Withthe great Gary Ablett injured on the sidelines and Tom Rockliffsuspended, selecting an AFL Fantasy captain isn't as clean cut as it hasbeen in recent weeks.
However, you are in good hands, my friendsas I have had sleepless nights crunching the numbers and have all thebest players analysed heading into round 17 in an effort to steer you inthe right direction for this week.
In the pirate, we trust, and this week is my time to shine.
STEVIE IS BACK
I've been saying it for many weeks and finally I got it right. Steve Johnson [MID, $511,812] is back.
Hescored 131 points last week and meets the Demons on the MCG on Saturdayafternoon, a ground on which he has scored 126 and 139 points in hispast two games.
Johnson thumps Melbourne. He scored 156 pointsagainst them last year and even scored 163 and 171 points against themprior to that.
Johnson is a captain who could produce yousomething special, something around those figures like he has in thepast. But it does come with a risk. He has only scored over 100 pointsin two of his last six games. However, Stevie is back and should scoremassively again this week.
Jimmy Bartel [MID, $522,126] has onlymanaged 69 and 75 points in his last two games against Melbourne butafter Michael Barlow (134 points) and Lachie Neale (123 points)dominated against them last week, I'm expecting Bartel to bounce backhere.
Joel Selwood [MID, $483,802] had 126 points last yearagainst Melbourne and goes for his seventh straight score over 100+points against them this week. Selwood has only averaged 85 points atthe MCG this year though, but he is starting to hit some great form andshould be among the top scorers again.
MR RELIABLE
Dane Swan[MID, $509,739] hasn't been scoring like the Fantasy jet we have grownto love, but this week he will return to his very best. He scored hissecond-highest score (122 points) for the year in round six when heplayed the Bombers and has recorded 115, 120, 187, 171 and 171 pointsprior to that round six encounter.
He's back at the MCG this week, a ground at which he has averaged 22 points more than any other ground this year.
Inthe first half of the year, Dayne Beams [MID, $517,323] came outfiring, averaging 118 points a game, but he has dropped dramatically inform to only average 100 points in the latter half. He scored 136 pointsearlier this year against Essendon which has seen him average 122points in his last four games against them.
With Ablett andRockliff sidelined this week, we need a reliable captain who won't letus down. Look no further than Mr Reliable, Scott Pendlebury [MID,$563,534].
He attempts to score his ninth straight 100-plusscore this week and is coming off scores of 111 and 128 points in thelast two weeks. Further proving his reliability, Pendlebury's lowestscore so far this season is only 91 points.
Although he has onlyscored over 120 points on four occasions this year, he is still capableof big scores like he did against Essendon in 2011, when he had 141 and166 points.
Pendlebury loves playing against the Bombers on thebig stage and carries a lowest score of only 106 points against them inhis last eight games. Amazingly, in his last five games against them,his scores have ranged from 106 to 113 points.
Pendlebury maynot reach the heights that we see regularly from Ablett and Rockliff,but he is as reliable and as consistent as they come. Put him down foranother easy ton this week.
JUST QUICKLY…
Once again, hereare few more of the popular players I have looked at. If I have missedyour favourite, hit me up on Twitter (@CalvinDT) and I'll do my best tocover them in round 14.
Josh P. Kennedy [MID, $569,702] v Carltonat the SCG: Kennedy has averaged 113 points in his last three games. Hehas met the Blues on seven occasions throughout his career with ahighest score of only 104 points. He can be massive on his day, but hisstatistics against the Blues here are too risky.
Brent Harvey[FWD/MID, $524,654] v St Kilda at Blundstone Arena (Hobart): Anyoneplaying the Saints should be considered as a Fantasy captain. Harvey had107 points last year against them, however, that was his only scoreover 100 points in his last 16 games against them, making St Kilda hisworst team to score against over his remarkable 18-year career.
DionPrestia [MID, $556,506] v Western Bulldogs at Cazaly's Stadium(Cairns): Life without Gary Ablett could go either way for Prestia. Inthe last two years he has played without his skipper on three occasionsscoring 76, 120 and 56 points. He's too risky a pick this week withtaggers such as Mitch Wallis and Liam Picken running around.
TrentCotchin [MID, $540,630] v Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium: Cotchin hasaveraged 122 points in his last three games and scored 121 points whenhe met the Power in 2013. He loves playing under the roof at EtihadStadium, a venue where he has averaged 14 points a game more there thanany other ground this year. Watch out for the tag from Kane Cornesthough, his form has been too hot not to be noticed. Cornes has claimedthe scalps of Heppell (74 points) and Liberatore (88 points) in recentweeks and will clamp down on the in-form star on Sunday afternoon.
TomLiberatore [MID, $531,378] v Gold Coast at Cazaly's Stadium (Cairns):Now that Griffen has returned, Liberatore found the going much easierlast weekend scoring a handy 119 points. He scored 111 points againstthe Suns earlier this year and will score very well again this week.
MichaelBarlow [MID, $553,675] v Greater Western Sydney at Patersons Stadium:Barlow is a reliable pick every week. He has averaged 111 points in hislast five games this year. He is coming off a very impressive 134 pointslast week and meets a team who allowed Rory Sloane to score around-high 143 points in round 16. Barlow has scored 106 and 103 pointsin his only two games against the Giants and will be tough to stop againthis week.
Kieren Jack [MID, $514,744] v Carlton at the SCG:Excuse me, 61 points last week? You have to be kidding me! Before lastweek's game, Jack had scored over 100 points in eight of his last ninegames. He averages 119 points at the SCG in his last three games and had110 and 86 points against Carlton last year. He should bounce back thisweek in front of his home crowd.
Brandon Ellis [MID, $536,485] vPort Adelaide at Etihad Stadium: I was tweeted over the weekend askingwhy I never mention Ellis in my top five and it's certainly a worthyquestion. He's scored 115, 115 and 117 points in his last three gamesthis year and had his third best Fantasy score ever of 128 pointsagainst Port last year. He's goes for his eighth straight 100+ scorethis week and cements himself a spot in my top five this week.
