Month: August 2021

How do you rank Darcy Parish in a keeper?

Without a doubt, one of the breakout players in fantasy footy this season was Darcy Parish. The recently crowned All Australian midfielder moved from being on the fringe of squad selection to be an M1 potentially. The big question for new keeper leagues or those considering trading for him is how you should rank Darcy Parish in a keeper?

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In 2021, DP5 was one of the players of the season. He concluded the season with an average of 105.5, ranking him 21st and 16th for total points. That alone is a promising position, but coaches will know that it wasn’t a smooth trajectory for the totality of the season. 

Over the opening five weeks of the season, he averaged 86, and his sole ton of the year to date was 117. However, from Anzac Day against the Magpies that he was fully released to play as a midfielder. So from round six onwards, here’s the stat line for Parish. 

From the final 17 games of the season, he scored 11 tons, 7 of them over 120 and 2 over the monster mark of 150. He averaged 111.7 and put together a hot streak of 7 consecutive hundreds between round 6-12. 

With numbers like that over the final three-quarters of the season, keeper league coaches would think they’ve landed themselves a new franchise player. And it’s not a horrible call.

Like anything, you’ve always got to look at the narrative behind the numbers. Firstly, what caused the role change? Simple! A long-term injury to Dylan Shiel was after an almost season-ending injury to Jye Caldwell. So if injury created the opportunity, what happened upon their return?

Caldwell didn’t play again in the home and away season. But Shiel did in round 19. So in the 15 games, Parish played without Dylan, he averaged 117.7. However, when Shiel did play (7 games), he averaged 79.1. That’s a differential of 38.6. More specifically, over the final five games, when both played, Dylan averaged a mere 84.4. 

To be clear, I don’t see a world with him moving out of the midfield role. Instead, my concern is scoring like that, which impact his scoring ceiling. 

When allowed to be the midfield leader along with Zach Merrett, he’s a 110 averaging midfielder. However, when the Bombers have a few more mouths to feed, the small sample size says he’s not a Topline performer. 

So, how do you rank Darcy Parish? I don’t have him ranked inside the top 15 players in a keeper league. But he has the potential to become one quickly. If you want to own him, you’ll probably have to use a late first – second round selection on him.

Where do you have DP5 ranked?

SuperCoach Season Wrap | 2021

Supercoach Season Wrap | 2021

With the Supercoach season complete what better time than now to do a review. After all, the clubs are doing their performance reviews this week (some better than others by the sounds) so why wouldn’t we serious coaches do the same!

This season wrap looks at two things. (1) What was; that is, the players’ scoring and how it all ended up in terms of rankings. And (2), what could’ve been; those opportunities that were provided for us or those harsh realities of injury and selection that dealt us a tough blow. This is probably the more triggering part as we look back on our decision-making and the bad luck we were hit with. 

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What Was – The Player Rankings

Defenders

Rory Laird was the best defender by quite a margin, averaging 116 from 22 games. He was also the ninth best midfielder too, and as a DPP he was an extremely valuable player to have in our side. It’s no wonder nearly 60% of us had him. 

In somewhat of a surprise Daniel Rich took out the second best defender position. He was only owned by 13% of teams, and that’s at the end of the season. His form was solid and he ended up with an average of 107.  

Jack Crisp is also a tad surprising given other defensive options we had. With Darcy Moore’s injury Crisp had a terrific second half of the season and ended with an average of 104. He was only owned by 6.9% of teams in the end and puts himself in contention for our 2021 squads. 

Jake Lloyd was basically a lock at the start of the season with 50% of teams selecting him for round one. He didn’t have the year he had last year, but nonetheless he still averaged 107.8 and was the fourth best defender. A good pre-season and he’ll be a shoe-in again next year. 

His teammate, Jordan Dawson, has had a great season to average 101 and take the fifth best defender. He wasn’t particularly consistent but had some big number games, including the final round. Only 2% of coaches had him and they would have benefited greatly. 

To make up the final six is Jayden Short. He averaged 98.3 but caused his coaches a wide range of emotions with his up and down scoring. His solid performance meant he nudged out the likes of Tom Stewart, Jordan Ridley, and Callum Mills, all of whom had good but injury (or COVID) impacted years. 

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Midfielders

It’s no surprise that Jack Macrae takes out the number one midfield spot, as he’s also the number ranked player across the board. He continues to put together strong seasons and is a lock in most starting lineups. His average of 128 and his durability to play 22 games will continue to keep him in the mix for a few years yet. 

Jack Steele had another great season, ranked number two in the midfield and had his ownership gradually increase as the season went on. This season showed his ceiling and a solid VC/C option for coaches. 

Clayton Oliver had another great season, albeit there were times as a Clarrie owner where I felt his form dipped when I needed him to perform. His average of 123 is nothing to smirk at though, and it’s no wonder he is owned by nearly 40% of teams. 

The Bont, Marcus Bontempelli, is another midfielder who is often one of the first picked in any side. He shared plenty of points with his teammates and was a regular top scorer for the Bulldogs. For 2022 he’ll be priced very competitively and plenty will jump on early if this year’s form is anything to go by. 

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Each year we’re looking for that breakout player and for our midfielders this year that man was Touk Miller. There’s not much to write home about coming out of the Gold Coast Suns, but Miller’s form and solid scoring week in and week out proved that this year was a big one. In the end he averaged 124.5 and was the fifth best ranked midfielder. At the end of the season only 9% of us coaches ended up with him in our side so he continued to be a POD right up until the end. Another to look to start for 2022, albeit at a high price.

Another POD for the season came out of the Brisbane Lions. Jarryd Lyons ended up with 12% ownership and performed solidly throughout, showing off some terrific ceiling on his way to an average of 117.6. 

Other honourable mentions in our midfields are the likes of Tom Mitchell, Sam Walsh, Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, and Ollie Wines. All of these guys averaged over 112 and played 22 games. It will be a hard decision to work out who to include in our starting teams next season. 

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Rucks

For the first time in a couple of years the final ruck rankings do not start with Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy. 

Gawn did take out the number one ruck position, however it wasn’t as dominant as previous seasons. This was his lowest average (120) since injury impacted the 2017 season (97). Nevertheless, he was a set and forget option and continues to be for 2022, particularly with a lower starting price than this year. 

