I've never finished in the top 10. Or top 100. Or top 1,000. In fact, I've never even been in the top 1,000 full stop. So if you want to leave a comment at the end of this article asking "What the f**k would you know," feel free. For the more open-minded, just enjoy Best Off Ground's look into the world of AFL Dream Team in 2010.
Following on from part one yesterday, here's the second and final edition of this year's must-have DT acquisitions. Enjoy!
Luke Ball (MID, Pies, $366,500)
I stumbled across a little-known fact about Ball the other day. It shocked me enough to bring him straight in my team (well, that and his ridiculously-big NAB Cup scores, of course). His troubles in getting game time last year have been well documented. The assumption among DT-ers is that with more game time at the Pies, his average (83 last year) will go up. The problem with that is, in the past his highest average for a season has been 94, which mightn't be quite what you're after given an 11-point increase, whilst good, isn't the best you can aim for.
But here's the thing. According to last year's Prospectus, Ball only got 72 per cent game time in 2008, where he averaged 92. So it turns out that his game time issues at St Kilda were existent before last year. Which means that those thinking that his ceiling (the highest possible average he can reach) is only 94, might have to think again. With bigger (hopefully more than 72 per cent) minutes at the Pies, who knows how far he can go?
Oh, and as for those ridiculously-big NAB Cup scores? 105, 91, 103. Not bad, huh?
David Armitage (MID, Saints, $321,100)
Two things are keeping Armitage in a lot of teams. The first is how massive his DT scores were when he was given a chance to play last year (he averaged 91 from three games). The second is the fact he's likely to benefit from the sagas involving Luke Ball and Andrew Lovett.
There are two other things that should also be factored in, that some people are overlooking. The first is that playing three games gave him a healthy price reduction. He has the same price as those who averaged 73 last year, which is 18 points less than his true average.
The second is his NAB Cup form. Whilst he was inconsistent, in two of his games he posted scores of 99 and 104. It's obvious that he's capable of notching up big scores.
Michael Barlow (MID, Freo, $105,800)
Last year Freo gifted us some pretty freakin' handy rookie-priced talent. Most serious teams had at least one or two of Stephen Hill, Nick Suban, The Man Without A Neck (Hayden Ballantyne) and of course, Greg Broughton. It might be a bit harder for the young-uns to earn a spot this year, but that doesn't mean some won't get one anyway. The standout, DT-wise at least, is Barlow.
He is a mature-age recruit, just like Broughton, which is perfect for us DT-ers. Plucked from Werribee in the VFL, he's gone straight into his new club's line-up and has been tearing it up in the NAB Cup, with scores of 94, 96, 77 and 109 to his name.
Anthony Morabito is another option, he should get a few games, but Barlow's sheer point-scoring ability wins this contest hands down.
Tom Rockliff (FWD, Lions, $101,100)
There aren't too many rookie-priced forwards (or defenders or rucks, for that matter) screaming for our attention with massive NAB Cup scores. But Rockliff bucks the trend completely. He put up 87 and 89 in the first two weeks of the pre-season tournament. Not too shabby.
Perhaps the best part is he's not even a first-year player. He got just 67 minutes of game time against Collingwood last year (the only match of his career) leaving him to scrap together a score of 23. That score of 23 converted into a very healthy price tag this year.
Judging by his AFLQ and TAC Cup performances, he's a bit of goal kicker, which means he may just slot in nicely alongside the taller targets of Jonathon Brown and Brendan Fevola. Given the lack of players in his price range that aren't midfielders, he simply has to be a lock.
Paul Duffield (DEF, Freo, $392,700)
Yes, yes, I know. Another Freo player. I should really hold back. But the thing with Duffield is, not many people seem to think he can back up his breakout year in 2009. Over at FanFooty, he made the list of "underhyped players" - players that aren't making it into many teams. A quick Control+F on a couple of the "rate my team" pages confirms his unpopularity.
So by picking up the Docker, you'd be getting a player not too many other teams have. He's a unique pick, if you will. I'll admit Corey Enright, Luke Hodge and Heath Shaw are mighty tempting. I've got them all at this stage. But it's not as though Duffield is going to plummet in price or average. His NAB Cup scores included a 93 and a 111.
It does seem like he'll be backing up that ripper form from last year. The only question is: are you a follower or a leader?
0 comments:
Post a Comment