Opinion Questions For Rowsus

[dyii]

Hey Rowsus,

Do you see Simpson continuing his 95 average, or do we have any reason to believe he'll slow down? Had him from R1-22 last year, a very love/hate relationship (145/20 odd). There are quite a few players in that 30-31 age bracket, do you think there's a common age where players start to slow down, if there is any pattern at all?

Cheers mate

EDIT: Also been toying with Lycett at F4 with Mummy/Goldy combo. Just been thinking, that if one of them does get injured, would you be not inclined to trade them out straight away seeing as injuries affect ruckmen moreso than other positions (I think)? Would this then detract from having Lycett?

 

[The Misfit]

MrTP, siwel,
He's not locked into my team, and if I can find a Rookie I'm a bit hopeful about, I will probably downgrade Bugg to him. Certainly his history is littered with low scores, but when your playing Def in an easybeat team, that can happen. I think in a lot of games this season he will be playing a different role than previous seasons, and playing in a far more competitive team. The biggest danger with taking a player who you are hoping will shift from a negative role, to a positive role, is the strong possibility of them being thrown/eased back to the negative role again as the season continues. (NVB and Wallis people take note!) Unless you find a well discounted player, you can't have a $300k player that doesn't have a history littered low scores, so that side of him doesn't concern me. I really can see a comparison between KK and Bugg, so if you can use the $50k difference, Bugg has to be an option for those with KK. It was KK I turned into Bugg from my original team.

I have KK, and rightly or wrongly wouldn't consider Bugg, he and Palmer are our only genuine run with players.
We have far too many attacking mids to have him play that role when it doesn't suit him as well as them, anytime an opposition mid starts to hurt us Bugg will be put on him.

During the NAB Challenge some roles were thrown around to assist player development, Hampton played Buggs role for at least 2 full quarters in different for example, but he wont do that in the big show, he is too damaging with the ball, that role will go back to Bugg.

I can see Bugg out of the team altogether, or as sub when playing teams with "average" mids..

Don't take this as inside info, purely observation and assumption, it's entirely possible he averages 80, but I genuinely doubt it

 

[Rowsus]

HURN, yes or no Rowsus? Had him most of the preseason but I am now not so sure

I had him for a fair majority of the pre-season but an underwhelming NAB challange along with an article last week saying he had suffered a slight plantar fascia strain has forced me to look elsewhere. The injury is not enough to stop him playing but he has reduced his training loads and it might have an impact on his scoring in games.

It's a pity because I was expecting a big year from him as our new captain.

Thanks mate, I wasn't aware of the plantar injury

Crap, wasn't aware of the injury. Was really keen on him this year. Thanks for the heads-up (although I have NO idea who to replace him with).

I was keen on him very early, especially with him now being Captain, but not anymore. He's been out of my team for about 3 or 4 weeks now. Given his recent injury history, you certainly don't want to start him with a cloud already over his head.
Thanks to LITS for his excellent WC Intel. It's invaluable!

 

[Juzzo]

Interesting TM. What are your thoughts on Nick Haynes this year, I am still considering him?

 

[Rowsus]

im tossing up between Dom Sheed and Jed Ando for my last spot how will they compare

I think they will both play around 15 games at this stage. I think Sheed has slightly better JS but at 70k more I'm going with Anderson.

Sheed has better JS, and Ando has more earning potential, with his lower price, and more likelihood to score higher if given a free go at it. If I was tossing up between the two, I'd take Ando. Yes, he's a big vest risk, but he has better earning potential, and that's a Rookies main job.

 

[Rowsus]

Hey Rowsus,

Do you see Simpson continuing his 95 average, or do we have any reason to believe he'll slow down? Had him from R1-22 last year, a very love/hate relationship (145/20 odd). There are quite a few players in that 30-31 age bracket, do you think there's a common age where players start to slow down, if there is any pattern at all?

Cheers mate

EDIT: Also been toying with Lycett at F4 with Mummy/Goldy combo. Just been thinking, that if one of them does get injured, would you be not inclined to trade them out straight away seeing as injuries affect ruckmen moreso than other positions (I think)? Would this then detract from having Lycett?

Hey dyii.
the slowdown with age varies from player to player. Generally, the players that can defy age are slightly built type-players. Think Tuck, Bartlett, Bradley Boomer, Fletcher (?), so if you are going to back a player to continue to perform at a better level, despite his age, you generally want them with a lighter frame. Simpson fits this description, so I can see it is quite possible he will continue on his way. I think he could possibly be targetted a bit more by opposition teams, especially with Walker out, but he will still have plenty of games with thise cheap, mop-up possessions he always gets. It wouldn't surprise if he missed a game or two this season, and his average drops a little, but will still do enough to feature as one of the better Defs for the season.

As to trading out injured Rucks. It really comes down to the injury, and the prognosis. If it's not dramatic, and looks an easy week, you don't even trade if you don't have cover! You just eat the F7 valued donut. You might even consider that if it looks like 2 weeks, trades could be so precious this season. If you have cover you only start to consider a trade if it looks like it could be 4 weeks or more.

 

[Rowsus]

I have KK, and rightly or wrongly wouldn't consider Bugg, he and Palmer are our only genuine run with players.
We have far too many attacking mids to have him play that role when it doesn't suit him as well as them, anytime an opposition mid starts to hurt us Bugg will be put on him.

During the NAB Challenge some roles were thrown around to assist player development, Hampton played Buggs role for at least 2 full quarters in different for example, but he wont do that in the big show, he is too damaging with the ball, that role will go back to Bugg.

