Round 11… In general, a pretty standard round of footy with par around 2200. Par certainly won’t be 2200 over the coming four weeks as we enter the byes – more on that later!
Read on for you weekly fix of corrosive footy chat!
11 down, 13 to go… Must be time for The Weekend That Was!
Sydney vs Carlton
Studs
Lloyd (123) – Vintage Llooooooooyd! Kicking-in, cheap +6’s, linking up in the handball chains – things we love to see as fantasy coaches.
Blakey (114) – It was as if the Lizard had camouflaged into a Navy blue jumper there for patches… A real clanger exhibition from Carltank.
Walsh (112) – While Carlton are pox, this bloke just never stops trying. Another 31 touches, 6 marks and a goal showing everyone why he is currently firmly entrenched in the Fantasy Fanatic’s All-Australian team.
Doch (109) –
Duds
Cripps (68) – Much like Carltank’s season, cooked. Hurt his ankle late to rub salt into the already very open wound for 8% of the competition!
Hollands (40) – Gee whiz hopefully you folded… Looks to be injured now, coming off with what looked to be a sore collarbone – cracking start to the weekend for those who held this vegetable!
McAndrew (16) – Magoos hero trying to have a run with the big boys… 42% game time is all you need to know!
St Kilda vs Hawthorn
Studs
Sicily (163) – I flagged him as a ‘buy’ a couple weeks ago, however, never have I seen an opposition stick a ball down someone’s throat uncontested more than on Saturday arvo… Mind-boggling. Anyway, enjoy your holiday Sic – can’t be running past the footy going head hunting! From a salty non-owner and Saints supporter.
Moore (126) – Dynamic Dyl back in the good books with 31 touches and 9 marks… Could have been anything given the lack of defending from the Saints and the fact he kicked 1.3! For the record, I still don’t love the half-forward role so I’d caution against chasing points here.
Crouch (114) – Kick chaser. Great for fantasy coaches, but like rubbing rat poison into your eyes as a Saints supporter!
Duds
Steele (78) – 14 disposals?! More Jack’s on the Saints list than you had disposals, Steeley. Laughable.
Higgins (49) – Not fantasy relevant at all but it sucks to have a brain lacking cerebellum.
Narrm vs Walyalup
Studs
Petracca (116) –
Jackson (108) – Uuuuge against the old club, particularly after big Darcy went down early in Q2 with a hammy… Depending on the severity of this injury, Jackson may become a viable option over the byes!
Duds
Rivers (46) – Remember when he was hyped as a viable mid-price / stepping stone option? Yeah, me neither.
Chandler (38) – Yuck, and still resides in about a sixth of the competitions squads! Has to be a priority if you haven’t already flicked him!
McVee (28) – How this spud still gets game is beyond me… F*ck I hope Goody just picks him for the byes – any green dot is a win!
Geelong vs GWS
Studs
Stewart (121) – Made up for a lacklustre 72 last week with a massive game down at the Cattery! 31 touches and 9 marks if you don’t mind.
Greene (120) – Love him or hate him, he’s surely the Giants’ GOAT in their short history. 200 games bought up in style!
Briggs (111) –
Green (108) – Greeny and a fantasy ton these days? Synonymous. Another 28 touches, 4 marks and 6 tackles!
Duds
Hawkins (34) – Missing person last seen at the Cattery around 4:30pm Saturday evening.
Gold Coast vs Western Bulldogs
Studs
Rowell (124) – Dang what did they put in the grass up there in the NT?! Whatever it was, Rowelly feasted with another 29 touches, 7 tackles and a goal!
Macrae (123) – That’s more like it Jack! Has been much better in the past fortnight and chompers (Bevo) actually played him a bit more in the midfield, particularly in the second half! Probably under-priced but coaches will want more.
Bont (115) – From a fantasy perspective, he can do it all! He gets plenty of it, can mark it around the ground (or inside 50) and he tackles. Recipe for success!
Witts (112) – Coaches who held Witts through his fortnight out will be saying about damn time! Consistency has always been a big positive with Wittsy so coaches will be hoping for more of the same.
Duds
Sm(n)iff (67) – Yikers! Not even a stimulant could have saved this utter turd of a performance! Seemed to be out of the midfield in the second half as well… Concerning, particularly with Treloar due back any minute now.
Fiorini (33) – Look up ‘trap’ in the dictionary and you’ll get an image of this clown. Incredible to think he played 92% of the game!
Atkins (30) – Oh dear. Owners would have been strutting around like a peacock coming into Saturday night given the Rats efforts thus far! He proceeds to provide a compelling audition to be dumped to the Scooby do’s… Couldn’t be worse timing with the byes now upon us!