Nic Naitanui managed to take the second top ruck spot with some great scores and a full season of games. He’s often left off the Supercoach analysis as a sure thing because of previous injury affected seasons, and there’s a sense of not being able to trust him. This season proved he could do the job and will be a good price come 2022 that will make many consider more than they did this year. 

The breakout player for our ruck lines was easily Sean Darcy. Perhaps it’s because he plays for a team in the West that many coaches don’t consider him, but even as we close out the season he is only owned by 3% of teams. As a highlight, his 193 and 187 in rounds 16 and 17 were gems and turned heads throughout the SC community. One to ponder for 2022 for sure. 

Brodie Grundy didn’t really have the season we expected of him, particularly after that neck injury. He still managed an average of 115 from 20 games, and quite some way in front of the likes of Todd Goldsteain (100.8) and Tom Hickey (103.3).

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Forwards

The forward lines were the most troubling of the lot for us, if I remember rightly. There weren’t many on offer, nor were there decent enough rookie options throughout the season, and there were plenty of injuries affecting forwards or DPP’s. 

However, Dayne Zorko showed up to take the number one forward position (keeping in mind he’s a DPP). He has had a good ceiling for many years and a solid performer for many teams. His average of 109 was competitive, but also pushed higher with games of 140, 162, and 173. He can have an off day and when he does it can make a significant impact on our side. However, with Lachie Neale out for a good chunk of time during the season Zorko played alongside Lyons and shared the points with him often enough. 

Do you remember the whole debate about whether to bring Jack Ziebell in or not, particularly after the start he had? By the end of round six he was averaging 127! His scoring wasn’t sustainable, but in the end he was able to keep the second best ranking for a forward through the league, which is impressive given he claimed a wooden spoon and played off half back most of the time. 

Ziebell’s teammate Aaron Hall came in as the best third forward, averaging 105 from 20 games. Not being selected for round one, and his first 3-4 performances really put people off jumping on him quickly. However, since Round 7 he only dipped below 100 once and so made his position secure in plenty of teams and was a solid player for those 18% of coaches that had him. 

Bailey Dale knocked together a solid season. His average was only 95 in the end but he was a decent enough replacement for Josh Dunkley when he went down with injury. 

It’s not all that common to have a true key forward in the top player rankings by the end of the season but Tom Hawkins makes it to number five with an average of 93.9. With the start of the season that Taylor Walker had we may have expected him to still be up here, but that form certainly didn’t continue. However, Hawkins made it this year because plenty of other forwards didn’t average their usual or what was expected of them. 

The breakout player in our forward lines was certainly Essendon’s Nick Hind. A couple of pre-seasons now, and a full season of games into him and look what happens. He only averaged 93.0 but made it into the sixth best forward for the season. In the end only 8% of coaches had him, and were rewarded for their risk-taking. 

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What Could Have Been – The Injuries and Selections

SuperCoach is always a game of what could’ve been. There are sliding door moments each and every week as we navigate trades, captain selections, and strategies around injuries and suspensions. What could have been makes for some of the best banter about Supercoach. 

In 12 years of playing the game I can’t quite remember such a volatile season with injuries, selections (and those dreaded late-outs), and of course this COVID thing. Let me just list off those players who may have impacted you at some point, perhaps even as far back as the pre-season: Lachie Whitfield, Patrick Dangerfield, Matt Rowell, Josh Dunkley, Zac Butters, Bachar Houli, Darcy Moore, Lachie Neale, Jeremy Howe, Luke Ryan, Patrick Cripps, Jordan Ridley, Mitch Duncan, Josh Kelly, Rowan Marshall, Nat Fyfe, Toby Greene, Sam Docherty, Hugh Greenwood, Callum Mills, Dustin Martin, and Tom Stewart. That’s a fairly long list of significant players who were out for a period of time. It was carnage for a few coaches regularly throughout the season. 

On the other side of the ledger there are always those precious rookies and mid-pricers who seem to do more than we think they’re capable of. Think of the Hawthorn duo, Changkuoth Jiath and Jarman Impey. They both made coaches some solid points in the first half of the season and plenty of coin to trade with as well. As mentioned previously, a Crisp, Dawson, Mills type helped considerably along the way. The Sydney rookie midfielders were very serviceable in those opening six rounds, Braedan Campbell, Chad Warner, and Errol Gulden.

James Jordon certainly provided some points and cash for those who timed it right, and North Melbourne’s Tom Powell did the same. And of course, one of the bigger targets for many coaches at the start was Matt Flynn, an R2 strategy for many in the end. He managed to grab the coin we needed but was omitted for a couple of weeks there which raised concerns come bye time. Those mid-pricers or competitive priced players who made good on their promising risk were the likes of Dyson Heppell, Darcy Parish, Nick Hind, Aaron Hall, and perhaps Jordan De Goey for his second half of season. 

Needless to say, there were some breakouts, there were some flops, but whatever the case it was another season to learn from and take the opportunity to improve on for next season. It’s those could’ve and should’ve moments that may make us shudder, but at the end of the day we’ve got to keep it all in perspective and they provide any chance to learn for next year. And sometimes it’s just unlucky. With this in mind, rest easy from Supercoach and sit and enjoy the promising finals series. Well done again on making it through the season, and all the best in your pre-season preparations for 2021. 

SuperCoach Weekend Wrap | Round 23

What a final round of football! Some close contests, some percentage boosting performances, a kick after the siren to claim the minor premiership, and even a draw. As for our Supercoach results, I hope you were able to take out your GF or at least make the most of the points on offer for a solid rankings boost.

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At this time of the season it’s all about being able to field a full team, particularly considering the volatility of coaches and their selection panels. We were certainly his with that last week, but this week was a little more kind to us. Having said that, if you were banking on Josh J. Kennedy, Tim Kelly, Harris Andrews, Josh P. Kennedy, Jack Bowes, or Jack Ziebell in any way then you would’ve been disappointed. For those of us running close to the line in terms of emergencies then this would have meant you were eating a donut or two. 

The weekend began with a cracker as Port Adelaide solidified their top four position with their sixth win on the trot. The Bulldogs have a little work to do to stay in contention now, which we realise they’ve done before, but it is a concern when Bontempelli is spending time in the ruck! Jackson Macrae topped the Bulldogs with a 113, his lowest score in 10 weeks. This was followed by Caleb Daniel (110) and Bailey Dale (101). For Port though it was Ollie Wines with a monster 161 top off an excellent run since the bye rounds. Travis Boak (134) and Robbie Gray (126) rounded out the top three and showed their experience in important games. 

