Round 20 provides us with a top tier VC option, and 5 genuine premiums with the potential to produce monster scores as fallback Captaincy options.
I don’t think there has been an easier week than this to find my top 5 Captaincy options, but there may not have been many harder to select which order they will go in. Round 20 has provided us with a plethora of options, which also means that getting it right this week will be pivotal to rising up the rankings as there wont a single dominant Captain across a majority of teams! Let’s take a look at who makes the cut!
Vice-Captains
Friday night football provides a tough match up for VC options this week, with Carlton and Port Adelaide coming up against each other, in what should be a difficult match up for premiums of both sides. Sam Walsh did score 133 against the Power earlier in the year, but has dropped off in recent weeks, Zac Butters was restricted to 74 in the same game, and Connor Rozee missed the clash, however last year he scored 111 against the Blues. These are the only 3 names I would look at in this clash, but I would preferably be looking for alternative options.
The first game on Saturday provides us with some better options, with the cats facing off against the Roos, where one name in particular stands out to me. Harry Sheezel is coming off a 2 goal, 35 disposal game last week, where he scored 134. Earlier in the season against the Cats, (yes, in a different role), Harry went about his business to rack up 38 disposals and 15 marks on his way to 159 points. Although his role has changed since then, Sheezel has still been a Fantasy gun, scoring 13 tons from his 18 games this season, including 2 scores of 134 in the last 3 weeks. Last week against Geelong, Treloar scored 149 and Richards had 131 himself, so the Cats are still giving up points. Sheezel is locked and loaded as the best VC option this week.
If you don’t own Sheezel, Tristan Xerri should be given serious consideration. A ow score of 94 in the last 8 weeks, with 4 scores of 120+ in that same period. Scored 107 earlier in the year against the Cats, but that was against Stanley. This week it is likely big X will come up against De Koning, who’s more experienced brother was well and truly beaten by Xerri last week where he scored 124. Yet to go over the 130 mark this year, but regularly scores in the 120s and this could be the week he goes one better.
Tom Stewart is another who can be considered, although I rather the 2 names above. Averaging 121 over his last 3 games, including 2 scores of 125. Will be good, but I have more faith in the other two.
If you want to save your VC for later in the round or need a fallback option, below are my top 5 Captain selections for round 20!
Captains
- Errol Gulden
It is the same thing every week with this guy, but the frequency in which he hits massive ceiling scores just means that he has to sit at the top. 113 last week and 3 scores of 150+ in the 6 weeks prior to that. Earlier in the year against the Dogs, Gulden found his way to 119, and last year he scored 126. Tom Stewart scored 125 against the Dogs last week, and Cripps 127 the week before that. There will be points available for Errol, and I expect him to cash in.
- Josh Dunkley
After an absolute stinker last week, I expect Dunkley to bounce back in a big way for his coaches on Saturday afternoon. In the last 5 weeks, including his horror performance last week, Dunks is still averaging 116.6, due to a 140 and 158 in that period, so his form has been red hot until an anomaly last week. In round 8 against the Suns, Dunkley scored 151, and last year scored 137 and 125 against them. He loves the match up, and with the late Saturday afternoon game time, he could be used as a VC with a huge ceiling.
- Lachie Whitfield
There isn’t many things more joyful than owning Lachie Whitfield in your fantasy side when he is in full flight. Averaging 130 over his last 5 games, which includes a 160 and a 145 last week, Whit has scored 7 tons in a row since his bye, 5 of them over 120. Playing at the MCG this week, where he averages 100 over the course of his career and he scored 132 two weeks ago, we can expect the hot streak to continue for at least one more week.
- Nick Daicos
Down on form, but Daicos has the ability to bounce back and make a statement this week. Coming up against the Tigers, who although restrictive last week against the Power mids, have given up some huge numbers over the course of the year. 2 weeks ago, Whitfield and Green had 35 and 37 touches for scores of 132 and 123 respectively against Richmond, while the week before Brayshaw had 35 disposals of his own on his way to 146 points. Look for the Pies to be desperate to get back on the winners list this week, with Daicos leading from the front.
- Rowan Marshall
Averaging 124 in his last 3 and 120 in his last 5 games, Marshall is back to pumping out tons on a weekly basis, currently on a streak of 6 in a row. Scored 117 against the Bombers earlier in the year, and has scored 13 tons from 18 games, including 3 scores of 150+. Another guy who you can safely expect to produce big numbers this week.
