Review 2021: Round 1 Review

[Rowsus]

Final Team

D: Laird, Maynard, Ridley, Daniel, Koschitzke, Highmore // Sharp*, Briggs
M: Neale, Steele, Macrae, Bontempelli, Merrett, Campbell, Powell, Scott // Berry*, Brockman, Gulden
R: Gawn, Martin S // Flynn
F: Dangerfield, Dunkley, Ziebell, Warner, Fullarton, Bergman // Rowe*, Jones H

Score: 1,950
Rank: 37,429
"Lost" points: Capt 45, Bench picks: Def 0, Mid 86, Ruck 46, Fwd 83 = Total 260

Heroes: Ridley (125), Macrae (118), Dunkley (113), Ziebell (115)
Villians: Me (for losing 260 points in C and bench picks), Neale (77), Steele 13 point 2nd half.
Trades: Possibly Brockman to Jordon.

Comments: I don't think there was an awful lot wrong with my team selection, so I'm not going to panic trade a Gawn or Neale. Players on my bench: Flynn (140), Gulden (139), Rowe (104). Had I been a bit sharper in my Captain and bench picks, I'd be sitting roughly about where I would hope to be, so I just have to hope that evens out for me in the coming Rounds. Most early weeks I'd expect to lose 100 maybe 140 tops, so losing 260 is a bit too much! I opted against bringing in late donuts to secure Gulden and/or Rowe's score. With the benefit of hindsight, on how Powell and Bergman performed, I could have been forgiven for taking one or both of the donuts to get those 2 good scores.
Dangerfield will be a hold for me. Assuming he gets 2 weeks (down from the current 3 weeks), I'd rather hold him, and lose say 100-120 points, than burn a trade to protect that "small" amount of points.
Happy to have a foot either side of the Grawndy vs. All Rookie Ruck fence. Those committed to one side of the fence, or the other, face bigger decisions, than those with one foot either side.
I think this Round was a real reminder, that we need to wind back the clock on our VC/C thinking, and you'd need a really good reason to not lock in a 120 VC score. Some weeks, you might even take a 115 score, depending on circumstances ahead in that Round.

 

[Rowsus]

*Bump*

 

[Pieman17]

Final team:

D: Laird, Ridley, Stewart, Docherty, Clark, Highmore (Kosi, Sharp)
M: Macrae, Bont, Kelly, Fyfe, Cripps, Campbell, Powell, S. Berry (Gulden, A. Scott, McNeil)
R: Gawn (C), Grundy (Flynn)
F: Dunkley, De Goey, Ziebell, Cahill, Warner, Bergman (Rowe, Jones)

Score: 1936
Rank: A little behind Rowsus 😜 (TBC)
Heroes: Macrae, Dunkley, Ridley, Stewart, Ziebell
Villains: Me for benching the good scoring rookies, De Goey, Grundy
Trades: None
Comments: Actually fairly happy with my team, will back Gawn and Grundy to score well but will look at a possible restructure if scores are similar between the rucks next week. Will probably get scores of 30 from Gulden and Rowe next week when I put them on field but that’s how it goes I guess. Picking the right rookies on field is probably the most important thing over the first 4 weeks. Going to try and avoid ‘correcting’ my premos picks in the hunt for last weeks points and just try upgrade the rookies.

 

[Johnsy44]

Final Team

D: Laird, Daniel, Howe, Docherty, Clark, Sharp (Kosi, Highmore)
M: Neale, Oliver, Merrett (C), Mitchell, Cripps (VC), O'Meara, Powell, Gulden (Berry, Brockman, Scott)
R: Flynn, Hunter (Meek)
F: Dangerfield, Dunkley, Dusty, Ziebell, Dow, Campbell (Warner, Rowe)

Score: 2218
Rank: 550


Heroes: Dusty, Tich, Gulden, Ziebell and Flynn
Villians: Cripps (VC), Dangerfield, Merrett (C), Neale
Trades: Possibly Dangerfield to Zac Williams/Walsh, and or rookie collection (Do)

Comments: Very happy for round one, I suspect 2218 will be slightly above par and a good setup for the season.

