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Premiums Go Bang! | Hot Topics | AFL Fantasy Q & A #PODPOD image

Premiums Go Bang! | Hot Topics | AFL Fantasy Q & A #PODPOD

E177 · The PODPOD - AFL Fantasy Podcast
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Another round of AFL Fantasy in the books and another week of the big dog scorers going whack! Coaches running a guns and rookies strategy continue to be rewarded, with some separation now beginning to take shape at the top. Mid-pricers are starting to fail, rookie options are starting to thin out, but thankfully, we seem to have avoided the injury carnage (for now).

In this episode, Holmesy, Harmey and Jordy dissect the round that was. They discuss their sides, talk about all the burning hot topics, talk about many relevant players and answer a stack of your questions. With only one round of best 18 to go before we find out who has been playing with house money and who has been planning well structure wise to exit the byes, this episode is not one to be missed!

PODPOD Team Names

Holmesy - Holmesysheroes

Lewy - Hawk Tuah (Pittonet Thang)

Harmey - Hirdy’s Heroes

Sam - Mandaclawrian FC

Jordy - AIRJORDAN

PODPOD Challenge - Join the community!

League code: JXR8EF6M

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  • During the season - Selby and Holmesy will be recording a podcast late in the week to answer general questions and themes
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  • There is the ability for full team reviews, questions on individual players and during the season there is the ability to ask trade questions, vc/c options and many more
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The PODPOD is brought to you by Moreira’s Magic in 2026. All Holmes Files episodes will be available exclusively as a part of the 2026 Season Guide. As well as the podcasts, the Season Guide will also include:

  • Weekly pod with Selby and Xavier Ellis
  • Thursday night pod with Holmesy and Selby after teams are released
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  • Market Share
  • CBA analysis
  • Much more!

The guide is now live! A must have for any serious Fantasy coach head over to moreirasmagic.com.au/ to subscribe in-season now!

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesysheroes

Lewy: @AFLewy

Harmey: @jonharmey

Sam: @grillis03

Jordy: @jordandsena

Dossy: @HKdos

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Transcript

Welcome and Round Review

00:00:18
Holmesy
G'day welcome to the Pod Pod brought to by Moreira's Magic. I'm your host, Holmesy, three-time top 10 finisher and twice runner-up in AFL Fantasy Classic. We are back for our round three review. We have one more of

Upcoming Rounds and Strategy

00:00:33
Holmesy
our... Buy rounds to go before we hit gather round and best 22s are back in action and we start to see how our team is shaping up moving into the season.
00:00:43
Holmesy
He has joined us again. We do have two-time top 10 finisher and runner-up in 2019, John Harmy back on the pod, which must mean that you actually had a decent captain this week, Harmy.
00:00:56
Jon Harmey
Yep, no, that's right, Holmesy, thanks for that and that's the reason

Captain Choices and Player Performance

00:01:01
Jon Harmey
I'm back, obviously. I got rid of Rosie after um destroying my week the week before as captain, so Harry Sheasel, just stuck with the crowd, vanilla captaincy option and so I'm happy to be here.
00:01:15
Holmesy
Nothing wrong with a nice, safe 136 as Captain Harmy. And another coach that's bringing a little bit of credibility to the pod this week.
00:01:26
Holmesy
Geordie back for another week, mate, after another another solid round and building nicely. But how you going?
00:01:31
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah, going good. Yeah, another solo round. Only went down the 11 spots, so i pretty much par. So happy to keep keep that team value going and look at the trades this week. I'm i'm pretty keen for Gather Round because that's when we're going to see how these teams come out and hopefully we can make some jumps there.
00:01:50
Holmesy
I'll tell you what, I know someone else that's looking forward to Gather Round. That is our boy Lou, who does his best work at Gather Round each and every year. And he's not on the pod today. The rumor is that, you know, he's just resting up just to make sure that he gets nice and hydrated and gets a little bit of sleep before, no doubt, he has a bit of fun.
00:02:09
Holmesy
next week. And just on that, so everyone but Harmy will be at Gather Round this year.
00:02:15
Jon Harmey
Thank you.
00:02:15
Holmesy
We couldn't convince Harmy to to get across, but i'll be I'll be making the journey over as well. We'll all be at the Traders show on that Friday night and then at all the the Adelaide Oval games and and some other games.
00:02:26
Holmesy
So if you're going to be around for that, um Make sure you get involved and say hi as it's going to be a very, very fun weekend. But let's get into the the round review

Strategic Trading Decisions

00:02:36
Holmesy
first. And Jordi, I'm going to throw to you, unfortunately, first, but still going very well. How did you go this week and what's that senior rank do?
00:02:45
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah, so I got 1791, which isn't too bad. Pretty solid, as you said. I think, yeah, I went down the just the 11 spots. so I'm in at 13,850. So happy to just, yeah, get a ah par score there. And the Stato pick for me is Will Ashcroft bouncing back. So he got that 120, which was really nice. He had a massive last quarter, which was awesome. So great to have him bounce back after that. I think it was 67 in my dossie pick.
00:03:14
JORDAN DSENA
two weeks ago. So very happy with that. And the dossie pick for me is you've got to give it to someone. And Tanner Broon was the guy, 53. So might might be a bit stiff because he's still making money, but so yeah, someone has to have it. So he's there for me.
00:03:32
Holmesy
Gee, Geordie, a bit harsh, mate. Bloke breaks his nose, gets back out there so that he's not, you know, leaving with ah with a 22 or whatever he was on and and you're giving him the dossie pick.
00:03:43
JORDAN DSENA
Yep. Yep, someone's going to get it. And I mean, if he comes out with another one of them, he could be on the chopping block next week.
00:03:51
Holmesy
Now, you're not you're not wrong and it's going to be very interesting. you know We know that a good way to climb the ranks is to to get off these mid-prices that are highly owned when they start underperforming and there will be an expiry date for Tanner.
00:04:05
Holmesy
So, yeah, very interesting to to see how that unfolds. Hopefully, he's back to that sort of halfback role again soon where where he starts putting up the scores. But, yeah, wasn't too good on, what was that, Thursday night now, long long way back.
00:04:17
JORDAN DSENA
Thursday, yep.
00:04:19
Holmesy
i was next, so I had the 18.05 this week. So a little bit of a bounce back, not huge, but happy to go up almost 10,000 spots to be just outside 30K. So at least we've had a week moving in the right direction. My Stato pick for the week is Lockie Whitfield.
00:04:37
Holmesy
I didn't actually have any of the round four by premium players. So i don't have an Ash. I don't have a ah Sinclair, a Callaghan or anything like that. I do have Flanders, but everyone has him. So decided to to go the way I was going to and and hunt the value rather than paying up. And all the coaches that paid up this week outside of Azorko were definitely rewarded. But Lockie Whitfield won 29.
00:05:02
Holmesy
Very, very happy with that. He was back to the witty of old. Whether it stays that way, I'm not 100% sure, but, man, he looked good on the on the weekend. My Dossie pick of the week, unfortunately, this one for me has really, really bitten me, and that's Darcy Cameron, 59.
00:05:18
Holmesy
fifty nine I never would have thought in the pre-season when I was picking the best and fairest Ruckman from the previous year in a prelim final. 107 without Mason Cox last year and and really taking that number one mantle. But to lose his Ruck role to ah a first gamer and essentially be a backup Ruck with low time on ground.
00:05:37
Holmesy
was was a real real kicker. So he's an urgent trade out for me this week, unfortunately. And yeah, sometimes you take a risk and it doesn't pay off. But unfortunately, i don't think I could have seen this one coming. So I would have thought maybe a a low 100 average and then that would have been it. But yeah, that's

