Introduction and Sponsorship
00:00:18
Speaker
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.
AFL Fantasy Strategy and Top 100 Competition
00:00:28
Speaker
Bit of a later record this week, but we're back to briefly review our rounds from last week before we talk all things strategy leading into a very important round of AFL Fantasy where we have, you know, right at the pointy end, we have a lot of coaches competing for that top 100 hat and it's even tightening up towards the tundra race which is really exciting to see no john harmy this week but we do have our perennial top 1k finisher louis mate just uh ticking along quite nicely relatively good score which we'll get to despite some of the uh injury carnage towards the end of the week mate but uh how did you actually know that roan marshall was laid out considering you don't log into the app or actually look at your phone over the weekend
00:01:14
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it's it's good to be here. I think that that title might need to be tweaked after this season, but, um ah well, I didn't.
00:01:25
Speaker
I'm very thankful that I had benched ah an absolute spud like Christian Petrarca, so I was able to get the cover
Injury News and Cover Strategy
00:01:33
Speaker
of him. But, no, I wasn't fortunate enough to see that Rowan Marshall was a laid out, and it it certainly gave me a little bit of a panic attack when I found out, but,
00:01:43
Speaker
Did feel better knowing that Petrarca was on um at F7 and probably the best that I've felt about Christian Petrarca in the last probably three to six months. So that was always quite nice.
00:01:59
Speaker
Yeah, far out. We'll get to the Royal Marshall
Jordy's Remote Participation
00:02:02
Speaker
news. But we do have Jordy who's joining us all the way from a train somewhere in the middle of nowhere. So audio might be a little bit ah different than what we're normally accustomed to. But Jordy, your team is flying, but I actually, i need some advice from you from something other than AFL fantasy.
00:02:20
Speaker
As I know you're you're a big runner, you love your run club and you you recently went to, was it Queensland for the half marathon and and did quite well and it's now official.
Marathon Punishment Plans
00:02:32
Speaker
My draft league has been run and done, dead last for Holmesy, marathon punishment in December. I'm currently marathon training and I just, I need some advice from you, mate.
00:02:45
Speaker
How's it going? Yes, I am on a train. I am actually on the way to you, Holmesy, to Perth. So I'll be there on Saturday. So I'll be there for a couple of hours. um But yeah, I did do a half marathon in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago. That's when I got to see that Gold Coast game.
00:03:01
Speaker
um But yeah, I think you just got to get the Ks in the legs. um December, that's not too far away. um What one are you doing? or Maybe I should join you.
00:03:13
Speaker
Well, funny you say that. So it's actually, I'm at the peril of the league, but at the moment, it's running a marathon around Optus Stadium, day two of the Test Match cricket, while all the rest of the league go in and sink beers and have a good time, and I won't be allowed into the cricket oh my until I've run laps around Optus. Full
00:03:38
Speaker
Full 42.2, mate. Oh, my. That's the worst.
Training and League Pressures
00:03:43
Speaker
That's the most brutal fantasy punishment that ah that I have heard of. I'd rather go sit in a Macca's and drop 24 cheeseburgers.
00:03:53
Speaker
That sounds awful. That's insane. initially they wanted it to be actually inside of the stadium so i'd have to accumulate it like i don't know if you've been to optus but you know there's there's a fair walkway that goes mostly around the stadium but you can't get through the members so they wanted me to go back and forth accumulating it in the stadium but uh we're not going to get that over the line without you know getting in trouble so yeah laps around just go back and forth between families for 42 kilometers
00:04:24
Speaker
going to have to go early because it's going to be hot as well. You might have to start at like a 5 a.m. or something, get it done, and then cricket I'm at the peril of the league, mate. If they tell me that I have to start when ball one starts, whatever it is, I'll just have to. Well, can we share the Strava when you do get that done? I think that'll be a good thing to post on the PodPod.
00:04:46
Speaker
Some good content
Round Performance and Player Injuries
00:04:47
Speaker
there. You should be right, mate. You've had an eight-pack for as long as I've known you. It's a number of years now, so you've always kept yourself in good shape. I reckon you're on the gels. Yeah, make sure you have gels as well. You've got to have the gels.
00:05:00
Speaker
Yeah, the ah Louis, the four knee reconstructions and the the lack of road running over the journey, is ah it's a ah a careful training block. Let's put it that way. But i am I am balls deep in training at the moment. I think I'm running about 30 Ks a week and I've got to get that up to, what, 50 or 60 before I taper off. But anyway.
00:05:19
Speaker
Moving on, why don't we review the round that was? And I unfortunately need to kick us off 22-48 for myself. A bit like you, Louis, I did cop the Rowan Marshall laid out, which was a donut for me being in the ruck line.
00:05:37
Speaker
Nothing you can do at this point. Also had the Finn Callaghan injury. he was He was nowhere anyway being tagged, but he was saving that game before he he got that ankle. But...
00:05:48
Speaker
And I don't want to know what my score would have been if I didn't trade in this bloke, but my Stato pick of the week, sorry, Jarman Impey for his 147.
00:05:59
Speaker
Finally was able to get off Brent Daniels. So, you know, I've got another GWS injured midfielder in my side, but was finally able to complete my so side, quote
Trade Challenges and Player Replacements
00:06:09
Speaker
unquote. So that 147 was, ah yeah.
00:06:12
Speaker
really really good and they're the dossie pick of the week finn callaghan he's been disappointing for about a month now uh was nowhere getting tagged in that game before getting injured so can't be having that this time of year and i think it's what about seven eight weeks in a row now where i'm going to have to patch up and and do a trade that i don't want to do rather than getting rid of the houston's the petrarch is all those types but hey we move on louis how did you go Yes, so i was thankful I didn't cop the Rowan Marshall donor instead. I thought I'd mix it up and I would cop the Nick Newman 5 because I did loop on Hulk Hahan for Bodie Ryan um early on in the weekend. And unfortunately, and this is a bit of the tale of my season, somebody who was hyping up the week before and I was keen to get back,
00:07:04
Speaker
Tanner Bruin was sitting there at D10. I it did not put him on the field. there was so There were some late changes and um yeah he just got lost there, I guess. I'm not entirely sure but what went on there.