Richmond v Hawthorn made a game of it despite it not meaning much at all for either side. To be fair, it did have a couple of retirements and it was the final match for Alistair Clarkson as the Hawks coach. It seems then a draw was the ideal result. The Tigers showed they’ve got work to do over the preseason but Jayden Short led the scoring for them this week with a 117. If he was your in for Tom Stewart last week then you made the right choice, he’s ended the season well. While Tom Mitchell hasn’t had his best season he finished off well here with a 127. Jaeger O’Meara (120) and Chad Wingard (117) followed close behind. A little irony there with those three being Clarkson trade targets over the past few years. 

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With some big Sydney in’s including Callum Mills, Jake Lloyd, and Lance Franklin, it gave many coaches the defensive reprieve they needed. While Mills perhaps wasn’t the wisest choice after still dealing with his achilles tendon issue, the other two were very helpful with 154 for Lloyd and 127 for Franklin. Jordan Dawson’s 158 can’t not be mentioned either. He has had a great season and moved into the fifth best ranked defender with this score. A bit more consistency and he’d be owned by more than 2% of coaches. As for Gold Coast, Touk Miller (148). Enough Said. 

For Brisbane it was all about percentage to nab that top four spot and they did it in style with 30 seconds to go before the final siren. A behind has never meant so much. Familiar names of Lachie Neale (133), Daniel Rich (119), and Jarryd Lyons (113) all scored well for the Lions. For the Eagles, NicNat had a monster 165, while Luke Shuey (123) and Alex Witherden (103) made up the top three. If Witherden can get right for next season over the summer then he will be a well priced defender to look out for in 2022. 

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With the minor premiership up for grabs for Melbourne it was somewhat surprising to see them down by up to 44 points against Geelong. But what became more surprising was that they were able to claw that back and win byond the final siren with the last kick of the game. A huge win and a significant one for the team and their supporters. It was also significant for coaches too, particularly if you managed to put the VC or C on the likes of Clayton Oliver (159) or Max Gawn (159). While for Geelong Mark Bicavs (128), Joel Selwood (118) and Cam Guthrie (115) headed their team scoring list.  

Also on Saturday night GWS defeated Carlton. Callum Ward (150) and Josh Kelly (124) led from the front, and Nic Newman (128) and Ed Curnow (113) for the Blues. The main commentary out of this game is all about the poor treatment of David Teague and everyone feeling for him as the Carlton board dilly-dally around. 

On Sunday things weren’t so tense or significant. While Fremantle put up an insipid performance St Kilda finished off their season well in the end with a 58 point victory. Hayden Young (112) and Andrew Brayshaw (112) got the numbers for the Dockers, and it was the familiar names of Jack Steele (129) and Rowan Marshall (120) for the Saints. Steele continued his form from last season, ranking as the second best midfielder and topping his teams numbers time and time again. 

The Dons did a number over the Pies, well and truly solidifying their eighth position. Devon Smith had a terrific 148, followed by Zac Merrett (120) and Jake Stringer (105). Jamie Elliott (113) and Chris Mayne (110) topped for the Pies as they firm up 17th position, begin mad Monday, and select a new coach. 

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The final game of the season was between Adelaide and North Melbourne. Not a particularly inspiring game, however Ben Keays had the score of the round with a 173, followed by Rory Laird (148) finishing off a terrific season. Aaron Hall and Tarryn Thomas both managed 139 for the Roos and sailed off to the season’s sunset. 

And so that’s a wrap for season 2021. In a few days time I’ll knock out an overall season wrap-up, but I hope you’ve had some success in the midst of the ups and downs. Thanks for reading and thanks for joining me. Well done to those who had an improved season compared with other years, and congratulations to anyone who won a GF this past weekend. Make sure you stick it to your mates! 

UltimateFooty | Free Agency Pick Ups | Round 23

It’s Grand Final week! Hopefully you are in the big dance, on the verge of the ultimate glory. To celebrate, this week’s article is a bumper Grand Final special edition! I’ve picked one player from each game this round that could potentially give you the boost you need to snag the flag. As usual, the player needs to be in less than 70% of teams but something different for this week is the addition of the 3 game average. Good luck, and thanks for a great 2021!

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Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide
Marvel Stadium

Miles Bergman – Port Adelaide – Def/Fwd
% owned – 66%
2021 average – 64.5
3 game average – 83.3

It has been an excellent debut season for Bergman, playing in all but 3 games for a top 4 contending side, and receiving a Rising Star nomination for his efforts in the Showdown a fortnight ago.
He has scored over 80 four times for the year with two of them coming in the last two games.
He has a tough opponent in the Bulldogs, but similar players such as Blake Hardwick and Daniel Howe had field days against them last week scoring 110 and 139 respectively.

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Richmond vs Hawthorn
MCG

Tim O’Brien – Hawthorn – Fwd
% owned – 14%
2021 average – 57.2
3 game average – 82

One of the biggest things we look for in the fantasy world is a clear role change, and that’s what O’Brien has seen the last couple of weeks. Not worth a fantasy look in his usual role as a key forward, O’Brien has spent the last two games down back and has enjoyed a solid scoring spike as a result. He has taken 20 marks in the last two weeks and should continue that against the Tigers this week.

Sydney vs Gold Coast
Marvel Stadium

Darcy MacPherson – Gold Coast – Fwd
% owned – 63%
2021 average – 66
3 game average – 72

MacPherson hasn’t set the world on fire since returning to the senior side a few weeks ago but he is someone who is capable of scoring well, particularly if the Suns can make a game of it.
The Swans can be quite restrictive but similar players in Jaidyn Stephenson and Tarryn Thomas both scored 78 last week for North Melbourne.
It’d be a speculative pick (aren’t they all though?), but MacPherson is due for a good one, and could possibly be playing to keep his spot on the Gold Coast list.

