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Gather Round! | Forward Carnage! | AFL Fantasy Q&A #PODPOD
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Gather Round has been and done, Harmey missed out, Lewy is MIA after being BOG and Jordy is on a high after performing in the SportsBet box all weekend. We had injury carnage, low scoring due to weather and good coaches are starting to separate from the pack. The trades we make over the next few rounds will be the most important of the season!
In this episode, Holmesy and Jordy discuss an epic Gather Round, review their rounds, talk strategy around the injury bullets in the forward line and answer a stack of listener questions. They are here to guide you through all of the key decisions ahead of a crucial round 6 as the competition really starts to heat up
PODPOD Team Names
Holmesy - Holmesysheroes
Lewy - Hawk Tuah (Pittonet Thang)
Harmey - Hirdy’s Heroes
Sam - Mandaclawrian FC
Jordy - AIRJORDAN
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Dossy: @HKdos
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Transcript
Introduction and Apologies
00:00:18
Holmesy
G'day and welcome to the Pod Pod brought to you by Marrera's Magic. I'm your host Holmesy, three-time top 10 finisher and twice runner-up in AFL Fantasy Classic. apolog We're apologizing for the the late record this week.
00:00:33
Holmesy
We're all at Gather Round apart from Harmy. um I was traveling back Tuesday and unfortunately just the week has got away from us. We are here, only the two of us, which we'll get to. though, is a good one.
00:00:46
Holmesy
die that The one that's keeping the podcast together.
Gather Round Reflections
00:00:51
Holmesy
Glad to have you back, mate. You had a big, big week at Gatheround. Really enjoyed yourself. It was it was nice to to meet you in person and and catch up, mate. How are you? And you're a bit starstruck on Friday night. Usually, you're you're pretty good at getting your words out, but, you know, talk to me a little bit about that.
00:01:10
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, it was awesome to have you over here, Holmesy. And um yeah, great to meet you. We had lots of breakfast, drinks, footy, lots of plus sixes in the back line I was nudging you for. So it was ah it was a great weekend. But yeah, the Traders Show, I rocked up there and um Selby was there. And he came up to him me and said, hey, mate.
00:01:30
JORDAN D'SENA
And I just didn't really know what to say. And, i um yeah i didn't yeah, I guess I just didn't expect it. And, um yeah, I had a little bit of a chat and then think he went and got a beer. But um it was awesome to see Selby there and medium. And the show was, yeah, it was awesome on on Friday and a really good weekend. So hopefully we can do it all again next year and have you back over here.
00:01:52
Holmesy
Yeah, friday was Friday was definitely the highlight being out. go I don't know if you you didn't join us in the end, but being out to the early hours of the morning with the with the Traders boys, I'm i'm sure Warnie's not listening, but Warnie going tit for tat saying that I've been an embarrassment to the Mareros Magic brand, which is which is more than fair.
00:02:10
Holmesy
Obviously, I had to clip back with his attempted stand-up show on on Friday night, which... Maybe I'll get to witness again in two weeks' time when they when they come back over. But it was it was really good. And we're going to do something a little bit different, but we're going to go one of the questions first because Bilardi actually has asked who was best on ground from the Pod Pod this year.
00:02:30
Holmesy
And unfortunately, Bilardi, we do have you know a sad message that unfortunately, Louis can't be with us here tonight because he's actually passed away.
00:02:41
Holmesy
ah I don't think that man slept from Thursday until Sunday. I'm actually unsure whether he's still in a committed relationship or whether there his miso has just said, no, I'm not doing this anymore.
00:02:54
Holmesy
Jordy, I think one of the main highlights was Sunday night. Everything was everything was dead. i was We're up in the cast. You're about to drive me home.
00:03:03
JORDAN D'SENA
Yep.
00:03:03
Holmesy
And you went, Louis, do you want to lift home as well, mate? And you just goes... Geordie, I'm going to be here till the sun comes up, mate. I'm committed.
00:03:15
Holmesy
And that was was the last we saw of him.
00:03:15
JORDAN D'SENA
I couldn't believe it And Port lost as well. it wasn't like we were on a high or anything. So, yelp he just he had his mates there and um he said, yep, we got to we gotta to go to to the sun comes up. So big one for Louis. But, yeah, again, amazing weekend. He was in fine form.
00:03:34
Holmesy
He was no doubt. He has the the nickname, the gather round specialist for a reason. it's ah It's a young man's game, but far out. He knows how to make a goal, but that's for sure. Jordy, let's get stuck
AFL Fantasy Classic Performances
00:03:47
Holmesy
into the round that was. I know it's Wednesday, but for the listeners, we'll quickly talk about how we went for the week and how our our ranks are doing. So why don't you talk me through how you unfortunately went on the weekend?
00:03:58
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I didn't have the the best round. I only got the 19.48. It slipped me down 6,000 spots. So I'm at the 18K mark, so 18,789. And that was on the back of probably three unique primos, just not doing what they should be doing for me, which, I mean, they have been doing good the first couple of weeks. So that sort of got me at a decent rank, but yeah. Yeah, I guess, you know, had the Zorko, had Josh Dacos, had you you're right there next to me saying, nu no plus sixes. and And Will Ashkoff was disappointing as well. So I think got the tag. But um yeah, the 18K, but got a bit of money. So hopefully can get the two primos this week. But um yeah, I guess the Stato pick for me would be, ended up doing the Faro pick. So
00:04:47
JORDAN D'SENA
I think him and Grundy was sort of that safe that safe straight back for the week and that ended up being really good trade. So I'm going to give that the the goods the good pick of the week. And the yeah, the dossie pick I'm actually going to give to Sinclair for the 90 captain. Might be bit harsh, but Louis all week said, Jordy, do not go Sinclair captain. He's had some you know bad history. I said, mate, I've got no other option Sinclair.
00:05:13
JORDAN D'SENA
He's the only guy I can roll into. Sunday, I thought Jack Steele was going to get it done for me. And um I was like, Sinclair will be fine. And, you know, we were all sitting there and we see Nassaya just roll back, basically take all the ball. And Sinclair just, I don't know what he was doing, to be honest. And your mate with us was, um he wasn't happy either. So it was pretty entertaining.
00:05:34
JORDAN D'SENA
So he gets the dossie pick for me.
00:05:38
Holmesy
Yeah, I see why he went there. I know Louis been scarred from, it was last year when he was right up the ranks and he captained Sinclair on ah late on a Sunday for for a 75, I think it was.
00:05:50
Holmesy
So yeah, Louis obviously scarred, but yeah, just a few underperforming primos, but you have those rounds from time to time.
00:05:50
JORDAN D'SENA
Mm-hmm.
00:05:56
Holmesy
Zorko clearly unlucky. Did you did you get ah a score from your emergency for that?
00:06:02
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I was lucky to get Sarong 73. So that was nice. What's that extra 50 points or 40 points? So that's that's a good thing, to be honest, from the new rules this year. So um yeah, I guess you you can't really, wasn't too bad really in the end. It would be worse if, you know, he played just over 50% or something. So yeah.
00:06:24
Holmesy
Yeah, na definitely a good addition to the game. You cop the cash loss, but at least you are still able to get some points on field and it not be a complete weekend ruiner. I had the 2067 this week,
Injuries and Trading Strategies
00:06:37
Holmesy
so it's taken me from about 33K into just outside 24K.
00:06:43
Holmesy
But I unfortunately, Geordie, as you know, sold my soul, cashed all the way up and ended up going Baz Smith this week. ah
00:06:53
Holmesy
That's the other funny story, actually, that we didn't talk about. And Louis would be able to if he was here. So on Friday afternoon at the pub, Louis had had enough and he just said, Holmesy, I need to go to the toilet. I'm just going to leave my phone here in front of you and you're going to do my trades and whatever they are, they are.
00:06:53
JORDAN D'SENA
Very unlucky.
00:07:10
Holmesy
And I grabbed him, Isaac Heaney, and I went Baz myself. So clearly i'm I'm seeing it well when I'm just doing it for other people, but for not for myself. i The reason I went Baz was Jack Steele not getting it done as a captain. I just felt like I needed a captain option.