Draft League and Player Performances
00:07:21
Speaker
yeah. So, may have just been having a nice Friday night and just didn't quite call that. There's only eight defense options. In fact, I think he played on Thursday, so... Yes.
00:07:34
Speaker
Oh, sorry, D8. You know what I mean, mate. But, yeah, very unfortunate there. So my Stata Pick the Week, I'm going to give to Wanganeen Miller, the 182. Would have liked to have seen that be a little bit higher, but, you know, you can't complain too much. I'll give him that 182. That was quite nice. Just on that, Louis, you just have to – I mean, it's not the draft show, but I do actually – I forgot about this. I needed to win draft to avoid punishment. And the team that I was versing had the Rowan Marshall laid out. So copped a zero. And I thought I'm a semi chance here to maybe.
00:08:10
Speaker
ah no I was no chance. Yeah, you had Wanganee, Milera smashed me by I think 200 points even with a donut. So just just not my year. Not with the C, I hope. Nah, nah. He'd already added Richards 130. That would have been a nice C. I was certainly leaning there, but then the Finno Sullivan tag just looming over that sort of swayed me towards Sheezal. But I'll tell you what, that would have been a nice one to stick the C on. And then the Dossie Pick of the Week, look, I should give it to Nick Newman for the five with the hamstring. But...
00:08:45
Speaker
Really, that's kind of my own fault. I should have ah should have clued in there and put Tanner Bruin on field at the very least. But my DOS pick of the week is going to Michael Selwood. He's been my GOAT all season um and he would have come in handy this week. And the 85 was phenomenal.
00:09:05
Speaker
I've pumped him up. I've pumped up his tyres for weeks and weeks and weeks. And fortunately, I traded him out and he drops his largest score of the season. So super flat about that. um So yeah, that's going to be my dossier pick of the week, which was quite disrespectful to the great man.
00:09:21
Speaker
Does he come on the players' trip? he looks like He looks like one of the lads that would get around the players' trip, I think. Oh, absolutely he does. he He was my most skeptical pick to start the season and he's going to finish the the season as as one of my favorite picks and and one of the the staples of my team all season. he's He's got me out of trouble. As you know, I was sitting there with you on Gather Round Homes and we were absolutely cheering every single disposal he got. He's he's he's a handy player. We we love Michael Selwood on the podcast.
00:09:51
Speaker
Yes, we sure do. All right, Jordy, the informed coach of the pod pod, let us know where you're at.
Rank Aspirations and Trade Insights
00:10:01
Speaker
Yeah, I'm doing okay. got a score of 23-62, so I pulled my rank in again. a thousand spots. So 3,389. So four weeks to go Hopefully can, uh, yeah, if I can keep chipping away, yeah i would love to get that top 2k, Holmesy and try and, uh, I know you're about that 2k range. So would be awesome to get there.
00:10:24
Speaker
we'll see what happens. Uh, the Stato pick of the week has to go to Darcy Cameron, uh, for the, the 137. So, couple of weeks ago, i wanted to actually trade him out and I had to hold him and it's ended up, I guess I've been a bit kissed and he's looking, well, he's actually averaging the second most behind Gorn now. so And he's got the cats this week. So I've even got the VC on him. I don't think i don't know whether that's a bit much to ask of him, but... um Yeah, he's absolutely flying. So um I think I was listening to you your pod, Helmsu, with ah Selby last week and he might be a consideration for you, I'm hearing.
00:11:05
Speaker
I don't know. if I couldn't bring him in for a third time. I've probably got to bring in Hugh McCluggage for a second time this week. So there's there's other players I've got to trade back in before I go Darcy Cameron a third time, right?
00:11:18
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. You'll probably bring him in and something will happen. I know he's missed training this week as well. So anyway, it's just crazy. I guess it's one of those years like another one was Filippo. He started him, now he's coming good.
Forward Line Strategy and Pod Challenge
00:11:33
Speaker
those years, injuries, form. But yeah, I'm very happy to to have him and a 137 is a huge score and it's helping obviously me with the rankings. But yeah, the Dossie pick goes to Dan Houston. So this guy is Very frustrating. Yes, I probably should have traded him out, but I set a couple of good scores.
00:11:53
Speaker
I will be looping him Thursday night. So we'll see what happens with him. um He may, yeah, I think I'll be holding him because of the the early game. And I've got Hulk Hahan there who I think is a solid 80 this week. So we'll see what Houston can do. But i don't think it's too bad. like he's I guess he's that probably that perfect loop guy where he can do a ceiling score.
00:12:16
Speaker
And if it's a 90 plus, I'll take it. So happy to loop him this week. Yeah, he's been up and down. Yeah, I suppose the loop option is is definitely the play, especially for someone in your position, Jordy.
00:12:31
Speaker
Quick update on the Pod Pod Challenge. So we do have two coaches inside the top 10 now. So the powerhouse who unfortunately has slipped from second down to third, but still obviously well in the hunt there.
00:12:45
Speaker
B-Dub at nine and then Steve-O's Devos at 27. So still three coaches right up there. As a reminder, the winner of the Pod Pod Challenge will receive a custom AFL fantasy ring from our friends over at supercoachchampion.com.
00:13:00
Speaker
The lead code is still in this in the show description if you've been a ah listener all year and and just haven't made your way in there. Let's get stuck into the hot topics and being able to do this a little bit later in the week is clearly helpful.
