Buy, Hold, Sell — Round 12
The first bye round has come and gone and while most got through the first one with at least 18 players to pick from, it gets significantly harder over the next fortnight.
West Coast and Richmond are now playing in Round 13, which means there’s just 4 teams having a bye this week and then 8 teams in Round 14. SuperCoach have given everyone a further two trades to try and cover the carnage, but for many it won’t be enough and we’ll be scratching together less than full teams in that third bye week.
Nonetheless, we still have to try and get as many warm bodies on the field as possible over the next fortnight. Let’s take a look at the guys who can help you do it.
Buy
Callum Coleman-Jones
One of two must-have rookies this week on the back of two very strong performances which sees him averaging 99. He’s benefitting from having Riewoldt and Chol to play alongside as teams aren’t necessarily giving him the best key defender. If you don’t jump on this week you’ll miss a stack of cash he’s going to make prior to the bye.
Trent Bianco
This kid had big wraps on him coming into 2021 and he’s shown in his first two games why that was the case. Has looked assured and composed with ball in hand, particularly last week where he kicked a crucial goal and set up another one for De Goey to help orchestrate Collingwood’s win over Adelaide. Again, jump on before his price skyrockets.
Travis Boak
I’m surprised the early chatter in the week wasn’t more about this guy. Paying just $533K for a midfielder averaging 109 is crazy good value. No doubt he would have benefitted from the week off and hopefully he can lead Port Adelaide’s midfield for the rest of the season. The value buy this week.
Josh Kelly
Another midfielder who is through his bye week and looks like a very good option as an upgrade. If you snaffled him up for just over $500K earlier in the season, you’ve done very well. Let’s not forget he’s had just one sub-90 score to this point of the season!
Lachie Whitfield
Looks as though he was building some strong form in the games just prior to GWS having its week off. A 3-round average of 103.3 suggest he’s hitting his straps and is over that nasty liver injury he had just prior to the season starting. If you need a final upgrade in defence, he’s the one.
Ned Reeves
The very tall rookie looks like he has been anointed as Hawthorn’s next long-term ruckman and hasn’t looked out of place at AFL level. An average of 86 from his two games suggests that he’s made a good transition from VFL level to AFL. Jump on and use him as a Grundy fill in this week.
Some other options that I want to discuss quickly:
Aaron Hall — Role is very SC friendly and with a breakeven in the 70s might be as cheap as he is for a while. Solid FWD option.
Tom Hawkins — Fairly consistent with his scores and in a year where forwards are sparse he looks a safe option.
Touk Miller — Way too expensive for mine on the back of 2 x 130+ scores. With Rowell returning this week I would wait until he’s cheaper.
Cam Guthrie — Dangerfield likely to return and that shoulder injury in the game prior to the buy have him as a wait and see proposition. Likely to get cheaper before he gets more expensive.
James Harmes — Cheap-ish defensive option who is currently averaging 93.7. Worth having a look at if you’re strapped for cash and need a D6.
Kyle Langford — Wait for next week, but again looks a good cheap-ish option with McGrath out for an extended period.
Hold
Jordan Ridley
Hasn’t had that SC friendly role since his concussion and his scoring has taken a bit of a hit as a result. Hopefully Essendon find a way to get the ball in his hands more over the coming weeks once they return from the bye.
Dayne Zorko
This is a conditional hold — if you have a healthy number of trades and need to move him on to get closer to 18 players for Round 14, then I would consider that. However players with 5-round averages of 129 don’t grow on trees, so I’ll be holding him even though he’s going to miss this week (bye) and next week (suspension).
Tom Highmore
Likely to come back into the Saints’ 22 this week with Jarryn Geary dislocating his shoulder against Sydney and Membrey and Ross both unlikely to play. Can Brett Ratten just give this guy a run at it?!
Cody Weightman
Has been lively for the Bulldogs and even though he’s having his bye this week, we need to hold him for next week.
Alec Waterman
Same reasoning as Weightman, many will need him for next week. Job security has also got a boost in recent weeks so should continue to make money. Just needs one 70+ score for a real kick along.
Sell
Matt Flynn
With Reeves on the bubble it’s time to cut and run on Flynn. Has been a great cash maker and should be able to fund one or even two upgrades elsewhere with the cash he’s made.
Nathan Murphy + Beau McCreery
These two don’t have their bye until next week, but their scores haven’t been high enough to date to generate any meaningful cash and with that Round 14 bye they are players you can trade out this week if needed and bring in a premium or two.
Riley Collier-Dawkins
I would hold unless bringing in a premium in his place. He got shuffled out of CBAs last week against ESS which is a worry although Prestia may miss next week which could see him hold his place until the bye.
Nik Cox
Played a good game against RICH and finally got a Rising Star nod, but has a bye this week and his inconsistency means he could miss his BE next week if you hold him.