DEF: Very happy overall with my defense, Howe was a little disappointing and had worried for Clark after a slow start but he ended up on a handy 80. Happy with rookie choices

MID: Neale the big disappointment, was hoping for a little bit more than 77 from a player worth 722k, was tossing between him and Merrett for Captain. Cripps was also super disappointing after a dominant first half, Merrett also stopped once Essendon collapsed. Very happy I went with my gut and took the fantasy pig in Tich, was very surprised he was only at 3% ownership, even after an interrupted preseason. Went with Jaeger as an Ultra Pod at 1% ownership who ill take 101 from. Gulden the clear obvious hero in the midfield, kid is a jet. Happy with rookies, will give another weeks look at Jordan.

RUCK: Went risky and went for the Flyntereek setup in the ruck. Flynn Flynn Flynn, what a game! Excluding the injury scare, he was very good, hopefully produced=s a few more great scores and makes serious cash. but am now worried for the JS for Hunter and Meek, Hunter was very poor against a fellow debutant. Hoping Meek in particular can hold his spot in the side until Treacy plays, if not, I'm in some strife.

FWD: Really regret starting Danger, was hoping he would return to his best, but instead looks like missing 3 weeks. Dunkley, Dusty and Ziebell I am very happy with, all played exceptionally well. Dow looked very very poor and soft, but will maybe give him another look. Rowe was incredible and unfortunately had him stranded on the bench.

 

[30BucketsofRo]

Round 1 team -
D: Laird, Stewart, Short, Williams, Clark, Highmore (Sharp, Kosi)
M: Macrae, Bont, Zerrett, Jelly, Cripps, Powell, Bruhn, Gulden (Brockman, Jordon, Scott)
R: Gawn, Grundy (Flynn)
F: Dusty, Dunkley, Dow, Campbell, Bergman, Rowe (Fullarton, Jones)

Score: 2025
Rank: 17,597
Heroes: Dusty, Gulden, Rowe, Stewart
Villains: Grundy, Gawn C, Bont, Jelly, Dow, Bergman
Trades planned: None yet
Comments: Unspectacular start. Glad I had Rowe and Gulden on field but this was countered by an underwhelming weekend by my mid keepers and letdown by the Gawndy combo (including C). Managed to miss Danger and Rowell mayhem. Think my set-up is solid enough and will get Williams back next week. I think he’ll have a really good season and offers a bit of a POD heading into round 2 although I am interested to see how Dow is affected. Seem to have most of the rookies I need, might look at getting Warner for Dow potentially and not convinced by Bruhn at his price point. Hoping for a better second week by my mids and rucks next week. Good luck for the season ahead 🙂

 

[Darkie]

Final team

D: Laird, Ridley, Stewart, Daniel, Doc, Clark (Kosi E, Highmore)
M: Macrae, Merrett, Danger, Cripps, Heppell, Campbell, Scott, Oea FD (Gulden E, Berry McNeil)
R: Gawn C, Grundy VC (Flynn E)
F: Dusty, Ziebell, Daniher, Cox, Warner, Bergman (Rowe E, Jones)

Score: 2,079
Rank: 8,239
Lost points: 75 C, 0 D, 3 M, 70 R, 88 F (236 total)

Heroes: Flynn, Gulden and Rowe tonning up on the bench, Oea for allowing me to access Gulden’s score, Dusty 158, Ridley 125, Heppell 89, Ziebell 113

Villains: Gawn C 93, Grundy 70, Cox 33, Bergman 31, McNeil 26 (benched), me for leaving points on the bench ... plus not one, not two, but three reports (Danger, Daniher and Cox)

Comments:
Just an okay score (actually a bit better than I realized, with rankings now available!) but reasonably happy with my setup. Jordon the only rookie it appears I’ve missed at this point, and my premos were all decent except for two of the best players in the game! The ruck situation is a bit concerning, but I’m inclined to give it another round before reaching a conclusion ... last year I concluded that rucks were scoring better than prior years during round one, and that led me to bring in Ceglar at the expense of ... Petracca Oea allowing me to get Gulden’s score was a win, and I’m hoping I can build on my BBL looping skills to add some more points from bringing him in. Very happy with midpricer Ziebell and quite happy with POD midpricer Heppell. Clark also good, and Daniher passable.