Rookie Management and Team Value

00:05:54
Holmesy
that's unfortunate. Harmi, but how did you go?
00:05:56
Jon Harmey
Didn't go too bad, mate. I put up a, well, it was 1811. So I think I must have got a tackle taken off me after the close. I dropped, yeah, as I sort of said, with that Rosie captain issue, I dropped a lot of ranking last week, but I'm back up to 9133. So ah think, you know I'm pretty comfortable with where that's at. 9133, I'm sort of thereabouts, and my squad's in pretty good shape, so that's cool.
00:06:26
Jon Harmey
My Stato Pick of the Week. so look, I'm going to give it to Josh Dacos on debut. After spending the first 15 minutes on the bench with what could very well have been a game-ending shoulder injury, just sort of got tackled it awkwardly and landed a bit funny on it. so But 120, and, jeez, that role. He's just like their quarterback in the Collingwood back line that they chipped back to. so he just gets that mark and kick regularly, and it's pretty pretty great to watch.
00:06:56
Jon Harmey
My dossie pick of the week. Now, you know you plan these things and this was this was the week. with Tim English out for the week. Cooper Duff titler, time to step up as as an on-field player for me.
00:07:12
Jon Harmey
Halftime, I think he had 11, finished the game on 38 and didn't get close to um scoring for me. So he can have it. You know, I wouldn't say he's a bad week bag pick because he's still making money for me. But 38, I mean, jeez, you couldn't get much lower, could you?
00:07:31
Holmesy
bit hard when ah you've got Jobe Shanahan and who's the ah who's their other forward that's killing it at the moment? Waterman. some ah Some of those Eagles players are actually playing all right, Harmy. So um no doubt that'll turn around in terms of the Eagles. They can't just keep winning games of footy like they are. But it is it is pleasing to see that they're being far more competitive and hopefully that leads to ah maybe a you know a spike 60, 70, 80 score for for CDT at some stage and and makes you a little bit of money. But no doubt that'll give you some flexibility.
00:07:59
Holmesy
Down the line, Jordy, let's do a little bit of a chat about our trading philosophy and what we we're trying to achieve last week. And admittedly, we all had some forced trades, so it's a little bit different than ah other weeks where we're actually trying to strategize things a little bit.
00:08:13
Holmesy
But what did you do with your trades last week and what were you trying to achieve?
00:08:14
Jon Harmey
Thank
00:08:17
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah, was a little bit strapped last week. I think with Marshall going out, Todd Marshall, his last minute, I had the 19 dots. So i had Rosie and Bergman who were out. So I was ah kind of strapped to getting two defenders. And I really wanted to get Bergman out because, yeah, he's going to lose me cash even though he was out. I just want to get rid of him. So i ended up going for two defenders and that also allowed me to get 20 dots, which I thought would be helpful.
00:08:41
JORDAN DSENA
i mean, we we saw Dovidsson, you know, put up a 30 and Dev Robb with a 40. So it was handy to have those extra two. But yeah, I went Bergman to Jcos, which that was pretty much the first one locked in because that's an an upgrade and Jcos should hopefully be there for ah the rest of the year as a top six. The next pick, I did Rosie to Zorko. Now, I did pay up.
00:09:02
Jon Harmey
This.
00:09:02
JORDAN DSENA
And the reason I did this was I've got Sinclair in my team. I think, yeah, I just felt a bit, if I went for an Asher or Whitfield, I just felt I'd have like two of those guys this week. So that's why I went there. i felt like was little bit strapped. Didn't really love paying up 115, but some yeah, I did that anyway. And and look, hopefully Zorko can come out this week against the Pies and get a good score and sort of make it worth it.
00:09:27
JORDAN DSENA
um Yeah, so that's where I was, where I landed.
00:09:31
Holmesy
So that that obviously means that you held Petrarca. So you thought Petrarca, well, sorry, Bergman was a more immediate trade-out compared with track just because Berg could potentially come back this weekend and start losing money, especially with those port backline injuries.
00:09:47
JORDAN DSENA
Yep, yep. That was where I landed. And, yeah, I mean, if I traded Petrarch, I have to sort have got a midfielder, I think. And it just i all the mids, like i was luke ah probably going to loop for Myers and Carroll. And it just worked out to to to be better for me. So I flicked off far Bergman.
00:10:05
Holmesy
Yep. Yeah, don't mind that. And we'll get to the hot topics anyway, but news news out of Gold Coast today that Petrarca is one to three away. So you never know, he might you might be back, which is a bit of an interesting talking point for those coaches that held.
00:10:14
JORDAN DSENA
Hmm.
00:10:19
Holmesy
I decided to trade Rosie and Petrarca. I was on the fence about whether or not i actually hold Petrarca and fix some other things in my side. But from the moment Darcy Cameron had that role change, that was another forced trade that I knew I had to act on. so i just couldn't risk um holding on to Petrarca any longer. So as I mentioned, I went Rosie to Whitfield and then Petrarca to Murphy Reid. I didn't have any forward DPP, so I had to had to target a forward.
00:10:46
Holmesy
Graham Myers worked out well for those that went there, but I wasn't comfortable paying that 103 price tag. I missed Rochelle, which would have been good in hindsight, which meant I just wanted to target some value and and Murphy Reid was the guy that I landed on with that Richmond matchup once.
00:11:00
Holmesy
The rain had kind of gone away. It looked pretty good at halftime. I think he was on about 47 and faded a bit towards the end, got burnt a few times. I don't i don't really hate the pick. I think he's going to be a 75 to 80 player with you know not a huge ceiling but not ah not a bad floor. So he's hopefully someone that I'll be able to hold you know up until the buys and then maybe trade off him later on down the track. But I don't think he's going to burn me at that sort of F6 spot.
00:11:24
Holmesy
Harmi, what were you looking to do?
00:11:27
Jon Harmey
Yeah, so, well I had Roseanne Petrarca as well, same as everybody. So, look, I was very keen on Josh Dacos in the back line, so ah ah sort of felt as though I was always going to trade him in that round. so um Yep, as I said, was happy with that one. The other one, oh look, I was tossing around on this quite a bit during the week um until until he, I guess, re-injured his ankle. I was bringing in Marshall, um
00:11:59
Jon Harmey
because I was yes quite keen on his role the week before. I was also interested in Murphy Reid, who I, in the end, traded in. um The way I looked at him was I had to trade Petrarca. I didn't want to kick the issue down another week, and then multiply that with other issues as well. So I really wanted to get rid of Petrarca.
00:12:20
Jon Harmey
um I felt like Reid still had money to make and he made money and he still will for another couple of weeks. So I don't think it was a bad trade, but the score probably was a bit underwhelming. And look, I should really have...
00:12:33
Jon Harmey
This is the what third week in a row which I should have got cooking and I didn't. But anyway, I think I've just missed him now based on his price point and i I'll move on and I've got Reid, so I'll just hold him for a little bit.
00:12:46
JORDAN DSENA
Harmi, do you Richelli?
00:12:48
Jon Harmey
yeah Yeah, I started with him, so i that wasn't an option for me, obviously.
00:12:49
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah.
00:12:54
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah.
00:12:55
Holmesy
Beautiful. All right, a quick Pod Pod Challenge update. And we now have three sides inside the top 100, which is really good to see. So we've still got I'll Win a Cap Before Frio ranked at 29. We now have the Powerhouse ranked at 56.
00:13:12
Holmesy
And then Croft Dusters at 86. So really, really exciting to see some of the PodPod members inside the top 100. It's a probably a ah good time of the year to be there, um knowing that you've still got a lot of work to do. But yeah, just a reminder that the winner of the PodPod Challenge will receive a custom AFL fantasy ring from our friends over at supercoachchampion.com. And it's not too late to join the league as well. The league code will be in the show description below.
00:13:40
Holmesy
But boys, let's get stuck into our hot topics. And I suppose the first one, Jordy, which I'll go to you first, The Cherry and Cameron owners really got burnt this week. Now, Cameron with the role change and then Tristan Cherry had the perfect matchup.
00:13:58
Holmesy
Yes, we'd heard things in the preseason that he was struggling a little bit with the new rules and whatnot, but then we see him do what he did against the Eagles and he wasn't terrible the week before either. No one could have seen the 55 coming and then after that ending up being suspended for for three weeks from that incident with Andy McGrath. So I suppose...
00:14:18
Holmesy
for the for coaches that have Darcy Cameron and Tristan Cherry, you have to trade Tristan Cherry. And I think you have to trade Cameron as well, unless Steen is dropped. But even then, you're going to want to be aborting that pretty quickly.
00:14:30
Holmesy
Is it as simple as if you're someone like me that has McAndrew at R3, that you trade that Ruckman down to the rookie, whether it be Steen, whether it be, you know, a ZZ if he comes back in or or another r three option to bring McAndrew on field or...
00:14:45
Jon Harmey
Thank you.
00:14:47
Holmesy
With the murmurings out of Adelaide that Rob's it you know potentially around around the squad, he was in emergency last week, another big game in the sample, and Adelaide being 1-3 and not winning, 1-3, whatever it is, they're not winning at the moment.
00:15:03
Holmesy
Is it a risk to bring McAndrew back on field?
00:15:09
JORDAN DSENA
It definitely could be. I ah ah still think it's the best option. I think if Rob's not named there, i think your best, especially in best 18 this week, I'm happy to run McAndrew there at r two Like I think he's doing a fine job.
00:15:22
JORDAN DSENA
he's I would put him as that being the first option. The second option I would probably put in a Brodie Grundy if you're looking for a bit of value. His break-even is still 130, but he does come up against West Coast this week.
00:15:35
JORDAN DSENA
I am a little bit, obviously in the preseason, I was very hot on Grundy, but... I kind of do want to see one or two more from him. But in saying that, he's got a brilliant matchup this week. And we've seen these rucks against West Coast to have about 30 or 40 hit outs at least. Like Sweet had 37, I think, on the weekend. and what So I think we can bank on that. i can see Grundy doing quite well. is he Is he a top ruck though? He might be a trade later on, maybe.
00:16:04
JORDAN DSENA
I'd put that as probably the second option, I think, which gives you an extra week or two to to look at it. But say come gather rounds, And Rob's names, i I'm pretty nervous having McAndrew as an R2 when we've got a full team. So, you know, there's risk there as well, but i it's still my first option.
00:16:24
Holmesy
Harmi, I need another opinion here because Jordy has had Grundy-coloured glasses on the entire pre-season and even did the the shifty deception of the listeners and didn't go there.
00:16:32
JORDAN DSENA
Exactly.
00:16:37
Holmesy
is Is he an option? Because, you mean, in theory, he is. He's down on his starting price. We saw what he did back end of last year, but we know the Rucks are coming back. Just by the eye, it seems like Sydney are playing very north-south football where they just get the ball in the back line and go.
00:16:49
JORDAN DSENA
Thank
00:16:53
Holmesy
Their stoppage numbers reflect that. I think they're mid-pack for ruck contests at about 88 per game, which is which is down a fair bit from last year. can you go Can you go Brodie Grundy? Do you think it's an option or do you think you're just buying into another subpar ruck that isn't matching it with your Tim English and your Max Gorn?
00:17:12
Jon Harmey
Well, he's $114,000 cheaper than Geordie was going to pay for him at the start of the season.
00:17:18
JORDAN DSENA
Mm-hmm.
00:17:19
Jon Harmey
So there is that as well. So he's good value, Holmes, if you think of it in that way. now I think Geordie's nailed it. If you if you've got Steen named um this round, I think that that's where you go. And I'll probably...
00:17:34
Jon Harmey
that's probably saved a little bit, Holmesy, because I know that you have got some money banked. So you're probably going to be carrying over some money to next week anyway, and it won't take much to get McAndrew up if you need to, if you're worried about what Rob looks like when we're back to best 22, a normal normal scoring round.
00:17:58
Holmesy
Yeah, it's interesting. I don't know which way I'm going to go. the The easy option, not the easy option, but the safer option is to go down to Steen. But, you know, ah in the back of my mind, i've been saying it all preseason, I've been wrong this far, but I just feel like Rob is going to play a part in this season at some point. And if you can get through to to around ten round 10, round 11, and McAndrew gets all the way up to seven hundred k then...
00:18:20
Holmesy
then those coaches are away and off to the races. But it is a disaster if Rob comes in. And I have enough issues in my side as it is to have to worry about potentially trading McAndrew out or getting him to the bench in the next next two weeks, Harmi.
00:18:34
Jon Harmey
It's a hard one, isn't it? Because everybody's been bloody changing this every week. It was after round one, it was, oh, everybody's got to get Luke Jackson in. Then then then it was, oh, everybody's got to get Tristan Cherry in.
00:18:47
Jon Harmey
And now, um anyway, look, I just think with what Geordie was saying, the other point we should make is McAndrew is averaging 82 and he's just come off a 90. So, you know, hes he's a player that you want in your best 22 scores, I think, for a rookie.

