Discussion 2025: AFL SC - Rate My Team

[Manikato1]

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Current side with some explanations:

Want to bat deep in defence and light in the midfield. The exact personnel are still up in the air.

Forward line is pretty settled; aside from Lynch at F7 who could go down to a Stone type or up to Flynn ($600 short from changing a $119k rookie to Flynn).

Fully planning on trading many times in the ruck. If SDK and Byran get the #1 ruck roles (ditto Flynn) then I'll ride them out until they're unviable.

Now for the biggest issue; Jackson in flex. Last year in a similar situation he got to a tick under $600k and was pretty underwhelming aside from a 178 against North Melbourne. Now with Darcy out for 3-5 if Darcy isn't back early and if Jackson gets the #1 ruck role his run goes:

Geelong (SDK, maybe Stanley, possibly a bit of Blicavs).
Sydney (Grundy)
West Coast: (Flynn or BJW)
WB: (English)
Nank (Richmond), before he hits Gawn in Round 6. If he can beat up on one or two opponents and go 110 avg and push himself to $600k he's a prime option to swap to anyone on any line past their early bye. Last year I should have done so but was reluctant to leave my forward line exposed. No such issue this year.

Now obviously people will point to a lack of elite talent in both the midfield and rucks. Rucks are little simpler. Gawn is amazing but he's getting up there in age, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Xerri regress at least a little. As for the midfield, I think the best cash cows are in the midfield and I'm happy to lose out on Bont as a C option and look for the upside plays elsewhere.

I think the issue here is that you probably lack solid C/VC options. Sheezel is the best option but after that it is a bit lean. Nailing the C is important and giving yourself two chances is even more so.

As for Jackson IMO you cannot trust him to score consistently even as #1 ruck without Darcy. Against Geelong last year he was lead ruck, no Darcy and up against Stanley and SDK and scored 81. In fact, I don't think he has ever scored a ton against Geelong. He started 547k last year and first four games went 113, 178, 98, 91 for an ave of 120 and went to $597k. So could he do it again? Absolutely. And I do not wish to persuade you to move away from your chosen strategy. But it if you use Flanders last year as a guide he started 494k and from what I have seen it took him 10 games at an ave of 117 to get to 599k.

 

[Eagling]

I think the issue here is that you probably lack solid C/VC options. Sheezel is the best option but after that it is a bit lean. Nailing the C is important and giving yourself two chances is even more so.

As for Jackson IMO you cannot trust him to score consistently even as #1 ruck without Darcy. Against Geelong last year he was lead ruck, no Darcy and up against Stanley and SDK and scored 81. In fact, I don't think he has ever scored a ton against Geelong. He started 547k last year and first four games went 113, 178, 98, 91 for an ave of 120 and went to $597k. So could he do it again? Absolutely. And I do not wish to persuade you to move away from your chosen strategy. But it if you use Flanders last year as a guide he started 494k and from what I have seen it took him 10 games at an ave of 117 to get to 599k.

Yeah it is a gamble. I seem to either have very good years for Captaincy or very mediocre ones. I think I just have to lower expectations and be happy with a 110 as C until I get any loops running and reinforce the midfield. I do think there's potential that I will have more C options than first thought tells if Oliver gets back to his best and Richards and Rankine break out.

 

[NT.Thunder]

I’m currently sitting on this.

Defence seems to be the area that changes most often for me. I’m finding it hard to settle on D2 and D3 although once rookies firm up that might change.

No Levi Ashcroft - early bye and injury/surgery pre-season concerns me a little.

I’m pretty keen to keep my F1-F5 which limits me around the other parts of the field.

Early days

 

[Meltingpot38]

I’m currently sitting on this.

Defence seems to be the area that changes most often for me. I’m finding it hard to settle on D2 and D3 although once rookies firm up that might change.

No Levi Ashcroft - early bye and injury/surgery pre-season concerns me a little.

I’m pretty keen to keep my F1-F5 which limits me around the other parts of the field.

Early days

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Nice team. Whats the rationale behind Short and Roberts and why do you expect them to improve on last year? Tempted by both but just can’t them yet
I’m tossing up between Brayshaw and Serong myself…

 

[Juzzo]

I think dismissing round 12 bye players like Smith and JHF with such high potential and ownership is a big risk. I understand minimising exposure with round 12 premiums but the boat will have sailed if both these guys go bang and your speculative picks like Sanders, Will Ashcroft, Callaghan and TDK are a bust. It’s a risky strategy to fade these guys at such high ownership.

There’s risk and there’s risk and I really do think it’s a balance.

I don't normally go so many mid pricers/breakouts, but I like them all.. Which 2/3 would you dump between Richards, Ashcroft, Callaghan, Roberts, Sanders and TDK?

 

[Ben's Beasts]

I don't normally go so many mid pricers/breakouts, but I like them all.. Which 2/3 would you dump between Richards, Ashcroft, Callaghan, Roberts, Sanders and TDK?

Richards, Callaghan and Roberts.

 

[NT.Thunder]

I don't normally go so many mid pricers/breakouts, but I like them all.. Which 2/3 would you dump between Richards, Ashcroft, Callaghan, Roberts, Sanders and TDK?

Richards I think I could live with if he was paired with a Bont, Butters or Serong type. I think what worries me is that you really only have two genuine Capt options, Sheezel and Xerri and having Dawson and Richards as M1 and M2 is really risky and hopeful that a). Richards improves into an uber premium and Dawson returns to his numbers from a couple of years ago. You will know more about Dawson than me, but he does fluctuate significantly when used in that ‘Mr fix-it’ role and from what I’ve read.

