LUKE Hodge put the frighteners through Chad Wingard last Friday night, and the MRP has been quick to put the frighteners through NAB AFL Fantasy coaches by rubbing the Hawks skipper out for a fortnight.
With Fantasy preliminary finals coming up this week, the top coaches in the game will be swapping Hodge out immediately, given that he won't be available for Fantasy Grand Finals in round 23 either.
David Mundy (DEF/MID, $559,000) has the next best average of all defenders, but it's still nearly six points less than Hodge. Mundy looks set to score heavily this Sunday against the hapless Demons, but the risk with picking him is that Ross Lyon could rest the veteran in round 23 when the Dockers head to Port Adelaide.
A smarter pick might be Bulldog Matthew Boyd (MID/DEF, $532,000), who is set to resume this week after being rested for the trip to Perth, where his teammates were towelled by the Eagles. Boyd consistently scores well at Etihad Stadium where he faces North Melbourne this Saturday, before a trip north where the well-cooked Lions await.
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Jarrad McVeigh (DEF/MID, $506,000) also looks the goods – he impressed with 112 against the Giants last Saturday and is again projected to top the century mark this weekend.
McVeigh's price is tasty, but not quite as tasty as Corey Enright's. The champion Cat (DEF, $478,000) is again silencing the doubters with an impressive season, and Geelong has plenty to play for in its final two games against Collingwood and Adelaide.
Heath Shaw (DEF, $556,000) is the other premium defensive option at your disposal. The former Magpie looks a likely All Australian this year and the Giants have the softest final two games in the league – they finish with Carlton and Melbourne.
Tom Mitchell's eye injury is another hurdle for Fantasy coaches to jump through this week. The hard-working Swan was in more than a quarter of all squads over the weekend, benched by those keen to hang onto his scoring potential for the final rounds.
Mitchell (FWD/MID, $496,000) declared himself fit and ready on Tuesday evening, but it would still be wise to wait until late Friday before he can be safely selected for Fantasy.
If Mitchell doesn't get up, Port Adelaide pair Robbie Gray (FWD/MID, $486,000) or Chad Wingard (FWD/MID, $495,000) look ideal for a straight swap. The Power face the depleted Suns next week before their final game against the Dockers who will have already secured a top-two spot.
Ken Hinkley's men finally brought their best to the table last Friday against the Hawks, and can be expected to finish the season with a flourish.
For Fantasy coaches facing cut-throat preliminary finals this weekend, it's all about the one-week wonders. Slow and steady won't win the race from here, so be brave with your trades and back Port's stars to deliver you a Grand Final berth.
Get 'em in
Nic Naitanui (RUC, $494,000)
Liam Picken (DEF/MID, $581,000)
Tyrone Vickery (FWD, $362,000)
Harley Bennell (FWD/MID, $519,000)
Jack Ziebell (FWD/MID, $500,000)
Farewell for now
Matthew Pavlich (FWD, $354,000)
Heritier Lumumba (DEF/MID, $238,000)
Marc Murphy (MID, $541,000)
Josh Caddy (MID, $527,000)
Will Hoskin-Elliott (FWD, $296,000)
