Discussion 2025: AFL SC - Rate My Team
- Thread starter Bomber18
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I am a bit in this camp regarding selection of players as well. A player I decide to fade does not need to be replaced by like for like. A change might mean more cash to upgrade another player on a different line who I think might be a more reliable scorer than the player I have just dropped. The overall picture is the priority as long as you don't weaken a line so badly it will take major surgery to fix during the season.
In the case of both JHF and Smith, I started with both of them in early drafts and now have neither. My F1 currently is Rankine who is showing steady improvement in recent seasons and I think can go 100 plus. If he got injured tomorrow then I would go to JHF and Smith would be third cab off the rank. The M/F of JHF is handy but I am hoping Rankine can be more consistent and have a better floor.
In the case of both JHF and Smith, I started with both of them in early drafts and now have neither. My F1 currently is Rankine who is showing steady improvement in recent seasons and I think can go 100 plus. If he got injured tomorrow then I would go to JHF and Smith would be third cab off the rank. The M/F of JHF is handy but I am hoping Rankine can be more consistent and have a better floor.
Yeah I guess I don’t really think about it that way. I think about it as a whole squad of players, there isn’t one spot allocate for Bayley Smith Or His Substitute.
I can go up to a premium (unlikely as I already have JHF and hate the rest, though I take your point on Daniels), sideways to a Sanders type (Darcy Wilson!?), or more likely down to a rookie and use the cash across any other line.
At the end of the day as we all know, rookies determine the structure, then you just fill the rest with your favourite premiums downwards until you run out of spots. If I think Smith is a 82-85 player then he probably just shuffles down the Zagbag Power Rankings to the point where he might not get a gig anymore.
I can go up to a premium (unlikely as I already have JHF and hate the rest, though I take your point on Daniels), sideways to a Sanders type (Darcy Wilson!?), or more likely down to a rookie and use the cash across any other line.
At the end of the day as we all know, rookies determine the structure, then you just fill the rest with your favourite premiums downwards until you run out of spots. If I think Smith is a 82-85 player then he probably just shuffles down the Zagbag Power Rankings to the point where he might not get a gig anymore.
Bit late to the party this year. Plenty of value on offer and feel the need to squeeze down to 7 Rookies on field and potentially even 6 if Peatling looks to have a nice role. Clark and Draper - Peatling and Roberts the clear avenue to 6 rookies. with the current setup.
Defence looking like the line that counts most early season. Nailing those 500ish players from the get go going to play a big part in early rankings. Stewart looks the pick of the litter even at 32 years old as the one most likely to hit back into 110+ territory of he's fit and the role is there, but as i said im not sure how his preseason has gone as im a bit out of the loop.
Pretty settled in the mids, dont love the Brayshaw pick but think hes probably the best in the price bracket when you consider the bye.
Ruck a bit of a no brainer I think, could entertain Gawn over TDK but father time comes for us all, even those with great beards.
Would love to fit Rankine forward but someone has to miss. Cant imagine there will be too much fluctuation in the forward line in most teams either way. We'll all have the same problems to fix forward - either a blessing or a curse depending how you look at it.
Would love someone to poke some holes in the side if time permits - just havent had the time to do it myself this year unfortunately.
Defence looking like the line that counts most early season. Nailing those 500ish players from the get go going to play a big part in early rankings. Stewart looks the pick of the litter even at 32 years old as the one most likely to hit back into 110+ territory of he's fit and the role is there, but as i said im not sure how his preseason has gone as im a bit out of the loop.
Pretty settled in the mids, dont love the Brayshaw pick but think hes probably the best in the price bracket when you consider the bye.
Ruck a bit of a no brainer I think, could entertain Gawn over TDK but father time comes for us all, even those with great beards.
Would love to fit Rankine forward but someone has to miss. Cant imagine there will be too much fluctuation in the forward line in most teams either way. We'll all have the same problems to fix forward - either a blessing or a curse depending how you look at it.