00:13:16
Speaker
Jordan Ngoi, there's been doubt surrounding him all week, but he has been named... So that is good to go. we spoke about it off the top, but Finn Callaghan, ankle for the season. He has to go if you've still got him.
00:13:29
Speaker
Nick Newman, Hammy this time of year, he obviously
End-of-Season Strategies and Unique Picks
00:13:32
Speaker
has to go. um Outside of that, Wayne Millerer, there's obviously doubt around him, does play the last game, which makes it a little bit awkward. So make sure you've got good cover there. i mean, I'd love to, or coaches would love to trade him in if he was fit and healthy with those matchups coming up. But,
00:13:48
Speaker
With that, I'm not sure whether he's going to get rested or have a rest in the next couple of weeks. um But I suppose I wanted to kind of talk about strategy, right? So four weeks to go, as I mentioned, there's coaches that are you know vying for that sort of top 10, even the tundra.
00:14:04
Speaker
There's coaches that are you know clinging onto the top 100 or trying to find ways to kind of charge in. We've got a ah number of different ranks on this pod here. so I suppose just, Jordy, let's start with you as the inform um coach on the pod. Now, you're still ranked lower than I am, but our rankings are going in different directions.
00:14:24
Speaker
What's your sort of strategy now at this time of year over the next four weeks to try and maximize your ranking to to finish off strongly? Yeah, i'm I'm definitely looking at the run. So obviously four weeks, you can actually grab in some players that might not actually be best 22 for the year. So even if they're season average, like someone like Isaac Heaney, he's been that top six mid for the year, but he's actually, the last three weeks he's sort of been going at 80. I think he's going to bounce back, but I'm not targeting a player like that. I think, there's another teammate of his who's, you know, did a a bit of a higher score. So I'm sort of targeting guys like that. And, um you know, for me, obviously the forward line is one of those areas where I feel like you can make up some points. So, you know, if you've got a Petrarca, if you've got a Marshall, I don't really know what to do with him this week. um And I feel like there's some of these forwards going, well, there's a,
00:15:19
Speaker
About five or six, I'm going at 105 in the last five. So I feel like you can maybe make 30, 40 points there if you can pick the right one. um you know Someone like Brad Hill the one I'm looking because he can he's got a ceiling. So I'm looking at runs and also players with a ceiling.
00:15:37
Speaker
um And yeah, I mean, that's just sort of what am looking for at the moment.
00:15:44
Speaker
Are you tempted to to try and, you know, anti-pod someone? So, for example, like, I mean, Heaney's the example that you gave that's popular that you're not looking to trade in. But let's say, you know, you're not a own ah not an owner of a Baz Smith, for example.
00:15:59
Speaker
He's just an example. But are you tempted to try and anti-pod at this time of year to try and go different to the comp to make up points there? Or is that not something you kind of entertain? ah For me, the forward line is...
00:16:12
Speaker
the biggest area that I want to improve. But you probably could look at it because there's probably a few tags. Like, does Baz get attention this week from Ed Allen? Like, it's possible. I know ed Allen sort of went last week to Dawson and he's still got a decent score. So you probably need to look at the tags as well. i mean, we saw last year, i mean, you were, you know, Holmes, you had it.
00:16:38
Speaker
ah Noah Anderson and you looped him with tags. So i think you need to look at that. um But yeah, I'm not personally looking at anti-potting someone right now. I want to fix the forward line, but if your team's perfect, could you trade out of someone coming up to a tag?
00:16:54
Speaker
um And, and some of these tags are ah harder than others. Like, Some of them a bit softer. Selby's platform's got a new column now, which has got the tags and it gives you that. gives you that if it's hard, if it's soft, um you know what the how how many minutes they're on there. So I'll be looking at that as well.
00:17:13
Speaker
And yeah, I guess it depends how far away you are from the top 100 or top 10. And it's that risk that you might want to take.
00:17:24
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I kind of say this every every year around this time. It's if you are in the top 100 slash sort of top 10, top 25, you really don't want to die wondering. Like it's such a hard game to sort of back up and and be at the top.
00:17:41
Speaker
You never know when this experience is going to happen again. So I think you've got to try and be aggressive, have a crack. As I said, don't die wondering. Yes, I know winning that first hat is, you know, what a lot of coaches strive towards. So there is an element of sort of playing playing safe if you're, you know, just trying to hold onto a hat or things like that. But, you know, if you are around that 50 or lower, Louis, I think personally you've got to have a dip to try and get as high high as you can.
00:18:11
Speaker
Absolutely. Yeah, I think this is where you're really going to dig in and if you're If you're there in the pointy part of the season, you're you're there for a reason and you've been reading the footy pretty well. um you know At this stage, the the luck has been there, of course, but I think that you know there's something more than that for for where you are currently. you've You've clearly been able to read the tea leaves.
00:18:34
Speaker
Well enough, so I think you do have to back yourself and bring in some of these guys that you know can seriously like catapult your ranking. yeah were We're only talking a couple of points when you talk about the top 100 come this time of year. So I think you've got to go for it because everybody outside of that 100, everybody outside 1,000, everybody who...
00:18:58
Speaker
is still you know just having a crack at this time of the year in fantasy. that They are going to be looking for these guys that can really just catapult their season in a way within the context of where they're at. and um I think you you can get a little bit complacent as a coach thinking that maybe you're there and you just want to hang on to a hat, but I can guarantee everybody else who's not in that conversation just yet is is trying just as hard to sort of get themselves up as as far as possible and find these guys that are going to be able to deliver them to that sort of territory or, you know, just really just diving deep into the stats and trying to find some of these
00:19:40
Speaker
more unique guys that aren't highly owned by by a lot of the top coaches that are going to get them close enough. So I've always spruced this every single year is you you genuinely need to be in it to win it. And sitting back on your hands at this stage of the year can sometimes be the reason why you don't finish in that top 100. You do need to have have the balls to you know put them out on the line and and actually have a crack.
