldogs: The Sloane Ranger was far from the only sub-par Crow on Sunday as Phil Walsh’s men put in a stinker against the rampant Dogs. At a cost of just under $600,000, we’ll be wanting to see a far more Sloane-like performance in this week’s Showdown.
Get 'em in
Taylor Duryea [DEF, $400,000]
Patrick Cripps [MID, $270,000]
Isaac Smith [MID, $538,000]
Jake Stringer (subject to fitness) [FWD, $357,000]
Taylor Adams [MID, $446,000]
Farewell for now
James Aish [MID, $362,000]
Jack Martin [MID, $356,000]
David Swallow [MID, $480,000]
Luke Shuey [MID, $505,000]
Sharrod Wellingham [FWD/MID, $362,000]
