Not saying it is right or wrong to do this but for coaches doing this how do you think upgrades to premiums will work in your forward line as the season progresses given it is usually one up and one down to do an upgrade. Do you think your upgrades will be determined by the arrival of enough suitable rookies (perhaps four??) as the season progresses? Or is this not an issue you think...
I think that flexibility helps but I don't think there is a stack of good quality options in defence either (and thank you Russ for spelling defence with a "c") either. ie does that mean your defence upgrades may be sucked away by the number of forward rookies you need? Anyway it will be interesting to see how the whole rookie upgrade scenario unfolds this year.
Not necessarily because of my confidence in Wells & Kerridge to hold F3 & F4 spots.
Currently it seems like Wells is quite fit and can average 90-95 in the forward line for the first part of the season. That's essentially premium numbers and means he doesn't need to be upgraded until byes (hopefully if his body lasts til then). If Wells breaks down early the 2 premium fwd structure would really take a hit. It's much the same risk reward with starting Sandi at R1 a few years back.
Kerridge is much the same and can hold a F4 spot probably with an 80-85 avg, which would mean he doesn't need an upgrade until much later.
Menadue seems to have a spot for at least a month due to Conca & Grigg injuries. He would be the first one I'd try to upgrade. Bennedy maybe would need an upgrade when some of the others returning from injury push him out of the midfield role.
Personally, I'd look to upgrade in the defence first as the rookies seem most vulnerable in that region.
Anyway to answer your question, I don't think going thin in the forwards will stunt my upgrades elsewhere. I think the strength of the rookies (Wells & Kerridge) would support upgrades everywhere else.