00:20:10
Speaker
So then let's say, um and you've been in this position multiple times, Lou, let's say you're in that sort of 200 to range and you're you're trying really hard to to get into that top 100 for a hat. It might be, I mean, I haven't looked at the the numbers, but you might be, let's say 200 points off 100, maybe a little bit more, so 50 points a week.
00:20:29
Speaker
What should these coaches be looking to do? You kind of talk about it. You talked about it before in terms of, you know, maybe finding unique some unique players or being brave to go against the highly traded in players. Is it, you know, taking a punt on a unique vice captain as a way to try and get ah a different captain score? What are you sort of thinking?
00:20:49
Speaker
Well, um I mean, it's obvious to say, but of course you're looking at matchups. You want to see what other players are scoring against other teams. And, um you know, there's so many great resources out there, but I'm always one that I ultimately would like to make the call based on what I see myself. So I'll go back to the matchups of similar players that I'm looking at.
00:21:10
Speaker
um across three or four weeks previous against that particular matchup and just see what they're scoring myself. Sometimes you can get a really nice vibe out of what's going on there.
00:21:22
Speaker
um but But also, you know, yeah you do want ceiling in terms of a VC type play. Like uniqueness in a VC is is amazing. Like ah I can remember, you know, probably five, six years ago, um you know, when it was – kind of new technology, but not really, but definitely coaches that were onto the early VC were, were accelerating in the ranks is just being able to find those guys that can find a ceiling. Um, I think there's a lot of safe captains out there, but there's a couple of matchups that will really lend themselves to the right player, to the right ceiling where you can really find a leg up. So, um,
00:22:05
Speaker
Uh, you do, you do need to continue to get creative. You it's there. Like there there's so much, um, points up for grabs over the next couple of weeks, as long as you're brave enough to take them. And, um, I understand that it can be a little bit tricky to, to put your balls on the line, so to speak. And, um,
00:22:25
Speaker
you know, maybe risk yourself falling out of that 100. But I think it's a whole lot worse if you don't go for it and it does pay off at this time of year where, ah you know, you just got to go for it. And I think ultimately, even when it doesn't work, there's lessons learned. Like at least, you know, if what you did didn't work or why it didn't work, you can you can take something out of that and bring it into the next year because all the coaches that are up the pointy end this time of year are there for a reason.
00:22:56
Speaker
Yeah, and there's always there's always opportunity as the the captain thing is huge. Like this time last year, Harry Sheasel put up a 180 against Richmond. Not many of us captained him. You know, Naz puts up a 180. Yes, he was going into a tag.
00:23:11
Speaker
so So we thought, but the the opportunities are there. So yeah, don't don't give up. It might seem like a ah fair way off whatever your intended rank is. But as you said, there's still so much to play out.
Defender Replacements and Strategic Picks
00:23:23
Speaker
This time of year, why don't we start with the defenders as Nick Newman was is quite highly owned or was going into the weekend. you know there's some There's some serious players in form. So you're looking, obviously, Naz 135 in his last five. If you don't have him, Harmy, you probably need to get him at some stage. Wayne Miller, Jarman Impey, Josh Dacos, Lockie Ash, Callum Wilkie. So...
00:23:49
Speaker
um You know, Wilkie's dropped off the last couple. You know, Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel, those types have dropped off. John Noble. So I suppose there is an opportunity to sort of take a punt here if you're if you're willing to take it. i mean, Lockie Whitfield wasn't even in that list.
00:24:03
Speaker
um You know, do you jump on him? He's been a bit underwhelming the last couple since his comeback from concussion. Jordy, you're not a Nick Newman owner, but where do you think coaches should be looking for replacements there?
00:24:16
Speaker
Well, actually really like Jarman Impey. he's the third most at the moment. As you said, these defenders have really dropped off. Like Josh Dacos is the fourth best defender for the last five weeks. And I wouldn't have any confidence in him. Like, yes, he had a bit of an ankle and he just did a 60.
00:24:34
Speaker
People are trading out of him this week. so I think Impey's a really good price. He's got a great matchup this week. Amon's out for a few weeks still. I'm not sure about his, um,
00:24:46
Speaker
matchups after that but he's got this ceiling like you just saw 147 and a 137 worst case he's pretty solid sort of what Newman was doing anyway I'm kind of keen on Jarman Impey the other one that's also highly traded in is Dane Zorko so pretty pretty cheap price but he's just done a 130 could you do him it's risky we do have the tog rule now um But yeah, he's won there. I mean, Whitfield's probably the safest. He's under nine hundred k
00:25:17
Speaker
He's just come back from the concussion. you feel like he's going to do a ceiling soon. He's got a good matchup this week. So they're they're probably the three that I like is Imby, Zorko and Whitfield, I think. Probably Whitfield ahead of Zorko just because of the injury concerns.
00:25:35
Speaker
Yeah, so Whitfield, Port Adelaide this week, which is relatively neutral, Gold Coast and then West Coast. So a pretty ah pretty neutral run. But yeah, their season's kind of in tatters. So they're they're clinging on to that sort of wildcard area. So you'd think they'd probably want to finish off relatively strong. They're still kind of throwing Lockie Ash around a little bit.
00:25:56
Speaker
So yeah, I think Whitfield, if you don't have him, is clearly a good option. Zorko, I don't hate Jordy. yeah There was obviously the concern after the Eagles matchup where they rested him in the last quarter and they said they were unsure whether he was going to get up. But I think you just want stocks in Brisbane again. ned back to Back to Brisbane of the last couple of years where they're just owning the footy and putting up some absolute monster scores.