Trading Strategies for Underperforming Players

00:19:04
Holmesy
Yep, yep, don't mind that there, Harmy. Geordie, we have a lot of fail, or ah I do, and other coaches do as well.
00:19:12
JORDAN DSENA
Mm-hmm.
00:19:13
Holmesy
We have a lot of failed mid-prices that are now starting to burn holes in our side. Now, Broon's probably a bit harsh for me to put on this list, but you know his break-even's starting to get up there now after that poor score on the weekend.
00:19:27
Holmesy
We talk Philippot, we talk Parrish, we talk Windsor, we talk Millerer. I'm sure other coaches have a few others as well. You know, we've got one more week of best 18. So we've we've essentially got four fix up trades before we're back into best 22. And then we really need our structures nice and tight moving forward. So how do you how do you decide and on and basically, you know, rank in terms of priority trade outs for a lot of these players that are they're starting to burn holes in our sides?
00:19:56
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah, I think how you've ordered it here actually is how I would have it. So you've got Filippo up the top and he's obviously on the buy, right? So that's probably one thing is, okay, which player is on the buy?
00:20:07
JORDAN DSENA
You've got a chance to get a player in this week that's going to score and you can change that. He's obviously not going to play. he's not His price isn't going to move. um So I think that's probably the first thing. And then like your next player here is Parrish, which I think like, I mean, Harmi might be able to comment on this, but like, are Esseling going make changes? He hasn't looked amazing. People, you know, he's had low tog. So,
00:20:32
JORDAN DSENA
There's obviously that part of it as well. I'd put definitely those two yeah at the front. And then obviously like Windsor's just had a really good score. So he can obviously stay. Like Blackiston as well, just put up a 70, which was really good. And Bruin and Malera, I think, you know, they're probably like they are ones to trade, but probably you can get away with another week or two. So I think having a player on the bye as well as probably Roll,
00:20:59
JORDAN DSENA
I think you've pretty much nailed the order is how I would put it.
00:21:05
Holmesy
Yeah, it's it is tricky though, right, Harmi? I mean, Windsor, like fantastic that he's gone 96 now and his break-even's, you know, 30-odd and we can see another week for him. But, I mean, outside of that 53-point quarter, he's been a failed pick since the start of the year. Blackiston's finally put up a score.
00:21:24
Holmesy
but it was still a 70. That's probably as well as he can go. And Tristan Cherry was like a shell of himself in that second half. Once he was rattled after he knew he was getting suspended and and the other boys were getting stuck into him.
00:21:36
Holmesy
So he he's going to have to go at some stage too. And Jordy, I think you mentioned that Brian might be playing VFL this week. So, you know, Brian's on the horizon as well.
00:21:41
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah, Brian's in...
00:21:44
Holmesy
do you Do you agree with with that order? And when you're thinking about who you need to trade out of your side as well, how are you determining who's the most important to go?
00:21:53
Jon Harmey
Look, i'll I'll just probably talk through them a little bit. Philippo, definitely number one. No doubt about that. He's got nowhere near what you wanted him to do and he's on his pie.
00:22:04
Jon Harmey
Moving on. Parrish, probably a little bit less. I know a lot of people are talking about getting rid of him and and I will get rid of him. But I don't think he's really going to hurt you. i certainly won't hurt you this week.
00:22:18
Jon Harmey
um I can't see him being dropped and he's playing against the Bulldogs and he'll be playing in the midfield. So I think that... He's a bit lower down the list of priorities. Windsor, I think you'll keep for a week, but you want to trade him soon because he's really put up some poor scores and he's not he's not doing what we want. But I'm just going to try and hold him for this week, make another 30 grand and then move him on, hopefully, next week.
00:22:40
Jon Harmey
Broon, I'm not moving. was only that sitting on the bench with his busted nose. Malira, I think that you've just got think about who you could get to. So that's probably something we didn't talk about there, was who you're going to move them on to and...
00:22:56
Jon Harmey
Malira, you know, I think it's probably next week for him potentially as well, moving on to a Lockie Ash, Lockie Whitfield, Messiah type palm player.
00:23:07
Holmesy
Yeah, I think his break even is about 76, which you would hope that he's going to get somewhere near that or above that to to not lose any money this week. um And then, yeah, you can probably look to target one of those big dogs off the buy.
00:23:21
Holmesy
In terms of, I mentioned it before, where we've got one more week of best 18 and then we're going to be moving back into best 22. And that's when we're we're really going to need our structure nice and set moving forward with the rookies and mid-prices, Jordy. So at this stage, I mean, I know you mentioned last week that you're you're trying to plan four weeks ahead with your trades, but let's let's go two weeks here.
00:23:42
Holmesy
If all things go well with what you're planning, what is your structure looking like coming into into Gather Round? Let's just talk rookies. How many rookies are you planning on having on your field come round five?
00:23:55
JORDAN DSENA
Oh, that's a good one. um Let's have a little quick.
00:23:59
Holmesy
Because, I mean, why are you doing that? I mean, Lockie Jakes is clearly someone we're going to want on field in defense. um Murdoch's not there at the moment, but Jagger is someone that clearly we want on field. And then Blumeyers can probably go either way. He's going to get DPP come round six, but with the way the with the way the defenders are scoring, you probably don't want to hide him back there and and you want to be able to to get up so to some of the big premiums. And then You're looking at ah maybe a Dev Rob. He's had two good weeks, but then a shocker on the weekend and and now he's missing, which we didn't actually um say off the top that he's accept accepted that suspension.
00:24:36
Holmesy
So is it is it four rookies? And McAndrew, clearly you're running that as well. So is it four rookies? Is it five rookies? Are you trying to to get it down first week of gather round? How are you looking?
00:24:47
JORDAN DSENA
I think it's six rookies. Like, Jax at D6, definitely. Probably Jagger and rookies from M6 onwards. Got McCandrew.
00:24:57
JORDAN DSENA
So that's five. And then probably you're going a Devrob or a Cook at F5, F6. So I could have quite a few. i think mike my biggest thing this week is fixing the forward line. like I think forwards the next week, you might come out. like That's where you can make up a lot of ground. Obviously, we've lost Petrarca.
00:25:16
JORDAN DSENA
Marshall's out. Hopefully, he comes back. um you know Lombard and Dovison are these guys that they can put up a 30. And I'm a bit worried. So I i'm really look i haven't got Rochelle in my team. So he's a massive target for me because it just gives me an extra number there. And I can do a bit of looping as well if I do hold Petrarca. And that's where I feel like I can make up some points.
00:25:38
JORDAN DSENA
I'm happy with Blamires and the light. Grill can go onto my midfield. I'm probably looking at, yeah, a Rochelle this week and maybe a rookie and then maybe another rookie for cash and a primo like a Callahan or a Whitfield. So um that's sort of where i ah think I'm landing at the moment.
00:26:00
Jon Harmey
but some That's actually quite interesting you say that you're trying to strengthen up your forward line there, Geordie, because for me, as I'm coming back into best 22, what I am looking at this week and next week is actually just trying to get as many primo backs as I can because I feel like they're the ones that are going to be the scorers. So it's bit of a different approach between us.
00:26:23
JORDAN DSENA
if i well If I got Kerch this week, I would already have five backs with Jax at D6.
00:26:31
Jon Harmey
Hmm, okay
00:26:33
JORDAN DSENA
So that's Sinclair.
00:26:34
Holmesy
Yeah.
00:26:35
JORDAN DSENA
Sorry, because I got Zorko last week. So so add yeah, I mean, ah yeah, depends, I guess, on where you've targeted.
00:26:41
Holmesy
yeah i was Yeah. I was quite comfortable in in potentially looking at you know maybe one or two rookies in the forward line and and not trading into into a forward harmony. But you know it might even be the play where it's just one and you you're playing the matchups between Dev Rob and Cook, knowing full well that when you do that, you're more than likely going to get it wrong. But...
00:27:01
Holmesy
I didn't expect Dev Rob to put up a 40 like he did on the weekend, especially in that role with the access to the the tackles that he had. 40 wasn't something I thought was possible. So, yeah, just something mean something to look at. I think at this stage, five will be were're about where it sits for me. And then it's all about picking off the mid prices to get up to the underpriced primos and things like that. But it's just something to think about.
00:27:26
Holmesy
I know a lot of sides started very guns and rookies and and that's all well and good at the moment. it's It's definitely worked. But if we do end up with some of these rookies on field and they start to falter a little bit or we get a Murdoch situation where a Jax goes down or um you know someone else like that goes down and all of a sudden you are playing at a Doverston type on field, then that's something we're going to correct.
00:27:46
Holmesy
and fix asap but geordie you made a great point and what i want to kind of frame here is that colby and rochelle are ah two hot names this week in terms of value so both priced very close to each other you'd think rochelle after that breakout game on the weekend that he is now a serious option for us and that adelaide aren't gonna play with that too much and colby we did say predominantly back to that halfback role although he was essentially a midfielder in that last quarter and and that's when they got on top and really put the Bombers away. Harmi, I'll go you because I've already listened to Jordi. In terms of if coaches are only able to get one of Rochelle and Colby this week because they can't swing both, who do you think is the more urgent trade-in?
00:28:30
Jon Harmey
Urgent. Look, if if I had a choice, I'd probably go Colby because watching his game on the weekend, he was back into the perfect role that we want from him. So that's probably it for me, just from watching both of those guys.
00:28:50
Jon Harmey
But I will just sort of Rochelle is priced at $7.51 now. He had a great game on the weekend, don't get me wrong. I can see why you would be advocating for him to come in.
00:29:03
Jon Harmey
But I guess you've got other players coming off the buy now. So you've got Joel Frazier, about the same price, at a smashing score before he had the buy. Then you've got Dylan Moore and Connor McDonald back in the mix as well. So it's probably just a few other players around that price that are worth considering as well, I reckon.
00:29:26
Holmesy
um mean If we're talking Colby versus Rochelle, and you are right, we'll go through the other forward options in a second, but does the 33 break even for Rochelle versus the 58 break even for Colby, does that swing you there? Because if you if you don't go Rochelle this week and he's Huns,
00:29:42
Holmesy
He's going to be probably priced around 82, 83. And really at that point, he he might be gone for for coaches that missed him versus Colby. We've still only seen it for one week.
00:29:53
Holmesy
The time on ground was up, but it's still not back to being the best. And they still are playing around with his role a little bit. And you do need to throw the Essendon tax on that score a little bit. Because of the break-evens, does that make Rochelle a bit more of ah a priority to grab this week if you are planning on trying to grab both of them over the next couple?
00:30:13
Jon Harmey
Jeez, you're putting up a good case, Homesy, but you haven't got me there yet, I'm afraid. ah i just feel like Colby's role, I think that it was solid, as in he wasn't thrown around much this weekend. Obviously, he has been up until now, but anyway, the game just gone. he wasn't thrown around. He was in the back line.
00:30:32
Jon Harmey
And I just think that there's the potential for Rochelle to be thrown around a bit. I mean, didn't have Dawson, um didn't play. Rankin hasn't got into the midfield at all yet based on fitness, I think. So, yeah, I just feel like there is a bit of a potential that Rochelle's role could change too.
00:30:57
Holmesy
You gonna speak, Jordy? You put your hand up, mate.
00:30:58
JORDAN DSENA
Oh, yeah. So, yeah, I think like the same could be for Rochelle. Like i I was so impressed with him. And ranked for me, the thing that changed my mind is Rankin was he had one CBA, I think.
00:31:12
JORDAN DSENA
And he just he didn't look fit to me. Like he just he's missed some match fitness and they didn't throw him in there this week. And I just don't think they're going to put him in the midfield just yet. I think he's just a little bit off touch.
00:31:25
JORDAN DSENA
And I think with Rochelle's game, like even with Dawson coming back, we saw him have 64% CBAs.