Would love someone to poke some holes in the side if time permits - just havent had the time to do it myself this year unfortunately.
Solid. No point in talking rookies just yet. The only hole I can see is 7 rnd 12 premiums. Sheezel, Bont, Rozee, Xerri, De Koning, JHF and Daniel. Xerri was gifted an easy run home last year against the softer rucks so could be overpriced? Anderson or Dawson instead of Rozee? JHF could go to Rankine or Erasmus moves forward and bring in another mid?
Can't believe I'm doing it after last years debacle of trading in Rowell at round 7 but here we are. GCS have a dream draw to start with WCE, Tigers and North in their first 5 games, yes, he has a bye in round 2 but he's the only one in the team on that bye and with 4 rookie priced players there's a good chance that he'll be replaced with a MP. His game style lends itself to him burning out, maybe there'll be a change in how he's managed, who knows? He's a POD at 3% ownership which I like.
Fixtures are a bit of a theme with Carlton having a similar draw to the Suns, hence Cripps, Cerra and Smith. Freo aren't far behind so Clark, Brayshaw and Noddy get a run. Those players are all under 10% owned barring Jagga (who I'm not sure on yet)
The early byes are a focus too which is the main reason for having 4 rookie priced players on field, I'll have to take 2 of them in round 3 (theoretically) but none in the other 2 rounds.
Providing Sheldrick, Noddy, Knevitt avoid the vest I think that they're better on field options than most if not all of this years draftees, feels strange having higher priced players on the bench. There's a raft of sub $120k guys who I'll have no hesitation in starting over the high priced bench players.
I'm obviously weak in the forwards and backs but I think it's easier to upgrade on those lines barring the Sheezel, Flanders and Zorko types. Phillipou and Kiddy are going to be gifts once they become available so that's part of the reasoning as well.
I want to get off to a good start and I think this team gives me a fair chance of achieving that. The extra player at flex also mitigates the starting of so many MP's
Anyway, have at it!
Fixtures are a bit of a theme with Carlton having a similar draw to the Suns, hence Cripps, Cerra and Smith. Freo aren't far behind so Clark, Brayshaw and Noddy get a run. Those players are all under 10% owned barring Jagga (who I'm not sure on yet)
The early byes are a focus too which is the main reason for having 4 rookie priced players on field, I'll have to take 2 of them in round 3 (theoretically) but none in the other 2 rounds.
Providing Sheldrick, Noddy, Knevitt avoid the vest I think that they're better on field options than most if not all of this years draftees, feels strange having higher priced players on the bench. There's a raft of sub $120k guys who I'll have no hesitation in starting over the high priced bench players.
I'm obviously weak in the forwards and backs but I think it's easier to upgrade on those lines barring the Sheezel, Flanders and Zorko types. Phillipou and Kiddy are going to be gifts once they become available so that's part of the reasoning as well.
I want to get off to a good start and I think this team gives me a fair chance of achieving that. The extra player at flex also mitigates the starting of so many MP's
Anyway, have at it!
Sound reasoning behind the picks and in isolation it all makes sense, but my worry is you are starting a lot of D5\6 and M6/7/8 types just because of a good early draw, but after that you’ll be exposed as coaches bring more of the top end selections. Similarly with your forward line, you could well need 4-5 upgrades there so while you are bringing in forwards, teams are bringing top tier mids or defenders, or jumping on absolute value selections to fill the M7/8 or D6 roles.
I think the strategy has merit but I think you need to smooth it out with some genuine top selections, especially in the backline and mids, to o***et the risks. It’s a long season and you don’t want to fall away from a hot start because you only focussed on the very early fixtures.
I think the strategy has merit but I think you need to smooth it out with some genuine top selections, especially in the backline and mids, to o***et the risks. It’s a long season and you don’t want to fall away from a hot start because you only focussed on the very early fixtures.
Only things to watch currently would be Smillie has an injury atm so keep a watch on that if you really like him. Also I had Lynch but as the central key fwd I wonder if he gets double teamed a lot. Also I would keep an eye on the next Tigers scratch match as they played a quite slow movement game against WC and that style of game might also make it hard for Lynch as well.