00:26:21
Speaker
Do you like the Impey pick, Louis? does it you know I know so Selby spoke about it with Zave on his pod about the fact you know you take Caleb Daniel who had the 150 and the 140 against Richmond and Essendon. Now he's back to doing his 50 to 80-ish scores. Now Jarman Impey is a far bigger player, bar better player, sorry, than Caleb Daniel. But is there some Richmond-Essendon attacks on those scores? like What can we realistically expect from him?
00:26:48
Speaker
Yeah, look, I think players like this always do make me nervous. I think we've got, and we have had for a number of years, plethora of defenders that can pop up on their, um you know, sort of respective weeks, like good defenders that find a vein of form. And when when they are allowed to be let off the leash, they do so. and Impey is certainly in that club. Yeah.
00:27:13
Speaker
But I also think that sometimes when things don't go their way, that that that's the sort of player that can go ahead and drop a 65. And not a poor 65 from a football stance either, but just, you know, a respectable football 65 where they play their role and they don't necessarily get involved in the fantasy junk. So...
00:27:36
Speaker
Impy is probably one that would concern me a little bit in terms of that. But at the same time, you know, 850K, I don't think that's something that's necessarily going to hurt you too much if you're paying that price tag. So ah don't mind it. I don't love it. I think there's...
00:27:55
Speaker
A little bit of nervous there nervousness there for me. I mean, I look back at his stats and hes he's done the last two big scores against Richmond and Essendon. And then you go before that, he's gone against um Carlton and he's scored the 69. So there's definitely room for him to drop a four score. So that's probably something where, unless he's going to be maybe the 23rd guy, I'd be a little bit nervous, to be honest.
00:28:22
Speaker
Yeah, the the big thing for me and and part of the reason I went there last week outside of you know cash constraints was I think no aim on for him is huge. like he's the He's the guy that they're just going through at all costs. And it's not the the Caleb Daniel chip sideways role. like They get it to him and then he goes a bit like Miller at the moment where you know a Rory Laird goes down and and Miller gets the bump because that's how they want to play. That's got shades of...
00:28:49
Speaker
of Impy as well. So yeah, I ah do like the trade-in, especially for how cheap he is if you're on a bit of a budget. And as Jordy touched on, you don't have a lot of confidence in the guys that have been, you know, the top six scorers over the last five rounds because they are starting to come back to the pack a little bit as well. So yeah, I don't hate the idea there.
Budget-Friendly Picks and Midfield Essentials
00:29:07
Speaker
Yeah, but Amon's back, if not this week, next week, right? let me just add that. I think it was a month. So I'd say another two, I think.
00:29:19
Speaker
Need to double check that. The other one we didn't mention obviously is malaria. You touched on her a little bit just because of the injury. Knee one to two weeks. So updated, updated yeah yesterday. Okay. So hey he could be back this week. So,
00:29:34
Speaker
That's where I circle back to maybe he's that 23rd guy because that there could be an awkward space there if you're if you're relying on him to complete your side. There may be an extra step that you need to take before then. But like I said, 850k is pretty good value there for sure. And also shout out to Bradley Hill.
00:29:56
Speaker
while I've got the opportunity, there's one that I spruiked on the podcast about three weeks ago and he was expensive at the time but has just keep on keeping on. He's more expensive now, my man. He is. are you You said he was expensive at the time as well, Holmesy, but I reckon he's gone up about ninety k by by since then. So,
00:30:18
Speaker
Yeah, he's he's one of those guys that's just turning back the clock. And as a defender, midfielder forward, mate, anybody who has selected this guy in the last six weeks must be absolutely cheering. So hopefully somebody listens to my advice. but I think, Louis, I'm going to... You could probably make a case for the opposite too.
00:30:38
Speaker
Jordy's bringing him in. There you go. I'm going to pay up, I reckon. all of that you mean yeah cause almost so three I cross three lines. I think you're very protective.
00:30:50
Speaker
um And I think that's probably something that over the next couple of years that we have to look at. If if there's a TPP guy and... perhaps we get one or two or a couple of those guys ah going into next season. I think the old TPP guy might be something that we start to prioritise as fantasy coaches personally, just because as we always say, sometimes there is a flaw to some of these positions outside of the midfield or rather outside of defence probably these days where um if you can – hide them away somewhere else and they're still close enough to a top six or top eight player, then they're, you know, valued as gold. So I think that might be the new age fantasy in a couple of years time.
00:31:38
Speaker
Jordy, what about our midfield options for coaches like myself that are trading out of Finn Callaghan? He was popular enough, so there's there's coaches looking. You already mentioned that you're avoiding like the Heaney types that have have been taught top eight mids for most of the year but have had a bit of a dip in form.
00:31:58
Speaker
Where should coaches be looking to go this week? Yeah, i think so i think there's four big midfielders. I think it's right now it's Will Ashcroft, Nick Dacos, Bailey Smith, Jordan Dawson. So i think you need those four in your side. like They're averaging – three of them are going at 112+, Dawson at 109, but has been you know before that in insane form. So I think you need those four.
00:32:25
Speaker
um Other than that, there's a lot of other guys that are sort of going pretty similar. They're having their their good weeks, having their bad weeks. Like Heaney's down. Anderson had a good one on the weekend, but he was down.
00:32:38
Speaker
um You've got Bont there as well. I think the guy that we probably need to talk about is Errol Goulden, who is nine hundred and sixty six k I think, just hit a 137. It's priced pretty well.
00:32:52
Speaker
You've got an injury to Callaghan in your midfield. Is it as easy as going Callaghan to Errol Goulden against the Saints this week? You can see why I'm pretty sure he's the most traded in or one of the most traded in. So i do like him. um I wonder what's changed there. I think, was it Sheldrick was dropped? So i think he had a bit more CBA time.
00:33:14
Speaker
Loves the Giants, loves the the bigger ground, which, you know, was able to do that at Engie. So, um yeah, he's probably one that a lot of people are bringing in. And I think he's probably the the first option, I guess, for Price.