00:07:26
Holmesy
Grundy I was very confident with, but I probably should have VC'd it rather than having to roll into it. So yeah, Baz Smith. Got the score. Will be very, like, is's unique. He should continue to go well, but with my team value, definitely shouldn't have paid up. But, you know, is what it is at this point. My dossie pick of the week, Caleb Windsor, 45. Sometimes you can have the role.
00:07:50
Holmesy
Caleb Windsor, Lockie Blackiston, but you're just not a very good footballer. And that's unfortunately what we're seeing with... Caleb Windsor was on 15 points after about a minute and a half. I think he had three touches and then had another four for the rest of the game. He was nowhere.
00:08:05
Holmesy
Thought the Essendon matchup would be good for him, but unfortunately Melbourne became the Essendon matchup and he needs to go, which is getting tricky with all the bullets we have. Before we get into our hot topics for the week, let's have a quick ah recap of the Pod Pod Challenge.
00:08:17
JORDAN D'SENA
you
00:08:21
Holmesy
So we have three coaches inside the top 100 now, which is good to see. evils Evil Zeeble sitting at rank 32. Fantasy Pawn Stars sitting at 45 in the powerhouse at 87. So...
00:08:34
Holmesy
Good to see three coaches there having far better years than us, Geordie, and hopefully they can keep it up. And as always, the winner of the Pod Pod Challenge will receive a custom AFL Fantasy ring from our friends over at supercoachchampion.com.
00:08:48
Holmesy
You're still able to join that league with the league code in the show description below. But Geordie, let's get stuck into our hot... topics and there are a few to deal with straight off the bat.
00:09:00
Holmesy
The first one being just injury carnage. So as you mentioned, Zorko two to three weeks with a calf. Wouldn't be surprised if that um extends out a bit further with how Brisbane are going and and wanting to make sure he is cherry ripe.
00:09:15
Holmesy
Dev Robb with the ACL, which is just shattering for the bloke coming across to the Eagles, finally playing some consistent AFL footy. So he's out for the year. Connor Butterick, your man, three to five weeks with a hammy.
00:09:27
Holmesy
Noah Anderson, one to three with his appendix being taken out. ah Petrarca supposedly back this week, which is good. Salem 4-6 with a foot slash ankle. Likosha 6-8 weeks.
00:09:40
Holmesy
Tim ml English a test. Dawson with his personal struggles. I hope he is going okay. Man, there's just injuries everywhere. And unfortunately, i mean, let's just start here. The Buterick and the Devrob situation being in the forward line, which I know a lot of the podcasts are touching on, makes it very tricky because a lot of the good options are not in the forward line this week.
00:10:01
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, 100%. And I think it's just that double blow, isn't it? If there was one injury, maybe you could have had your cover to come on and then you can still potentially trade some of these guys like your Windsors that you want to get out of your side, Holmes. But you might have to, depending on what you've got to do, you you might have to make a decision on you know is a forward line option more...
00:10:22
JORDAN D'SENA
more critical or do I, can I still get rid of Windsor? So, and I guess a bit of DPP, we we saw a whole bunch of new DPP um come in, which is so handy. So that might help with a few of the teams, but um I guess, yeah, that's probably one of the big questions this week for my trades is,
00:10:38
JORDAN D'SENA
can I play like, can I put Lombard's trade on field this week or a Marshall or I think Cook's probably okay. And that's what I'm sort of thinking about um with
Forward Line Management Challenges
00:10:48
JORDAN D'SENA
my trade. So um it's going to be tricky. I feel like some coaches definitely have to get a forward and, um,
00:10:55
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, it's going to be interesting to see where people go because there's a lot of options, lots of different prices, break-evens, where they're at, the buyers as well coming up mid-season. So it's tricky
00:11:09
Holmesy
Yeah, i mean um I mean, I can only speak to my team, but I dare say a lot of coaches are going to be the same here. And um'm I'm going to be playing Cook on field regardless. I think I just have to lock that in unless obviously he's dropped, which I highly doubt he is with the players that are going to be out for Adelaide this week.
00:11:24
JORDAN D'SENA
Hinge went out. Hmm.
00:11:27
Holmesy
But you're right. It's like the the proposition of playing a Lombard straight on field, that that terrifies me. And the the awkward thing I'm finding at the moment is I'd love to have him as a loop option, which I i kind of do.
00:11:39
Holmesy
But the fact of the matter is some of the good options, whether it be, you know, Petrarca plays in the same game. So you can't have a look at Lombard and then trade him in after if he's no good.
00:11:49
JORDAN D'SENA
Hmm.
00:11:49
Holmesy
um You know, and Archie Roberts, who's the flavor of the month in terms of if we wanted to trade him into defense, he plays earlier, I believe. So it's just, that is it the same game?
00:11:59
JORDAN D'SENA
The same game, yeah.
00:11:59
Holmesy
they play go Same game.
00:12:00
JORDAN D'SENA
It's Gold Coast and Lesnar, yeah.
00:12:01
Holmesy
Yeah. So... So it's like, okay, Lombard puts up a score that I'm happy with on field, but oh, I can't get Archie Roberts now. So that's that's what's tricky for me.
00:12:08
JORDAN D'SENA
Hmm.
00:12:10
Holmesy
um And also i did Fade Farrow, as as you know, and the listeners probably did, which I'm i'm living by that now. But... You know, if I want to go a Farrow, that means I'm probably missing out on an Anderson.
00:12:24
Holmesy
And if I want to go Anderson, you have to lock that first trade away in that that first game. So it's, talk me through, I gave you a lot, but it's just a lot to sort of work through.
00:12:29
JORDAN D'SENA
m
00:12:32
Holmesy
And it's it's just an awkward part of the season.
00:12:36
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, 100%. And I'm actually thinking, because I was one that held Petrarca, so i umm as long as he plays, which I'm hoping he does, it's actually quite handy that I can just put him on field. I'm not having to trade into that. But it does mean I have to pick between a Lombard and Marshall. And I think I'm just going to – um and I might just take the risk and put one on field this week is where I'm sort of leaning. um The other question of that is like Dev Rob's probably the most, the guy that you need to trade out because he's out for the year with an ACL, but he's got mid forward status. They play the last game of the rounds.
00:13:11
JORDAN D'SENA
Do you just hold him for that week? You know, maybe you can use him in the midfield as well. And then that goes to me, well, is Budarik more of a trade out? So over him, even though he could come back. So that's sort of sort of where I am leaning. And I think maybe I might just have to play Lombard straight on field this week, which is risky, but it might have to be done just so I can get, like I'm pretty keen to get Archie Roberts in, as you said. So, yeah. Hmm.
00:13:39
Holmesy
I mean, that's if that's if Lombard even holds, right? Like we know Anderson's not playing, but you've got Bailey Humphrey and Petrarca both coming back into that side.
00:13:39
JORDAN D'SENA
yeah
00:13:42
JORDAN D'SENA
m
00:13:48
Holmesy
Lombard hasn't been playing well. Yes, he's probably doing some defensive stuff that us fantasy coaches won't really know about. So his place in the side might not be... i'm at risk but if the bombers are playing little chip chip around uh gold coast stadium will will lombard even touch the footy so it is it is a scary proposition and the other thing we will kind of touch on before we go into some specific options is the The first buy rounds are not actually that far away.
00:14:14
Holmesy
And if we think about some of the players we already have in the round 12 buying the
Premium Player Trading Considerations
00:14:18
Holmesy
forward line, so you've got Adelaide, North Port and Gold Coast. A lot of us already have Rochelle. We all have Sheezle.
00:14:25
Holmesy
If you're now trading into another, so if you you've got Petrarca already, but if you want to trade into a Petrarca, that's a third premium on that buy.
00:14:29
JORDAN D'SENA
yeah
00:14:33
Holmesy
We're looking at a Rankin. you might You have a Marshall. Some might have a Marshall. Some might be looking at some left field options, whether it be a DBJ. All of a sudden, you know you can't have four or five players on the in the forward line on that buy. You're just asking for trouble. So that, once again, adds another element to to the trade this week.
