Hey Rowsus;
I'm sort of re-treading old ground here, but I'm considering bringing Dustin Martin in as my last FWD upgrade. However, the trades I require a convoluted compared with my other idea...
My team:
15 Trades, $180, 900 banked.
DEF: Shaw, Bartel, Howe, Yeo, McVeigh, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Collins, Tucker
MID: Dangerfield, Ablett, Pendlebury, Rockliff, Selwood, Priddis, Petracca, Trengove, Kerridge, MacPherson
RUC: Goldstein, Martin, Wyatt
FWD: Zorko, Deledio, Hall, Wells, Barlow, Adams, Uebergang, Cox.
These scenarios assume Hall is recalled, and MacPherson and Wyatt do not play.
Trade Scenario 1:
This week:
OUT: McDonald-Tipungwuti, MacPherson, Adams
IN: Rance, Joyce, Montagna.
This will give me 22 on field, and the next week, I should be able to get 18 players by going:
OUT: Collins, Tucker, Petracca
IN: Def Rookie, Phillips?, Hannebery.
Which uses six trades; it relies on Joyce getting another game/Wyatt being picked, as well as another two rookies appearing on the bubble. (I'd prefer a Defence Rookie, but with DPP, I can choose one on any line.)
However, Dustin Martin might just be a better option, but I can't afford him using MacPherson.
My team, post byes, should look like this:
DEF: Shaw, Bartel, Rance, McVeigh, Howe, Yeo, (???, Joyce)
MID: Dangerfield, Hannebery, Pendlebury, Ablett, Selwood, Rockliff, Priddis, Liberatore, (Phillips, Trengove, Kerridge)
RUC: Goldstein, Martin, Wyatt
FWD: Zorko, Montagna, Deledio, Hall, Wells, Barlow, (Uebergang, Cox)
Trade Scenario 2:
OUT: McDonald-Tipungwuti, Petracca, Adams
IN: Rance, Joyce?, Martin.
This gives me 21 players on the field instead of 22, as I will have seven playing forwards, as Priddis, Liberatore, MacPherson and Trengove will all miss in the midfield, and I'll have an extra body on the bench up forward.
Next week is a little harder; I'll need to trade 3 times to get 18 on field, and hope that Joyce keeps his spot.
Before Round 15, I'll have about $141k banked.
OUT: Tucker, Collins, MacPherson (unless he miraculously returns, in which case I do not need to trade, unless there happens to be three excellent rookies). (Assumes that Tucker+Collins =$460k between them)
IN: 3 rookies (assuming a total cost of $372k)
Should leave around $379, 000
I don't really want to trade Collins, because he seems to have good JS, and could be handy at D8 but I can't think of any way to keep him and get 18 on the park in Round 15.
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Say Hannebery drops to $540k in Round 16, and Cox holds his value @ $260k.
I can then trade Cox - Hannebery (via Phillips?) (assuming my Rucks are available), leaving $99k in the bank. I'll be planning to upgrade someone to Lycett in Round 17; thereby reintroducing my Ruck Cover just after Lycett plays the Kangaroos.
My team should, after the Hannebery trade, look like this:
DEF: Shaw, Bartel, Rance, McVeigh, Howe, Yeo, (???, Joyce)
MID: Dangerfield, Hannebery, Pendlebury, Ablett, Selwood, Rockliff, Priddis, Liberatore, (???, Trengove, Kerridge)
RUC: Goldstein, Martin, Wyatt
FWD: Zorko, Martin, Deledio, Hall, Wells, Barlow, (Uebergang, Phillips)
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I reckon the second option gives me a stronger team, but at cost of an extra trade (if I've calculated correctly) & I rely on more rookie options coming through. Additionally, if I want Ruck Cover, I'll have to make an additional trade again. Libba @ M8 is probably my weak spot, but I might be able to switch him late in the season.
Do you reckon it's worth the extra effort to get Dustin Martin in over Montagna?