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Brisbane vs West Coast
Gabba

Daniel McStay – Brisbane – Fwd
% owned – 57%
2021 average – 64.2
3 game average – 97

Since Eric Hipwood went down with an awful knee injury, McStay has had to step up for the Lions and he has done just that. In the five games since, McStay has kicked 12 goals and averaged a touch under 85 fantasy points including 3 games above 90.
The West Coast defenders can be miserly at times but with the way Brisbane have been playing, expect another solid score for McStay to finish the year.

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Geelong vs Melbourne
GMHBA Stadium

Zach Guthrie – Geelong – Mid/Def
% owned – 58%
2021 average – 60.6
3 game average – 88.3

Guthrie appears to have found his spot at the Cats after years of being in and out of the side. A few weeks ago, he scored a career best 128 fantasy points and was looking good on the weekend sitting on 42 at half time before slowing in the second half as Geelong hit their straps. Melbourne should challenge Geelong this week which will allow for Guthrie to get plenty of looks.

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Carlton vs GWS
Marvel Stadium

Zac Fisher – Carlton – Fwd
% owned – 32%
2021 average – 57.8
3 game average – 60.7

Fisher has looked a chance to break out a few times in recent years, but it just hasn’t happened for him. His score of 80 on the weekend was his best score since round 14 last year (a 65 in shortened quarters) and it came on the back of more midfield time. Fisher attended 14 centre bounce attendances on the weekend which was up from just 2 the week before.
Patrick Cripps was missing last week and is expected to return which could see Fisher removed from the inside which is a concern. However, a similarly flighty player in Liam Baker scored a nice ton against the Giants last week and that was with zero centre bounce attendances.
Carlton have a fair bit of pride to play for this week and I’d expect Fisher to play a big role.

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St.Kilda vs Fremantle
Blundstone Arena

Hayden Young – Fremantle – Def
% owned – 70%
2021 average – 65.7
3 game average – 83.7

Young has been back in the senior side for 4 weeks now after missing several months through injury and has looked very comfortable in the Dockers back six, winning a Rising Star nomination along the way. The former number 7 draft pick looks a real player of the future with his fantasy output already looking good. He has scored over 70 in 5 of his 11 career games (excluding one game when he was injured early).
Young has taken 21 marks over the last two weeks and will be good again this week.

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Essendon vs Collingwood
MCG

Mason Redman – Essendon – Def
% owned – 61%
2021 average – 65.9
3 game average – 55.7

Redman has been hot and cold this year, hitting 90+ on 4 occasions but also scoring under 50 5 times. At his best, he is a points machine off half back taking kick ins and racking up marks. But at his worst, he simply doesn’t get near the footy.
It’s very hard to predict what he will score from week to week but after a career high 30 touches last week and a favourable match up this week against Collingwood, I’m backing him in for a big finish.

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North Melbourne vs Adelaide
Marvel Stadium

Cameron Zurhaar – North Melbourne – Fwd
% owned – 66%
2021 average – 63.3
3 game average – 60

A couple of game ending injuries have impacted Zurhaar’s average this season not telling the full story of what has been a breakout season. He is averaging 83 in his last 6 non injured games kicking 16 goals in those games. Last week a player who plays a similar role, Bayley Fritsch, had a field day against the inexperienced Adelaide defence, kicking a bag of 7 goals with relative ease and I suspect this week will be a similar story in the battle of the cellar dwellers.


2021 Season Defining Moves | Patreon Only

Whether it’s an overall ranking or league focus, achieving success in fantasy footy requires so many elements to work. One of the keys is trading in the right player at the right time. So here’s a look back at the moves that using hindsight was the season defining moves of 2021.

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Aaron Hall

If you’ve played fantasy footy for a few seasons, then you’d know that Aaron Hall has a fantasy pedigree. He spent the better part of two seasons delivering tons.

Some would say the perfect time to get Hall was at round 3, where he busted out a 99 & 123 in AFLFantasy and 81 and 131 in SuperCoach. And whole that might be a valid perspective. However, I think 2 weeks later was better. So there you got him after his concussion, and since round 7, he hasn’t had a misstep.

Since round 7, he’s scored 12 AFLFantasy/DreamTeam tons; 9 of these were over 120 and 5 over 120. In this run, his lowest score has been 88, and he’s averaged 118.9 in this 15 game run. For SuperCoach, over the same stretch of games, he posted 14 tons and 5 over 120. His only score under 100 has been 73, and he’s averaged 121. Safe to say, Hall might have been the most influential early trade in fantasy coaches seasons.

Josh Kelly

Josh Kelly is an absolute gun! You don’t have multiple seasons averaging 110+ across the formats and not have some fantasy footy pedigree behind you. But over the first 6 weeks of the year, the recently signed Giant for life was struggling to score. As a result, Kelly was being used predominantly across the half-forward flank and averaged 85.5 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 90.8 in SuperCoach.

However, in round 7, his midfield role returned. For reference, it coincided when fellow elite user Lachie Whitfield returned to the side. From round 7 to now, he’s scored 11 tons from his 14 games, including 10 consecutive from round 7-17. During this stretch of games, he’s averaging 112.

For AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s had just one game in the past 14 where his scores have dipped beneath 96. An average of 111 is exactly the sort of returns we’ve come to expect from him.

Kelly’s (like all on this list) is a testament to timing and buying low on players. But, history told us, when fit, he scores very well!

Darcy Parish

Injuries create opportunity, and that’s exactly what happened for Darcy after Dylan Shiel went down with a long term injury. In round 5, Shiel went down injured, and at that point, Parish was averaging 88.2 in SuperCoach and 86 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam.

From this point onwards, he’s averaged 114 in AFLFantasy, which included 11 tons, with 4 of them over 140. In SuperCoach during this same 16 game stretch in SuperCoach 110.8 including scores of 190, 166, 162 & 152.

To put it simply, in 2021, when Dylan Shiel plays, he averages 81.7 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, but without him, he averages 117.7. That’s a differential of 36.1. In SuperCoach with Shiel, he averages 86, and without it’s 128.1. A differential of 42.1.

Sean Darcy

Do you remember when Brodie Grundy got injured and was ruled out just before the bye rounds? I do. I ended up writing a piece on my trade suggestions for him. In it, I said that ultimately ‘hindsight’ well tell us what’s the right move. Clearly, trading into Sean Darcy was the correct choice.

Even before this injury, Darcy was showing some scoring potential. In round 11, when the injury happened, Sean was coming off a 4 game average of 104 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 113 in SuperCoach.