00:14:52
JORDAN D'SENA
100%.
00:14:52
JORDAN D'SENA
even like there's other rookies as well, like Braden Cook, he's the buy. Dovidsson, if you still got him, if he comes back, he's also the buy. Yeah.
00:15:00
Holmesy
Lombard. Yeah.
00:15:01
JORDAN D'SENA
Lombard. So that's like, it's basically the whole forward line is, is cut out and it's bit of a shame. Murdoch just didn't play that extra game and get that forward status. Cause that pretty much resolved a lot of, lot of issues. So, but yeah he should be back this week, hopefully.
00:15:16
JORDAN D'SENA
and hopefully scoring in the midfield, which will be handy. But probably the other thing on those rookies there is Todd Marshall. We saw him go forward um in the third quarter. um And yeah, that Lacocious injury, I just wonder whether he's going to play forward. I guess we just have to see team sheets because I don't think Porter got a lot of depth coming through.
00:15:36
JORDAN D'SENA
i know Brandon z Zirk Thatcher was close. I think he was an emergency last week. So he could just come in and then Marshall goes forward. So, You know, it's choosing between him or Lombard or or something like that is risky.
00:15:51
JORDAN D'SENA
So just wanted to flag that role change. Hmm.
00:15:55
Holmesy
Yeah, and Port playing Hawthorne as well, right? So ah I can't say that being ah being a good matchup unless unless Port do end up doing the Essendon where they just go, you know, we just need to hold on to the footy.
00:16:05
Holmesy
Whether they can actually do it or not is a different story.
00:16:08
JORDAN D'SENA
Hmm.
00:16:08
Holmesy
um But yeah, it's it's very, very interesting. So let's go through some of those options in the forward line now. So, I mean, let's start at the top. You've got him so you don't have to worry. But Christian Petrarca... He's priced at 102. So it's you're not getting any value for him. If anything, he might be a little bit overpriced. We've seen a few good games to start the year and some soft matchups, but we've started to see Gold Coast come back to come back to earth a little bit and not play the best footy.
00:16:35
Holmesy
Would you feel comfortable trading straight into Petrarca knowing he's been out for a few weeks with Ahami and what we've seen with some of these players being managed as they come back in?
00:16:44
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, it's it's a real tough one because last week, apparently he said he was right to go last week, but they they held him back and he was calling Hardwick apparently saying, I want to play, I want to play. So that's a really good sign to say, you know, he's like, and Petrarca does with the professionalism that he is with all the training he does with Red Bull, et cetera. I would think that if he's ready to go, he is ready to go. so I expect him to come back in and do what he was doing. But then again, you just never know with the timee the time on ground. do they Like Rao's back in the team now. We even haven't seen the mix yet with Rao in there. He was out before. So i there's a little bit of hesitation. I'm just hoping he comes back as he was.
00:17:27
JORDAN D'SENA
But there's another guy on his team, Tuk Miller, who's a bit cheaper. And has played all the games. And I just think he's a really good option this week.
00:17:40
JORDAN D'SENA
I know he's priced at 95. And maybe that's probably where he is or just overs. But I feel like maybe I'd prefer to go to Tuk Miller over
00:17:52
Holmesy
Yeah, yeah. This one's interesting. I know you're you're trying to you're selling the narrative, right? So he had, what, two tons in his first three when they were all up and about before Raul was in. And then he did get a bit of it, ah according to FanFooty, he did get a bit of attention in a few of his games.
00:18:11
Holmesy
he's He's a 90 guy, right? like he's He's probably every chance to be a top six forward, but he's he's probably a 90 guy. Don't you agree? Yeah.
00:18:19
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I mean, and Petrarca is averaging 99. ninety nine I know he's had that low tog. Is Petrarca, where do we see Petrarca? I mean, maybe it's 5, 10 points above him.
00:18:30
JORDAN D'SENA
um But you've you got that injury you know, you're taking that. I guess it's not really a risk um because he's pretty pretty durable, Petrarca. But, um yeah, I mean, it's one of those things, isn't it? They got the Essendon matchup. Do you go
Fantasy Team Management Insights
00:18:46
JORDAN D'SENA
there for those guys or do you, with the round 12 buyer, do you just go, you know what, I want to have a look at this and I'm going to go for another guy like a Cosi Pickett or one of the Sydney or Hawthorne forwards?
00:18:59
Holmesy
Yeah, I mean, just so on Marrera's magic.com.au at the moment for for any members, if you go to schedule strength, just to get an idea of of what the strengths look like for the team's upcoming. So inside mids, Gold Coast have the fifth best run for inside mids over the next five, but that's purely off the Essendon matchup, which we've actually seen not be as good over the last two since they've started holding the footy.
00:19:24
Holmesy
Then they go Hawthorne, which is red, into GWS, which is neutral, but you'd think they'd get going at some point, into St Kilda, who no doubt will run some kind of a tag. Port Adelaide, which is a lot softer now. And then into North, which is actually really red before their buy. So they don't have the best run coming up.
00:19:42
Holmesy
Yes, Noah Anderson's probably out for the next... Well, he's out this week, and it's more than likely going to be another game or two. ah think he's I think he's going to be good. I just think Petrarca and Took are probably at best fairly priced, but more than likely slightly overpriced at the moment, which isn't good for a lot of us that don't have team value and we're looking to find value in every pick that we do.
00:19:57
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:20:05
JORDAN D'SENA
Yep, that's, I mean, that's a pretty fair point. And, um you know, i think in my position, obviously, I held Petrarca, so I'm hoping he's going to come back as he is. But, you know, maybe that's where you you look at your structure and um you go someone else. And I think probably Cosi Pickett is, I think he's one of the highest traded in just because of what he's been doing. So do you just go there? He's only won, he's priced at 101. So he's pretty much the same as Petrarca.
00:20:32
JORDAN D'SENA
That almost seems even more overs maybe and not fairly priced, but he's been killing it this year and and maybe he is going to take another leap up because I think he averaged about 87 the year before. Yeah.
00:20:46
Holmesy
Yeah.
00:20:46
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:20:47
Holmesy
Well, when we talk about schedule strength, so Melbourne actually have the the hardest run for inside mids over the next five. So they've got Brisbane this week, which I can't imagine Brisbane just let him do what he wants. I i dare say a Jared Berry probably runs with him, who's been a quite a restrictive restrictive guy when when he gets that role.
00:21:06
Holmesy
Then he goes into Richmond, which isn't the gravy matchup that it has been of the past, into Sydney, which they're not going to let him do what he wants. West Coast is good, but then into Hawthorne. So he basically goes rough game, easy game, rough game, easy game, rough game.
00:21:20
Holmesy
You're paying a 101 price tag for him. He's a top six forward. He is playing unbelievable footy. But I still think at some stage has to come back to earth a little bit. He's playing so far above what I believe he can sustain.
00:21:33
Holmesy
And that's that's with Grian Myers as well in terms of he's he's priced at 101. He's dealing with a bit of a knee injury at the moment and he hasn't been the same player over the last two weeks. I mean, he had that 60-point last quarter to get that 120, but then he goes 80-60 and that Eagles matchup's as easy as it gets for those half forwards. It was on Norwood though, which is a little bit different. So...
00:21:56
Holmesy
If you had to pick one that you're paying up for this week, who's it who is it?
00:22:03
JORDAN D'SENA
Oh, look, I'll just put Petrarca first just because I've got him and I held him for a reason, being a top, probably two forward behind Sheezle. But I'm still pretty keen on Took. So I'll put Took Miller second there and then I would probably have
Mid-Priced Player Evaluations
00:22:18
JORDAN D'SENA
the other ones there. But, I mean, after that, I'm sure we can talk about some of these other other guys. um You know, like your ranking types. Yeah.
00:22:29
Holmesy
Yeah, well, let's let's go there then.
00:22:30
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:22:30
Holmesy
So let's say we're we're now trying to we're going to try and hunt some value, but we're still going to try and pick a guy who can match it with the top six if they get on a run, and we have seen it in the past.
