WITH many teams removing all the rookies from their ground, the importance of premium players scoring at or above average is vital for both league wins and rankings alike.

While many of them stepped up to do this, a few were putting their hand up for the chopping block. Of course, the weekend couldn't pass by without an injury disaster to a popular player with superstar midfielder Stephen Coniglio succumbing to an injury to the knee he hurt last week before registering a score.

Just to clarify, because he hit the ground, emergency scores are out of play and if he was your skipper, it's two times zero.

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THE RUN HOME Eagles' grip on home final starts to slip

Fantasy Pig

Josh Dunkley: Talk about showing Pig tendencies. Dunkley was amazing against the Demons in what was one of the most dominant performances by an individual this season. He was everywhere and doing a bit of everything right from the first bounce, eventually finishing the game with a round-high 189, which included 39 possessions, 15 tackles and two goals. Hats off to the coaches who gave him skipper duties this week.

Honourable mention: Like his Dogs teammate, Lachie Hunter took full advantage of the Dees, who are leaking huge amounts of Fantasy points the past few weeks. He had the ball on a string, regularly finding himself in open space for 10 marks to go with 37 possessions and a goal for 154. There were a few coaches considering bringing him in prior to lockout, hopefully they backed themselves and went through with it.

NINE THINGS WE LEARNED No excuses for Dockers' collapse

Rage Trades

James Sicily: It came as no surprise that last week's hero was one of the most selected defender upgrade targets this week. Unfortunately, it also came as no surprise that he produced around half the points he did last week despite his outstanding form at the venue and history against the Dockers. Grant Birchall's return certainly had some influence on his output, popping in for eight marks with many of them being in the switching that Sicily often finds himself.

Honourable mention: Jack Ziebell has been beating the door of the rolling 22 down as a forward since he moved into playing predominately as a midfielder. Unfortunately, he was well below what we have come to expect in recent times, astonishingly taking no marks on his way to just 65. No doubt he will bounce back with a big one next week.

Piglet

Jarrod Cameron has been outstanding for the Eagles, especially for a player who originally had job security concerns when he was named to debut. He managed to reach triple figures against the Pies, largely thanks to an impressive four goals and seven tackles.

AROUND THE STATE LEAGUES Star Pie back from injury, slick Eagle sizzles

Trade Targets
  • Lachie Whitfield
  • Lachie Hunter
  • Elliot Yeo
  • Jack Billings
  • Rowan Marshall
Fantasy Mailbag

He is certainly an option based on ceiling alone. With the Giants midfield so depleted, I don't think they should be as feared as they have been.

There is no way I could even consider getting rid of Worp, so probably ROB and Smith.

Has to be. Had he not been played out of position at the start of the year he would be beating the pen gate down.

Yes, tick that one off for sure.

Guthrie for me.

Take the 80 and run! Get rid of Clarke.

For more, follow myself @RoyDT

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