The beauty of the bye rounds is it’s never easier to pick a VC option. With players on the bye being locked out at the beginning of the last game of the round, you can choose a player from any game before the final one to be your VC.
With this being the case, I’ll only name the top 5 options this week to be you VC/C, as you’ll be certain to have someone to pick as your VC from the top 5.
The top C/VC options for Round 12 are:
- Rory Laird
I said it last week, Rory is back. Seven tons in a row, back-to-back scores of 131, 26 tackles over his last 2 weeks. Crazy numbers. Playing in the hot, slippery conditions in Darwin this week, expect Laird to keep it up. Had 124 against the suns last year, as safe as a captain option could be to start the byes, lock him in for another ton at worst, with a big chance of it being a third straight week over 130.
- Nick Daicos
We saw Daicos get his best crack at the CBAs so far in his career on the weekend just gone, where he had 11 contested possessions, 7 clearances and 6 tackles. Coming up against West Coast this week, I can only see the midfield role increasing against the worst side in the comp to continue his exposure. Scoring 116 last week, we know the ceiling this kid has, highlighted by a 140 against Essendon in round 6. A 150+ score is just around the corner, and there is a good chance it comes this week against West Coast, a side he scored 126 against last year. Likely to cop some attention, he has shown he can work through it already this year and in a game where Collingwood will have a whole heap of possession, no matter who tries to shut him down, Nick will find plenty of the ball. I’m predicting a career high this week.
- Tim Taranto
A season average of 121.8. A three-round rolling average of 131.3. A last round score of 145 against the toughest team in the comp to score against. What more could you possibly ask of this man to trust him with the captaincy every week? The only reason he sits below Laird and Daicos for me is Kingsley stating during the week that “he’s one player we need to make sure we contain”. I could see Perryman running with Taranto and giving him some attention this week, so it has been flagged, but he should still be great.
- Tom Green
Another bloke who just keeps getting it done. Six scores of 110 or higher for the season, averaging 114.5, and coming up against a Richmond side that has leaked points all year long. Green is another safe option this week, with the potential to pump out a massive score as we saw he is capable of when he pumped out a monstrous 170 against the Western Bulldogs in Round 8.
- Harry Sheezel
Now, there is a bit to play out with this one, but hear me out. North will regain Sheils, Thomas, and potentially Tucker and/or Corr will be named. If this happens, Aaron Hall is a big chance to be dropped again. We saw earlier in the season what Sheezel can do if he plays across half back, and if Hall is out I think he will return there. In the last 2 weeks, Essendon have give up scores of 140 to Liam Duggan, 120 to Jayden Hunt and 114 to Daniel Rioli. They give up HUGE scores to half backs. If hall is out, there is a massive case to say that Sheezel will return to his 120+ scoring ways this week. Keep your eye on the teams.