00:22:42
Holmesy
So the three names that I'll give you that I believe could do that, You've got JHF priced at 90 now that he has forward status. We all started him last year priced at 90 thinking they that he had another level to go to but that was before Port became what Port Adelaide are now.
00:23:01
Holmesy
You've got Chad Warner priced at 81 who we did see at times push the top six. Very up and down as a roller coaster but does have the CBAs at this point in time especially with Errol being out.
00:23:13
Holmesy
And then Isaac Rankin priced at 75. Fresh off a 111 last week, the thing that concerns me about him is that his role wasn't really any different compared to what it was at the back end of last year when we saw him basically be that 75 guy and all of us trade him out.
00:23:30
Holmesy
The one thing I'll say about Rankin is that we are seeing these half-forward guys that push up to the stoppage. Think of your C-Max at Hawthorne that are still able to score in this role in in the new footy, but talk me through those three players there because that's probably the hitting zone for a lot of coaches this week if they don't have the money to go all the way up.
00:23:50
JORDAN D'SENA
Yep, I agree with you. I think, so Rankin, I think he had a ah pretty good matchup. He definitely looked better on the weekend. I mean, we were there and obviously to the eye test. His time on ground actually went to 90%. So that was in the 70s, I think, for those games coming back. So that's a really good sign. I don't know whether some match fitness is in there or just bench rotation-wise, it just worked out better. Yeah.
00:24:14
JORDAN D'SENA
He did have a couple of goals in that. I'm still worried. Like Price is 75. He went at, up what was it, 87 or 80 to 89 last year. So he's probably the guy that's got the most value if he can get back to that.
00:24:27
JORDAN D'SENA
I just, um I don't know. I just, he's still, I just want to kind of want to see another game of it. And he does have that R12 buy. So it's like, dude, launch straight into it.
00:24:41
JORDAN D'SENA
Or do you get another game starter um against the Saints this week? I think Chad Warner is interesting because he's starting since Gordon's going down.
00:24:52
JORDAN D'SENA
He's got the CBAs now, but we've seen a big tick from McInerney now in that midfield. And that seems to be taking a few points. And obviously Isaac Heaney is just playing unbelievable football, like a Brownlow favorite. So,
00:25:06
JORDAN D'SENA
Warner's always been that sort of 85, 90 guy. So priced at 81, he's probably got a bit
Defensive Player Strategies
00:25:12
JORDAN D'SENA
of value there, but you just have to have McInerney and Heaney as a concern there behind him. But I think these guys, like if I don't haven't checked Sydney's run, but if Sydney have got a decent run, Warner could be an option that you just grab just for the buys because he doesn't have that R12 buy.
00:25:31
JORDAN D'SENA
um And the last guy you mentioned, Hornet, priced at 90. A lot better. Obviously, Rosie's gone down to taking some of that mid-time now. But he's probably, ah don't know, I just don't see him going more than 90 or breaking out. And as ah as we've seen with Paul, like we're not really that good.
00:25:49
Holmesy
he's ah He's a bit of a sook, isn't he, at times if he's not ah they don't have it on his terms.
00:25:54
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:25:55
Holmesy
Yeah, Warner. I mean, he has the GWS matchup this week, which I don't like trading into. But at the same time, Adelaide have St Kilda this week. And you know um we're only assuming that Jordan Dawson's not going to play this week.
00:26:08
Holmesy
Saligo's not playing this week after he left training early with an ankle injury. So I dare say Rankin's role will be better. But do you want to trade into a Rankin knowing that he has ah a Windhager or a Garcia tag coming this week? There's no way Ross just lets him run around and do what he wants. We've seen O'Sheen Mullen tag him to a 20 already this year.
00:26:28
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah. He's so dangerous, isn't he? I think that's why I think maybe Warner is an interesting one that could be an option. um Just because yeah he's guaranteed, like he's got the CBAs at the moment. He's got 50% plus, pretty I'm pretty sure. So, yeah.
00:26:45
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, one to think about. I think for me, I don't need to dabble in this area. So I'm happy to watch her for a week and and and go there next week.
00:26:51
Holmesy
must Must be nice, mate.
00:26:54
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:26:54
Holmesy
All right, let's go let's go some Maddies then. And there's two of them here. And straight off the bat, I'll admit, I've played around with them in my side and it is a scary pop proposition.
00:27:04
JORDAN D'SENA
yeah
00:27:08
Holmesy
The first one is Darcy Byrne-Jones. And at halftime last week, he was a serious option. So he tonned up the week before after going back into defence. And then he was on 69 at halftime and then he finished on 80.
00:27:21
Holmesy
So he's got the ability for a 69-point half, but he's also got the ability for an 11-point half. Jordy, I'd had a few more drinks than you at this point during the Port game.
00:27:31
JORDAN D'SENA
ah
00:27:32
Holmesy
So you were probably watching it a little bit closer than I was, out even though you were probably just watching Sinclair at the other end of the ground.
00:27:38
JORDAN D'SENA
I was watching Sinclair, yep.
00:27:40
Holmesy
what What happened to to DBJ in that in that second half?
00:27:40
JORDAN D'SENA
ah
00:27:46
JORDAN D'SENA
I don't know if I could put it down to to anything in particular. like Obviously, a clear role change. like I think what's happened is is Bergman... is out of the defense at the moment. He's playing forward now.
00:28:00
JORDAN D'SENA
um So we've we've done a bit of a switch there. I don't hate DBJ as an option. He's quite cheap. He has, like, he's an all-Australian defender. I know it's about five or six years ago. But if you're really strapped for cash and you need to sort of trade Buderick to a DBJ and it's your only way that going to get points on field this week, I don't hate it um as an option. It might not be, you know, it might not be a smash pick, but, um You know, if he's playing half back, he should do better than his price stat, which is 67. Can he push 80?
00:28:32
JORDAN D'SENA
um can he push eighty
00:28:36
Holmesy
It's tricky. So if we go back, he averaged 86 all the way back in 2019. And then he's got a year of 78 and a year of 62 back in 2022 and 2021. So it's it's not enough if he if he goes those numbers from 67. It's ah it's a nothing trade. You'd really need him probably going 85.
00:28:58
Holmesy
Think about your CMAX that are currently going above that, but they've got to that 85 price tag. That's what you'd need from him. Is it too much to sell the narrative that because Port are so bad that there's just going to be a few more free points back there chipping around?
00:29:12
Holmesy
You didn't really get the kickouts on the weekend. It sucks for you, but you'd probably rely on a Marshall going forward so that some more kick-ins and and distributor is available in the back line for Port.
00:29:23
Holmesy
It feels risky to me.
00:29:25
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I think like a team like Holm, I know you've you've been trying to get Windsor out of your side for a lot of weeks. And, you know, if you're sort of trading another guy in like DBJ, I guess it could be another issue. So i guess it depends how risky you you want to take the the pick. I mean, if you haven't got the money to go, like Rankin's not that much more money, right? He's priced at 75 over DBJ 67. So i think that's obviously a bit of a safer play you've got the cash. Yeah.
00:29:54
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I think, I don't know whether you want to take that risk with your team when you're trying to get rid of some of these guys.
00:30:03
Holmesy
So let's go the other the other loose pick then. Bailey Williams from the Eagles. Come in come in for Matt Flynn. Scored a 115 against Geelong, which was Mitch Edwards. So that pretty much the softest matchup you can have for a ruck.
00:30:18
Holmesy
We do, like, we hypothesize that he's the type of ruckman that the new rule should benefit, right? That jumping ruckman, I think he had 20 disposals, think about four tackles as well.
00:30:28
Holmesy
So played really, really well, but it does terrify me that his career best average is 76, close to 77.
00:30:37
JORDAN D'SENA
Mm-hmm.
00:30:39
Holmesy
And outside of that, he's really a 64, 65 type ruckman. I dare say he's going to be the number one ruck for a while at the Eagles with them going past Matt Flynn.
00:30:51
Holmesy
i I said, I was talking to you before, so has Fremantle, which have actually been the second easiest ah team to score on for Rucks so far this year. And I dare say that they've had a few, well, obviously Max Gorn's played them, so that helps.
