Round 3 looms as a tough round for obvious captain picks but maybe defaulting to Rory Laird after his bounce-back game last weekend is the go, or perhaps it’s worth trying something else. Read Corey Viney’s suggestions.
Author: Corey Viney @CoreyViney
Vice-Captains
There are three players I would consider as a VC option this week. They are Tim English, Josh Dunkley or Nick Daicos.
English and Dunkley have the Thursday night game, and in a tough week to pick a captain, it will certainly help you sleep at night over the weekend having a nice VC score locked in by one of these two guns.
English didn’t play a match against Brisbane last year, and seeing as last year was his first being fantasy relevant, there is no need to go over his scores from the years prior against them. Grundy had 95 last week against the Lions, and English has had a hot start to the year, so I see no reason he shouldn’t score in triple figures again this week. Safe VC option.
Dunkley is yet to set the world on fire this year, and after writing about him last week as a VC option he only scored 97. This did come from only 69% TOG however. If we see that TOG up towards the 80% mark again this week, I think this is the week he really bounces back, with a chip on his shoulder against the old club who opposition mids have feasted on so far this year (Steele 118 last week, Oliver 124 in Round 1).
Daicos plays Friday night against Richmond, who have not run with a tagger for years, and I do not see that changing, no matter how dominant Daicos has been in the first couple of weeks this year. Doch scored 110 playing off halfback against Richmond in Round 1, Dawson has 101 last week against them and Daicos should have a day out racking up plenty of easy ball. We could be in for one of his monster ceiling games this week, if you own him, he would be my pick as the top VC option this week.
Captains
1. Touk Miller
Touk comes up against a Geelong side this week that allowed Pendlebury (118) and Daicos (114) off the chain in Round 1 this year, and Acres (107) and Cripps (101) to score reasonably well against them last week. Add to this his score of 133 against them in Round 22 last year, all the signs are there for Touk to have a good return this week for those that own him. Super consistent, the safest captain option this week.
2. Luke Davies-Uniacke
LDU plays the Hawks at Pig Park down in Tassie this week, and he could pump out a seriously big score! Scored 113 and 121 against the Hawks last year. Mills (109) and Gulden (104) scored freely against them last week, with Setterfield (122), Merrett and Parish (both 107) doing the same the week prior. People may be worried about the Finn tag this week, but I wouldn’t be too concerned. LDU is in some serious form to start the year, playing at a historically high fantasy scoring ground, against very poor opposition, and is an absolute contested bull who can’t be stopped at the stoppages. Owners can back him in this week as a nice POD captain option.
3. Callum Mills
Mills plays the Demons this week who he scored 122 and 126 on last year. Looked to be on for a big score last week before slowing down in the second half to end with 109, after a little niggle in the preseason causing him to miss their preseason game, I expect this to get better as he gets more run in his legs. We saw Treloar (121) and Libba (114) score well against the Dees in Round 1, with Zorko (116) scoring freely against them again last week, Mills could have a big day out Sunday afternoon. Don’t worry too much about his CBAs, Mills scores well regardless of where he plays on the ground, and I suspect his CBA% will go up this week anyway against a high-quality opponent. For the small percentage of people who own him, a fantastic captain option this week with an enormous ceiling.
4. Clayton Oliver
Oliver looks like he could be the highest averaging player this year with his hot start, and comes up against the Swans this week, who he had 126 on in last year’s qualifying final, along with 102 on them earlier in the year. Don’t worry about who he comes up against or the potential tag, Clarry is a beast and won’t let you down.
5. Andrew Brayshaw
Brayshaw comes up against the Eagles this week, and although he has a poor history against them with one ton from his three games against them in the last two years, Freo have a serious point to prove this week, and Brayshaw will be the one leading the charge. May cop some attention from Ginbey like Green did last week, but Brayshaw runs so hard, I don’t see Ginbey being able to stop him from linking up around the ground for his mark kicks that he loves. Risky pick based on prior performances against them, but a young and improving player, he should put that behind him this week and pump out a respectable captain score.