Trades: Probably none. In my view, round 2 is for premium LTI trades, and corrections when you know you’ll have 3+ to make by round 3 ... so I’m likely to hold. Danger is a chance to be traded if he’s out for 3, but he’s basically a certainty to be a top forward in my view, so it feels marginal to me. I would probably have to identify an attractive “in” to make this worthwhile in my mind ... fingers crossed he misses two or fewer.

 

[Professor]

Final team:

Score: 2045
Rank: 13,499
Heroes: Walsh, Macrae, Gulden, Ziebell, Flynn, Rowe, Merrett, Daniel, Oliver, Fyfe and Fantasia
Villains: Grundy, Gawn, Neale, Lloyd,
Trades: None
Comments: Really pleased with my start, 10 premiums, some midpricers and rooks. I'm expecting some volatility in scoring from both rookies and premiums, rookies will be dropped, hence, I've gone with this strategy at least for the next 5 rounds. Midpricers there for consistent not high scoring to keep me within striking distance. My super uber premos should add another 50 points each to their scores next week, so that's 2295, hoping the rookies I've selected continue to play, stay injury free and moo to their hearts content. Captain and vice choices are so crucial in this game, those with Dusty, well done, that's about 140 odd in front of Gawn owners. Congrats to all our members with a mixture of scores, enjoy the ride and good luck.

 

[Cricket98]

Round 1 Team:

D: Laird, Daniel, Stewart, Docherty, Clark Highmore (Kosi, Fyfe)
M: Macrae, Merrett, JKelly, Cripps, Taranto, Caldwell, Campbell, Powell (Berry, Gulden, Sharp)
R: Gawn, Flynn (Meek)
F: Danger, Dunkley, Phillips, Ziebell, Cahill, Warner (Rowe, Scott)

Score: 2108
Rank: 5097
Heroes: Flynn, Ziebell, Taranto, Macrae, Dunkley
Villans: Gawn, Cahill, rookies on pine
Trades: Cahill to Jordon, Danger? to Oliver/Titch??
Comments: Lost 153 points not fielding Rowe and Gulden, apart from that quite happy with my team. Danger presents a bit of a conundrum, and Flynn R2 looks an astute choice after 1 round. Happy with my rookie selections apart from Cahill, who I'll likely correct to Jordon.

 

[Toothless Tigers]

Score: 2,141
Rank: 2,756
Heroes: Dusty, Macrae, Gulden, Ziebell, Flynn, Rowe, Merrett, Oliver, Fyfe
Villains: Gawn, Neale, Lloyd, Kelly
Trades: Neale
Comments: Happy with most things, however, my assistant coach has been fired.
I told him to play Rowe, Jordon & Highmore and the silly old bugger puts them on the bench.
I am taking Neale back to the returns counter in exchange for a player and cash.

 

[BomberArmy]

D: Ridley, Daniel, Howe, May, Lever, Highmore (Koschitzke, Butts)
M: Macrae (C), Merrett, Danger, Gresham, LDU, Heppell, Berry, Gulden (Sharp, Jordon, McNeil)
R: Grundy, Flynn (Meek)
F: Dunkley, Phillips, Ziebell, Campbell, Warner, Bergman (Brockman, Rowe)

Score: 2220
Rank: 516

Heroes: Ridley, May, Lever, Macrae, Dunkley, LDU, Gulden, Ziebell and Flynn
Villians: Grundy and Danger
Trades: Possibly Dangerfield, not sure who to yet..

Comments:
Happy with the start, took a couple of risks which paid off so far. May, Lever, LDU and Gresham (didn't have a huge score, but got plenty of touches and only 67% game time, so has a huge ceiling imo). No Gawn, Neale, Lloyd or Dusty atm, which hoping to bring in at some stage. Gulden and Flynn were absolutely awesome on field choices this week. Only really missed having Rowe on field. Hopefully keep it up. Have a war chest of $$ for upgrades where needed.