Just on Rowell, he’s on that to me (eye test from watching games and being an owner) got absolutely crucified by the rule change to cut down on players fighting out tackles. Seemed to really struggle to adapt, and it impacted him a lot. Remains to be seen if he’s found a way to handle it better but for me I’d want to see that before I looked at him.
It's his role that impressed me, played a lot of time on ball then drops back to half back. When the cats attack he sits a kick behind the ball and takes intercept marks/possesions. He's disposals is the one thing that lets him down at times. I would be surprised if he didn't add 5-10ppg on his average.
Yes, you're right, that's the traditional way of how teams are structured, anchors on each line.
With regard to the forwards, I've foregone starting JHF (Rankine) and chosen Cerra instead, I can a see a similar output but the dollars saved gives me a better scoring player on field that has similar cash gen to a rookie that was in his place. Macrae, Smith and Daniel could well be keepers, add in Phillipou (who'll take Sanders spot) and that leaves just 2 spots to fill.
I think that Sheezel, Flanders and Zorko will fill out the defence, but doubts on Sheezel's output and the early byes (Flanders injury) knocks them out as starting selections. Kiddy coming in early as a cheap upgrade is very much like Phillipou in the forwards.
TBH, I have no problem in flicking some of those players with good early fixtures, Cerra (injury) and Rowell (burn out) in particular, to players like Bont, Naicos and Neale. The good thing is that I'll have the option of doing just that should the timing and availability present themselves.
TDK over Xerri is one that's enticing though, fair bit of cash released for an upgrade somewhere else, TDK's fixture is awesome (Pittonet excluded) Xerri's is difficult.
With regard to the forwards, I've foregone starting JHF (Rankine) and chosen Cerra instead, I can a see a similar output but the dollars saved gives me a better scoring player on field that has similar cash gen to a rookie that was in his place. Macrae, Smith and Daniel could well be keepers, add in Phillipou (who'll take Sanders spot) and that leaves just 2 spots to fill.
I think that Sheezel, Flanders and Zorko will fill out the defence, but doubts on Sheezel's output and the early byes (Flanders injury) knocks them out as starting selections. Kiddy coming in early as a cheap upgrade is very much like Phillipou in the forwards.
TBH, I have no problem in flicking some of those players with good early fixtures, Cerra (injury) and Rowell (burn out) in particular, to players like Bont, Naicos and Neale. The good thing is that I'll have the option of doing just that should the timing and availability present themselves.
TDK over Xerri is one that's enticing though, fair bit of cash released for an upgrade somewhere else, TDK's fixture is awesome (Pittonet excluded) Xerri's is difficult.
Yeah I can see Cerra outscoring JHF and Rankine, although it is somewhat o***et by the fact it’s different lines and you’ll need forwards.
I just think you’re backing yourself into a corner of either holding those M7/M8 types and having a weaker final team, or sideways trading those guys to better premiums at a time others are getting rookies off field. Unless 1-2 of them become genuine keepers at that M4/5 level, I don’t think it works out favourably longer term.
Last thought - while the keeper level for forwards is low, I wouldn’t be banking on all 3 of Macrae, Smith and Daniel being keepers. If they do, amazing, but I would be more pragmatic assuming at least 1 needs to be upgraded. Having one F6 is bad enough but you don’t want 2-3 of them!
I just think you’re backing yourself into a corner of either holding those M7/M8 types and having a weaker final team, or sideways trading those guys to better premiums at a time others are getting rookies off field. Unless 1-2 of them become genuine keepers at that M4/5 level, I don’t think it works out favourably longer term.
Last thought - while the keeper level for forwards is low, I wouldn’t be banking on all 3 of Macrae, Smith and Daniel being keepers. If they do, amazing, but I would be more pragmatic assuming at least 1 needs to be upgraded. Having one F6 is bad enough but you don’t want 2-3 of them!