Position SC 2021: Forward Discussion

Which ‘keepers’ are you planning on starting with?

  • Dangerfield

    Votes: 44 63.8%
  • Sidebottom

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Dunkley

    Votes: 38 55.1%
  • Zorko

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • Dusty

    Votes: 22 31.9%
  • Heeney

    Votes: 4 5.8%
  • Greene

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • De Goey

    Votes: 8 11.6%
  • Phillips

    Votes: 19 27.5%
  • Other

    Votes: 7 10.1%

  • Total voters
    69
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Essendon
I guess with the mids you can look at aggregate or average , probably a choice of 12 or 15 that could all work.

Probably need to be confident that Cripps gets back to that bracket.

At the moment I would be looking at maybe Macrae , Mitchell , Neale so if Petracca & Steele backup I could miss them.

Maybe Bont.

Then you have the guys like Lyons , Adams , Pendlebury , Treloar etc etc

How much Brayshaw , McCluggage & Walsh etc improve + what Rowell achieves.

I certainly think the forward line offers the variance Heeney or someone else + ZDI & rookies or Ziebell at F1.

Seems a few more teams looking to start Danger , Dunkley , Dusty etc but look very exposed (in my opinion) with rookies at My 6-8.
The other thing to consider though is the byes.. rounds 12-14.. can do some cheeky sideways trades there to get the top 4-5 ones you don't have, but also means you've had strong scoring in the 12 weeks leading in. What's better.. 12 weeks we strong mids or 12 weeks with strong forwards.. comes down to the rookies. Plug the gaps with the best rookies.. this time around it looks like the luxury is the best ones are shaping as forwards.

Do think there is an argument to start a prem forward in the mids as an insurance policy though.. means 1 of the starting 6 forward rookies can fail and it's an easy correction to flick a Dunk/Danger type from mids to forwards and getting a missed mid rookie.
 

Bomber18

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Essendon
Just not sure hes high enough up their midfield heirarchy myself, you'd imagine all of Shiel,Merrett,Langford,McGrath are core midfielders plus guys like Parish and Stringer rotating in, they bat pretty deep already very unsure where he slots in there.
I think Shiel, McGrath and Zerrett have been the core group in the guts. Parish sometimes there. Langford only went in after McGrath got injured. There could be a drop from Zerrett/McGrath to open up a spot for Caldwell. Will need to see if Caldwell is in the top 3 rotations or not.

1078A772-954F-4DBA-B919-65FCD17F6A6E.jpeg
 
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Collingwood
The other thing to consider though is the byes.. rounds 12-14.. can do some cheeky sideways trades there to get the top 4-5 ones you don't have, but also means you've had strong scoring in the 12 weeks leading in. What's better.. 12 weeks we strong mids or 12 weeks with strong forwards.. comes down to the rookies. Plug the gaps with the best rookies.. this time around it looks like the luxury is the best ones are shaping as forwards.

Do think there is an argument to start a prem forward in the mids as an insurance policy though.. means 1 of the starting 6 forward rookies can fail and it's an easy correction to flick a Dunk/Danger type from mids to forwards and getting a missed mid rookie.
Agree with the option of starting a premium forward as a mid as "insurance".

I guess which one out of Danger , Sidey , Dunkley , Dusty , Walters or Zorko though is the question.

I guess you then need to be wary of maybe getting caught on the forward bench with say Treacy who may only play a few games and then offer no cover if needed.

I guess Macrae , Cockatoo , Smith , Durdin , Brockman , Spicer all have been mentioned with F/M status , similarly maybe a Chugg or Laurie with D/F if named offer some insurance if correction trades need to be made.

I guess their is a lot of different combinations at this stage , then make corrective trades in the first few rounds if needed.
 
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I think Shiel, McGrath and Zerrett have been the core group in the guts. Parish sometimes there. Langford only went in after McGrath got injured. There could be a drop from Zerrett/McGrath to open up a spot for Caldwell. Will need to see if Caldwell is in the top 3 rotations or not.

View attachment 26333
Personally dont think Caldwell is cheap enough to be anything but a starting midfielder, hes already shown he can't score playing other positions on the ground, if its only a rotation type of deal is he any better of a bet than Ziebell,Daniher and Impey who are all 90-150k less?
 
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Essendon
Agree with the option of starting a premium forward as a mid as "insurance".

I guess which one out of Danger , Sidey , Dunkley , Dusty , Walters or Zorko though is the question.

I guess you then need to be wary of maybe getting caught on the forward bench with say Treacy who may only play a few games and then offer no cover if needed.

I guess Macrae , Cockatoo , Smith , Durdin , Brockman , Spicer all have been mentioned with F/M status , similarly maybe a Chugg or Laurie with D/F if named offer some insurance if correction trades need to be made.