00:33:29
Speaker
Otherwise, is it a Will Ashcroft or a Baz or or someone like that if you've got the money?
00:33:36
Speaker
Now, you know, stats can obviously be misleading and I'm not going to go through it all, but he's actually, st Kilda's actually his worst team to score against throughout his career. So six games for Errol has never scored a ton versing them.
00:33:51
Speaker
um What was it last year? He played them. He was obviously coming back from that injury. So i had the 89, maybe they put some time into him. I'm not a hundred percent sure.
00:34:02
Speaker
Louis, you're shaking your head. What's the go? Shaking my head. I'm shaking my arms. this This is a guy who's going to be the main character for the finals for Sydney. If if they're going to win a flag this year, it's going to be through Errol Gordon.
00:34:17
Speaker
He's been injured most... Because it's Frio. Come on, mate. Come on, mate. He's been injured most of the year. They are putting stocks into this guy. Like, yes, all right, maybe there's a bit of history with St. Kilda and that's not ideal, but he goes into Port Essendon, North Melbourne, right before the finals. This is not a guy that they're going to rest and, you know, um you know hopefully he's all right for finals. This is a guy who they are looking to get into prime form before the end of the year. that
00:34:48
Speaker
ah I'm expecting this guy to soar and average the most amount of points for the rest of the year. I'll tell you what, he is going to absolutely dominate for the next four weeks. So if there was one player that I could recommend bringing in over this next month, it's Errol Goulden and Sydney Swans, as a you know from a football perspective, not a fantasy perspective, are going to be aiming...
00:35:11
Speaker
for that to be the exact same thing as well. So bring this guy in. This is a gravy fixture. This is perfect. he's He's nine hundred and sixty five k This is value right here. of Go for it.
00:35:24
Speaker
Jordy, it's only taken 21 rounds to get such passion from the net. I love it, Louis. um I love it, Louis. You know, we had a coffee on Saturday and Louis made him captain on the weekend, straight out.
00:35:38
Speaker
He was that confident for 137.
00:35:42
Speaker
Hey, Louis, I probably need to put my hand up, mate. You know when we're at Gather Round and we're on the beers and you you gave me a phone to make your trades and it was between Heaney and Will Ashcroft. Well, I mean, Will Ashcroft's turned around, hasn't he?
00:35:54
Speaker
He has, yeah. yeah they Well, they're both very good-looking people. but um Yeah, currently, Will Ashcroft has pulled ahead. So maybe maybe that's the the Queensland son that's helping him out there a little bit. But yeah, what's going to pull you up on that, Holmesy? You it looks good at the time, but not not not happy now, mate. I'm a little bit disappointed in you, actually.
00:36:20
Speaker
so <unk> we'll take this we' we'll take ill i'll you know We'll have this conversation post-pod, but yeah, you probably did tank my season in the end. I think I could be ranked a little bit higher if I would have gone Ashcroft.
00:36:34
Speaker
death About 500 ranks. Because ah i made you I made you start at Jack Steel, which was good for about two weeks. And then through osmosis of my Christian Petrarca love over the years, you've held on to him for far too long. So... Yeah, mate. I'm still filthy on Jack still because you were right the first time couple years ago. And then I thought, oh, you you'll probably be right again because Holmes is always right. But no, he wasn't.
00:37:01
Speaker
So that's okay. well We'll see how we go next season. Yeah, there's always there's always next year, mate. All right, let's go rock line then.
Ruckmen Options and Role Debates
00:37:12
Speaker
Jordy touched on it on off the top. I mean, I'm going to be forced to trade my Ruckman if Royal Marshall doesn't get up.
00:37:19
Speaker
The options are thin. I mean, Grundy doesn't have the best run. Let me just, sorry, get the Ruckman. up here so Grundy is probably the guy but you know has the St Kilda matchup this week that's tough Port Adelaide then has Essendon which you know is can for some reason can be tough at times but I don't think it'll be solo against Blackiston if that's the case Tim English Geordie why don't you talk to us about him because you were very quick to get into the group chat over the weekend about Tim English when he had the 60 point first half and then obviously faded
00:37:54
Speaker
Should he be someone that coaches consider? Yeah, I guess so because I guess we'll see what Marshall does. So I'm interested in your thoughts. So if Marshall is going to play, are we looking at holding him are we going to trade him out? Like he's one of the highest traded out.
00:38:10
Speaker
um But I'm kind of inclined to hold. I'd rather get rid of Petrarca, I think. But I think whether on that you can probably make 100K from Marshall down to English if you're forced to do that and you're probably going to get a decent score from English maybe he doesn't find the form but at least you're going to make some money there which might help you you know go Callahan up to your golden or or Newman up to someone depending on how much cash you got so I don't i don't hate it um I do think right now it's probably Gorn and Cameron but you know for his price like and he's he's not really going to let you down I wouldn't have thought unless unless he gets injured
00:38:52
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. I mean, i I'll personally hold him if he's going to play just because his break even is like 30-something. So, you know, even if he puts up a 60, it's not ideal, but he's still going to make some cash.
00:39:04
Speaker
You get to see the role one more time. He was in form and I still think he's going to be good to finish the year. You don't just lose that. But the role is clearly going to be different um to to when TDK is in the side.
00:39:16
Speaker
Louis, can we, I say we, can I slash the listeners go back to Darcy Cameron after what he's put us through this year?