Premium Midfielders Debate

00:31:31
JORDAN DSENA
The round one game, he had 52%. fifty two percent It was only that round two one where they did put Rankin and Rochelle in for 30%.
00:31:40
JORDAN DSENA
I think he's going to have about 50% this week. And that score there in the round one was 98. And I just think he if he can have 50%, He should be a pretty good forward option from now until the mid-season buys. And i'm ah yeah i just I'm pretty keen to to get him in.
00:31:57
JORDAN DSENA
and like i could
00:31:57
Jon Harmey
Get them both, get them both, Holmesy.
00:32:00
JORDAN DSENA
I could get both this week.
00:32:01
Holmesy
Yeah.
00:32:02
Jon Harmey
Hold Darcy Cameron, bring them both in.
00:32:02
Holmesy
Do I... no I need... Yeah, need Steen to miss with soreness or something and Cameron to go 150 so doesn't lose any money. So, I mean, you never know.
00:32:14
Holmesy
You never know. But... In terms of the big scorers, and we're starting to really see some divergence from the pack with some of these transition midfielders and then Bontempele just being Bontempele. But you've got Harmi, you've got Nick Dacos now priced at 123.
00:32:31
Holmesy
You've got Baz priced at 121. You've got Bont priced at 117. I'm calling these three the three big dogs and and clearly Bont playing Essendon this week. If you're after a sugar hit, there's there's no better matchup.
00:32:44
Holmesy
You weren't on the pod last week, so we didn't get your opinion on paying up for these these big dog premiums that are now super expensive. So give us give us your insight there and and talk us through whether you believe we can still pay up for for these three.
00:33:01
Jon Harmey
so Look, I can see the temptation, but I couldn't do it. It's just not my style of
00:33:09
Jon Harmey
ah sort of said it with Murphy Reid, didn't I, that I felt he was, you know, 10 points underpriced at least. And I guess I feel that even with premiums, I've still got a feel as though they are...
00:33:22
Jon Harmey
priced below what I think they can average. And I can't say that for Nick Dacos based on his current price. He looked awesome, um but yeah done I don't know if could trade him in. And, you know, history says he's going to get tagged or injured to a 70 and his price will drop.
00:33:42
Holmesy
Okay, Jordy. So let's say coaches are still wanting to pay up. So Harmi's saying it's not his style. I've been saying that as well, but clearly I haven't had a very good start this year. So let's say some coaches out there, they want to pay up because they just want these ceiling scores and they've got the money to burn before Best 22 happens next week.
00:34:03
Holmesy
Out of Nick Dacos, Bailey Smith and Bontempele, make a case for for starting or picking one of those guys this week.
00:34:12
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah, look, I think I've been a bit different on this. I think last week I was okay to pay up for a player. I think you can pay up, like I paid up for Zorko. I think Dacos you could have paid up last week.
00:34:23
JORDAN DSENA
I think you can pay up for one of them. yeah And probably the the option was last week. I'm a bit uncomfortable with like coaches getting Dacos last week and then going for a bont this week because I just feel like that's two guys you're going to hamstring yourself.
00:34:38
JORDAN DSENA
For me, it would just if you can get Dacos now, Just get him now, I think. Like, yes, there's every world. he's He could get tagged, but he could do a 120 season, 115 season.
00:34:51
JORDAN DSENA
You've got him there. feel like the game's changed a bit this year. I think just get him in. That would be my pick.
00:34:59
Holmesy
Yeah, so there's no interest in a Bont priced at 117 if you don't have those guys playing Essendon. He's done nothing wrong so far, plays a lot of games at Marvel, including this week where he's on a different planet there.
00:35:12
Holmesy
could you Could you go a Bont this week?
00:35:14
JORDAN DSENA
I mean, you could. he's He's a gun. He's going to be a top, you know. Probably, well, those three are what, M3? I just, I'm just on Dake.
00:35:23
Holmesy
Yeah.
00:35:24
JORDAN DSENA
Like, Bond's probably more of ah a 110, 111 guy. so you're paying with a good run for a eleven kadaka do a one eleven or one fit could you could you one fifteen I mean, you can see that. I just don't know if Bont can do 115.
00:35:41
JORDAN DSENA
Like, he's more of just a safe 110. So you're going to lose a bit of money there, I think. But he's going to have a good few weeks, I think.
00:35:51
Holmesy
Harmi, for coaches that are still shopping for a midfield premium, but maybe they have a day cost, maybe they have a bond and they're still trying to hunt a little bit of value. I'll throw you some names and you can tell me whether you're interested or not. So Max Holmes has done nothing wrong, priced at $112.
00:36:06
Holmesy
ah Jack Steele, back-to-back $130s, tackling well, now priced at $108. Tim Taranto, back-to-back tons, had a monster first half before fading. He's priced at 101.
00:36:18
Holmesy
Will Ashcroft priced at 101, still no humour cluggage as of yet. And Lockie Neal actually started off and we're probably going to see a bit of management with him this year, which means Ashcroft probably has a more predominant role. And then LDU priced at 98, actually getting on the outside and marking this year, which is something we haven't seen from him before.
00:36:39
Holmesy
to Do any of these players pique your interest for someone that's trying to play the value game a bit more?
00:36:45
Jon Harmey
Of the ones that you've named there, mate, Will Ashcroft certainly has more reasons why I'd be interested with him there. Obviously had a good score on the weekend. end um
00:36:57
JORDAN DSENA
Jump on.
00:36:58
Jon Harmey
TT, to Tim Tranto, yeah, the captain, the captain of the Tigers now, and ah Look, I'm not sure. The one you you didn't mention, Caleb, so wrong there.
00:37:11
Jon Harmey
He put in a nice score. I just think that those guys pricing that 95 102 price bracket have got more potential for upside rather than the guys that are priced at 117.
00:37:19
JORDAN DSENA
Thank you.
00:37:23
Jon Harmey
So, yeah, it is a... better area um josh dunkler you didn't mention him he hasn't really hit his straps yet but um he's down 100 grand and he's priced at about 100 as well so um you know maybe maybe he's not as quick as some of the others and it's not his um you know the the game hasn't changed in his favor so but ah here's another that you could have a look at
00:37:50
Holmesy
Let's do a little bit of like, dislike now for for some of these forward options that are either coming off a buy or are starting to to be serious options for us in terms of when we talk top

Forward Options Assessment

00:38:01
Holmesy
six. So I'll alternate between you, Jordy.
00:38:04
Holmesy
First one, Grian Myers priced at 105, playing that high half forward roll to perfection at the moment in this new game rules where there's just so much space for him. Did have a monster fourth quarter, which I think was about six or seven tackles, which isn't going to happen each week. Before that, he was he was looking like just putting up a ah high 80s, low 90s type score.
00:38:25
Holmesy
have we Have we missed the the boat on a grind, Myers?
00:38:30
JORDAN DSENA
I think so. Like priced at 105. He's going to be a top six forward, but yeah, he's quite pricey now. I think he was even priced pretty highly last week, but had it just did quite well. So i think I'll be leaving that one.
00:38:43
Holmesy
