So I've had a reasonable start and I'm getting nosebleeds - currently ranked inside the top 700, in part due to some fortunate captain calls (Butters R2, Heeney R4). The last time I started this well was a few years ago, and I wasted the opportunity by being way too conservative on the upgrade cycle (waiting for rookies to hit their absolute peak price and delaying the upgrade). I have a small cash league with family but always like to live the fantasy of overall until the maths makes it near impossible - so for now that's my focus.
I have 33 trades and 4 boosts left, and ~$50k in the bank. I've traded pretty aggressively into cash cows so far as they've presented themselves but that has to stop at some point. Team is below (no trades made yet but optimised for Rd5), currently 12 players who I'd call premiums/keepers (including LDU - backing him in - but not including Powell and Grundy). If I go at 2.5 trades per upgrade, that leaves me with 8 trades left for LTIs and managing through bye rounds which feels perhaps a bit light.
For this week:
Conservative me is suggesting Sexton to Graham via Wilson, which gets me 22 on field, reopens my D/M loop, and gives a bit of flex for next week's trade plan (which likely includes Clohsey and a D/M premium upgrade).
Aggressive me wants to do Grundy to Meek - another cash cow trade which eats into the trades remaining, risky if I want to bring in 2 rooks + premium upgrade next week, and Meek's run isn't massively favourable with Witts, Xerri, Grundy, English and Marshall in his next 5. But he does have good history when solo rucking (post 225), and despite the negatives, this just
feels like the type of move someone chasing overall would make.
Would love some insight on whether it's time to focus purely on upgrade cycles or keep looking for those cash cow opportunities with the hope of landing a fully upgraded ultra-premo team for the run home (albeit with trade remaining risk).
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