00:39:26
Speaker
Mate, you already know what I'm going to say here. I think you can. ill These Ruckman are up and down this year. oh I've said for ah numerous weeks that it's, there's there's a group of probably two and then there's a group of four outside of that. But ah I think that,
00:39:45
Speaker
Darcy Cameron's probably knocking the door down in terms of that top two and maybe has even nudged himself into it. So, yes, absolutely. You can go back to Darcy Cameron. and It's been a very funny year for rucks though. Usually we see a number of them sort of put up these massive numbers towards the end of the season when the game slows down, there's more contests. But I think start of the year, we probably thought that these ruck rules would make a big difference. And yeah, to a certain extent they did. But I think that we're seeing that now tenfold in terms of what we sort of expected at the start of the year.
00:40:24
Speaker
Yeah, Geelong West Coast next too. I mean, I didn't love hearing that he was sore during the week, but i don't know. I think with a Thursday game, it makes it pretty tough. They're all sore, mate.
00:40:35
Speaker
all sore. At this point of the year, that they jab them up. They they get them fit. And then once they warm up, they're still They're still footballers. They're still going to give it at their all unless they're carrying something serious. I think soreness is a natural sort of symptom of what you experienced this year, but not necessarily reflective of sort of what they're going score in fantasy. They'll get it done. They're rocks.
00:41:00
Speaker
They're sore always. Fair enough. All right, let's get stuck into the questions to finish off. First one from Freekick Liam, good friend of the show, right up there at the pointy end, chasing that hat. So let's have a look at this one.
00:41:14
Speaker
Louis, he wants to trade Jcos to Will Ashcroft or Durham to Errol. So who who whoever he holds out on will become the 23rd primo loop this week.
00:41:26
Speaker
So, I mean, I think I know what you're going to say because of Errol, but is Durham or Jcos more of the urgent trade out?
00:41:34
Speaker
um ah i think durham just a little bit younger i do respect jacos i think they're you know fighting towards finals at the moment and uh we'll be well and truly up to the next in it so he's going to be a big part of that and he's going to get involved so i would rather trade durham and i'm going to stay on brand there too because homesy you shouldn't have brought him in six or seven weeks ago so na No, no.
00:42:02
Speaker
he He was good. I just would have loved to have traded him out by now because of all the injuries. He was he was good for a stretch. he He'd made coin. He got up over 800K. If he'd never got injured against Richmond, he would have made some more. So I'll i'll cop that. But yes, he's absolutely the type of player you've got to get off at the right time.
00:42:20
Speaker
And the time is now, unfortunately. It is, yeah. And ah I'm not sure Essendon is going to fire a shot for the rest of the year either. I think there's a lot of question marks there. So bring in Errol. I was extremely passionate about it. As Himes, he probably hit the nail on the head. That's the most passionate I've been about a fantasy player all year, I reckon.
00:42:41
Speaker
all Alright Jordy, this one is from Max Stoneman. Hey boys, rough round for me, slid from 61 to 110. So who really need to to find a way to get back into that top 100. So what's the best from these options? So Finn is going out in all of these.
00:42:57
Speaker
So Finn to Durham, which will allow our Rankin plus Filippo. Finn and Wilkie for Rankin slash Impey or Zorko and then Finn slash Romar to Rankin or D-Camp. So I suppose if he's going Romar, the option needs to be done tomorrow night. But what are your initial thoughts here, Jordy?
00:43:19
Speaker
I'm glad he's going Rankin. I think Rankin, as I said last week, he was almost a must-have, I think, with these matchups coming up. So glad he's locking that in. The next one is tricky. I do think Durham, out of the these options is the weakest link, but he can only get to Filippo. So that's probably what, 20 points best off.
00:43:38
Speaker
um Whereas if you go on Impia or Zorko, you can have access to a ceiling. So if you're at 110, are you looking for that ceiling? Probably to get yourself back into the top 100. But he's trading out Wilkie here. So i know Wilkie's been a bit quiet, but he can also put up a ceiling. So I guess we'll have to see what happens with Roma. It's probably Roma if he's out, you just have to do it and you probably have to get Darcy Cameron.
00:44:04
Speaker
But I don't hate the Impey move either. I just, I don't understand what's happened with Wilkie. I guess he's had a couple of hard tags and got a bit of attention.
00:44:15
Speaker
Um, surely he turns it around. Like he was, he was averaging 107 for the year before he has dropped these last two. I know you sort of called it, um,
00:44:28
Speaker
Yeah, I think maybe the Finta Roma is probably the the first option, depending on what what the news is. Where do you sit with it? Have Sydney not been giving up points to defenders the last couple
Trade Options and Defensive Evaluations
00:44:42
Speaker
of weeks? I think I've read that somewhere. They have,
00:44:44
Speaker
So that's the reason why i'm keen on getting Brad Hill because... They have been giving up some points. We saw we saw the Giants boys go 100 last week and we saw Malera the week before go 128.
00:44:57
Speaker
And it's at Marvel as well. So I like Brad Hill. And then obviously they have Carlton and then Richmond. So they've got to <unk> got a Richmond matchup in there for the Saints. So Wilkie...
00:45:10
Speaker
And in terms of Roma, so is is is there a major question mark over him? So as I understand, he he had some back spasms before the game, but prior to that, he he was going to play.
00:45:23
Speaker
And he was fit and firing. And he's been in fantastic form as well, you know coming off the 118, 134 and I think we're just going um to know that the role's different, Louis. So he was named as a test. As a TDK?
00:45:40
Speaker
Yeah, well, I mean, i'd poormanda I didn't watch the game, but from what was reported, TDK actually played quite well. I think he had seven clearances or something like that, was around a little bit, and they had ah they had a good win against North.
00:45:54
Speaker
So yeah you're punting on the role here, aren't you? You know what role Darcy Cameron's going to have. He's got the two softest matchups going around for Rucks. um and And Marshall, I mean, if Marshall's out, that that answers that question there, right? I suppose the the really annoying thing is that. mean, King's out as well, though, too, right? like So it ah suppose Romo is the better forward, but on his day, he he's a fantastic forward as well. So you are right. like ah You are punting on the role and how he performs and that, but...