And I dare say Hawthorne will put some some kind of defensive attention on him this week. Harmy Cozzy Pickett. Now, I don't like being a little bit of hindsight here, but he actually was someone that I was looking to to trade Petrarca to last week. I was worried about the ceiling and then he goes and puts a 130 on my head.
00:39:02
Holmesy
Full-time midfield role, not that mid-forward, and he looked unbelievable. I don't think he can maintain that each week and that the attention will come for him because you stop Cozzy and you pretty much stop Melbourne outside of a Max Gorn.
00:39:17
Holmesy
But priced at 95, every chance to be a top six forward, are you interested in a Cozzy picket?
00:39:24
Jon Harmey
Yeah, I guess interested. um but but I mean, look, it's his career best game. Most disposals he's ever had, i think they said at the end of that game. And I think might have said the same thing for Joshua Shelley. So, yeah I don't know. um He is looking amazing. Under Stephen King, he's getting a prime role. They want him in there. They want the ball in his hands. He's the tap two guy.
00:39:50
Jon Harmey
So, yeah yeah, he could very well be a bit underpriced and and a good pickup. I will give you that one.
00:39:57
Holmesy
Jordy, Justin McInerney priced at around 92, had 70% centre bounces the week prior before their buy, but I think that was because Heaney was out. But you think with Goulden being out, he's probably going to be around that sort of 50% centre bounce attendances. They've really liked what he's done to start the year and he is in that Finn Callaghan mould of being that taller midfielder that you know gets on the handball, receives and and gets out in space.
00:40:25
Holmesy
Is 92, though, is that too much of a hefty price tag for someone that we really haven't seen it happen for for a significant amount of time?
00:40:33
JORDAN DSENA
I think so. it's ah It's a no for me. I think he's going to be around the mark. you know Maybe he pushes there or he's his top 10 forward, top 15 forward. But just for a classic and price at 92, I think I'm just going to leave it. And we've got two weeks and we're going to some DPP. So it just gives us a bit more time to reassess where he fits in with all of that, I think, for me.
00:40:56
Holmesy
Harmi, you mentioned this guy as a trade-in option earlier in the pod. Dylan Moore, priced at 84, had a slow round zero, but then back-to-back 99s. Hawthorne playing well, scoring well.
00:41:10
Holmesy
you know What can you project Dylan Moore to be? you'd You'd need him to be a top six forward at that price and someone you can hold long-term. So is that why you're thinking that he might be an option?
00:41:20
Jon Harmey
And he had such a stinker in round one, sorry, round zero, that he's dropped in price. Yeah, well, he scored 100 before the break, um and that was without relying on CBAs. So he's that is that quality half-forward flank who works up the ground and priced at 84.
00:41:44
Jon Harmey
Yeah, could he be 90? Yep, he could be 90. So he's probably not the number one who I'd pick out of all of these, but I'd say he's not a bad pick.
00:41:53
Holmesy
Yeah, no, I agree there. I think best case he's probably 90 and that would would have him on the door of the top six forwards. But we do we do know that he has a floor on his day. He puts up these random 50s and 60s, which definitely hurt his average. Hami, I'll stay with you. I'll throw you his teammate, Connor McDonald. So,
00:42:10
Holmesy
He's scoring well, despite seemingly having lost the role that coaches would have picked him to start the preseason. I think 13% roughly centre bounces in the last game that he played. But with the way Hawthorne are playing, think Ryan Myers, he's definitely getting up around the ball and getting some marks on the outside.
00:42:28
Holmesy
Price at 78, as I mentioned, do you think coaches have missed the boat on Connor Mack or do you think they can still trade into him?
00:42:34
Jon Harmey
No, I don't think they've missed the boat on him and you could trade into him. So I guess that's to answer your question specifically. I sort of watch him play. and He's a bit of a burst scorer. like He does a lot of good stuff. And i sort of get to the end of the game and am surprised he hasn't scored more. So um in the last couple of games, it looks like the Hawks have really wanted Cam McKenzie and Josh Ward in their midfield. So hasn't been as many CBAs for McDonald. But he is still outperforming what he's priced at.
00:43:06
Jon Harmey
So I'll put him in the same basket as Murphy Reid, really, in that he's still he's still a few points um underpriced at worst, I reckon.
00:43:16
Holmesy
Jordy, the last one that I'll throw to you before we look at some rookie options quickly and then move into the questions. One of my Frio boys, Shai Bolton. Now, with Hayden Young going out, he's had 71% center bounces the last two weeks and has gone back-to-back tons and he looked unreal on the weekend. Now, there is obviously a caveat here. Had the Melbourne matchup the week prior, Sarong was getting the death tag, so he was just able to to roam and do as he pleased.
00:43:44
Holmesy
And then Richmond being the revenge game, he was on another planet. So priced at 81 with Hayden Young potentially on the horizon. We know that he's always a bit of an injury risk.
00:43:55
Holmesy
what do you What do you think about Ashai Bolton? Because he is playing some unbelievable footy at the moment, but he has pretty much done this and burnt coaches in the past.
00:44:05
JORDAN DSENA
Yep, definitely. ah ah I actually have a little bit of interest in Bolton just because of the role. Like 70% CBAs is unreal. I know Hayden Young is out, but like hasn't he sort of changed the midfield dynamic for Fremantle? I know he's had a ah couple of good matchups, but, you know, just this thing in the week, he's pretty much exactly what that midfield needs. Like they need that Bolton and that Reid right in there.
00:44:30
JORDAN DSENA
having high CBA, I actually have a bit of interest. I know he's burned people before, but could he just continue some, you know, maybe over 50% CBAs? Like Hayden Young, could he just play a bit more low-tog?
00:44:42
JORDAN DSENA
Hayden Young was even more forward at the for the first few games. So i do have a bit of interest in Shea Bolton.
00:44:51
Holmesy
All right, Rochelle or Bolton then. They're not that, you know, 77 price tag versus 81.
00:44:54
JORDAN DSENA
Oh, Rochelle. Yeah.
00:44:56
Holmesy
They're not ridiculously, you know, away from each other.
00:44:57
Jon Harmey
No.
00:45:00
Jon Harmey
Not even a competition.
00:45:00
JORDAN DSENA
Oh, Rochelle. Rochelle for me.
00:45:02
Jon Harmey
No competition. Yeah.
00:45:04
JORDAN DSENA
And he's cheaper.
00:45:04
Holmesy
Come on, Harmy. Have a bit of fun, mate.
00:45:07
Jon Harmey
Now, I'll tell you what, as somebody that has owned Shai Bolton before, it's not fun, Holmesy.
00:45:07
Holmesy
Live a little bit.
00:45:12
Jon Harmey
Don't do it.
00:45:13
JORDAN DSENA
Is he going to change it
00:45:14
Holmesy
Yeah, no. like I agree. I agree. But, man, he's looked he's looked unbelievable the last two weeks. And that midfield role has been different to what he's had in the past. He's actually been a midfielder. And I think they can put that down to the development of Murphy Reid and some of the other Frio forwards.
00:45:30
Holmesy
But, yeah, I agree, Harmi. I couldn't go there knowing what he's done in the past. But at the same time, If he averaged 90 and was a top six forward, it also wouldn't wouldn't shock me.