However, from round 12, when the trade via Grundy could’ve been made, he’s scored 8 tons from his 10 games in SuperCoach. He hasn’t scored below 90 and has given scores of 190, 183, 156, 150 & 140. Since this point, he’s averaged 135.4.

For AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, the scoring ceiling isn’t as high, but it’s just as valuable a trade. Over the past 10 weeks, he’s scored 5 tons, plus two additional scores over 90 and averaged just on the ton.

Taylor Walker

One of the decisions that defined 2021 was for those who traded into Taylor Walker ahead of round 3 commencing. Whether you traded him in from an underperforming premium (like Jordan DeGoey) or an injury forced to move ‘Tex’ was a huge win for owners. The following four weeks, he did his job with scores of 136, 99, 74 & 76 in DreamTeam/AFLFantasy and 130, 106, 85 & 103 in SuperCoach.

Heading into round seven, his price had increased by $320,000 in AFLFantasy, $197,000 in SuperCoach and $245,000 in DreamTeam from his starting price. Not a bad quick money maker and points on-field performance.

Jack Ziebell

Do you remember the pain entering into round two? Patrick Dangerfield had just been handed a three game suspension, and the debate amongst coaches was about whether to hold or trade. Hindsight would say that trading Danger was clearly the right call, especially after suffering an injury on his return game.

Jack was the form forward of the competition over the first three months of the season. In SuperCoach, he averaged 115 up till the bye rounds, just three scores under 100 and only one score to this point under 89. For AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, over the first 11 games 109, posted some monster scores of 139, 140 & 170 and didn’t drop below a score of 82. So chances are if you started with or traded into Ziebell early, you had strong rankings rise to start the year.

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Jordan De Goey

Trading him out of your team in the front half of the season could’ve been equally as defining as trading him back in. But certainly jumping on after suspension and bye round was a perfect time. By then, he’d already had three solid games against the Crows, Cats and Demons, so it wasn’t a ‘blind jump.’ So even though you could’ve got him at a steal price at the end of round 10, nobody was trading into him then.

Since round 16 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam he’s scored: 124, 117, 120, 93, 125, 94 & 98. While in SuperCoach over this same timeframe he’s gone 114, 124, 114, 80, 138, 85 & 119. In this seven week stretch, he’s been going at an average of 110 across all formats. HUGE!

Brayden Fiorini

If you were a Patreon in 2020, you might recall Kane & I spoke about him in our 50 keeper targets series. In it, we highlight his fantasy potential and that he’s a fringe option at the Suns. However, with injuries to key midfielders like Hugh Greenwood, ‘Fio’ found himself seven weeks ago with a chance to prove himself as someone who belongs at the top level.

And prove himself he has. Over the previous 7 weeks in AFLFantasy, his lowest score is 101. He’s had 4 scores over 110 and is averaging 115. He’s now priced at $803,000. But at round 16, you could’ve picked him up for just $639,000.

The scoring consistency might not have been as high in SuperCoach, but the value has been ever better. At round 16, Brayden was priced at $301,700. Now he’d set you back $523,500. Over the past 7 weeks, he’s scored 5 tons and is averaging 110. If you brought him in as an M8-M9 swingman or a ‘buy low’ and hope option at M7-M8, he’s been an absolute find for you!

Touk Miller

I couldn’t get through this article and not mention him. In reality, getting Touk in anytime this season has been huge. But really, post-bye is his super run. At his bye round, he averaged 117 across the formats, and many would’ve assumed that’s a phenomenal start, but this is as good as he gets.

For his first 10 games of the season in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he was averaging 117 and posted 7 tons. In his past 10 games, he’s averaged 125 with just one score under 100.

Over in SuperCoach, his first 10 games of the season, he averaged 117.9 and posted 7 tons. In his past 10 games, he’s averaged ? with hasn’t dropped his scores under 100.

Jy Simpkin

‘After his bye’ is a phrase I’ve already used on multiple players (and still more to come.) But Simpkin is a testament to backing in a player’s scoring history even when he’s given you minimal faith in his delivery in that current season.

Over the first 11 games of this season, Jy has only 4 SuperCoach scores over 90 and only one above 110 and was averaging 89.9. While for AFLFantasy, he’d posted 3 tons and averaging 86.2.

Since the bye, he’s posted 7 AFLFantasy/DreamTeam tons and had just one score under 90. In this 10 game stretch, he’s currently averaging 105. In SuperCoach, he’s also posted 7 tons, twice scored 99 and is averaging 106 in his past 10. It’s not as big as others on this list, but still a win for owners.

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Christian Petracca

Christian started the year super strong. Over the first 8 weeks, he rarely had a poor game. An average of 111 in AFLFantasy & 103 in SuperCoach over the first 8 weeks is more than handy. As good as it was, the back portion of the season has been even better.

If you traded him in from round 9 onwards, he would have returned 9 SuperCoach tons, 7 of them over 110 and 2 148 or higher. In addition to the ceiling, he’s still yet to go under 90 since round 9. In these past 12 games, he’s averaged 128. Meanwhile, in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s scored 9 tons, 8 of them over 110 and 3 over 135. An average of 122. Well done if you picked him up then.

Jack Steele

OK, much like Touk Miller above, this feels like a stretch given how good he’s been across the totality of the season. But in truth, the perfect time to get him (if not for the whole season) was really after the bye. Before it, he still had a sold average of 112 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 118 in SuperCoach.

From round 15 onwards in SuperCoach, he’s hit the ton every week, has had four scores over 145 and has gone under 130 twice. During this 8 game stretch, he’s averaging 137. While in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s also had 8 consecutive tons, including 5 scores of 138 or above, including a 162. Since this hot stretch started, he’s got an 8 game average of 133.

Matt Kennedy

For years the Carlton footy club has been looking for additional support to Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh. The club thought Zac Williams was the fix, but it had the best option under their nose in Matt Kennedy. As a forward eligible option, Matt’s become one of the ‘hot hand’ forwards since he played as a midfielder. I mean, what a novelty. Playing midfielders as midfielders!

It would’ve taken a pair to get him in at the start of the bye round, given he hadn’t played for months and had an average that even at a rookie price, most coaches would’ve said no to. But he’s been exceptional over the last 9 weeks since getting back into the side and playing midfield.