00:46:27
Speaker
Gee, I just reckon with the depth of forwards, that trading out of Romar might be some tricky work. ah I would take a 90 out of my forwards at the moment. I don't know about you, but Romar is certainly capable of that. I think more weeks than none, especially when he's got a decent chop of the ruck.
00:46:47
Speaker
Yeah, I think personally, option one is not for me just because I don't feel like Philippot is that bigger upgrade on Durham. Yes, he's been in better form, but that could flip.
00:46:59
Speaker
You're not 100% sure on that. um Wilkie, obviously, he's been up and down, but he's been down the last couple. I know sides are starting to put more attention into him. And, you know, what really does a Logan McDonald or someone like that offer for Sydney? i i wouldn't be shocked if one of their tall forwards does play a bit of a negating role on on Wilkie.
00:47:19
Speaker
um So i'd I'd be option two or three. But as you said it earlier on in the podcast, Louie, anyone that's been up there for for this season, they've been seeing it well. So you just need to to back yourself in.
00:47:31
Speaker
um So for that reason, yeah i'd I'd be two or three, but absolutely just sort of trust your gut on... how you got there louie this one is from olivia calvey dear pod pod i have 1.77 mil and must bring in a defender to to replace sorry newman loves wayne miller but the price doesn't leave me with many options for the second trade and the calf issue worries me which pod do you like out of luke ryan tom mccarthy or jake bowie dossie Geez, look, I don't know a lot about Tom McCarthy at the moment. I'd have to look that up on the fly, but I have been eyeing off Jake Bowie. And since he's come back, he's looking pretty good. And last year, you know, he was one of those guys that certainly put his hand up as being a massive staple um of how Melbourne are sort of operating at the moment. And, uh,
00:48:27
Speaker
Gee, I think that, you know, he's probably the guy, right? Like, oh The only sort of asterisks that I would put on that is that, you know, potentially with a Luke Ryan do Luke Ryan. No, I wouldn't want to, but I would just say that maybe they put the cue in the rack, so to speak, and play a little bit more chip-chip and look after all their players as they go into the final series. Obviously, we know that they fly every second week, so there's a lot of lot of stuff going on with the body, but... um
00:49:04
Speaker
I reckon I'm going Jake Bowie there, right? So Tom McCarthy, can can one of you boys speak to how he's been performing? yeah on ah ah you know he's He's probably been doing as expected, right?
00:49:18
Speaker
Well, he's priced at 92, which shows over that sort of last five weeks, he's been around that 90-ish range. The thing that's really good about Tom McCarthy is he has richmond followed by Richmond followed by Collingwood. So two really green matchups for defenders and Collingwood, that is at home, I believe. So that that'll be at Optus.
00:49:41
Speaker
I think Bowie's going to be the safer option, but I think Tom McCarthy's the one that potentially puts up the ceiling. Now might eat my eat my words on that, but I think Tom McCarthy did put it I think he put up a 130-odd in his... Let me just have a quick look here. Yeah, no, he put up 130 against Port. oh I would have thought Bowie was the more likely type to put up a ceiling, though. You know, just given the system that he's in and he's done it more recently as well. Yeah, that 130 was a lot of... He's missed a lot of footy as well. ah I'll just think Bowie's a bit more of a star. and
00:50:16
Speaker
Yeah, I'm leaning Bowie.
00:50:20
Speaker
Yeah, Bowie did have the 129 against Richmond three weeks ago. That's what ah um Tom McCarthy is walking into outside of that, just the one ton for the year, but a lot of 80s and 90s scores. So ah it's gross areas regardless, right? I think I'd be happier and I hate saying this. I think I'd be happier...
00:50:41
Speaker
going up to a Millerer, even with the calf concerns, and then taking a a haircut elsewhere on that second trade, whatever whatever that looks like? Or is it an Impey in that price range instead of a a Tom McCarthy, Bowie type? I think Impey's showing the ceiling back-to-back.
00:50:59
Speaker
Does that last game make you nervous, though? It does, yeah. like you'd You'd really want some nice cover. you don't You don't have your your whole car to sort of save you out of that one. You're going to need an absolute jet like a Michael Selwood to rescue you from that, I think.
00:51:18
Speaker
Well, if i if you do have whole car in your defensive line, I'd be happy to trade in Miller. It would suck if he was managed, but... He's been scoring okay, and you'd think with Miller a going out, unless Laird comes back in, he'd have an increased role. But yeah, obviously makes you it makes you nervous. But if the club says he's good to go, hopefully they will either today tomorrow or Friday, then I think you back that in.
00:51:45
Speaker
Boys, that is going to wrap us up. I know Jordy's running tight with 1% phone battery on the train. So quick sign-off for us, mate. Yeah, keep making those trades. Four to go. Get the big boys in. Get in Brad Hill, Ashcroft or Gordon, I think, or Impey. I like all of them. And, yeah, good luck, boys. i so Hopefully these guys in the questions are with their just outside the top 100 can get into the top 100. I'll be back next week also on the train. So keen to yeah keen to dissect it all.
00:52:14
Speaker
Thanks, boys. Yes, mate. Can't wait to do some back-end editing to make this semi-listenable. It's going to be unreal. Thanks, Jordy. Louis, appreciate you, mate. Thanks for jumping on. To everyone else, make sure you're following us on X at PodPod AFL. I'm at Holmes is Heroes.
00:52:30
Speaker
Please make sure you are subscribed to us on apple podcast or Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever wherever you listen to your content. There are only three, four rounds to go. So we're getting to the end of the season. It's betternna been a slog, but we're almost there.
00:52:44
Speaker
Appreciate all the listeners. I know it's been a tough year, but as always, we'll be back next week to review the round that was. Have a good week and we will chat soon. Bye.