 

[Yasi]

D: Lloyd, Laird, Stewart, Short, Doch, McEvoy (Kossi, Highmore)

M: Neale (C), Macrae, Merrett, Kelly, Cripps, Campbell, Powell, Guldin, (Berry (E), Sharp, O’Neil)

R: Flynn, Hunter (Meek (E))

F: Danger, Dusty, DeGoey, Warner, Bergman, Scott, (Brockman (E), Rowe)



Score: 2,067

Rank: 9,910



Heroes: Dusty, Macrae, Stewart, Gulden, Flynn

Villians: Neale C (77), DeGoey (69)

Trades: Danger to Ziebell / Mitchell



Comments: Rolled the dice on the 3 rookie ruck set-up and actually relieved it didn’t end in disaster week 1. Started McEvoy up back as insurance in case suddenly on 1 of 3 is playing and he did just did enough for the D6 spot this week given defenders are scoring through the roof everywhere.



Neale / Cripps versus Mitchell / Fyfe was my final X v Y and was a bust week one.

 

[Misky]

Round 1 team -
D: Lloyd, Laird, Ridley, Daniel, Cox, Kozi, (Highmore. Sharp)
M: Macrae, Jelly, Walsh, Caldwell, Campbell, Powell, Jordon (Barry, Gulden, Scott)
R: Gawn, Grundy (Flynn)
F: Danger, Dunkley, Ziebell, Warner, Brockman, Oea (Rowe, Jones)

Score: 1975
Rank: TBC
Heroes: Premo backline basically
Villains: Ruckline with Captain,
Trades planned: None yet
Comments: Unspectacular start. Managed to get the worst scoring rookies for each line except Rowe in the fwd due to planned floating donut. Other than that really happy with my team, managed to dodge a few bullets. Grabbed all the must have rookies and dodged others. Not much else to say but bring on round 2

 

[Bomber18]

Final Team


Score: 2108
Rank: 5097
Heroes: Dusty, Dunkley, Heeney, Gulden (via #OhYeah), Ziebell, Daniel, Taranto, Heppell, JShort
Villains: Gawn (C), Grundy, Dangerfield, Cripps, Daniher, Bergman over Warner, Rowe on bench
Trades: Danger to Titch (?)
Comments: Happy enough with the start to the season! Flynn R2 over Grawndy seems the right hindsight move but I'm still happy enough with my setup so am not really considering a structural change at this stage. Gulden (E) was a really critical move it seems for me - it wasn't something I did deliberately, I think I just whacked the E on Gulden when I first slotted him in and it just stayed there. When he went so large, I swapped Powell out for a donut which I'm very happy about!

Glad I stuck to my guns on guys like Heeney and Taranto and also Dunkley/Dusty to some extent as well, after thinking the rule changes might help them. Heppell's first half was very pleasing too, pity he couldn't kick on in the second but the signs looked good to me. Hoping he can be a decent POD ish player for me (ditto to Heeney!). Daniher in the wet the main failed slightly MP pick. Hoping he can turn it around.

Danger the real clanger so far. I think I'll look to trade him to Titch or a genuine premo mid if he's out for 2+ (gonna play it aggressive!). Rowe, Gulden and Warner will definitely be on field for me next round, with Campbell and Bergman looping via Oea!

 

[mike89]

Final Team

D: Laird, Daniel, Stewart, Short, J Clark, Highmore // Sharp, Koschitzke
M: Macrae, Merrett, Cripps, Taranto, Phillips, Dow, Campbell, Powell // Gulden, McNeil, Scott
R: Gawn (C), Grundy // Flynn
F: Dangerfield, Dunkley, Ziebell, Daniher, Warner, Bergman // Rowe, Brockman

Score: 1,968
Rank: 32,140 (your guess was extremely solid Rowsus!)
"Lost" points: Rookie reshuffle cost me 148 points...