Rookie Trade-Ins and Cash Generation

00:45:40
Holmesy
we I expected him to play more like this coming across from Richmond last year and that didn't happen. So one one to watch anyway.
00:45:49
Holmesy
Jordy, before we get stuck into the questions, I did say that we're going to just touch on some rookie options because there are coaches this week that are are probably going to need to look to trade into a rookie to be able to fix a mid-pricer and then get up to a premium. So let's talk your port boy first, Jack Watkins.
00:46:08
Holmesy
Priced at 42 now, still has a break-even of negative 22, which... He's still going to make some serious cash. Looked unreal in that first quarter, but definitely faded.
00:46:18
Holmesy
Didn't have the CBAs that I thought he would. It it ended up being around that 30% centre bounces towards the end of the game and had really low tog in the end. I think it was 65%. I think Ollie Wines comes back in this week personally. I think they missed him around the contest and I think that was Josh Carr getting a little bit cute there. But do you feel do you think coaches can go into him now that he's a bit expensive?
00:46:41
JORDAN DSENA
This one I've been tossing and turning for the last two days because he's got the break even. He can make you some more money, but you've got Wines coming in. Port aren't looking great.
00:46:51
JORDAN DSENA
Will Brodish hopefully might come out. Someone's going play that low-tog game. Is it Wines? Do they drop Watkins back? Do they put him forward? I just don't know. and and I think for me, like there's a rookie there that I traded out of last week, which was Josh Lindsay.
00:47:07
JORDAN DSENA
And I think if you don't have him, he might be a higher guy. There might be a couple other rookies that might be a bit safer than Watkins. um Look, every, he could go at 60 for the next three or four weeks and he's going to make you a lot of money. But I just have a little bit of doubt now with that. What's happening at Port Adelaide is my only thing, but yeah, he could be fine.
00:47:27
Holmesy
Yeah, to me it has to me it has a little bit of shades of Moraes last year who came in, he had that 90 odd, I think it was in his second game and and really shot up in price and everyone kind of jumped across thinking that he was the must have rookie and then he ends up putting up a few 50s and 60s, makes a little bit of coin, but then ends up out of the side. Now not saying Watkins is going to be dropped,
00:47:27
JORDAN DSENA
Probably last week was, it was a,
00:47:48
Holmesy
But if he's priced at 42 and he goes at, say, 60 from here, he's going to make money, but it's not as much money as you might get from a Lindsay, who is a little bit cheaper priced at...
00:48:00
JORDAN DSENA
37, think.
00:48:00
Holmesy
What's Lindsay at now? Priced at 37. So is Watkins going to be five points better than Lindsay? Perhaps. but you know who really knows? And then you go down the list. So you've got, I'll talk about Dersmer in a second, but you've got you know Bo Allen that is now priced at 36, looked okay on the weekend. You've got Lay priced at 26, Farrow priced at 35, Byrne priced at 24. Now Byrne, I don't think is is an option with how Carlton are looking, Harmy, but there are options there.
00:48:28
Holmesy
So out of the ones that I've kind of listed, if you had to go somewhere this week, do you Do you go one of these players or do we fix the mid prices and then maybe wait for a leak next week or see what other options kind of present themselves?
00:48:41
Jon Harmey
Depends what issues you've got on your bench, Holmesy. I actually asked Jordy earlier whether he had any problems on his bench and he said no.
00:48:50
Holmesy
My team's perfect, he said, yeah.
00:48:50
Jon Harmey
So, yeah, he said my team's awesome, you should be jealous.
00:48:52
JORDAN DSENA
I got a Vicentini.
00:48:54
Jon Harmey
um but But I mean, i guess for me, when I look at it depending, if like if West Coast came out and said that Murdoch was out for another four or five weeks,
00:49:04
Holmesy
Yes.
00:49:06
Jon Harmey
think about trading him I've got Dyson Sharp which has been a failed rookie pick for me at the moment so it depends on what ah other issues you've got I guess I'd be happy to trade mid-pricer but I'm more likely to trade one of those two rookies that are sitting there doing nothing for me to try and stimulate some more cash on my bench And look, at out of the guys that you've mentioned there, I was really interested in Watkins. But when you look at it, and I think Will Brodie is going to be out of the team, 42% time on ground. The next, well, apart from Radicalia, who's injured, the the next worst was Watkins, 65%. So even though he had CBAs, I really think that you'd be lucky to get two weeks out of him if he does hold his spot.
00:49:54
Holmesy
Yep, so Harmy, because we can't ask Jordy about this because he's got him and every time he does something, he puts Durs in the group chat.
00:50:00
JORDAN DSENA
Oh, no.
00:50:02
Holmesy
But is it too late now for Willem Dursman, priced at 53? I should have gone there two weeks ago instead of going Caleb Sorong and just um did that cash option. He's looking very good.
00:50:13
Holmesy
But I am mindful that Eagles have had two good wins now. And in that loss, he was a 60 player. And I think the losses will start to come for the Eagles soon. And he's going to start to tire. But priced at 53, what would you need to see Dersma do to still be a ah value pick for those that want to jump on him now?
00:50:30
Jon Harmey
Yeah, well, obviously I'm spewing I didn't start with him as well. I think I said that. Look, the the thing with Dersma that I have looked at is, as you said, priced at 53, I think in a normal course of events, he's probably a 60 to 65 guy.
00:50:46
Jon Harmey
And if you're thinking about trading him me in now, that's not that much upside from 53. So i priced at 515,000, I think off the top my head, I'm quite reluctant to bring him in at that price.
00:51:00
Holmesy
Yeah, I think i think he's ah a worst case 65, best case 75. So if you get that 70 to 75, he's still a good pick and he's going to be a rookie that you can have on your field.
00:51:06
Jon Harmey
you
00:51:10
Holmesy
Jordy, I've watched a little bit of the Eagles, but he's been wing midfield, right? So there's no chance of him getting forward status?
00:51:17
JORDAN DSENA
No, I don't think so. It's it's all wing. that There was an article, like Elliot Yeo's done his groin and he's one to two. And Dersmo, I mean, you've got the rising star. He said he's ready to to go inside midfield, like whether he's going to get that opportunity with Yeo out.
00:51:33
JORDAN DSENA
But, you know, if he does go inside, could you see his scoring go up a bit more? He did top score for West Coast as well on the weekend. Yeah. um He was their leading scorer. But, yeah, I mean, he is it more of an impact player.
00:51:45
JORDAN DSENA
But, um yeah, could be interesting on the roll.
00:51:47
Holmesy
Yeah. I do wonder if the inside CBA role might actually be worse for his scoring, Jordy. Like we've seen McCarthy go in be not able to to keep up with it in the midfield and and he's now back at halfback.
00:51:55
JORDAN DSENA
Hmm.
00:51:59
Holmesy
So yeah, he might find it a bit tougher as ah as a full-time inside mid. But yeah, I think 53 is probably a bit expensive now, but but well done to those coaches that started him or traded into him after round one because he's been a very good pick and he can continue, sorry, to hold him long-term.
00:52:19
Holmesy
All right, let's get stuck into these questions to finish the

