Ben Ashton from AFL SuperCoach 360 weighs up the best vice-captain and captain options for Round 14.
Bont vs Adelaide at Marvel
Tick. Tick. Tick. Bont at Marvel against Adelaide on a Thursday night?
Can’t see a world where I don’t VC the great man to kick off Round 14.
Dawson vs Bulldogs
Scored 150+ against the Dogs last season and comes into this one in red-hot form.
The 114 last week was slightly down on recent standards, but he’s still right in the mix as an intriguing POD VC option.
Baz vs Gold Coast
Baz against a non-tagging Suns midfield at GMHBA?
Yes please.
There’s every chance I get the VC/C combo sorted early this weekend with a Bont into Baz setup.
Holmes vs Gold Coast
No Stewart could mean even more opportunity for Holmes this week.
Can’t fault anyone looking at him as a POD VC or captain option.
Trac / Anderson / Rowell vs Geelong
Honestly, I’m steering clear of all three for VC/C purposes until they sort themselves out.
Any of them could spike a huge score, but I wouldn’t be choosing any with a great deal of confidence.
Noble vs Geelong
Noble quietly has a three-round average of 132 and has been on fire since Round 8.
Absolute POD territory, but if I was backing any Gold Coast player with the VC or C this week, it’d be Noble.
I’d trust him over any other Suns player this round.
Gawn vs Essendon
Should be a lock, however Gawn’s shoulder looked sore last weekend and Essendon have an uncanny ability to restrict opposition rucks.
Mihocek being out could also mean Heath comes in, which may not be ideal for Gawn’s scoring.
I’m preferring other options this week.
Kozzie vs Essendon
Has the ceiling to go 150+, particularly against Essendon.
Based on recent scoring though, it would take a bold POD coach to trust him with the captaincy.
Xerri vs West Coast
Super hard to gauge.
The form and TOG have been putrid, but the matchup is ridiculously good.
I know some coaches are looking at the VC here and it could absolutely pay off, but I wouldn’t be putting the straight C on him.
Sheezel vs West Coast
Ultra-consistent all season.
The concern is West Coast have shown a willingness to tag recently, and a Sheezel tag would make sense in a game the Eagles will view as winnable.
Pass from me.
Butters vs Sydney
132, 164 and 130 in his last three meetings against the Swans.
I’m not sure whether tags were involved in those games, but one thing is clear:
Butters enjoys playing Sydney. 👀
Grundy vs Port Adelaide
Questions remain around his fitness and whether a rest is approaching.
That said, he genuinely has a 200 in him this weekend.
Love it as a VC play.
Not quite confident enough for the captaincy.
Heeney vs Port Adelaide
Historically hasn’t dominated Port, however this version of Heeney is different.
He’s in Brownlow form and playing the best footy of his career.
A lock for 130+.
Neale vs Richmond
Neale should absolutely feast on Richmond.
One of the safer captain options available this round.
Callaghan vs St Kilda
The Saints have multiple players capable of tagging, and we all know Callaghan can struggle when attention comes his way.
Hopefully the Round 12 form continues, but if St Kilda deploy a tag, I’m out.
Oliver vs St Kilda
A three-round average of 112 isn’t spectacular, but it’s certainly serviceable.
The concern is obvious: if St Kilda decide to tag Clarry, your captaincy pick could be over before it starts.
NAS vs GWS
Back with a soft tonne last week and has a huge ceiling.
I like him as a play, but not enough to hand him the captaincy.
Max Hall vs GWS
Quietly putting together an ultra-consistent season.
His 127 against Sydney last week was another reminder of what he can do.
Can he back it up against the Giants?
Sinclair vs GWS
One of the most reliable scorers in the game this season.
If you’re looking for a safe 115-125 in the final game of the round, Sinclair is absolutely trustworthy.
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Final Verdict
There are genuinely a stack of viable captaincy options this weekend.
Barring any late injury news, Bontempelli will be my VC against Adelaide and Heeney will wear the C against Port Adelaide.
I’d love to squeeze Butters, Xerri, Baz and Gawn into the equation as well…
Unfortunately, you only get two choices.
VC: Bontempelli
C: Heeney
Who are you backing in for Round 14?
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