Heroes: All on the pine!
Villains: Dangerfield for giving me, and everyone else, a big decision to make.
Trades: Undecided - probably depends whether Dow holds his spot

Comments: Not too upset with how this played out, even though I'm a good way behind par. Holding all the top tier rookies (besides Jordon) and Bergman was my only real spud on field. On the flip side, I didn't pick up any of the monster scores, with Martin being the obvious miss and Flynn and Gulden warming the bench. Macrae 118 was my highest score on field.
Gawn and Grundy are only minor concerns right now. Not expecting that to be the norm throughout the season. Think I've dodged any major injury concerns, although several rookies are probably in danger of not being selected and the Danger suspension looms over all our heads...

 

[lavenderbandit]

Edit: the team above is after i tinkered around post lock out, gulden was on bench no E.


Score 2,194
Rank 897
Villians Gaff Duggan
Comments
Overall solid start. Went all in on the bet against grawndy, with 6 prem Def, 7 prem mids, Dusty, Ziebell and Daniher. Hoping 14 real prems (duggan questionable) and Ziebell a real posdible keeper too will give me a serious leg up for overall with less trades needed to complete my side. Of course Gawn can easily come out with a 170 next week, wouldn't be surprised at all, but the game is ridiculously fast and the rucks haven't adjusted yet.

Gaff and Duggan ***? Seriously?? Thought i was a shot at 2300 coming into the last game, poor effort boys but ill stick fat this week at least.

Trades nil planned, unless both hunter and meek are dropped. Possible but unlikely meek does IMO with the dockers probably losing hamling and Pearce, and Lobb/treacy a while away. Gotta remember it's not 2020 where you could trade every week pretty much, trades are gold.

Seem to have the good rookies too, perhaps fullarton needs to go for berry but not pulling the trigger yet. Might trade next week on the bolter I've missed, eg duggan to hunter clarke.

Good luck all, SCS represent!

 

[Presto]

Final Team

D: Lloyd, Laird*, Short, Clark*, Young, , Koschitzke, //Highmore, Briggs
M: Neale, Macrae, Cripps, Rowell, Campbell, Powell, Bruhn, Brockman, //Gulden, Jolrdon Scott
R: Gawn, Grundy // Flynn
F: Dangerfield, Dunkley, Phillips, Ziebell, Impey, Henry, // Rowe*, Warner

Score: 1,723

Rank: 100,445
"Lost" points: Capt 45, Bench picks: Def 6, Mid 163, Ruck 70, Fwd 101 = Total 340

Heroes: Macrae (118), Dunkley (113), Ziebell (115), Laird (102)
Villians: Me, I chose all the good rookies and left them on the bench

Trades: Possibly Danger and Rowell to Dusty and Titch. First I will wait to see how many weeks Danger will get..

Comments: I still think this is a good team. It has all the best rookies (apart from McDonald), but too many players had a bad day, well under their expectations (Neale 77, Cripps88, Gawn93, Grundy70, Dangerfield92), add to it my abominable bench choices and then Rowell’s injury.

Wasn’t a great come back from the Hawks, even against such a one-sided free kicks count (26-12)

 

[Lost In The Sky]

Final Team

D: Lloyd, Laird, Duggan, Young, Clark, Koschitzke (Sharp, Highmore)
M: Neale, Macrae, Merrett, Rowell, T.Green, Dow, Powell, Gulden (Berry, Brockman, Scott)
R: Gawn, Grundy (Flynn)
F: Dangerfield, Phillips, Caldwell, Ziebell, Campbell, Warner (Rowe, Bergman)

Score: 1,842
Rank: 72,252
"Lost" points: Capt 46, Bench picks: Def 7, Mid 53, Ruck 70, Fwd 48 = Total 224

Heroes: Gulden (139), Macrae (118), Ziebell (113), H.Young (88)
Villians: Rowell (6), Neale (77), T.Green (50), Grundy (70), Gawn (93), Dangerfield (Suspended)
Trades: Anyone is fair game

Comments: Terrible start to the season, In fact looking back through my records... It's my worst start to a season ever since I started in 2006. Some terrible picks in my team, Payed up for the "Big Guns" and nearly everyone of them failed, Copped an injury in week 1 for the second year in a row in Rowell. Left good rookie points on the bench, and topped it off with a poor captain's pick. In short nothing went right.

Just have to get on with it now, and try make the best of what I've got.

Well done to all those that got off to flying starts!!