I don’t like Sanders and even yesterday he did nothing to make me change my mind. Looks one-paced in a praccy match and I would’ve liked him to really put in a big score with so many CBA’s and a slow-paced intra-club type match.

I currently have Roberts. Not 100% sold and bye isn’t ideal when playing for overall. I’ll watch his role but he’s relatively important to my structure and has shown he has a ceiling that can push top 10 defenders overall IMO if he is used solely in that distributor role. I do want to see it though with a new coach.

I’m a bit on the fence as they all have merit and risk And it’s really about seeing pre-season form/role.

Personally I’d be looking at replacing Callaghan and Sanders.

 

[Juzzo]

Richards, Callaghan and Roberts.

Thanks Ben

 

[Juzzo]

Richards I think I could live with if he was paired with a Bont, Butters or Serong type. I think what worries me is that you really only have two genuine Capt options, Sheezel and Xerri and having Dawson and Richards as M1 and M2 is really risky and hopeful that a). Richards improves into an uber premium and Dawson returns to his numbers from a couple of years ago. You will no more about Dawson than me, but he does fluctuate significantly when used in that ‘Mr fix-it’ role and from what I’ve read.

I don’t like Sanders and even yesterday he did nothing to make me change my mind. Looks one-paced in a praccy match and I would’ve liked him to really put in a big score with so many CBA’s and a slow-paced intra-club type match.

I currently have Roberts. Not 100% sold and bye isn’t ideal when playing for overall. I’ll watch his role but he’s relatively important to my structure and has shown he has a ceiling that can push top 10 defenders overall IMO if he is used solely in that distributor role. I do want to see it though with a new coach.

I’m a bit on the fence as they all have merit and risk And it’s really about seeing pre-season form/role.

Personally I’d be looking at replacing Callaghan and Sanders.

Yeah, I'm hoping Dawson returns to pure mid (I know as much as you, lol) and he can go massive. I'm expecting Callaghan to be a big improver, not so sure about Sanders but if Bevo doesn't screw him could be a good stepping stone at the least. I did have Xerri and Gawn but tinkered and didn't think about C options. I'm big on Richards this year. Roberts fit the price structure and last year looked really good late in the year, and has a beautiful kick. Appreciate your input.

 

[Bomber18]

Hey all - the RMT thread is open (sorry for the delay). I put my current team in the first post.

 

[Erek22]

Ashcroft has been in and out of the team, apart from the shoulder surgery I am concerned how much mid time exists in the Lions.
Have also gone back and forward on Smith or Saunders, I think i prefer Saunders but the Bevo factor always worries me.

 

[FlatTrackBully]

Ashcroft has been in and out of the team, apart from the shoulder surgery I am concerned how much mid time exists in the Lions.
Have also gone back and forward on Smith or Saunders, I think i prefer Saunders but the Bevo factor always worries me.
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Nice team, pretty template so far.

Just my opinion but anyone looking to fade Smith is just overthinking it. I'm not expecting him to crack 100 or be a keeper but he can sit at F6 for one of my last upgrades if someone else appears. Sanders has far too many question marks for my liking with the role and coach, still in consideration for me but wouldn't be letting go of Smith to do get him in.

 

[Professor]

Welcome to the house of pods. I think the flex position is nailed in terms of expected points.

 

[Erek22]

Welcome to the house of pods. I think the flex position is nailed in terms of expected points.

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That is an interesting team and Daniel as flex, I wouldnt have considered that as he will effectively eliminate your lowest score. Do you think Bergman will be a beneficiary of Houston leaving?

 

[Professor]

That is an interesting team and Daniel as flex, I wouldnt have considered that as he will effectively eliminate your lowest score. Do you think Bergman will be a beneficiary of Houston leaving?

I'm hoping, otherwise he'll be wing/half forward if not playing in defence.

 

[Under The Dome]

A rough team to get from MPM to top liners in 31.5 trades with 8 kept throughout.

 

[Connoisseur]

 

[FlatTrackBully]

That is an interesting team and Daniel as flex, I wouldnt have considered that as he will effectively eliminate your lowest score. Do you think Bergman will be a beneficiary of Houston leaving?

It doesn't matter who is in flex, your lowest score is dropped off regardless. Professor is essentially just going with an extra forward.

 

[Erek22]

It doesn't matter who is in flex, your lowest score is dropped off regardless. Professor is essentially just going with an extra forward.

I might not have articulated this well.

Your flex has the benefit of being able play technically in any position and removing the weakest link providing they outscore them (so forward, defence, ruck, mid).

I think there could be a few tactics people will employ in the season to get different benefits out of the extra position apart from just scoring.

 

[FlatTrackBully]

I might not have articulated this well.

Your flex has the benefit of being able play technically in any position and removing the weakest link providing they outscore them (so forward, defence, ruck, mid).

I think there could be a few tactics people will employ in the season to get different benefits out of the extra position apart from just scoring.

It's pretty much just an extra on field spot, it doesn't matter what the player in flex scores, your lowest scores drops out no matter where they are on your field.

After playing BBL with the flex feature the only real benefit I found from it was having the extra bit of flexibility moving players around to loop scores as well as trading during a round. Over the 9 rounds I only had about 90 points drop out in total.