00:31:05
Holmesy
But McAndrew went nuts in that game where it was just lots
Ruckmen and Rookie Strategies
00:31:08
Holmesy
of stoppages. So they are playing a bit of a contested brand of footy.
00:31:09
JORDAN D'SENA
Yep.
00:31:12
Holmesy
And we did see Darcy Cameron, who hasn't been able to score at all, go 108 on Friel on the weekend. I don't know, price at 61. What can you see Bailey Williams doing?
00:31:24
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, it's just it's just that risk risk um reward, isn't it? I mean, he's got ruck status. Can you hide behind that like at any point if you needed to?
00:31:35
JORDAN D'SENA
I don't know. like could you Could it help but that you can swing him there as as cover if you needed it um I don't know. I've ah i've owned i've ah um owned Bailey Williams in keepers for like a couple of years and he just, he's burnt me so many times like with 40s and 50s. I've put him on field, but obviously that was probably that as a dual ruck with Flynn. So it's hard to know what he's going to go at. um His break even is 14. So you are going to make money off of it. I don't know. It's not a pick that I'm going, willing to take.
00:32:08
Holmesy
Yeah, because you don't have to.
00:32:09
JORDAN D'SENA
ah
00:32:09
Holmesy
I mean, he's 26 now, right?
00:32:10
JORDAN D'SENA
I don't have to.
00:32:11
Holmesy
So when he did that 76 three years ago, he was a 22-year-old Ruckman.
00:32:12
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:32:16
Holmesy
And we don't really see Ruckman develop until they hit this age. So contract year, apparently he's one of the highest paid at the Eagles. So he's he's trying to get paid.
00:32:27
Holmesy
It's just, it's it's one of those picks. It could be one that pays off and just is an absolute smash pick, but it also could just be absolute nothing. You trade him in this week, Mason Cox comes in and he puts up a 40.
00:32:41
Holmesy
Yeah, I suppose.
00:32:41
JORDAN D'SENA
ah miss the I miss the game. I think, you know, maybe if you're hot on it and you watched him and he looks like he's going to take the next step, then it feels like one of those hitting picks, like you said, a bit if you can get on it and he looks good, then, yeah. I mean, with the forward options, he could be – I don't know. I don't know where I sit with it.
00:33:03
Holmesy
I'm looking at it if if I decide to go Farrow because I just can't not have him, which is a serious concern, I won't have a lot of money to go up and he might just be what I can get to, to be fair.
00:33:04
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:33:08
JORDAN D'SENA
Mm-hmm.
00:33:15
Holmesy
So I'm not i'm not ruling it out. I did pick him up in a couple of draft leagues. So clearly I like the appeal. but also like to be able to loop him off the bench in draft and not have to be stuck with it on field. So I'm not i'm not ruling it out, especially for coaches like myself that might need to take a bit of a punt on on some team value.
00:33:33
Holmesy
You know, i actually considered the double downgrade this week with Anderson and Farrow, but now that we've got two injuries in the forward line, um I'm not really going to be able to swing it. So for other coaches, Geordie, that maybe don't have to to deal with this forward issue and they are looking to trade into defense. I mean, let's talk Archie Roberts first.
00:33:52
Holmesy
he's taken 15 and 12 marks in his last two weeks. I think he's gone 164 and a high 130. Essendon clearly have changed up their game style in the last two two rounds.
00:34:04
Holmesy
Priced at 95, 96. Is he just an absolute must or is this a a case of a bit of group think and we're all just kind of chasing points here? What can we realistically see Archie Roberts doing for the rest of the year to be a pick for us in our sides? Because we can't get those 300 points.
00:34:21
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah. I mean, at the start of the week, I was... I was okay to miss Roberts, but I've come around to to putting him in. I think you know Price at 90, as you said, 96, 97,
00:34:33
JORDAN D'SENA
I think he's a top six defender now. I think, you know, we're we're probably going to lose Zorko. Maybe, like with this injury, Rosie's gone out. I've i've looked at the defenders. You've probably got ja Josh Dacos, Whitfield, Ash.
00:34:47
JORDAN D'SENA
Roberts probably slides in there now. And I think he's going to go over his price at, like, can he go 100? And his break-even is 21. If he goes 100 this week, he's going to make you um But also he could be ah just a ah keeper for the year. And Essendon also won as well. So they've obviously, you know, changed that game style.
00:35:09
JORDAN D'SENA
lot of marks, but they also won. I think I'm just going to jump on and just hopefully it just keeps continuing. And like we saw, like Nick Martin, and know it's a totally different role, but Nick Martin used to score in this role and he's not there. Like it it could be a friendly role.
00:35:27
JORDAN D'SENA
friendly role um And also, next week he's got Collingwood on Anzac Day.
00:35:33
Holmesy
Yeah. If you don't do it this week, you're not doing it until the buyers probably because it's just going to get away from you.
00:35:38
JORDAN D'SENA
m
00:35:38
Holmesy
So it is it is now or never. ah just, yeah.
00:35:43
JORDAN D'SENA
Like you could VC him next week against Collingwood early Saturday if if these defenders are going nuts. He got pumps out of 130 plus again and he's going to hurt you.
00:35:54
JORDAN D'SENA
But that's like the best case scenario.
00:35:57
Holmesy
So is it him or is it Messiah then who's priced a little bit more expensive, I think priced at 100, 101, but we saw him back to his best on the weekend despite port putting attention into him.
00:36:08
Holmesy
We were waiting for it. If you can only go one, not everyone's that lucky to have to be cashed up and be able to go both. which Which one is it?
00:36:20
JORDAN D'SENA
Oh, I'm thinking it's Roberts because if you don't get him this week, you're not going to get him. So you probably have to make that choice. You're either going to fade him. And like Naz is obviously a guy that's proven and done it before. 113 average last year, but he is getting a lot more attention. I did love the the role, bit of a role change on the weekend. Like I didn't see him go forward as much as the ball.
00:36:43
JORDAN D'SENA
He was a lot more ah in half back and I saw Sinclair move up and also the Saints forwards. they They were really deep, which allowed their midfield to kick a lot of goals. like You saw Garcia kick a goal from 50, and that's how they sort of banged on the goal. So I liked what I saw from Naz.
00:37:00
JORDAN D'SENA
He's got a ah pretty good matchup. But I just think you could probably get him break-even 73. He's still going to go up in money. You could probably get him next week. I just feel like Roberts with a break-even at 21.
00:37:13
JORDAN D'SENA
You've got to if you you gotta to make that decision this week. And I think he's if you want him, you've got to do him first, I think.
00:37:20
Holmesy
Yeah, and I mean, if we look at Nassai's run, so he's got Adelaide into West Coast, into Carlton, into Gold Coast, and then into Richmond. So in terms of five games, that's actually as as good as it gets. Adelaide have actually been giving up the second highest average to inside mids this year so far.
00:37:40
Holmesy
And then Gold Coast have actually been giving up a lot as well. So it's actually really important to look at the DVP numbers for this year alone because a lot of the matchups that we thought from last year, so for example, like North Melbourne, super tough at the moment. Richmond, not actually a really easy matchup. It's it's your Adelaide's, it's your Gold Coast that are actually giving up a lot of points.
00:38:02
Holmesy
So... Yeah, his run his his run is unreal. He's the safer top six, but I think you are right. If you don't go Roberts this week, you're basically saying that you're not going to get him for a while and then he might just get away from you.
00:38:15
JORDAN D'SENA
And like, so you had 42 disposals and a goal. Is there any world that like took Miller or something that puts attention into Roberts? Like, or is it more like, he is that forward,
00:38:29
JORDAN D'SENA
role player that does those sort of jobs or is it more just like, no, we're going to stick to, I mean, Gold Coast typically stick to their style and don't really tag, but it could be a bit of a, maybe they just defensive. I don't know. It has got me thinking and a Gold Coast, like theyve they need to win this game. Like I don't think they're going to take Essendon lightly at all. And they need like after two losses, I think they, um you know, they they're going to want to,
00:38:57
JORDAN D'SENA
you know, get on and and and they need to win this game basically. isn um So I just, yeah, I wonder whether he gets any attention or not.