Four tons, plus an additional three scores between 93-95 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, has seen him average 96. Over in SuperCoach, he’s gone just as strong. 5 tons, four of them 115+ and an average of 94. Yes, he’s had 1 or 2 stinkers in this stretch, but given the price point, trading into him at any time through this run has been a raging success!

SuperCoach Weekend Wrap | Round 22

When it’s carnage before the round starts you know it’s going to be an interesting round for. In the lead up to Friday night we were notified of Toby Greene, Jake Lloyd, Shannon Hurn, Callum Mills, Reilly O’Brien, and Tom Stewart. What a mess, especially for our defences.

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In Friday night’s do or die match-up the Giants delivered the knockout blow to the Tigers. GWS put up a great performance, including the choice of holding the match at Marvel. Jayden Short (126), Nick Vlaustin (118), and Liam Baker (115) were the top for the Tigers. But it was Josh Kelly’s 148 that provided the platform for the Giants. Tim Taranto, even playing forward at times, knocked up 138, and the young Jacob Hopper rounded it out with 114. 

The penultimate match of Clarkson’s reign was a sweet and surprising victory over the Bulldogs. The usuals of Jackson Macrae (136), Tom Liberatore (132), and Marcus Bontempelli (114) all headed the Bulldogs scores. While for the Hawks Chad Wingard (130), Dylan Howe (129), and Tim O’Brien (125) scored were the Hawks top performers. 

In Geelong’s win over the Saints they had half their team score over 90, there were certainly plenty of points on offer. Of significance was Patrick Dangerfield’s monster 169. If you had him as a VC/C option then congratulations to you. Sam Menegola (145) and Rhys Stanley (143) also had some huge numbers and pleased their coaches. Jack Steele, which is commonplace now, headed up the Saints with a straight 100.

Just another week and another disastrous game for the Blues and their coach David Teague while Port certainly solidified their top four aspirations. It didn’t help that Patrick Cripps was a late out, but that wouldn’t have changed the result much. But for us Supercoaches it would have allowed another on field. Matt Kennedy (130) and Sam Walsh (115) were the only tons for Carlton. And for Port Adelaide it was Aliir Aliir (137), Peter Ladhams (118), and Travis Boak (106). 

Brisbane also did a number over Collingwood and in doing so gave coaches plenty of points. Jarryd Lyons had a big, and familiar, 152. Oscar McInerney had 131, and Dayne Zorko a solid 117. Jack Crisp (124), Jordan DeGoey (119), and Tayor Adams (116) were the tons for the Pies. There’s a few names here to consider for our teams come 2022. 

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The final match of Saturday was Sydney’s solid win over North Melbourne. Luke Parker (148), Will Hayward (135), and Harry Cunningham (111). Aaron Hall the only hundred for North, 127. There’s not much more to say really. Mills, Lloyd, and Lance Franklin all being out for the Swans mean our teams were most likely thin on the ground with Sydney players. 

Come Sunday there were more outs, including Steven May for Melbourne. The Dees did the job over Adelaide, with Bailey Fritsch (132), Christian Petracca (126), and Ed Langdon (109) getting among the points. Ben Keays (125), Paul Seedsman (122), and Rory Sloane (122) for the Crows. 

Gold Coast managed to scrap 30 points against Essendon, with Jake Stringer continuing his terrific form and bringing coaches a 147. Nick Hind (133) and Darcy Parish (112) made the top three pack with a long trail of tons following. Brayden Fiorini (119) and Touk Miller (103) were the only decent scores for the Suns. It defies logic why anyone has anyone other than Miller in their team. Perhaps a POD option for this week’s grand finals, if you have the trade! 

In the battle for the West Fremantle made the most of a hapless West Coast, again. Sean Darcy continued his ripper season with a 150. Caleb Serong contributed a great goal and a 135 for those few coaches that have him, and David Mundy got to 134 by the end of it. NicNat (130) led from the front again, followed by Jack Redden (125) and Andrew Gaff (116). 

For all of us this coming week, whether we’re playing for rank or for a league final, it’s a matter of trades available, outs, and those precious POD’s performing well. All the best to those in a granny this week, well done on getting through. And good luck to those fighting it out at the top of the rankings, or those looking to make one last big jump. 

UltimateFooty | Free Agency Pick Ups | Round 22

It’s the penultimate round of the fantasy season, Prelim Final week! It’s do or die, and the gems you’re looking for off the waiver wire only have to perform well for you this week (and then if you’re lucky enough to advance, again next week in the big one). This week’s list includes a Cat who may be ready to step out from his older brother’s shadow, a young Hawk who has had a significant role change, plus an often injured and forgotten Saint who was a fantasy jet back in the day.

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BACK:

Zach Guthrie – Geelong
% owned – 55%
2021 average – 60.4

This is Guthrie’s 5th year on the list but only the first season he has reached 10 games with his previous best being 9 games in his debut year 2017. With older brother, Cam, becoming one of Geelong’s most important midfielders in recent years, the younger Guthrie has struggled to hold down a regular spot in the 22. As an outsider looking in, it’d be fair to suggest a delisting was on the cards especially with the Cats contending seemingly every year.
But after 9 weeks out of the senior squad, Guthrie was a late inclusion the week before last against North Melbourne and safe to say, he took the opportunity with both hands. 28 touches and 13 marks later, Guthrie had put in a career best performance scoring 128, forming a defensive wall with Tom Stewart and repelling attack after attack.
He backed it up last weekend with a solid 75 in the surprise loss to GWS and with the injury to Zach Tuohy, we are unlikely to see Guthrie in the VFL again anytime soon.

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CENTRE:

Dan Hannebery – St.Kilda
% owned – 35%
2021 average – Yet to play

You couldn’t could you? You absolutely could, but should you? Probably not, but he deserves a mention!
It’s been a torrid time for the former Swan since he arrived at St.Kilda in the 2018 trade period. He has only managed 13 games for his new club due to ongoing soft tissue injuries. A calf injury sustained in January this year has plagued his 2021 campaign and has meant he hasn’t been seen at senior level all year. He has now gotten through a couple of VFL matches unscathed and is a chance to be named this week for the big clash with St.Kilda.
In the 5 games he managed in 2019, he averaged a respectable 98.6 but in his 6 home and away games last year, averaged just 71.6.
If you’re in the market for bench cover, you could do worse than grabbing Hannebery for your midfield bench this week, and if he looks decent, hopefully he can get a gig for you in a grand final next week.