Managing Rankings and Team Strategy

00:52:22
Holmesy
pod. But just a reminder, as always, that PodPod AFL has once again partnered with Q Platforms in 2026 to help answer all of your individual AFL fantasy questions.
00:52:29
JORDAN DSENA
you
00:52:31
Holmesy
So during the season, for Morera's Magic in-season members, Selby and myself record a podcast online. on Thursday night that answers all of the general questions and themes.
00:52:42
Holmesy
So if you're not a Marrera's Magic season guide, in-season member, sorry, head over to marrera'smagic.com.au to sign up there. But if you would like a guaranteed answer for your um your specific AFL fantasy questions, head over to askmeonq.com forward slash pod pod AFL. The link is in the show description below.
00:53:02
Holmesy
We do full team reveals, questions on individual players, anything strategy-wise, but we'll try to get through as many questions as we can. Harmy, and the first one comes from Sean.
00:53:13
Holmesy
Hey, guys, if you have Petrarca in the forward line with no DPP, would you be trading him before either Parrish or Carroll?
00:53:23
Jon Harmey
Look, a little bit of a spanner in the works with his son saying he's one to three weeks. But look, I'd still trade him. There's a lot of money sitting on your bench with a no certainty that he's going to come back soon or come back strong. So I think that you would have to trade him ahead of Parrish and Carroll, probably Carroll next them, Parrish for me.
00:53:45
Holmesy
Yeah, I think I'm a bit different there, Harmi, just because the rest of his question says that he has Rochelle and he doesn't have confidence in the other forward options. I think being one week, maybe you roll the dice there if your if your best 18 is strong enough and then you try and get rid of some of the other mid-prices and then maybe he comes back a week later or maybe another forward option presents because the last thing you want to do is trade into someone that you're not feeling comfortable about and then one week, two weeks down the track, you're stuck with another player you don't want and and maybe Petrarca comes back.
00:54:15
Jon Harmey
All right, mate, have you done a hamstring before?
00:54:18
Holmesy
No.
00:54:19
JORDAN DSENA
Oh
00:54:21
Jon Harmey
Coming back after two weeks from a hamstring, I'm telling you, I don't think it's going to be, he's going to be really firing. That's just my my, that's the point I'm trying to make.
00:54:30
Holmesy
I have done four ACLs though, Harmi. So I know a little bit about little bit about knee injuries.
00:54:32
JORDAN DSENA
my God.
00:54:34
Jon Harmey
Yeah, that's not soft tissue, though.
00:54:36
Holmesy
yeah but Yeah, you are right. hamys It's highly unlikely that he does. But I just think yeah if if you're still going to get the same players anyway because it's best 18, if you've got money banked, then I don't see the issue of holding just for one more week to get the get some of the other guys out. And then maybe the forward option presents itself a bit later on. Jordy, this one is from Tyler Finlay.
00:55:00
Holmesy
Is it crazy to Parrish to Kirch and Carroll to Farrow to keep the cash gen moving and bank even more cash? That will leave him with a little over six hundred k So he's going the value option in McKercher, but then he's also going to who he believes is the best cash generating rookie for the week.
00:55:20
JORDAN DSENA
I think they are the perfect trades. um I'm pretty much going to do something pretty similar to that. And having 600K in the bank is not that much because next week we're going to have Callahan, your Whitfield, your Nas, and he can pretty much launch straight into one of those with that cash. So I think they are great trades.
00:55:40
Holmesy
Harmi, this one's from Simon Stacks. I'm um'm putting this one directly at you because you told us Essendon were going to be competitive this year, but they're averaging just over 1,300 team points.
00:55:53
Holmesy
So regardless of market share, are the primos like Caldwell and Merritt Are they going to be able to average 105 plus and be players that premium players that we can hold in our sides long term?
00:56:04
Holmesy
Or are they urgent trade outs, which, you know, what we've seen currently, the midfielders for Essendon are really struggling, not only from a scoring point of view, but also a time on ground perspective as well.
00:56:16
Jon Harmey
Yeah, well, they've had a hard run. I mean, they had North Milton on the weekend, which are a pretty good side. So, oh, look, i don't know if I can really talk about the Bombers, mate. I'm pretty devastated.
00:56:28
Holmesy
Geordie, I'll go to you. That was just a bit of bit of a bit of a stitch up there.
00:56:31
JORDAN DSENA
ah
00:56:32
Holmesy
But, yeah, if coaches have strong sides and they need to jump off these players, we've got Parrish clearly that coaches are looking to jump off. But Caldwell hasn't shown the ceiling and the time on ground that we were hoping for.
00:56:45
Holmesy
Merritt got completely tagged out of the game and looked disinterested, albeit had nine tackles on the weekend. But, you know, Finno Sullivan... do Do you look to jump off a Caldwell or a Merritt or is is it at the stage now where unfortunately you've just got to hold them and hope they turn it around because it's unlikely that they they really burn you?
00:57:04
JORDAN DSENA
I think I'm more on the camp of holding just because it's upgrade season and I want to improve my side, not keep going sideways after the injuries and just hope they bounce back. I think, yeah, if your side's absolutely perfect, you've got everything, maybe you look you can you can do it.
00:57:19
JORDAN DSENA
But I'm going to say hold as my first option. Yeah.
00:57:23
Jon Harmey
Yeah, I just think you're going to have bigger issues. as Jordy said, I've got merit, I'm holding.
00:57:30
Holmesy
Yeah, I think I'm in that camp too, just because I don't think they're really going burn. I think Caldwell is as disappointing as he's been. He still had a low ton and and an 80 and a 90.
00:57:41
Holmesy
um And yeah, merit's merit. When he's not tagged, he should still be okay. And you look to up your upgrade your team around them and then get rid of them when the opportunity presents, if they still need to go Harmi, this one is from Gihu. Hey, Podpod, that was a better round.
00:57:56
Holmesy
Who goes first out of Carroll, Vicentini, Lombard and Murdoch?
00:58:02
Jon Harmey
Carol Vicentini Lombard Murdoch. Well, I think Geordie spoke to it earlier, but I'm still a bit uncertain about how long Murdoch's out for. But anyway, Carroll, I think the timing is right to get off him. He's got his buy. He's not making you any money this week. His break even is up to 30, and there's even a chance that he gets dropped coming out. So I'm pretty comfortable trading him. Visentini, I'm not sure who you would go to now if it's not Steen.
00:58:31
Jon Harmey
So you could trade him at Steen if you think he's going to Have a few good weeks and score. Lombard, i given that there's not a lot of forward Rockies available this week, I'm probably okay with holding him at the moment.
00:58:47
Holmesy
Well, Harmi, I'll throw you this then, because Steen is a ruck forward. Could you go a Lombard or a Doverston, he didn't ask about Doverston, but a Lombard, a Doverston down to a Steen, which might open up some DPP to then maybe trade Vicentini out at a later date?
00:59:05
Jon Harmey
Yeah, he certainly could. um I guess you you're training in a guy that had an amazing game for his first game. Still scored 53, I think. So i don't know if he's going to be a renowned scorer. But anyway, how many points did Darcy Cameron get? Did he get 53?
00:59:24
Jon Harmey
He might be the number.
00:59:24
Holmesy
59, mate.
00:59:25
Jon Harmey
Oh, OK. So he's just the number.
00:59:26
Holmesy
Points per minute, baby. 68% time on ground.
00:59:29
Jon Harmey
He's the R2 at Collingwood still then.
00:59:32
Holmesy
Fair enough.
00:59:33
Jon Harmey
Just...
00:59:34
Holmesy
I'm going to hold the next one for you, Harmi, because you do actually need to talk about this one. But, Jordi, I'll go to this one for you. This one's from Rock and Roller. Is Max Gorn yet again the premium ruck we should have just locked away from the start? We've seen how he he's held up with the game style change.
00:59:49
Holmesy
And other than Witts this week and the Meek slash Reeves combo in round 10 has a very nice run to the mid-season buy. So we didn't really touch on it at the top because he is priced at 124. But is there a world where coaches that have a Cherry or a Cameron just jump up to Max Gorn, he's expensive, but similar to the Nick Dacos, you're pretty confident he's going to be one of the top two rucks.
01:00:11
Holmesy
Yes, he might come back a little bit, but can he go 115? More than likely, that's possible. Do you just lock that away knowing that the ruck line's a bit different?
01:00:22
JORDAN DSENA
Maybe. Like, I definitely think him and English right now are look like they're the and R2. So that's, yeah, I mean, that's, like, he's looking insane. Can you pay up for it?
01:00:34
JORDAN DSENA
Bit of unique. Ruck's different. I'll just stick with, you maybe you can. i don't know. He's pretty expensive. But I do agree that he is the primo Ruck.
01:00:48
Holmesy
Just gets it done, Dundee, the big fella. No doubt the week we trade into him, Max Heath will come in for a bit of a chop out just to give him a bit of a rest. So maybe ah maybe I'll do that this week.
01:00:58
Holmesy
But I think 124 is a bit expensive. Trading into him this week would be a hard watch with Jared Witts.
01:01:02
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah.
01:01:06
Holmesy
But yeah, far out. He's just doing Max Gorn things. We didn't start him, but he was priced the same point as we all started him last year. And he started even better than what he what he did last year. Harmi, This one's for you and this is from our our leader of the Pod Pod Challenge, Yarns, who's coach of I'll win a cap before Frio win a flag.
01:01:24
Holmesy
I've never finished a season higher than 9,204 and that was a good year for me. My question is, how do you manage to steal life and coach a fantasy team at the top of the rankings without going crazy?
01:01:39
Jon Harmey
No, you'll be fine. Just have fun for the next couple of months because it's really the last five weeks that really kill you and then you will have no life and it'll all be fantasy and it'll preoccupy your mind the entire time.
01:01:49
Jon Harmey
So just enjoy it while you can. That's for the time being.
01:01:52
JORDAN DSENA
Hehehe.
01:01:55
Holmesy
Yeah, what I will say is that, and I know me and Vam spoke about this in the preseason in terms of the pressure of being at the top of the rankings, especially early in the season.
01:02:06
Holmesy
It's going to be very easy to just think you need to keep launching and keep attacking and paying up for players to make sure the points keep coming in. But it's a really long season and you've started really well. So the cash gen side of things is super, super important because you don't want coaches passing you come round 10, come the mid-season buys because you haven't looked after your cash gen. So it doesn't matter if you drop back a little bit from this stage, is you're still going to be in a very good position to to charge for a cap and and maybe even the car later on in the year as long as you get that cash gen sorted. So...
01:02:39
Holmesy
it is It is tough. It does consume your life when you're at the top, but you might never be up there again. So as Harmi said, i would I would embrace it, focus on the cash gen and just you back your processes because you've done well to get there so far.
01:02:54
Holmesy
So you just got to keep backing yourself in. Jordy, this is the last one and this is from our Instagram page. So thank you to everyone that put in the questions on our Instagram page. If you're not following us over there, and make sure you do that. But this one is from Dylan Petrowiski.
01:03:09
Holmesy
Dylan Moore or Shai Bolton?

