The mid season byes are finally upon us and if you want all my thoughts on strategy and targets, check it out in the Round 11 Trade Talk.
This week we will focus on the best targets for now and how you can keep improving your side while using those 3 trades to keep you competitive during the byes.
Premium Possibilities
Although they have the bye next week, loading up on Port and Fremantle players may not be the worst idea as they will play all the rounds where you have the most players on the bye. With this in mind, if you haven’t got them already, have a look at Zak Butters, Luke Ryan, Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Hayden Young, and even Jordan Clark. If you had all six, obviously they would miss together, but imagine the ground you could make up in the other 3 rounds!
Other premiums will likely depend on your bye structure. So if you are light on Round 14 players consider:
Def: Max Holmes (mid), Nic Martin (mid), Nic Newman or Liam Duggan
Mid: Sam Walsh, Zach Merrett
Ruck: Max Gawn
Fwd: Sam Flanders (mid)
Or if it is Round 15 you have space:
Def: Nick Daicos (mid), NWM, Jack Sinclair (mid), Bailey Dale, Karl Amon (mid)
Mid: Jordan Dawson, Jack Steele, Adam Treloar
Ruck: Rowan Marshall, Tim English
Fwd: AVOID
Mid-price Maybes
For the risk takers out there, this could be a time where you split your cash and look to get two upgrades in a week. It could also be the lack of forward premiums driving you, or a potentially full line. Whatever it is, these are the guys that could give you the jump you need over the byes.
Jordan Ridley ($760k, Def, BE 57, Rd 14 bye) – Ridley returned for his first game this year with a bang! 132 in an Essendon backline that just loves sharing the ball around. Ridley offers excellent value.
Jack Crisp ($787k, Mid/Def, BE 53, Rd 15 bye) – Crisp has been on a heater and with all the injuries at Collingwood, his role looks secure.
Will Day ($738k, Mid, BE 68, Rd 15 bye) – It took Day a couple of weeks to warm up be he looks to be back to his best. Severely underpriced for what he can produce.
Clayton Oliver ($752k, Mid, BE 80, Rd 14 bye) – Hard to believe that Oliver is still on this list after the last 5 years, but here he is. Hasn’t done a lot wrong over the past month, we are just waiting to see that ceiling game…
Christian Salem ($639k, Def/Mid, BE 47, Rd 14 bye) – A big 133 on the weekend to go with a 93 last week, Salem looks an absolute steal.
Alex Sexton ($622k, Fwd/Def, BE 34, Rd 14 bye) – Sexy is back! It may not be a long ride, but it sure will be fun (again…).
Rookie Rockstars
With the news coming in that Joe Richards is out for a month, the “premium” rookie options look a little thin. Be sure to check teams this week for any debuts, but of those we have seen, consider the following:
- Kane McAuliffe ($292k, Mid, BE -5, Rd 15 bye)
- Harvey Harrison ($289k, Fwd, BE 7, Rd 15 bye)
- Joel Freijah ($315k, Mid/Fwd, BE -3, Rd 15 bye)
- Charlie Dean ($264k, Def, BE 11, Rd 15 bye)
- Nate Caddy ($282k, Fwd, BE 24, Rd 14 bye)
That’s a wrap for Round 12. Remember if you want my detailed thoughts on the byes, check out the Round 11 article and be sure to get your mates onboard the Honeyball train!