 

[wogitalia]

Final Team

D: Laird, Ridley, Stewart, Short, Docherty, Highmore, Kosi & Sharp
M: Macrae, Merrett, Kelly, Walsh, Cripps, Taranto, Dow, Campbell, Jordon, Berry & Gulden
R: Grundy, Flynn & Meek
F: Dunkley, Phillips, Ziebell, Cahill, Warner, Scott, Bergman & Rowe

Score: 2,142
Rank: 2,688
"Lost" points: Capt 13 (Macrae), Bench picks: Def 0, Mid 101, Ruck 0, Fwd 67 = Total 181 (To be fair, was never starting any of them except Macrae which was considered)

Heroes: Ridley, Walsh, Taranto, Gulden, Flynn, Dunkley, Phillips & Ziebell
Villians: Cripps, Grundy and Zerrett (for not going on with it)
Trades: Hopefully none.

Comments: Things went pretty well. I was never starting Gulden or Rowe given their roles so can't really complain about that. Tinkering went outstandingly this time around, Taranto netted 107 (+54 on Powell), Phillips got me 59 on Bergman (who would have started) and pushed out Brockman and, somehow, Flynn got 37 on Gawn for the master twist. Neale to get Cripps and Short in for Clark wasn't as positive but still gained points.

Grundy and I will get a week to work out the answer there, leaning towards keep at the moment and hoping he bounces back somewhat. Cahill I was actually happy with rolewise and will probably actually start again. Dow the other in the sights. Will probably start Campbell and Dow again though Jordon is tempting.

Nice to get through without a major injury or issue and happy that I've picked the best rookies.

 

[Impromptu]

Final Team

D: Lloyd, Laird, Short, Daniel, Crisp, Maynard (Koschitzke, Highmore)
M: Dow, Campbell, Powell, Jordan, Berry, Brockman, Gulden, Bruhn (McNeil, Sharp, Lazzaro)
R: Gawn (c), Grundy (Hunter)
F: Danger, Dusty, Dunkley, Zorko, Greene, Phillips (Scott, Rowe)

Score: 2,021
Rank: 18,467

Trades: No trades planned but depends on Danger

 

[Ironhawk]

Final Team

D: Ridley, Daniel, Short, Aliir, Young, Clark // Koschitzke, Highmore*
M: Merrett, Dunkley, Walsh, Rowell, Taranto, Green, Campbell, Berry // Powell, Gulden, Scott*
R: Gawn, Grundy // Flynn*
F: Butters, Bailey, Moore, Ziebell, Impey, Saunders // Henry, Rowe*

Score: 1,998
Rank: 23,905
"Lost" points: Capt 47, Bench picks: Def 0, Mid 139, Ruck 70, Fwd 0 = Total 256

Heroes: Ridley (125), Dunkley (113), Walsh (122), Ziebell (113). HM to my other 5 100+ scorers.
Villians: Rowell (6 ), Green (50), Grundy (70), Impey (64). Me leaving Errol Flynn on the bench.
Trades: Rowell to someone. Not sure about trade #2, will probably give things another week.

Comments: I'm a bit disappointed not to make 2,000 for the round, but it's not the end of the world. I tried a different structure to most, not expecting a strong batch of rookies and relying more on a few mid pricers instead - I am fairly sure that I may have got that call wrong, but at least it seems I managed to pick most of the promising rookies in my starting team, even if I fielded the wrong ones. I have tried to largely pick players I didn't think would drop much in value (besides my two captain options in the ruck) and I expect most of my mid pricers will hold up, I just need to get enough cash gen to upgrade these players to premiums - that cash gen may not be quite as much as I expected based on Rd 1 scores. I'm probably a premium or two short, Rowell going down makes that even more pronounced, I think I'll need to address that in the first few rounds, but it's not going to be easy.

I was 50/50 on starting a donut - I think I made the right decision, as I fully expect to want to field various scores I'll have stuck on the bench otherwise most rounds, just like this round with Rowe. HOPEFULLY I can use the donut to loop a VC score sometimes too, but who knows yet. I think this lack of cash generation is outweighed by the benefits in fixing poor team selections.