Round 21 SuperCoach Captains
St. Kilda vs. Collingwood @ Etihad Stadium
Nick Dal Santo: (Average: 123.61, Last 5: 152.2, vs. Collingwood: 121.1 , @ Etihad: 116.1)
Dal Santo’s recent form is amazing, as evidenced by his last 5 average, he isn’t likely to get a close checking tag by a Collingwood player as Malthouse backs in midfielders in to beat their direct opponents. If Dal Santo gets enough of the ball, he’s going to be as damaging as always.
Scott Pendlebury: (Average: 130.22, Last 5: 144.2, vs. St. Kilda: 97.4, @ Etihad: 108.6)
May get free reign again as Clint Jones may again go to Dale Thomas, Pendlebury just gets things done, he isn’t all that flashy, but he very rarely makes a mistake, he gets a lot of contested possessions and shoots out handballs to the runners at Collingwood and 9 times out of 10, that ends up in a goal.
Dane Swan: (Average: 121.06, Last 5: 133.2, vs. St. Kilda: 109.9, @ Etihad: 107.6)
Another who isn’t likely to get tagged. Swan has dominated since returning from Arizona, he has a leg up on the rest of the competition and will continue to be streets ahead of most fitness wise as everyone else tires towards the end of the season, while Dane Swan keeps on keeping on.
Hawthorn vs. Port Adelaide @ the MCG
Sam Mitchell: (Average: 113.53, Last 5: 121.4, vs. Port Adelaide: 83.5, @ MCG: 111.6)
Mr. Consistent will dominate against the hapless Port, if Matt Thomas is included, he may tag Mitchell, but he didn’t play last week and may not play again this week, even if he does, he’s not likely to be able to shut down Mitchell, who should do what he does best, accumulate possessions and make mince meat out of the opposition. Look for another 120+ score here.
Lance Franklin: (Average: 107.62, Last 5: 98.7, vs. Port Adelaide: 76.7, @ MCG: 95.8)
Ah, where do I start with Buddy? Most people have him, he’s as likely to kick 8 and have 25 possessions as he is likely to kick 4 from 8 possessions, his scores vary, he’s capable of monsters, but also very capable of a low 60-80, which just isn’t good enough from a premium forward. If Jackson Trengove gets the job on Buddy, he could be in for a big one.
Fremantle vs. Carlton @ Patersons Stadium
Chris Judd: (Average: 119.32, Last 5: 135.2, vs. Fremantle: 127.2, @ Patersons: 131.16)
3 votes, C. Judd. Coming off another 3 vote performance against Melbourne last weekend, Judd returns to his old stomping ground, to face his old mortal enemy. McPhee is suspended, so he cant tag Judd, which leaves someone like a Mzungu to possibly run with him, Judd should dominate this game, as he normally does, look for another 150+.
Marc Murphy: (Average: 118.53, Last 5: 119, vs. Fremantle: 95, @ Patersons: 92)
If Mzungu doesn’t run with Judd, he’ll run with Murphy – which will free up Judd even more-so, even if someone does run with them, he’ll lead them to the ball and accumulate possessions, he can hurt Fremantle going forward with a few goals. I would expect another destructive performance from Murphy, expecting 130+.
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon @ Etihad Stadium
N/A
Brisbane Lions vs. Gold Coast @ the GABBA
Gary Ablett: (Average: 123, Last 5: 119, vs. Brisbane: 107.1, @ GABBA: 73.4)
Struggling with a hamstring injury and could very well be a late withdrawal. Brisbane might possibly send Raines to Ablett, Ablett is used to getting bumped, pushed and worked over in every game he plays, so getting the same treatment from Raines won’t faze him. Ablett should have a decent game, but I’m not expecting him to have a huge game because of his hamstring injury.
Melbourne vs. West Coast @ Etihad Stadium
Matt Priddis: (Average: 114.78, Last 5: 114, vs. Melbourne: 109.6, @ Etihad: 115.9)
Expect Priddis to get a lot of the ball, as he does all the time. He’ll lead West Coast’s midfield again, he gets lots of contested possession but has improved his disposal and his goal kicking this season. He is in career best form at the moment and I don’t expect this game to be any different from his last 5.
Dean Cox: (Average: 126.33, Last 5: 135.6, vs. Melbourne: 106.7, @ Etihad: 102)
Coming in carrying an injury, probably won’t have a big impact like he has in previous matches. Rucking against Melbourne should be fun if Jamar isn’t back in – Max Gawn and Stefan Martin aren’t really ruckmen, but if Cox plays forward, he could kick a few goals. I would expect his score to be around 100, but nothing massive.
Richmond vs. Sydney @ the MCG
Adam Goodes: (Average: 105.44, Last 5: 125.2, vs. Richmond: 108.3, @ MCG: 125.6)
Hooded! What a star, he should play well against Richmond, Alex Rance is likely to get the job on him, but Goodes will still score well. He gets a lot of the ball, he uses it well and can kick goals (except when running into an open goal 15m out). If Rance gets the job, he won’t be able to follow Goodes into the midfield, so Goodes could cause damage.
Adelaide vs. Geelong @ AAMI Stadium
Scott Thompson: (Average: 108.06, Last 5: 101.4, vs. Geelong: 90.3, @ AAMI: 100.6)
Not sure on the possibility of Thompson getting a big score here, he always plays well, but Adelaide won’t see a lot of the ball. If he gets his hands on the ball first, he’ll get the clearances and with Dangerfield and Sloane now helping him out in the midfield, the Adelaide midfield looks a lot stronger. Thompson’s average shows he is consistent, but I’m just unsure on his scoring potential for this game.
Jimmy Bartel: (Average: 101.5, Last 5: 110.8, vs. Adelaide: 107.9, @ AAMI: 93.6)
Just going through the motions at the moment, he tends to play well in the big games, but hasn’t been scoring massively like his team-mates over the past two weeks. I expect him to score ~110 again but probably won’t be much bigger than that.
Joel Selwood: (Average: 113.07, Last 5: 115.2, vs. Adelaide: 128.6, @ AAMI: 109.4)
Selwood is in much better form now, his last two scores were big and he’ll probably get another big score here. I would imagine that no-one will tag him as such, but someone may run with him, he still should get a truck load of the ball. I’m expecting a 140+.
Steve Johnson: (Average: 110.35, Last 5: 123.6, vs. Adelaide: 76, @ AAMI: 81.8)
Stevie J is in fine form, kicking bags of goals, getting plenty of the ball and setting up goals. Adelaide don’t really have a suitable match up for Johnson. Johncock isn’t really a strong defensive player, he’s more suited to attacking off the half back flank, I expect that Johnson will once again control the forward line, he’ll be too quick if Rutten plays on him and Talia just won’t be good enough. Michael Doughty is the most likely option to play on him, who wont be able to match him for pace, but he might get his possessions up the ground. He’s a chance for 140+.
TING’S TOP 6
#1 – Chris Judd
#2 – Nick Dal Santo
#3 – Joel Selwood
#4 – Dane Swan
#5 – Steve Johnson
#6 – Scott Pendlebury
Smokey: Adam Goodes