I can see Bugg out of the team altogether, or as sub when playing teams with "average" mids..

Don't take this as inside info, purely observation and assumption, it's entirely possible he averages 80, but I genuinely doubt it

Interesting TM. What are your thoughts on Nick Haynes this year, I am still considering him?

Always good to hear from The Misfit about GWS, too. He is to GWS what LITS is to WC for us, and having a keen supporter with a bit knowledge of these interstate teams is really invaluable!

 

[Maso]

lol
Gold!
Gave me a good laugh Rowsus reading that.

Sorry Maso.
I have to admit I did not renew my membership as a Muppets supporter this year.
I jumped ship....

Thats ok after reading Rowsus analysis im thinking about doing the same .....

 

[Kafka]

Hiya Rowsus,

Thanks again for your insights!

I'm tweaking with rucks and starting to think Cam Wood may be a good thing at Carlton with Warnock out of favour, Kreuzer iffy and the departure of Waite. Any thoughts?

Cheers

 

[Goodie's Guns]

Hi Rowsus,

Just wondering your thoughts on Kade Kolodjashnij??

Thanks

 

[Slammer]

Hey Rowsus,

Are u keen on a 4/0/4 midfield?
Still trying to decide whether I throw Newton in there (already have Cripps) or go with a Swallow, Neale or Steven.
Leaning towards a Swallow out of the three but I do like Neale.
Can you please help me decide?

 

[mproust]

Hi Rowsus,

Is there any reason for Michael Johnson's drop off in production from round 18 2014 or was it just injury?

 

[Prochard]

Hi Rowsus,
Currently have 3 round 12 bye mids in my team (Fyfe, Pendlebury, JPK)
Seems like Ablett is training well and I want to bring him in, who out of the above 3 should I trade out?


Cheers

 

[OnePercenters]

Hi Rowsus, everyday I wake up and check this thread, it's like waking up to the news headlines.. only better! Some serious work has gone in here. Love it!!

So I'm currently sitting on a midfield of Gaz, Pendles, Selwood, Wines, Swallow, Cripps and under 200k rookies. I have a player vs player question, I'm thinking of switching Wines to Neale, this will allow me to upgrade Swallow to JPK. Of course my byes will be totally shot if I don't manage to trade well! I have 2 concerns, the first is that Wines improved his average by over 15 points and might not improve or maintain it this year and my second concern is that Neale will out-perform Wines or at least match him but at a lower starting price, I'm just not sure how to identify it.

So basically asking your thoughts/analysis on Wines vs Neale. Both in top end teams playing as the 3-4th best midfielder in their team and around the same amount of games played.

 

[dicksilverman]

Hi Rowsus,

thanks for a great start to the year, full of insight and help to us mere mortals. Any further thought on Aaron Young? your previous article spiked an interest and i'm thinking about including him, particularly if he gets named this week on the field. Appreciate more thoughts...

 

[dyii]

Hey Rowsus,

What are your thoughts on Robbie Tarrant at F5-7? Brad Scott today "Tarrant ready to play, really pleased with his pre-season". I think he will be playing key back, and he seems better pick than Hogan but arguably not against Salem and Clark.

Cheers!

 

[OzRulesFootball]

Hi Rowsus,

Is there any reason for Michael Johnson's drop off in production from round 18 2014 or was it just injury?

Just on Johnson. From memory I vaguely recall they had McPharlin injured for a lot of second part of season. This probably meant Johnson was less free to roam around and had to be used more as a stay at home key defender. That might be a reason.
Cannot remember about Alex Silvagni but he also has been injured from time to time and normally the first back up for any first choice key defenders out. I think Lyon, when he can, likes to free Johnson up. I've seen him further up the ground in some games. I suspect that is why a few are keen on him expecting if he does that more often he will be a good choice this year.
Freo usually have Zac Dawson, Luke McPharlin and Micheal Johnson in the same 22. This means if nobody injured out of them Lyon has the option of shifting Johnson up the ground. Even heard somewhere talk of McPharlin being used that way from time to time. But if 1 of them out Lyon has to weigh up his options. Sometimes he brings in Silvagni but he has been injury prone himself.

 

[THCLT]

Hi Rowsus,

When you've caught up with the breaking news at Collingwood regarding Magpie duo Keeffe and Thomas testing positive for banned substance, can you revisit the question of T Adams in the FWD line? I know he was on your watchlist preseason and he was in and out of my team earlier on but hasn't been in consideration for the last 2 weeks, I've opted for ruck cover in his place.

With the retirement of Ball and now the unavailability of Greenwood and J Thomas, does this increases his midfield opportunity and hence SC potential and makes him a calculated risk at F4? Does this also changes our opinion of Swan potentially running through the midfield more?

Not sure if I'm punching at shadows or whether it's worthwhile tinkering with my structure at this late stage, but this news has certainly got me thinking again.

 

[siwel]

Salem, have him? Get him? or Get rid of him?

Personally I have him atm at F5 but not sold and wondering if you have anything to add on him

Cheers again mate, absolute BEAST!

 

[Rowsus]

Hiya Rowsus,

Thanks again for your insights!

I'm tweaking with rucks and starting to think Cam Wood may be a good thing at Carlton with Warnock out of favour, Kreuzer iffy and the departure of Waite. Any thoughts?

Cheers

Hiya Kafka, happy to help.
I think those brought Wood into their teams late last season got good use and value from him. I think he is priced too high at $390k this season for the same use/value to apply. I'd look elsewhere.