Final Thoughts and Gather Round Preparation

01:03:12
JORDAN DSENA
I am a Bolton bolton guy for me. I feel like you, because of the role, yeah.
01:03:17
Jon Harmey
Neither.
01:03:17
Holmesy
Because of the role?
01:03:19
JORDAN DSENA
I feel like you guys might, well, Harmy might be more. It's pretty 50-50, but yeah, Bolton for me.
01:03:26
Holmesy
Harmi?
01:03:26
Jon Harmey
I don't like either of them, to be honest, More.
01:03:29
Holmesy
Harmi, that's not how this works. You have to answer the question. Get off the fence.
01:03:37
Holmesy
I think out of those two, this might burn me, but I think I would be Shai Bolton. I think Jordy's right. Being ah being a Freo supporter, he's offered something in that midfield that Freo haven't had for a while. Do I think there's going to be some floor scores? Yes.
01:03:50
Holmesy
But I think there's also some floor scores for Dylan Moore too. And I think it's more likely that Shai Bolton puts up a ceiling score compared to a Dylan Moore.
01:03:59
Jon Harmey
Yeah, one ceiling score and then he'll go down again and because he won't be in the CBAs and he'll be a problem in your team.
01:04:07
Holmesy
Yeah, righto, Harmy. Hopefully have a work meeting next week so you don't bring us down, mate.
01:04:08
JORDAN DSENA
Thank you.
01:04:11
Holmesy
We've done all we can to bring up the podcast and saving saving the people.
01:04:13
Jon Harmey
saving the people.
01:04:16
Holmesy
That is going to wrap us up. Has been a monster episode there, Harmy. Jordy, we are obviously going to record next week before we do head over for Gather Round, but can you just give me a little bit of an insight of of what I'm looking forward to for coming over for Gather Round having never experienced it before?
01:04:36
JORDAN DSENA
Have you been to Adelaide before? Because the Oval is insane. Like, yeah, great Oval. And, um I mean, Louis is going to be in fine form. um Big festival of, yeah, across from the Oval, which is the best, is what I can really say.
01:04:51
JORDAN DSENA
It's going be great.
01:04:51
Holmesy
Yeah, i've um I've been to Adelaide a few times, but I've never i've never watched a game of footy at Adelaide Oval. So I'm really, really looking forward to that. And you're going to have to help me sort out some tickets to some of these other games as well. I'm not sure how that works, but I've heard that they're probably already close to sold out, right? So how do we go about getting out to some of the other games?
01:05:09
JORDAN DSENA
um That's a good question because we're we're sorted for Adelaide overall because we've got the pass, but um yeah, the Barossa and a few of those other games, Norwood. Might have to keep an eye on that. Usually I just sort of sign up, but yeah, there's mates and members, I think. So good question. I'll come back to you on that one.
01:05:29
Holmesy
might have to Might have to pull some strings there, Geordie, to get me sorted.
01:05:31
JORDAN DSENA
Yeah, pull some strings.
01:05:34
Holmesy
But Harmi, as always, can you just give our listeners just some closing thoughts on what you're looking forward to for the weekend?
01:05:40
Jon Harmey
Thoughts. I'm very jealous of you boys getting ready for a gather round. But no, look, um I guess just at this point in the season, just really got to focus on generating cash and yeah rotating those players that are doing nothing for you. So that should be where you should be focusing your attention this week.
01:06:00
Holmesy
Well said, John Harmy. Make sure you are following us on X at PodPod AFL. I'm at Holmes' Heroes. Please make sure you subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your content.
01:06:14
Holmesy
As I mentioned, I will be back on Thursday night with Selby over at Morera's Magic to talk about what I'm planning with my trades and and all of the key themes for the week. So go check that out.
01:06:26
Holmesy
To everyone else, have a really good week. It's a long week. Make sure you're checking the Easter Monday teams to make sure you don't get burnt there. And we'll be back on Tuesday. Bye.