What is this; 2020? Two old captain locks return to help us through the weekend. (Neale and Gawn both averaged over 134 in that season). Stewart and Sicily get friendly matchups and some inside midfield guns get a game against easy opponents.
With only five games left of the season, and many teams looking similar, we need to nail our Captaincy options to climb the ranks. Ready on for my advice.
Follow me on Twitter @Pig_Mentality for more SuperCoach VC/C chat.
Vice Captains
1. Tom Stewart
Tom managed to go up to Brisbane and score a 152 last week. This takes his yearly averages to 115 at GMHBA and 124 away from GMHBA. Despite this, his two huge 170+ scores in 2022 both came at GMHBA. The biggest of those scores was 187 in Round 7 of last year, against Fremantle. He only managed 91 against the Dockers earlier this year, but that was during a six-game stretch when no SuperCoach defender was able to score a ton against Fremantle. That has changed recently, with some big Premium defender scores; Daicos (130), Moore (128), Docherty (112), Dale (121) and Ridley (137) all scoring well against Freo. I think this could be one of those big Stewart games, and I want to be on board in case it happens. He will get my VC armband.
2. Tim English
Tim is an easy Vice Captain option this week. Playing the second game of the round against GWS, who are currently running a ruck rotation of Kieren Briggs and Callum Brown. Those two players combine to win only 37% of their Hit Outs, which should leave plenty available to English. Tim averages 105 points at Mars Stadium (5 games), with a high of 138 and a low of 53. He played there earlier in the year and scored 118. It is likely to be a cold but dry day in Ballarat on Saturday, so English should be able to get around the ground for his 6 marks per game.
3. Nick Daicos
Nick was tagged last week and was on 49 at three-quarter time. He saved his score with a 50-point final quarter to get close to a ton. This broke a run of four consecutive games of 130+. This week he plays against Carlton, whom he scored 100 against earlier in the year. The Blues do have Ed Curnow, who could play a tagging role on Daicos again this week. He is not my favourite option this week, unless we see that Curnow is out. But it is still an easy VC with a high ceiling and playing the first game of the round.
Captains
1. James Sicily
James is coming off a monster 171 against Richmond, which is the second-easiest matchup for defenders to score against. Who is the first? St Kilda. Whom Sicily plays against this weekend, and whom he scored 172 on earlier in the year. The gap between what the Saints give up and what any other team gives up to defenders is huge. Recent scores against them include; Sheezel (126), Powell (137), May (147) and Hurn (144). I am projecting this to be my team’s highest scorer of the round, but I don’t trust any of my team’s Captain options after him. As such, he will be my Captain.
2. Max Gawn
Max averages 121 points per game against Richmond (10 matches). This includes games against Nankervis, who is generally quite restrictive. Nankervis is still out this week, so Max will likely face Soldo and Miller, who combine to win the Hit Out 42% of the time. This is not a bad percentage, but Gawn is tiers above them as a ruckman. I expect him to dominate the Hit Outs and around the ground and lock away another 120+ for his owners. He plays the second last game of the round, which means you can have flexibility to VC most of your options.
3. Lachie Neale
Lachie loves the Q-Clash, scoring 128 and 123 in his last two meetings with Gold Coast. He averages 122 points per game at Heritage Back Stadium (11 matches), with a high of 157. This year, Gold Coast give up the sixth-most points to opposition midfielders. And last round they gave up the most SuperCoach points of the weekend to the Giants. This should mean plenty of scoring to go around for the Lions, especially if they win as expected. Couple this with no Will Ashcroft, and I think Neale will have to shoulder more of the midfield load.
4. Josh Dunkley
Josh returned from a calf complaint to post a 115 last week. This is despite barely scoring in the first quarter. It may be risky Captaining someone fresh off a calf issue, but Dunkley’s last three quarters against the Cats looked great. He was chasing down players for tackles and diving into contests. This week he plays the Suns, whom he scored 153 on earlier in the year. Their two prior meetings netted him 116 and 148 as well. As discussed above with Lachie Neale, the Gold Coast give up big points to opposition midfielders.
5. Zach Merrett
There is a trend emerging over the last four weeks; Sydney is becoming a very productive matchup for opposition midfielders. Brayshaw (116), Libba (149), Bont (131), Bolton (158), Martin (131) and Tuohy (126) have all dominated against the Swans’ midfield. And now it is Essendon’s turn. You could also look at Parish for this matchup, but I think after two tough losses and poor individual performances, Captain Merrett will be back in a big way this week. He is a proud player who leads by example, and I think he will be looking to make a statement in this must-win game for the Bombers. 140 in their last matchup if you want any more assurity.
POD Captain?
1. Luke Davies-Uniacke
Luke has returned with a vengeance since his most recent injury and currently has the fourth-highest 3-round average in the league, at 132. This week he gets to play West Coast in a game that may decide who wins the Harley Reid Cup. He played them in the first game of the year and scored 143. Optus Stadium is his highest-averaging ground (for grounds that he has played 6+ games at) and the Eagles give up the most points to opposition midfielders this year. If you are in the 8% of coaches that own LDU, then I would very heavily consider Captaining him.
My moves
I scored 2,688 last week which had me climbing up to rank 286th for the season.
Last week I chose Sicily as Vice-Captain (171) into a Daicos Captain (99). I took Sicily’s score as Captain.
I predict Sicily to be my highest scorer of the week, but I don’t trust any of my Captain options that play after him. Therefore I will take a VC punt on Stewart and Sicily will be my fall-back Captain option.
Read Thursday’s team news, with all the key ins and outs
Read Wednesday’s injury news, with updates on Laird, Ziebell, Mitchell and Marshall