I guess their is a lot of different combinations at this stage , then make corrective trades in the first few rounds if needed.
Million dollar question.. I personally like Dunkley but that would definitely come down to personal preferences.

The plan with Tracey is to flick him up to R3 when Flynn moos (or will start Tracey there if Flynn isn't playing/doesn't look good). Hoping one of Macrae or Cockatoo is named to keep some swing options open, and that Rowe is a viable F7 cover for the early rounds.

Most excited I've been about my team since it was ravaged by preseason injuries...
 
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Million dollar question.. I personally like Dunkley but that would definitely come down to personal preferences.

The plan with Tracey is to flick him up to R3 when Flynn moos (or will start Tracey there if Flynn isn't playing/doesn't look good). Hoping one of Macrae or Cockatoo is named to keep some swing options open, and that Rowe is a viable F7 cover for the early rounds.

Most excited I've been about my team since it was ravaged by preseason injuries...
I suspect all 6 have their positives and negatives to start so I am not sure.

Probably need Flynn to play 8-10 rounds though to make some decent $$$ so if Treacy suddenly vanishes after 1-2 games that could be a issue if say F7 Rowe also vanishes.

Would be good having a playing F/M starting as a option possibly just in case on the bench.

Certainly hoping Macrae is named , F5-8 looks strong enough it is just whether F4-8 is now too weak.

Might mess around later with rookies at D5-6 , M6-8 , F5-6 and see what options look better to start.

Pity their are no decent premium D/F this season , Duryea did average 91.0 but only played 2 games.
 
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I guess with the mids you can look at aggregate or average , probably a choice of 12 or 15 that could all work.

Probably need to be confident that Cripps gets back to that bracket.

At the moment I would be looking at maybe Macrae , Mitchell , Neale so if Petracca & Steele backup I could miss them.

Maybe Bont.

Then you have the guys like Lyons , Adams , Pendlebury , Treloar etc etc

How much Brayshaw , McCluggage & Walsh etc improve + what Rowell achieves.

I certainly think the forward line offers the variance Heeney or someone else + ZDI & rookies or Ziebell at F1.

Seems a few more teams looking to start Danger , Dunkley , Dusty etc but look very exposed (in my opinion) with rookies at My 6-8.
Going with this strategy, I'm looking at Heppell M7 & Powell M8.

As you said many are running with mid rookies which we just might not get and the ones that are looking promising Macrae, Smith, Brockman & Cockatoo can be picked up fwd or even swung fwd which makes this strategy look viable.

Although I am considering running Dunkley instead of Gaff which kinda defeats the purpose of what I'm trying to do but does add more flexibility. A lot of things to consider.
 
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Going with this strategy, I'm looking at Heppell M7 & Powell M8.

As you said many are running with mid rookies which we just might not get and the ones that are looking promising Macrae, Smith, Brockman & Cockatoo can be picked up fwd or even swung fwd which makes this strategy look viable.

Although I am considering running Dunkley instead of Gaff which kinda defeats the purpose of what I'm trying to do but does add more flexibility. A lot of things to consider.
I don't mind Heppell at M7.

I just wonder if Phillips & Campbell are both viable at M7 & M8 though , is Heppell better at M6 (move Cripps to M5)

Maybe start a F/M premium in the mids as insurance (instead of Laird ) , suddenly it becomes a 4-Heppell-3 line though which is defeating the purpose somewhat.

Ziebell at F1 looks wrong , at F2 (only 1 spot different I know) just looks a lot "safer" for some reason.
 
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I suspect all 6 have their positives and negatives to start so I am not sure.

Probably need Flynn to play 8-10 rounds though to make some decent $$$ so if Treacy suddenly vanishes after 1-2 games that could be a issue if say F7 Rowe also vanishes.

Would be good having a playing F/M starting as a option possibly just in case on the bench.

Certainly hoping Macrae is named , F5-8 looks strong enough it is just whether F4-8 is now too weak.

Might mess around later with rookies at D5-6 , M6-8 , F5-6 and see what options look better to start.

Pity their are no decent premium D/F this season , Duryea did average 91.0 but only played 2 games.
Good call on Flynn.. maybe just start Tracey there, Macrae/Cockatoo as F7 and Rowe F8.. two bits at the cherry for forward cover, or can use that to bring Dunkley back to the forwards if need be..
 
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Collingwood
Good call on Flynn.. maybe just start Tracey there, Macrae/Cockatoo as F7 and Rowe F8.. two bits at the cherry for forward cover, or can use that to bring Dunkley back to the forwards if need be..
lol

I was thinking the other way

Flynn definitely looks viable at R3.

Bypass Tracey altogether (unless his JS is high , think it is dependent on Taberner to a certain extent).

Now I will confuse myself with F7 F/M if it links with F/M premium in the mids.

Means benching F6 and possibly playing M9 (I think)

Do like having at least one F/M rookie Forward though
 
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Essendon
lol

I was thinking the other way

Flynn definitely looks viable at R3.

