Juicy match ups are everywhere for some big names this week, including a couple of premiums who are looking to bounce back into form.
Round 17 will present coaches with a plethora of options to be in Captaincy considerations, so much so that the hardest decision for me this week isn’t who makes the top 5, but more so who misses out… Let’s take a look at this rounds top options!
Vice-Captains
The two obvious ones running around on Friday night for most coaches will be Nick Daicos and Zach Merrett. Daicos is fresh off a score of 115 against Gold Coast last week after his mid season bye, scored 98 against the Bombers earlier in the year, and the time before that resulted in a lazy 140 in their match up last year. Nick always has to be considered, but I have Merrett on top this week. 123 against the Pies earlier in the year and 146 against them in round 24 last year. He loves playing Collingwood, and he has only dropped below 100 on 3 occasions this year.
The other option I would give thought in this game is Jye Caldwell. Since his bye, he has scored 126 and 144, playing big midfield minutes. He did only score 71 against the Pies earlier in the year, and it is a bit left field, but if you do want to use your VC early in the week and want something that is a bit different and could give you a leg up, what better way than to VC the guy averaging 135 in his last couple of games?
Early on Saturday, North Melbourne and Gold Coast come up against each other, and I have some interest in Tristan Xerri as another left field VC option this week. Witts has already been confirmed out for this clash, and Xerri has scored 120+ on 6 occasions already this year, including against Rowan Marshall and Tim English (last week). He might not quite have the 140+ ceiling that the three guys mentioned above him have, but he certainly could be 120+ again, just like he has been in 3 out of his last 5 games for an average of 117 over that time. Don’t underestimate him.
If you want to save your VC for someone else later in the week or you go with one of the guys named above and don;t get the results you are hoping for, there are plenty of quality fallback options this week. Let’s take a look at the top 5!
Captains
- Dayne Zorko
Just keeps getting it done. He is at the Gabba again this week, where he scored 118 last week and 184 and 148 earlier in the year too. He is playing the Crows, who just happened to let Lachie Whitfield have 41 disposals and 12 marks against them last week on his way to 160. If they let Zorko do the same sort of thing this week, it could be a monster, and it would be in the last game of the round to bring your ranking in to finish the weekend.
- Errol Gulden
The Piglet proved that he was human again last week with a disappointing score of 82, but his 5 scores prior were all above 116, including 2 over 150. He did only manage 83 against the Saints last year, but we all know that St Kilda is as friendly a match up as you can find. You would assume Windhager should go to Heeney or Warner, allowing Errol to keep doing what he does best, and that is pump out Fantasy points for his coaches.
- Max Gawn
Back to the MCG this week where he does his best work. Disappointing for owners last week, I do not see how Gawn doesn’t bounce back here. Playing against West Coast, who allowed Lloyd Meek to score 112 against them last week, and even Draper had 94 the week prior. As mentioned, it is at the MCG where Gawn has scored 148, 152 and 149 (among other monster scores) already this year. He will bounce back.
- Luke Ryan
He has been incredibly disappointing since his bye, especially for coaches who may have traded into him at that stage. This week, he will make amends. He plays the Tigers, who he pumped out 161 against earlier in the year, and let Nic Newman score 143 against them last week. I talked up Errols match up with St Kilda, but Richmond is even better.
- Caleb Serong
Another guy who has been down on form but monstered the Tigers earlier in the year. He scored 141 that day, and last week Walsh (132) and Cripps (129) both helped themselves to whatever they wanted to do against the Richmond midfield last week, and Serong should do the same again this week. His form has been so, so disappointing of late, but it will turn around this week.
