I want to flag again this week: this is looking like a tough week for picking Captain options. I think there will be some big scores but picking the right one will be hard. If you get a VC score of 120+, lock it in.
Follow me on Twitter @Pig_Mentality for more SuperCoach VC/C chat.
The fourth week of the bye rounds are here, and we have six teams not playing. There isn’t much point in me dividing people into VC and C options this week, as your bye players do not lock until the final game of the round has begun. This means you can loop right up until Sunday at 4.40pm AEST. Therefore, I discuss the top options this week and rank them.
Captains and Vice Captains
1. Zach Merrett
Zach has had two scores of 137+ in his last four games, and I think this could be another one. This week he plays against Fremantle, who give up the fourth most points to opposition midfielders this year. Kelly (164), Green (127) and Coniglio (112) all tonned up last week, to add to what Bolton (151) and Taranto (136) did to them the week before. VC or C option.
2. Josh Dunkley
This week, Josh plays against the second-hardest team for midfielders to score against. I don’t care. Scores of 137, 148, 146 and 153 in his last four weeks mean you just have to pick him. He is in red hot form and shouldn’t let us down this week. Plus, despite the Saints’ restrictive play, Taranto (128) and Cotchin (127) busted them open last week. A perfect VC option, but you could also Captain if your VC plays on Thursday night.
I will be honest, I don’t love any of the next three options, but I wanted to provide more choices for people that dont have Merrett or Dunkley.
3. Rory Laird
Rory has a three-round average of 128 but he only averages 88 at the MCG over his career (15 games). He has a career high of 185 against Collingwood, but a career low of 34 (at an average of 106 from 11 games). He has only played at the MCG twice in the past five seasons; a 105 against Melbourne in 2021 and a 98 against Carlton in 2019. Collingwood are the fourth most restrictive side to opposition midfielders this season, however, some tough inside midfielders have been able to buck that trend; Viney (156), Sheed (119), Kelly (115) and Greenwood (116). Predicting Rory’s score this week is a really tough task. VC preferred, but I think you could Captain him if you had to.
4. Errol Gulden
Errol bounced back to form last week against a tough Brisbane team and this week gets the soft Eagles matchup. He should be free to run around unguarded and take plenty of marks. He has only had one score over 107 at the SCG this year, which is a concern. However, West Coast will be his easiest matchup of the year. VC or C option.
5. Noah Anderson
Anderson managed to score 106 against Carlton at the MCG (a hard midfielder matchup) and 120 against Adelaide in Darwin (in slippery conditions). He now returns home to play against the Hawks, having not played at Heritage Bank Stadium since Round 8. The last time he played at HBS? He scored 189! The last midfielders to play the Hawks? Dunkley (148), Butters (105), Crouch (104). This should be a solid score, but I’m not expecting a monster. A safe fall-back C option in the last game of the round.
6. Christian Petracca
Trac has scored 91 points and 85 points in his last two visits to GMHBA. He averages 84 points per game down in Geelong, through five career games. However, he is in terrific form and will have to keep shouldering the load without Oliver. I don’t really love the pick, but I am scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to find a sixth player to recommend. Petracca has the ceiling to be a VC option and that is all he is this week. VC only.
POD Captain?
1. Luke Parker
Luke has a three-round average of 119, which includes a recent 145 against Brisbane. This week he welcomes the depleted Eagles to his home ground, and he should be unstoppable. Owned by only 1% of the competition, Parker should be a very safe Captain option, with the chance to go big. VC or C option.
My moves
I scored 2,014 last week which had me hovering inside the top 1k, at rank 742nd for the season.
Last week I chose Stewart as Vice-Captain (91) into a Dunkley Captain (137). I took Dunkley’s score as Captain.
This week I will have the Vice-Captain on Dunkley followed by Merrett as my Captain.
Read Wednesday’s team & injury news
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