Bypass Tracey altogether (unless his JS is high , think it is dependent on Taberner to a certain extent).

Now I will confuse myself with F7 F/M if it links with F/M premium in the mids.

Means benching F6 and possibly playing M9 (I think)

Do like having at least one F/M rookie Forward though
Interesting.. something to ponder. Definitely think a M/F link is key is Cockatoo and Daniher are in the team given both carry injury risks, plus the insurance policy we both mentioned earlier..
 
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Interesting.. something to ponder. Definitely think a M/F link is key is Cockatoo and Daniher are in the team given both carry injury risks, plus the insurance policy we both mentioned earlier..
Just wonder whether they manage both Cockatoo & Daniher early so maybe Cockatoo at M8 is better.

So possibly something like this :-

F4 Cahill
F5 Kelly
F6 Macrae F/M
F7 Rowe
F8 Treacy F/R

maybe a Chugg or Laurie (if named) defence bench

M8 Cockatoo

mid bench another playing F/M rookie
 
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Just wonder whether they manage both Cockatoo & Daniher early so maybe Cockatoo at M8 is better.

So possibly something like this :-

F4 Cahill
F5 Kelly
F6 Macrae F/M
F7 Rowe
F8 Treacy F/R

maybe a Chugg or Laurie (if named) defence bench

M8 Cockatoo

mid bench another playing F/M rookie
That's what I'm looking at but if a couple of pure mid rookies emerge it certainly would be more handy to run an extra F/M rookie in the fwd line over a Cahill/Kelly or Rowe.
 
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Essendon
Just wonder whether they manage both Cockatoo & Daniher early so maybe Cockatoo at M8 is better.

So possibly something like this :-

F4 Cahill
F5 Kelly
F6 Macrae F/M
F7 Rowe
F8 Treacy F/R

maybe a Chugg or Laurie (if named) defence bench

M8 Cockatoo

mid bench another playing F/M rookie
Sorry yep, that's what I was thinking.. Cockatoo can get buried on the mid bench if needed but having the flex to being him forward is he and daniher miss alternating games could be handy.

That said, in my structure it would be Macrae F7 and Rowe F8, but I'm bullish on Jones so have him in there F4 atm.
 
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Sorry yep, that's what I was thinking.. Cockatoo can get buried on the mid bench if needed but having the flex to being him forward is he and daniher miss alternating games could be handy.

That said, in my structure it would be Macrae F7 and Rowe F8, but I'm bullish on Jones so have him in there F4 atm.

We might get a all rookie forward line and not even have to worry about Z/D/I

Let's see : -

Cahill
Kelly
Macrae F/M
Cockatoo F/M
Jones
Rowe
Chugg D/F
Treacy F/R

I guess it's a matter of weighing up JS , scoring etc etc and then v mid rookies.

Who is your F5 & F6 then ?
 
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That's what I'm looking at but if a couple of pure mid rookies emerge it certainly would be more handy to run an extra F/M rookie in the fwd line over a Cahill/Kelly or Rowe.
Collier-Dawkins , Mead , Stephens all need to break into Top 4 sides and then keep their spots.

Valente has a lot of mid options ahead of him at Freo.

Not sure if any other $ 124 k guys.

Been a few $ 117k mid only mentioned.

Not sure how well Phillips & Powell would score at North , they seem to have a lot of mids as well.
 
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Essendon
We might get a all rookie forward line and not even have to worry about Z/D/I

Let's see : -

Cahill
Kelly
Macrae F/M
Cockatoo F/M
Jones
Rowe
Chugg D/F
Treacy F/R

I guess it's a matter of weighing up JS , scoring etc etc and then v mid rookies.

Who is your F5 & F6 then ?
Cahill F5 and Kelly F6 currently, although if named and if he's in my forward line Marcae may take one of those spots.
 
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Interesting.. something to ponder. Definitely think a M/F link is key is Cockatoo and Daniher are in the team given both carry injury risks, plus the insurance policy we both mentioned earlier..
I guess another factor is you start Dunkley in the mids as possible insurance for Daniher , then do we need to start Daniher at all

Does a Phillips or Campbell or another mid rookie potentially score similar to Daniher , so then just start Dunkley forward and forget all about Daniher.

So many things to think about
 
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I guess another factor is you start Dunkley in the mids as possible insurance for Daniher , then do we need to start Daniher at all

Does a Phillips or Campbell or another mid rookie potentially score similar to Daniher , so then just start Dunkley forward and forget all about Daniher.

So many things to think about
Yeah this is an excellent point re: Daniher.. but my current thinking is to plan on keeping him in and then if it looks shaky there are easy downgrade options that free up the cash. Could be harder to go the other way...

But what it comes down to is the viable forward rookies. First sign of trouble during the preseason and one easily comes out and Dunkley moves back to the forward line.
 
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