Worst Coast vs Essendon
Studs
Duggan (140) – Ho hey! Can anyone who actually sat through this match tell us how this happened?!
Redman (125) – Mason enjoyed the wide expanses of Optus with 31 touches and 11 marks… That’s a hat-trick of tons over the past three weeks – enormous!
Hunt (120) – Speaking of enormous! Surely 34 touches is a career best for Hunt?! Coaches who gambled and have held this long will take an 81 average heading into the byes. Certainly worth holding now given the cash gen burst this will provide!
Merrett (111) – Coaches were slightly concerned when they heard Xavier O’Neill had been reinstated into the Weagles team, presumably to tag Zerrett. Fair to say, it didn’t matter! Zach helped himself to another 32 and 7 marks!
Duds
Sheed (64) – Takes his two round average to 101.5… Can’t be too salty about this!
Gaff (45) –
Richmond vs Port Adelaide
Studs
Taranto (145) – 3 votes T.Taranto. A shame he took the field with 17 other pelicans! 33 touches and an elite 4 snags in a game where a straight kick was as rare as hens teeth! Still outside the top 150 @VolKane-O?
Shirt (102) – Takes his 5 round average to an impressive 108! What will please coaches the most was the fact he only needed the 22 disposals to make this ton happen, buttering up with 6 marks and 5 tackles in trying conditions.
Duds
Ryan (26) – With the return of Nank, coaches would not have been expecting the 65+ scores Samson had previously been pumping out. Little would have forecasted this drop off, however. He seems to be safe in the Tiges 22 so may as well hold as needed through the byes now!
Riewoldt (22) – Aliir emptying his pockets after Sunday arvo’s game… Keys, wallet, phone, J.Riewoldt.
Collingwood vs Norf
Studs
De Goey (127) – Man this guy has been a yo-yo personified, however, in the last three weeks he has 2×120+ and an 80… Not bhed for a guy we are paying mid $700K’s for.
N.Daicos (116) – Classic Nick. This is just what we have become accustomed to now – incredible to think the kid in only 20 years of age! He could be anything!
Greenwood (114) – Now then… Hugh Greenwood is back attending more centre bounces than he has for a long time. At a bit over $500K, could he be a cheeky mid-price bye option? Fraught with risk but could it be any worse than Fiorini?
Mitchell (112) – Vintage bacon filling the stats sheet with 29 touches, 8 marks and 6 tackles!
Duds
Simpkin (69) – Many saw Simpkin as a decent under-priced option this week… He got off to a good start then shat the bed! Maybe he is cheap for a reason…
Spicer (5) –
Crom vs Brisbane
Studs
Dawson (135) – It’s just beautiful to watch. Centre bounces? Daws is there. Kick-ins, Daws is there. Cheap +6’s in the back half? Daws is also there. Bottom line – the man is essential!
Laird (130) – 16 tackles to the Desk Rig in conditions he was absolutely froffing! 64 points alone in tackles is some sort of effort. Despite his indifferent start to 2023, should be a top 8 mid by seasons end!
Dunkley (112) – Industrious – what we have come to know and love about Dunks! Another 29 touches and 9 tackles leading into the Lions little holiday.
Duds
McCluggage (54) – Yuck. Proper disgusting Luggage. He seemed to be around the ball a lot but never really had a impact. My word he is cheap but he’ll need to show some semblance of fantasy footy ability before he is considered!
Ashcroft (44) – The kid has been enormous but many will now look to cash in with the Lions bye impending… I still think he has a role to play given some of the scores he has put up in 2023!
Andrews (19) – The kind of guy who would go on that ‘1% club’ TV program and get the 90% question wrong.
The Juggernaut Review
2216.
Not bhed when you consider the trap himself B.Fiorini occupies a position at M6… As much as I cringe every time I log on to see his name he is probably needed over the byes as a green dot!
Speaking of byes, they are finally upon us. In case you haven’t been thinking too far ahead, here is when each club will be taking their one week holiday.
Bye round strategy is always an interesting topic, however, I always fall back to the age-old advice that you want to exit the byes with a better squad than you started with. Don’t get sucked in to sideways swapping premos on the basis that they are missing one week. When R13 comes, it’s generally advised to start picking up players who have had their bye (i.e., in R12). Think guys like Brayshaw, Steele, Neale and Sinclair as potential upgrade options. Also, keep an eye on the rookie stocks – any green dot is helpful when it’s our top 18 counting toward the final score! Remember, we have three trades up our sleeves so more flexibility will be afforded when it comes to the trade table.
For a more comprehensive take on bye round strategy, check out my article from last season!
So how did we all go in round 11? Flex your score in the comments below!
Best of luck over the bye weeks legends!
Yours in fantasy,
Fantasy fanatic #70
Fantasy Fanatic 