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FWD:

Conor Nash – Hawthorn
% owned – 47%
2021 average – 59.2

Nash debuted for the Hawks late in the 2018 season and in just his second game, scored an impressive 99, before playing in Hawthorn’s finals series in just his 4th and 5th career games. As much as he impressed the Hawthorn coaching team, fantasy coaches would not have looked at him twice since.
After the 99 score in his second game, Nash wouldn’t come close to replicating that sort of score for years. In fact, he didn’t score above 63 for his next 23 career games, until just recently thanks to a noticeable role change.
Perhaps it was the Sam Mitchell effect because once it was announced that Alistair Clarkson wouldn’t be coaching next year, Nash was brought into the senior side and thrust into an inside midfield role, away from his previous role in the forward line. The fantasy impact was immediate as Nash collected a career high 23 touches in the upset win over Brisbane and then backed it up with another 20 in the win over Collingwood last weekend.
The role looks solid, and he is averaging 93.5 in the last two games thanks to averages of 21.5 disposals and 7 tackles. Get him in!


SuperCoach Weekend Wrap | Round 21

There was no way we were getting an easy run to close out the season was there? Something was always going to pop up as we headed toward the end of the home and away rounds. For Victoria it was being plunged back into a strict lockdown after a week of easing and good numbers, in Supercoach it began with Josh Kelly being a late out, a significant injury to Patrick Dangerfield, and then what looks like a suspension for Toby Greene. What a good way to start the weekend. Hmm. 

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Of course, I allude there to the GWS v Geelong match on Friday night where the Giants took a surprising scalp, particularly considering the run they’ve had with injuries and outs. I’m not sure it was the prettiest of games, but they got the job done. While certain coaches were reeling with the Kelly and Danger issues almost immediately it was good Isaac Cumming (135), Tim Taranto (118), and Lachie Whitfield (107) all tonned up for their respective coaches. There weren’t too many highlights for the Cats, but Rhys Stanley (111), Tom Stewart (107), and Jed Bews (102) topped their scoring. 

I’m not sure if we call it an upset when a lower-placed team defeats Carlton but Gold Coast at least did. Touk Miller (155) again staring and showing he is something else amongst the rest of the 43 on-field. His teammate, Will Powell, also racked up a 153 and pleased over 2000 coaches. For the Blues, Nic Newman’s 126 was the only relevant high score in our Supercoach world, but has such low ownership (744 teams) that perhaps he’s not that relevant right now anyway. 

In perhaps one of the hardest games to watch all weekend the Tigers, a shell of themselves right now, managed to overcome the Kangaroos. In the end there were a few hundreds in this one with Jack Graham (154), Nick Vlastuin (123), and Liam Baker (122) for the Tigers. On the other side of the fence, Luke Davies-Uniacke (119), Aaron Hall (116), and Todd Goldstein (115) were the main contributors. 

In the Showdown Port Adelaide just got over the Crows, who competed well considering the week that’s been going on there. Paul Seedsman (120) and Rory Laird (119) managed some fine tons, while Allir Allir (126), Will Drew (126), and Dan Houston (116) led the Power numbers. 

To add to the already painful round for many coaches Callum Mills was a late out for the Swans. St Kilda seemed to take full advantage of that, and just a poor performance, to take the win in what has to be one of the great rollercoaster seasons of recent time. Jack Steele (155) was again magnificent and a definite VC or C option for any coach. And as Rhyder continues to be out Rowan Marshall made the most of it with a 126. Jake Lloyd (112) and Luke Parker (108) top scored for the Swans but the midfield was really missing this week. 

Clearly Alistair Clarkson is still the top coach in the league so having him finish up at Hawthorn at season’s end will do wonders for them. It all makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? Umm. He’s certainly coaching well right now as the Hawks did a number over the Pies with Tom Mitchell in full-beastmode (150). Jack Scrimshaw (127) and Blake Hardwick (125) also brought the points for respective coaches too. On the other hand, the Pies really battled to score points at all and so we’re left with an underwhelming 107 from Brodie Grundy to deal with. 

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In what might’ve been the game of the round the Dons knocked off the Bulldogs. Jackson Macrae (154), Marcus Bontempelli (123), and Tim English (123) led the Bulldogs numbers, and such a shame to see Josh Bruce do his ACL right towards the end of the game. But for the Dons it was two-metre-Peter Wright who put on a stunning forward performance with 7 goals and 146 SC points. Unsurprisingly, Zac Merret was in the mix with a 123 and Sam Draper a competitive 109. The fight for the eighth position is still on for the Dons! 

Brisbane trounced Fremantle and in doing so solidified their finals berth. Dayne Zorko led from the front with a 146, pulling along Harris Andrews (123) and Daniel Rich (122). For the Dockers Sean Darcy continued to top their scoring with a 120 and then Caleb Serong (115) the only other ton.  

To wrap up the round on Monday night the Dees did what was expected, although not without some competitive periods from the Eagles and a lightning storm that put a pause on the match for half an hour. While West Coast look to be giving away their finals spot to a team more competitive, Jack Redden (125), Elliott Yeo (117), and NicNat (107) did top tons for us. And for Melbourne it was Alex Neal-Bullen (138), James Harmes (123), and Christian Petracca (111) who topped scored and helped numerous coaches make it through to another stage of finals. 

As for me, the Kelly and Mills outs really killed my chances. In my only cash league where I had the double chance I’ve been done in straight sets. Disappointing. However, with so few coaches still in the hunt in finals I hope you’re one of them and looking to make your move this week to capture that GF spot! Till next week. 

Ultimate Footy | Free Agency Pick Ups | Round 21

Whether your finals series started last week or this week, it’s more important than ever to find players who can put in a strong three-week cameo in your side to give you the ultimate fantasy success. This week’s list looks at a couple of Power players that love the Showdown, plus a forgotten Sun that may have one last chance to shine in 2021.

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BACKS:

Riley Bonner
% owned – 55%
2021 average – 65.6

2021 so far has summed up Bonner’s career to date, plenty of promise but form issues and injury have robbed him of the opportunity to get continuity into his game. A serious hamstring injury sustained in round 1 saw Bonner miss a chunk footy early in the season and he has since been in and out of the side unable to run himself into form.


