Darkie, the most sensible structure to have, is to build as many points into your team as you can as your first goal, then worry about coverage as your second goal. In general, I wouldn't think there was a need for planned FD's as the season wears on. Not many of us are getting more than 25 or 26 of our squad selected on weekly basis anyway, so the tools are already there for loopholing. I do think it is very important to build DPP links where possible, especially if your season is travelling well, and you can afford say a $450k M/F sitting at M9/F7 for coverage. Not many will be in this position, but having built in versatility provides coverage for those tricky weeks, as well as better loopholing possibilities. I don't think you need the full set of links, and I certainty wouldn't compromise selections to make a 3rd or 4th set of DPP's, but if someone doesn't have one or two set up already, and they are tossing up player A and player B, then picking the one that completes a link is a good idea!
The larger problem, in trying to set a generic structure or guideline, is that every situation is different. Some lucky teams already have 19 Keepers, DPP links set up, and 16 trades left. Other teams, like myself, have been gutted by one long term injury after another, and only have 15-16 Keepers, and 13 trades left. The "lucky" Coaches can pick and choose, and make a great team with good coverage. Coaches like myself will have to make compromised selections. As an example, I will be replacing MJ (my 8th LTI trade!) with B Smith. I'm not happy about doing it, and would prefer someone else, but if I am to complete my team with no Rookies in my starting 22, I will need to make at least 2 compromised selections. They look like being my D6 and F6.
Thanks for the help, Zagbag.
My response to Zagbag was obviously written before the StK v Bris game. He has since added a 99 (AF 97) and 119 (AF 133), and similarly as I said with each Coach needing to trim his cloth to suit his own needs, it really applies here too. Depending on how many trades you have, and if you are a missing the M1/2/3/4's then you might need to keep him, or be better served by using him for what you got him for. While you gain an advantage of trading him to a Rnd 11 Mid Prem, that advantage may not equal a full trades worth. For example, say you trade Steven to Beams. Beams counts in your Rnd 12 score, and might replace a Rookie score in that Round, had you kept Steven. Let's say Beams is 115, and the Rookie was 65, advantage 50. To get the full measure for your trade (about 170 - 200 points at this time of year), you need Beams to outscore Steven by around 12/game from here on in to justify it. It's possible that will happen, but that's about the equation you are looking at, to trade Steven out. Otherwise, you hang onto him, as the last player to be upgraded, or if you are travelling really well, a fantastic M9! If the upgrade of Steven involves bringing in say Fyfe, then you just do it, as I'm pretty happy you will get your 12/game from the deal.