Ben Ashton from AFL SuperCoach 360 weighs up the best vice-captain and captain options for Round 21.
Bazlenka vs Collingwood
There is the possibility of a Collingwood tag, which slightly tempers my confidence. That said, Baz scored 130 against the Magpies earlier this season, so we know he can produce in this matchup.
Baz has one of the highest ceilings in the game, so another huge score is certainly possible, but I won’t be chasing him with the VC this week.
Daicos vs Geelong
Normally one of the first names you consider for captaincy, but not this week.
I fully expect Mullin to go to Daicos, and that’s enough for me to steer clear. Nick managed just 67 against Geelong earlier this season, and with the prospect of another Mullin tag, I’d rather avoid the risk.
There are simply better alternatives this round, although some have hinted at Darcy Cameron.
Jackson vs Bulldogs
Luke Jackson was one of the better captaincy options earlier this season, but his last four scores have all been under 100, which is unusual.
The matchup is still appealing, but I’m not as confident as I have been in previous weeks. There are stronger VC and C options available.
Bontempelli vs Fremantle
The matchup, the role and the form all point towards another masterclass performance.
When the Bulldogs need a big game which they certainly do this weekend — Bontempelli is the player who stands up.
I expect he’ll feature heavily in plenty of VC and C calculations this round.
NAS vs Sydney
The talent is undeniable and the role is absolutely filthy, but this is a difficult captaincy matchup.
He should still tonne with ease but with the possibility of a James Jordon tag and a swans domination, I’m happy to look elsewhere this week.
Grundy vs St Kilda
Grundy looked much better last week and this shapes as another favourable matchup — this could be another ceiling game for Brodie.
A genuine VC option.
Heeney vs St Kilda
Heeney hasn’t quite been at his usual standards recently, but the upside is still enormous.
This feels like the type of game where he could remind everyone just how damaging he can be.
Could make for a perfect sneaky POD VC option.
Sheezel vs Hawthorn
Sheezel is absolutely flying. The consistency, role and ceiling have all been elite, making him one of the safest premium options in the competition.
Even though there up against a high flying Hawks, I’d be more than comfortable giving him the VC or C this week.
JHF vs GWS
A really interesting POD option. With a full-time midfield role, Jason Horne-Francis has the ability to dominate around the contest and produce a monster score.
If you’re looking to make up ground, he’s well worth considering as a VC.
Ashcroft / Neale vs Carlton
Brisbane are absolutely humming and Carlton’s midfield will have its hands full.
Both Will Ashcroft and Lachie Neale have massive ceilings, but I give Ashcroft the edge based on his recent form and upside.
Richmond vs West Coast
Normally we love targeting players against Richmond and West Coast for our VC and captaincy options.
Unfortunately, they’re playing each other this week, which takes those premium matchups off the table.
Pass.
Gawn vs Gold Coast
Max Gawn is always in the captaincy conversation.
The matchup is outstanding after posting 175 against the Suns in their last meeting, and if he gets on top in the ruck, another massive score is well within reach.
A premium captain option.
Dawson vs Essendon
Jordan Dawson has been one of the elite SuperCoach scorers this season, and this matchup is very appealing.
Essendon continue to leak points through the midfield, and Dawson has the ability to impact every area of the ground.
A very strong captain option, and the one I’ll be backing personally if my VC falls short.
Final Verdict
This is one of the more interesting captaincy rounds we’ve had in a while.
Normally, we love targeting players against Richmond or West Coast, but with those two sides facing each other this week, those obvious captaincy matchups simply aren’t available.
The other factor is Max Gawn. While I love the Gold Coast matchup, his game starts only a couple of hours before Dawson’s, making it difficult to use him as a true VC before deciding on your captain.
My current plan is:
VC: Sheezel / Bontempelli
C: Dawson
Best of luck this round, legends.
Don’t forget to check your loophole options!
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