The last few weeks have looked better, however, as he has put together 3 senior games in a row for just the second time since early 2020. At his best, Bonner offers the Power pace and dash off half back and up on the wing. He’s averaging 81 in his last 3 games, and plays in the Showdown this week, a fixture he has a two-game average of 98 in.

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FORWARD:

Darcy MacPherson – Gold Coast
% owned – 53%
2021 average – 62.9

Like many others, MacPherson’s career stalled somewhat in the chaotic season that was 2020. After a 3rd place finish in the Gold Coast best and fairest in 2019, MacPherson played a lot more as a forward last season to allow room for the likes of new recruits Hugh Greenwood and Brandon Ellis, and of course the AFL-ready draftees in Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson.


This bump in the midfield hierarchy negatively affected MacPherson’s fantasy output, and despite a strong pre-season and playing the first 5 games this year, he has found himself as a fringe player, playing plenty of VFL and chipping in recently as the medical sub for the senior team.
Last week was his first full game at AFL level since round 5 and even though he didn’t perform too well, he had plenty of mates on the weekend as the Suns were obliterated by the Demons and he should get another chance this week.


At his best, and in the right role, MacPherson has a solid fantasy game. He averaged 84.5 in the opening month of this season and in his career best season 2019, averaged 87.3 which included 12 scores over 90.

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Robbie Gray – Port Adelaide
% owned – 65%
2021 average – 71.3

How fitting that the Showdown specialist could potentially make an early return from injury this week to take on the Crows. Gray hurt his knee in round 14 in what was his 250th game and required surgery that initially threated the rest of his home and away campaign.
The injury stalled what had been a decent fantasy season for the wily veteran putting up plenty of 70+ scores in what is his 15th season in the AFL. In fact, leading into the injury game, Gray had a 3-game average of 90.


He still needs to get through training but at the time of writing, Gray is a good chance to return to fixture where he holds the record for most best on ground performances having won the Showdown medal 5 times.
His return would be a real boost for Port Adelaide’s top 4 hopes and a possible game breaker in your fantasy finals match up.


SuperCoach Weekend Wrap UP | Round 20

The first week of league finals is always an exciting one, and you can’t really say this weekend didn’t have excitement. I mean, it looked at one point like we may not even have a full nine matches considering the news that came out late Friday. While contingency plans were put in place the round happened, and wasn’t it a beauty for us supercoaches. Plenty of points to go around with some stunning scoring across the board. Let’s have a look at how it played out. 

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Friday night found me out with some mates watching Carlton demolish a hapless St Kilda. Sam Walsh again led the Blues with a 141, but it was actually Jack Steele and Rowan Marshall for the Saints who provided the most supercoach interest early on in the round. With a 158 each this provided plenty of coaches with hope for some good scoring throughout the round. Steele is now a consistent captain or vice-captain choice, hats off to those who claimed that one this week. As for Marshall, he was helped with the late out of Paddy Rhyder and take full advantage of that he did. 

The Bulldogs did a number over the Crows and as what we’ve come to expect there were plenty of tons in their team. Adelaide had a few, but it was the likes of Jackson Macrae, Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel, and Tom Liberatore who all hit the helpful 120+ mark. 

In a low-scoring contest Geelong did what was expected of them over North Melbourne. Aaron Hall and Jack Ziebell were up in the tons for the Kangas but it was the Guthrie brothers for the Cats who helped their owners out considerably with a 147 and 142 respectively. 

The final match on Saturday saw the Pies double the Eagles score, who somehow are still in the top eight. Jack Crisp (143) has had a great couple of games and has really put together a top season. He is now the fifth best defender for us as coaches, which is probably not what we expected going into this season. Now that Jordan De Goey (138) is a constant in the midfield he too is clocking up the points consistently for our forward lines. Even Steele Sidebottom got back into it this week with a 123. It’s always interesting to see the change when a new voice is leading a club. As for the Eagles, there’s really nothing much to mention. NicNat topped the ton, that’s about it. They just really don’t like to travel do they? 

Melbourne did to Gold Coast what other teams used to do to Melbourne themselves. A 98-point victory that also saw some huge scores – Clayton Oliver a 166, Christian Petracca a 148, Luke Jackson a 141, and Max Gawn a 138. Just a dominating performance by many we have in our teams. Perfect captain choices. As for the Suns, Touk Miller had a great 142 and really has come into his own this season. 

This exciting weekend was only made all the more so as the Hawks made the decision to dump their experienced and 4-time premiership coach for a junior with only 8 games of coaching in the VFL. Amazing. Despite this, the Hawks did get up over the Lions. The likes of Jaeger O’Meara (156), Chad Wingard (139), and Tom Mitchell (132) all brought the points for us coaches, just like Clarkson brought all three of them into the team in recent years. As for the Lions, Jarryd Lyons continued his great season with a 121, and a few more tons from other players came along with him. 

Sydney had an important win over Essendon. Callum Mills led the Swans with a 129, followed by Jordan Dawson (122), and Justin McInerney (116). However, it was the Dons who brought the points with a mammoth 168 by Zac Merrett, followed by Jake Stringer (123) and Darcy Parish (108). Unfortunately it looks like Dyson Heppell will be out due to injury for at least a week. This will cause a few coaches some issues this week. 

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I can’t say I know exactly what happened in the Dockers win over the Tigers. I didn’t watch it. But, Andrew Brayshaw had a blinder with a 190. Adam Cerra (147) and David Mundy (126) came through with some solid tons too. Sydney Stack provided coaches with a 149, while Dion Prestia (113) and Liam Baker (106) rounded out the tons for the Tigers. 

And in the final game of a rather confusing round of football, Port defeated the Giants who still seem willing to give up their opportunity at a finals spot. The scores in this game didn’t go too big like others this round, but Karl Amon did etch out a 152 while Ollie Wines had 115 for the Power. GWS didn’t prove much, as Nick Haynes top scored for them with a 107. 

The main issue for us coaches, particularly if you’re out of contention for the overall, is how to manage our teams through the finals. I hope you managed a win this week, but I do realise there were just as many losers too. So, whatever it was for you, a W or a L, I hope you were able to take advantage of the points on offer this weekend.