00:39:06
Holmesy
Yeah, a game on the Gold Coast is going to be a lot trickier than playing Melbourne on Adelaide. And that's the other thing, 114 points in that second half. So, you know, we saw Parrish have 25 disposals and basically 85 points and a half for footy as well.
00:39:15
JORDAN D'SENA
Hmm.
00:39:22
Holmesy
That's not going to happen every week. I dare say it was just an out-of-the-box experience for Essendon, but it's pretty
Listener Questions and Expert Advice
00:39:28
Holmesy
clear now that that is the way that they are trying to play their footy. Yeah.
00:39:33
Holmesy
if everyone actually If anyone wants to go into the stats like we have today in terms of the DVP, the scheduled strength, head over to morrowsmagic.com.au and become an in-season member. Not only do you get the podcast from Selby and myself each week, but he's got all of his pages, his DVP, scheduled strength, market share, his best 22, my best 22. It's a really, really good resource. And like I said, it's it's really important to understand the the DVP data from this year and not just getting into old habits of of thinking of what happened last year is going to happen this year again. And and we we're starting to realize that with Jared Witts now, right, Jordy, where in old times, Jared Witts was as as a tougher ruck matchup as you can get. And the DVP data was actually kind of showing that as well.
00:40:20
Holmesy
But when you break it down, Nank had basically 80 points and a half a footy against him before he got injured. Gorn went massive. And now we've seen Grundy go massive again. So it's a really, really good research resource that I highly recommend AFL fantasy coaches get amongst.
00:40:36
Holmesy
But Jordy, let's finish off with some listener questions. or Actually, before we do that, I need to ask a question to you. And you gave an answer on the fantasy fanatics last night, and then you've kind of backtracked a little bit.
00:40:44
JORDAN D'SENA
Hmm.
00:40:48
Holmesy
So i want to see if you backtracked again. For coaches like myself that are idiots that still don't have Jacob Farrow, is a 53 price tag and whatever it is, 510 odd K, is that too much to pay for for Jacob Farrow now, who is ah essentially still a ah three-game player?
00:41:09
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, originally I thought I did. I thought it was because, you know, you made that choice last week to fade. um But his break even is minus 25 and I've sort of changed my tree. And I think I messaged this morning. I said, you know, if you've got to get your team value up, um he's it's not too late to get him because he's probably going to make another 100K this week. And if he keeps continuing it, there's that chance. I think you said, what if he tons again?
00:41:34
JORDAN D'SENA
um then, you know, he could get to seven, 800 K. So um yeah, I just wish you got him last week, but it's not too late.
00:41:43
Holmesy
right, mate. Why why i pay 400K for a rookie going 102 when you can pay 1.2 mil for an extra 31 points?
00:41:44
JORDAN D'SENA
yeah
00:41:53
Holmesy
Far out. Okay, so some coaches won't have Farrow. is Is it Farrow? Is it Anderson? What do we actually think about Anderson? Because he's an inside mid, 65% time on ground, so didn't have massive TOG. He does seem like he's got a very solid midfield role.
00:42:11
Holmesy
You know, he was a 90 guy in the sample last year, but really got hot in the back end of the year and then continued that in the VFL to start this year as well. you know, is it a Farrow or is it an Anderson? If we if you can get three, four, five games out of Anderson, you're going to make more money from him than you will paying for Farrow at this price. I suppose it's the job security of Farrow is probably a lot higher compared to Anderson. And we are seeing that halfback role being a lot easier for rookies to score, albeit Anderson is 22 years old and mature age.
00:42:44
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I really like Anderson. He's he's one that I'm probably going to try and get next week. And, you know, we'll see hopefully that third game with side bottom and to go your back. But I wonder, is it like if you need that extra cash to get the primo you want, is that one way that you could fade him? Like to say it gets you to an Asaya from from a rookie.
00:43:05
JORDAN D'SENA
but you have to go to Anderson. I feel like if you if that's one of the calls, then I think that's a really good thing to do because he's going to still make money, hopefully, if he can play for three, four games. And you're getting that primo in your side.
00:43:19
JORDAN D'SENA
I think if you can't get there and maybe you you're you know you're going to those forward options and you want another look at it, then maybe you do go Farrow and you can go somewhere else or you do the double downgraders, as you said, to get a bit more data um on board. So i think you can skip it depending on the other trade.
00:43:41
Holmesy
All right, I'll throw one thing to you before we go into the listener questions then. So is it playing a Lombard on field and then going up to your Roberts and your Nassire in defense, which would bench one of our good defender rookies?
00:43:57
Holmesy
Or is it playing the good defender rookies and then trading into a ah forward primo that clearly is not going to have the ceiling that some of these defender premiums will, but yeah're you're not risking that 30 on field? Where's where's your gut feel there?
00:44:12
JORDAN D'SENA
I am going to send it. So I'm going to take the risk and I'm putting one of those forwards on because I can get Nassiah and Roberts and I really want them and I want to get them this week.
00:44:23
JORDAN D'SENA
So I have to choose between Lombard and Marshall. and I can use Dev Rob as a loop, but I might just just put it like, so say one of these defender rookies, so say say it's a grill.
00:44:35
JORDAN D'SENA
He's got a tough matchup. Could he get 50, a 60?
00:44:39
JORDAN D'SENA
And then Lombard, if he can try, I'm hoping he can get 50. But if it's 30, 40, it's 30 points. So I'm hoping Nassai or Roberts can make that up. It's one week.
00:44:50
JORDAN D'SENA
It's not amazing. But who knows what some of those dabbling options in the forward line could do. and they're not guaranteed um to score that well. Like they're forward. So ah think I'm going to send it this week is sort of where I'm leaning.
00:45:04
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:45:05
Holmesy
Yeah, ah don't hate it. I don't hate it. it's There was a time, there was i was playing fantasy about three two, three years ago and i picked one of these Lombard types on field in my forward line and you hope for a 50 and I was working at the pub and he got me a 20.
00:45:19
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah.
00:45:24
JORDAN D'SENA
Oh no.
00:45:24
Holmesy
He got me a 20 and I remember I'd never celebrated hard out when I saw him have his one touch that went through for a goal. It's, man, it's a to basically, yeah, to get to 20.
00:45:33
JORDAN D'SENA
To get to 20. Well,
00:45:36
Holmesy
It was, it's scary, man.
00:45:41
JORDAN D'SENA
I got Marshall playing forward.
00:45:45
Holmesy
True. Playing forward against Hawks.
00:45:48
JORDAN D'SENA
And just cheer on a few goals. I don't know. I right i just, I really want Naz and Roberts, which means I have to put one of them on field. So that's where I'm leaning, but it's because I can get that upgrade. Otherwise i do. And I've got Petrarca, but I do like took Miller as an option. That was where my third one, if I do want to play that defender, that defender rook, but yeah, I mean, grill for Myers, like Jagger, like,
00:46:14
JORDAN D'SENA
Jagger's been playing a lot of half forward at the moment with Cherry in the side. It could be a 50, 60. So how many points is it more? Just don't want a 20.
00:46:25
Holmesy
Yeah, right. We'll both put Lombard on field then and we'll both be back, just me and you again next week and it'll be another another therapy session.
00:46:32
JORDAN D'SENA
Stato pick.
00:46:34
Holmesy
All right, let's get stuck into these questions.
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00:46:36
Holmesy
Just a reminder, if ye Podpod have once again partnered with Q Platforms in 2026 to help answer all of your AFL fantasy questions. So if you'd like some top advice on fading pharaoh and paying up to the top,
00:46:50
Holmesy
We are more than happy to help you out. So if you were head over to askmeonq.com forward slash pod pod AFL, the link is in the show description below. um you have the ability to get a fully personalized audio response to all of your AFL fantasy questions.
00:47:06
Holmesy
um If you do a full team review, just make sure you send the full so full team view with your bank balance so that I can help you out with that. There's also individual player questions and anything you'd like.
