THE BIG boys recognised the stakes in the semi-finals this week with an impressive nine players stepping up to top the 130 mark. It’s a funny time of year for coaches with completed teams who face a whole new monster each week known as 'luxury trades' where straight swapping premiums isn’t always going as planned. Onward and upward however as we move on to the preliminary finals.

THE RUN HOME How high can these Dogs go?

Fantasy Pig

Jarryd Lyons: The unwanted Sun rubbed some serious salt in his previous team's wound with a massive game as he led the Lions' walk in the park. He had 34 possessions, eight marks, seven tackles and two goals to top the round leaderboard with 158. He was certainly a great unique selection at the start of the round with less than two per cent ownership and he remains one to watch for the last two weeks of finals.

Matt Crouch: After recording one triple-figure score in five weeks, many coaches including myself pulled the pin on Crouch following his 89 against the Blues in round 19. Well, here is a lesson why we shouldn’t trade elite premiums. The past two weeks he has turned his season around with 126 and 151. He was everywhere against the Eagles, collecting 43 possessions and taking eight marks and should be on the trade radar this week.

Honourable mention: Toby Greene: My No.1 trade target for the last month is still only at 11 per cent ownership and he certainly rewarded every one of his coaches after another masterclass despite the Giants' struggles. Greene scored over 140 for the second week in a row after piling on 25 kicks among his 38 possessions, eight marks and five tackles for 142. It’s easy being a Greene owner.

NINE THINGS WE LEARNED Is there method to Port's madness?

Rage Trades

Travis Boak: This year's forward line star copped a tag from George Hewett and his owners copped a score of 59 as a result, not ideal in knockout finals. He managed just 13 possessions and despite trying to save his score with some snags, was unfortunately inaccurate recording four behinds.

Honourable mention: Rowan Marshall: The big Saint has been outstanding with just one score under triple figures in the last nine weeks but unfortunately he copped a knee injury against the Dockers. In what could have been a disaster for coaches in knockout finals, the fan favourite had a heart-stopping knee injury in the first quarter while he was on just six, but he fought on to salvage 78. I wrote about him more as a 'watch this space' as it appeared a nasty hyperextension and he may be in some doubt next week.

Piglet

Peter Ladhams had an outstanding game against the Swans who are providing plenty of points to opposition rucks. Regardless of that, you have to be good enough to get the job done and he certainly did that with 100 points coming from 23 possessions and 19 hitouts.

AROUND THE STATE LEAGUES Dumped Sun shines, Power ruck's day out

Trade Targets
  • Toby Greene
  • Jarryd Lyons
  • Kade Simpson
  • Matt Crouch
  • James Worpel
Fantasy Mailbag

You are welcome … yet another nail in my season’s coffin

Has to be

I would be comfortable with that move

There are a number of safer premiums consistently hitting big scores.

A valid question but I couldn’t trade him after a score like that. It certainly has merit though

Stewart

It has to be considered

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