Tom Green during the GWS Giants pre-season training on January 20, 2023. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only - **NO ON SALES** - ©Phil Hillyard )
Round 22 was a tough one with some of the top VC options Zach Merrett and Errol Gulden frustrating owners, while Jack Viney continued his hot form. Jai Newcombe top scored for the round, with Rowan Marshall delivering at R2.
Collingwood v Geelong
Freak: Josh Daicos (124)
Flop: Stewart (72)
One Daicos goes down and the other comes up. Josh is holding my draft side together but in classic world there was absolutely nothing good about this game. It’s a good thing the game was good in real life, because the fantasy performances were as heinous as that umpire forgetting that the white paint around the ground is a boundary rather than a guideline. DCam (75) should be better without Cox there but he’s simply not putting it together, plus he’s got Big Oscar next week who is famously restrictive. It’s really nothing on the floppage of Stewart, though, who was randomly in the CBAs?? Which is, in his case, awful for his output. It was a bit Bevo-ey of Chris Scott TBH. Duncan (94) was the only relevant player to put a half-decent fantasy game together. Shannon Neale (67) has bobbed up for a downgrade option.
North v Essendon
Freak: Sheezel (110)
Flop: Merrett (90)
A classic sliding doors moment the Sheez set up for us here, with plenty finally thanking him for his service and waving goodbye. The holders take the chocolates on this occasion. Highlights included more solid hundreds from Parish (112) and LDU (107). JZ (90) was a move for the bold this round and it nearly paid off. Everybody’s VC Merrett managed a 90 but it was a late recovery after a hard tag which got him there. Nic Martin (129) was back to his best.
Sydney v Gold Coast
Freak: Lloyd (105)
Flop: Mills (69)
This Jake Lloyd late season resurgence is sort of like a Tillies penalty shoot out. Equal parts vindicating and excruciating, especially for those of us that had him as a bye play. Otherwise this game was totally Floptacular, dude. Anderson (94) puttered along his ho-hum scoring. Flanders (90) good without being great. Gulden (88), flattened by Miller (79). Mills, a return to not-form.
Brisbane v Adelaide
Freak: Laird (126)
Flop: Dunks (61)
A cracking game culminating in the coaches delaying the presser to watch the Matildas’ shootout. Good form. Unfortunately apart from Lairdy and risky pick Matt Crouch (103) the rest of this was no good. This was an almighty competitive field for floppers and I’m calling it, Dunks is still not right. What a shocking turn of events for those who brought him in last week. Dawson (91) didn’t deliver for anyone who rolled Merrett into him, and Neale (80) no good again. It’s a shame, as I think many of us would’ve let Lachie go if not for the Daics injury. Ditch him for the other Neale?
Carlton v Melbourne
Freak: Newman (138)
Flop: Gawn (84)
As expected, the Grundy return stunted Big Max’s scoring, a blow for Gawn owners who couldn’t trade because of injury. Similar scenes for Petracca (96) and Oliver (126) and honestly what were we all thinking waiting a week on Clarry? Doch (92) went down late. My decision to go Sicdawg over Newman was as dodgy as a late game ARC review, and I waited with bated breath for Sunday’s Hawks game. Anyone rolling with Hewett (111) would be mighty happy with that and Jack Viney (142) keeps doing this ridiculous numbers and we all keep ignoring him. Plus he’s only the second most impressive Vine(y) from the weekend. Unlucky fella.
West Coast v Freo
Freak: Mackenzie Arnold (5 million)
Flop: West Coast
Alright, I’ll be honest I have no effing idea what happened in this game and neither, apparently, did the Eagles. I was too busy recovering from a mild Tillies-related heart attack. All in all it was probably a good thing as an Eagles supporter. Luke Jackson (103) is unlucky Macca Arnold played the game of her life as he would’ve gone back-to-back Freak awards. He delivered despite Bailey Williams (48) winning at the tribunal, and Brayshaw (101) and Young (102) chipped in with low tons. There was nothing good from the rest of this dog’s breakfast and I think Mary Fowler and Cortnee Vine have been asked to go down to Lathlain and provide some education on kicking sublimely with your right boot.
Hawthorn v Bulldogs
Freak: Newcombe (159)
Flop: Sicily (84)
More flop nonsense in this game. Was literally everybody recovering from the quarter final? Bont (102) came good very very late, and rounded off another mediocre captaincy score for the round. English (96) nearly tonned up by taking a kick in??? Randomly?? At the death?? If I absolutely didn’t know better, I’d say that Bevo must have him in his side, except it’s very clear Bevo has never played fantasy. Poor Libba (22) was a shocking blow as my draft captain. Oh my god, and Macrae scored 45. Will Day (96) wasn’t bad but Sicdawg was AWFUL (84). Newman was the right choice after all and also saved you a truckload of money. Duke Newcombe? 2024 M1?
St Kilda v Richmond
Freak: Romar (133)
Flop: Crouch (67)
At least there were some big ones here amongst the disappointment. Romar was on one and honestly it could have been even bigger. Sinclair (121) racked them up across half back. TT (100) raised the bat, as did NWM (103), while popular target Short (99) nearly did. Steele (91) and Crouch, on the other hand, turned in sub-par scores. This round had so many big ticket item stinkers. The list goes on an on. And at this stage of the season, you can actually think about moving one or two on. Ah, who cares. Up the Tillies!
Port v GWS
Freak: Houston (129)
Flop: Cogs (63)
So Tom Green (118) hasn’t messed about has he? This was the ‘tough’ matchup so feel free to bring him in I say. Butters (121) has come good two weeks in a row and has snatched that D6 spot while the others around him falter. Rozee (112) performed as well but it was Houston who’s rollercoaster was at its peak. Jelly (73) has proved to be the worst POD move of the late season, but it was Cogs who really under delivered this round.
Bring them in: Oliver, Laird, Green
Cop it on the chin: Stewart, Sicily, Cogs
Put them in the bin: Libba (sorry), DCam, Lachie Neale
Tillies for the win: Arnold, Vine, Fowler, Kennedy, Hunt, Catley, Carpenter, Gorry, Van Egmond, Cooney-Cross, Foord, Raso, Kerr, Yallop
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