00:47:17
Holmesy
As I said, that link is in the show description below. But, Jordy, let's go through some of these questions. First one is from Brett Muller. Please compare and contrast Caldwell plus Dev Rob to Naz and Murdoch all in the midfield or Caldwell and Buderich to Murdoch and Keziah Pickett. So, I mean, Caldwell is the big one there. He is bleeding and he is bleeding fast. How do you prioritize that?
00:47:45
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, geez. it's It's a hard time to trade some of these primos now, isn't it? Like, we're at that time where we're upgrading our side and you're sort of sideways-ing, but you can't really hold Caldwell, can you? I don't know. Or do you? Like, that Essendon midfield has changed a lot. They put McGrath in there. Sardis is in there. Parrish ended up having a a really good game. 80% tog as well for Parrish.
00:48:06
JORDAN D'SENA
um I think I prefer...
00:48:08
Holmesy
Thank you.
00:48:08
JORDAN D'SENA
obviously, he's going to get Murdoch here as one of the trades, and i think that's that's really good because he's obviously making cash. I think I'm going to go Nassaya because, as we said before, um it probably means he has to field a Lombard, but I'm going to go that option.
00:48:24
JORDAN D'SENA
um Would you trade Caldwell? Would you hold now, even with the bleeding of cash?
00:48:34
Holmesy
Oh man, this one's tough. And this is probably the wrong advice, but I think with all of the bullets we've had, it's not the right time to be trading Caldwell. I think you've you've made your bet, unfortunately.
00:48:43
JORDAN D'SENA
Hmm.
00:48:46
Holmesy
It's upgrade season. um Yes, he's losing cash and Buderich is not losing cash this week, but we've just had a week of Dev Rob and Buderich being out with all the other bullets. If we keep getting these bullets, you're not goingnna have enough trades to fix your side.
00:49:02
Holmesy
We saw Parrish turn it around on the weekend with a ton. What's not to say that Caldwell won't be that player and turn it around next week? I think I'd trade Buteric personally.
00:49:13
Holmesy
just You just got to keep getting rid of these players that aren't playing. um
00:49:18
JORDAN D'SENA
So, Budarik and Devrop.
00:49:18
Holmesy
But yeah, I can...
00:49:19
JORDAN D'SENA
Yep.
00:49:19
Holmesy
Buteric and Devrob. Yep. Cozzy Pickett's good. um Yeah, just yeah it's Caldwell sucks. it's No one could have seen this coming. We were all hot on him in the preseason. He's had a bit of a role change, but he's a good player. You've just got to try and hope he turns it around. And if not, I can't see him being
Rookie Growth and Trade Timing
00:49:38
Holmesy
really, really low. He's going to turn it around and at least be a 90s guy, i would think, at some stage. But yeah, it's ah it's a really tricky one. And ah unfortunately, that it's gone that way for me. This one's from Tony Enlund.
00:49:49
Holmesy
High legends. Jaggers scored in the 50s again and even without Hewing playing. Has a break even of 40. Is it time for him to go for Anderson or Murdoch if he's back this week? Also, should we still be buying rookies for for cash flow or start to upgrade now? R.E. Windsor to Roberts.
00:50:07
JORDAN D'SENA
So definitely got to keep buying rookies. You got to keep getting the cash in. So Anderson or Murdoch are great picks this week. Probably Murdoch because of what he's been doing. Jagger, I...
00:50:19
JORDAN D'SENA
Um, I, with Jagger, I just wonder if like, um'm I'm putting grill above him as a trade out, just with a tougher matchup. um I'm just wondering with Jagger, are they managing him a bit now off that ACL younger player? Like the thing with him and he can, he can score so quickly that we saw that happen, um, in the, in the second half last week.
00:50:42
JORDAN D'SENA
Um, I think if you can upgrade him to a primo, like we've seen Selby jump off some of these guys early to get you to a primo. But if you're going down, i don't know. I just feel like maybe I'd rather go a grill or something like that. Just because, you know, Jagger, if he does get that rollback or something, he can score. And then all of a sudden that cash chain is going again. um Where do you sit with that? I mean, he, he could, he potentially could go in a couple of weeks.
00:51:12
Holmesy
Yeah, no, he's someone I've looked at personally, not now with all the bullets, but I think I will be benching him this weekend, whether I actually loop him or whether I loop Anderson is going to be something I need to look at before tomorrow night.
00:51:17
JORDAN D'SENA
Mm-hmm.
00:51:26
Holmesy
um He's playing for a bad team. And I dare say those games where he was racking early but getting a lot of cheap touches, I don't think that's the way that Carlton want to play.
00:51:37
Holmesy
he's not They're not playing that well that they can have someone like that just rack a lot of footy but not do a lot with it. He's ah he's a gun. But, yeah, I don't think we underestimate how much coming off an ACL and what that's done to his his management and things like that.
00:51:52
Holmesy
So, yeah, I'm actually happy for him to trade off Jagger. I do agree
Player Performance Analysis
00:51:56
Holmesy
with you. Grill is probably someone that needs to go as well. He's someone else that's starting to tire. And outside of that 90 in round one, we haven't seen that ceiling from him either.
00:52:05
Holmesy
But yeah, it's really important to keep getting the cash in, but also getting to that underpriced premium at the same time. That's what the game is all about. So if you want to go early on Jagger, I'm not going to talk you out of it. Jordy, make flag mantle a reality.
00:52:19
Holmesy
is Zach Bailey an option up forward? Has a great run coming up. I'll get that up while you talk through Zach Bailey.
00:52:27
JORDAN D'SENA
Gee, Zach Bailey. i Always been sort of that draft player, hey? But I'm just going to have a quick look at him because it's not one that I had considered.
00:52:34
Holmesy
Melbourne. Melbourne, Adelaide, Essendon and Carlton in his next four. He's gone back-to-back tons. I looked at him three weeks ago and a a good mate of mine and actually went him when we started talking about him. So he's a gun.
00:52:50
Holmesy
I do worry with Hugh McCluggage getting back up to full fitness. is There's only so much ball to go around. But Bailey went 98 in the back half last year and has basically started doing the same thing this year in a contract year. He's an absolute freak.
00:53:05
Holmesy
What is the price that about 87 ish, maybe even a bit more.
00:53:09
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, 871K. So just have to look at at that. But you are right. Contract year.
00:53:17
Holmesy
I like it.
00:53:18
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, contract year is is massive. He's trying to get – is it the Crows after him? I mean, there's plenty of clubs.
00:53:24
Holmesy
Yep.
00:53:25
JORDAN D'SENA
so yeah, good, good run, as you said. He's not one that I've ever gone for. But, I mean, looking at his – you can't really knock what he's doing, can you?
00:53:37
Holmesy
No, I really like it. I'll tick it off. Tick it off. Maybe, yeah, you're you're banking on him being a top six, but there's no reason why he's not a top six when you're versing a Tuk Miller, a JHF, a Warner. Warner's getting slightly more CBAs, but you know Zach Bailey is more fantasy friendly then than those players at the moment. So yeah, I would tick that one off if you want to go there.
00:54:02
Holmesy
ah This one's from Sean. Hey, guys, if you've got Zorko, could you possibly hold him if you can do the same trades regardless for the next two weeks? Or does he need to go over one of Buderich slash Windsor?
00:54:16
JORDAN D'SENA
So are we worried Zorko might be managed coming back? That would be my only concern. Like it's two to three weeks. Could he be managed? And then you he's still bleeding cash. you're holding him then he ends up you bleeding cash. I think I'm just with his age and his price, I think I'm just going to jump off Zorko. That's just sort of where I'm sitting with it.
00:54:38
JORDAN D'SENA
um
00:54:38
Holmesy
Yep, I agree.
00:54:39
JORDAN D'SENA
So I think, yeah, I think Zorko,
00:54:41
Holmesy
aza The Windsor and Blackie, they need to go as well, but we've just seen Huma Cluggage come back, who's an absolute fitness freak, and even they've managed him.
00:54:49
JORDAN D'SENA
m
00:54:52
Holmesy
And what's not to say that Zorko doesn't you know retweak his calf in training over the next few weeks and it gets pushed out to four weeks, five weeks. I think with that one, you just sort of cut ties on that and then look to bring him back in later on in the year if he's fit and healthy again and finds himself...
