Some of us have been seduced by the powerful scores that 211 regularly conjures up, me included, but now with him going down, we need to look at some options for that all important R1 position. Thanks to the awesome folk at TOO SERIOUS, reliable facts are available.
Dean Cox: $512,400 Averaged 99 in 2012, 108 in 2011, 85 in 2010, 107 in both 2009 & 2008 and 101 in 2006.
One of my favourite Dream Team players, Massive saw his average drop nine points last year as Nic Nat’s influence increased. Nic Nat is recovering from injury meaning that Massive will have an opportunity for high scoring. He is also a ruck/fwd dpp so is a definite potential choice. Maybe a better selection in the forward line in conjunction with Sam Rowe @ R4? This certainly will help if Louie isn’t ready for R1, and lets face it, how many teams have you seen that DON’T have Louie @ R2??
Ivan Maric: $505, 400 Had a breakout 99 avg year @ Richmond last year after a few years of struggle @ the Adelaide Crows where he was never the #1 ruckman. Question is, can he replicate his excellent first year @ tigerland? If he can, he is a ‘must pick’.
Jarryd Roughead: $472, 200 Born again as a ruckman/forward over the last two years averaging 91 in 2012 and 86 in 2011 when the change was made out of necessity by Clarko. This pulled his numbers away from the mid 70’s irrelevancy that he was heading towards after two years of 70 in 2010 & 73 in 2009. Back then, many of us were badly burnt for backing him after his 81 average in the Hawks last premiership year.
If he is a ruck/forward then he will probably average 90+, but, if Hawthorn can keep Bailey on the park and Hale plays, then Roughy’s role will probably go back to the second key position player in the forward fifty. Throw in the the Buddy situation and you have a bloke who might find himself shackled to the forward in case Franklin walks to Freo, GWS, or West Coast to be with great mate and ex-housemate, Sharrod Wellingham at the end of the year. One to watch before committing to I think.
Paddy Ryder: Only played 15 games last year but upped his average to 90, which like McEvoy puts him on the verge of premium status. Unlike Big Bad Macca Voy, however, Ryder has Bellchambers and Hille to compete with meaning that he could become that swingman that will bring yo-yo type scoring. And, whilst I prefer more reliability from my premiums, this is the ruck we are talking about and injuries here seems almost obligatory. Threw up 80, 86 & 84 in 2011, 10 & 09, his breakout year. Is only 25 so should be approaching his peak period and is a freakishly talented athlete in the Nic Nat mould. Probably likely to get his 85-95, but not certain if he’ll go higher. One to watch before committing to I think.
Ben McEvoy: 457, 900 Broke out in 2011 with an 90 average and backed it up last season with 89. No obvious competition and if fit, his average could rise 5-10 ppg which not only makes him a cheaper premium, but gives you about 50 extra k to play with. Could be a great early season money making pick that may end up a keeper. Probably a less riskier bet than the injured Nic Nat, Kreuzer, Giles, Mummy, Goldy & HMac for only about 25k more.
Cheaper Options: Nic Nat is ready to fly like Mike but is injured. Jacobs has scored 87/88 in his 2 years as Adelaide ruckman. Is a good option if you think he hasn’t reached his ceiling and Jenkins isn’t going to take points away from him. Kruezer, the former #1 pick that has never played like one is now well over his injury and will be fired up by MM, but has competition in Warnock & Hampson. Better to watch and get on he does explode. Mummy is a great pick if he can stay on the park and probably undervalued, but will he last the 6 week stretch needed to raise his value back into the premium category and will horse keep in cotton wool? This why we stopped taking Darren Jolly seriously as a R1 after all. Giles was a great cash cow last year averaging 85 and is only 25. Despite all that I am unsure about his ability to put on the extra 10-15 needed. I tend to think that he’ll end up averaging 85-95 and could be a great R2. Again. HMac was my sneaky piece of genius in SC until he went down and I went to Mummy. Still pretty annoyed about his injury as his selection made everything fit nicely. Goldstein may end up as my pick dropping from 99 in 2011 as #1 ruckman after dropping to 79 last year as HMac returned from injury. @ 407k, you get 100k to play with and North is a rising team. Don’t think that Hale or Bellchambers will get enough exposure to run at R1 although Hird did flag an increased role for Bellchambers back in January.
That said, I’ve got Massive @ F2 and Maric at R1, but I really, REALLY am warming to Goldstein.
What do you think? Let me know if you agree, or think that I’ve missed someone important in the comment thread below.
DREAM TEAM CHAT 