00:55:08
Holmesy
at a really cheap price. But I like the thinking. You do need to get out the Budericks and the Windsors. So maybe it's a combination of Zorko and one of those other guys. Jordy, this one's from Bontsville Wizard. Hey, guys, um if I'm not too late for a question, I'm desperate to get off Caldwell, losing a stack ah stack of cash with a roll change. Can I hold Robertson and Luke to go up next week?
00:55:29
Holmesy
So he wants to do Caldwell to Roberts via DPP and then Buderick to Rankin. We'd love your thoughts.
00:55:36
JORDAN D'SENA
Oh, geez. We talked sort of talked about backing in Caldwell. um You know, your call on on the um against Gold Coast this week. So ah love the trade-ins though, Roberts and Rankin. Like that's unreal. um I just think, yeah, maybe we we you sort of need to keep upgrading your side, don't you, at this point of the year. So i think we should stick with that. The Caldwell, hopefully he can bounce back.
00:56:01
JORDAN D'SENA
um And McGrath's not in that midfield this week.
00:56:06
Holmesy
Yeah, I mean, i don't if so let's say he loops on Thursday night and Saturday early. So say he's looping a combination of a Jagger and Anderson and then Lombard cooking the forward line. If he gets a good score from those guys and he wants to loop and the only way to do that is to hold Dev Rob, I think that's fine. it It is risky with all the bullets. If you can't get them off him next week, you can't get them off him the week after, then you do find yourself in trouble.
00:56:35
Holmesy
But i actually do like those trades. And if he doesn't have a lot of other bullets in his side, if he's been able to get rid of the Windsors, get rid of the Blackies and those other players that have stalled and gone back in cash, I don't i don't hate that thought.
00:56:48
JORDAN D'SENA
Yep. Yep. I think.
00:56:50
Holmesy
Which, yeah.
00:56:50
JORDAN D'SENA
And Roberts, you like I mean, ah I want to jump. I'm so keen to jump on Roberts. So you're going to make cash.
00:56:57
Holmesy
Yep, nah, that's fair enough.
00:56:57
JORDAN D'SENA
Big time.
00:56:59
Holmesy
Jordy, this one's from Jocko, number 36. Best forward options under the 850K mark. So he's got Sparrow, Conor Mack, Ginovan, Warner, Rankin, and Tim Kelly.
00:57:14
JORDAN D'SENA
Oh, Ginevan's gone so well at the moment. i'm Playing really good footy. um I like C-Mac. He's probably fairly priced, but we probably should have started him. I know we had him in preseason. um I like him, Warner and Rankin, I think, there as in a sort of a ah tier above. And then I'd probably put the other three. So Sparrow, Ginevan and Kelly.
00:57:36
JORDAN D'SENA
don't know if I would go to those three. um I think I'm still Warner one, C-Mac two, Rankin three.
00:57:45
Holmesy
Yeah, the one thing I'll say about Sparrow, and it is loose, priced at 77 with all of the defender options going down for Melbourne. Now, i know Windsor hasn't been getting the pill much anyway, but if a Windsor or someone has to go back into defense to cover some of those outs, that's only going to open up more midfield time for Sparrow.
00:58:07
Holmesy
there's ah There's a world where he can be an 85-90 guy in that midfield with his tackle pressure. um But yeah, I think you're right. I think out of those options, you you really want to try and hunt the guy that has potential to be top six and is still presenting the most value. And that's that's Rankin or Warner. C-Mac and Ginevan, as well as they've been playing, you needed to start them because they're both priced at 85 and 87 now. So best case, they're probably going to be 90 in that role that they play. They are going to have some floor scores.
00:58:37
Holmesy
So the value is pretty much gone. You're trying to find someone that's that's on the up. So I think I'm Warner and then Rankin too, Geordie, but that's really because you've talked me into Warner during this this podcast.
00:58:49
Holmesy
This one is from Gower Manor FC. What is wrong with Brayshaw? Got on him as a potter through his big big score. Sorry, wish I hadn't.
00:58:57
JORDAN D'SENA
I don't know.
00:58:58
Holmesy
So, I mean, Andy Brayshaw.
00:59:01
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I think we sort of talked about this probably a few weeks ago and maybe preseason. I just think Frio's game style, we saw a bit of a change there last year. And I think their midfield is just so stacked at the moment. don't know Hayden Young's not in there, but the rolling Shea Bolton and Murphy Reid in there, I just think it's a wider spread. Brayshaw's not the main guy anymore. And it's big spread of points. So it's 90. I think we said, you know, we can see all these guys going between 92 and maybe 100.
00:59:30
JORDAN D'SENA
um we're hoping the game style naturally improves. I mean, we've seen Sarong actually do okay. i know you've got, you're a Sarong owner, but I think Brayshaw's days of that inside-outside, he's definitely more inside at the moment. And um they're trying to turn him into a bit of a defensive midfielder, like a dunkly type. So,
00:59:52
JORDAN D'SENA
Who knows? He he could, if he can start tackling like, like he has done. um We've seen Dunkley, you know, do that when the, when it gets a bit colder and the weather changes and a bit more sore bodies, um he might be an option for us, but at the moment we just sort of think he's that 9,500 guy. Yeah.
01:00:11
JORDAN D'SENA
guy
01:00:13
Holmesy
Yep. No, I went so wrong, as you said, and actually do put up some good scores, but also has some floor scores. And that's just what Freo is at the moment. They're at they're at a top four side that's hunting a flag. They're not worried about individual um disposals and things like that. They're just playing roles for the team. they're going to have good games and they're going to have bad games, which unfortunately isn't good for our us as fantasy coaches and our our premium midfielders.
01:00:37
Holmesy
Last one, Jordy. This is from Cara AFL Fantasy. Just quietly, absolutely killing it again this year. Hopefully, you can get a second hat. Would you go the higher-priced Murdoch if named or the lower-priced Angry Anderson? So I think there's about one hundred k difference. What are your thoughts?
01:00:56
JORDAN D'SENA
You've got to get Murdoch, don't you? Yeah, he's he's a gun. And, you know, 290 plus scores. I don't see him not scoring this week, I don't think. So I think I'd get Murdoch and then go for Anderson the week after.
01:01:11
Holmesy
Yep, Anderson's still going to be gettable the week after. You get another week on his role. You get another week to see if he holds with some of the other players coming back. Dugowie's out with concussion, but he won't be out for too much longer.
01:01:23
Holmesy
Side bottom's going to come back in, a few of the other boys. So that's the way I'd be going as well, as long as you can still get your upgrade on the other end. Jordy, that is going to wrap us up,
Episode Closing Remarks
01:01:34
Holmesy
mate. Thank you for for jumping on. And so this wasn't a solo podcast, although i don't feel as bad for you anymore. All I heard was whinging over Gatheround, but I didn't know that you were able to to bring in Nassaya and Roberts and bring Petrarca back on field this week. I'm not sure what you were sort of worried about.
01:01:52
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I know. I'm keen to hopefully bounce back this week and get up those ranks. Yeah, I'm excited. So we're going to carry on, but it was just because, you know, we're all there together and, you know, you were nudging me a bit on Sinclair and Josh Dacos. So um yeah, anyway, hopefully this week I can send you some messages back of those boys going well.
01:02:15
Holmesy
Nah, well, good, mate. And that thanks for getting us into the Sportsbet bar and and making up a bit of the the money that I lost on Sportsbet over the weekend. It was nice to to recuperate a little bit of that.
01:02:26
Holmesy
But as always, make sure you are following us on X at PodPod AFL.
01:02:27
JORDAN D'SENA
Nah, no worries at all.
01:02:32
Holmesy
I'm at Holmes is Heroes. Make sure you're subscribed to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your content. I'll be back on the Marrera's Magic podcast with Selby on Thursday. So tomorrow to talk through my trades and all of the key questions after the teams drop tomorrow night.
01:02:51
Holmesy
We'll be back with our regular podcast on Tuesday next week. So make sure you so tune in for that. Have a good round and we will chat again soon. Bye.