Hey Doc. I have a problem by the name of Sam Mitchell. He's been tagged out of games twice now and his value is falling through the floor. Is he worth sticking with? I'm a bit wary of trading out a premiership captain – it could come back to bite me – Liam (14 trades, $9500)
Mitchell's season has been very frustrating, Liam, and particularly hard to read for DT coaches. He's dropped $34,700 and is averaging 77.25 after two respectable scores and two shockers.
But I'm interested in your captain observation. You see, when Tom Harley (injured) and James McDonald (played two games) are taken out of the equation, all bar one of the League's captains have dropped in price – some much more dramatically than Mitchell.
The Pav (down $58,200), Brent Harvey (down $48,500) and Simon Goodwin (down $37,700) are the biggest slouches, while the only skipper to add weight to his moneybag is the League's other premiership captain – Chris Judd.
It seems the leaders do their best work after round 12, so to speak. But to answer your question, I'd stick with Mitchell. His scores should return with the many Hawks' stars on the mend. And don't forget North skipper Brent Harvey's return to form last week with 131. Champs will shake the tag.
Doc, my ruckmen are just not getting the points I need! I have Aaron Sandilands and David Hille, who both performed really well last year but just aren’t getting the job done. Should I persist or trade them? – Brad (15 trades, $35,400)
You're not alone on this one, Brad. Dean Cox's price is going to put people off every year and result in underperforming ruck combos such as this. But now that you've seen the error of your ways (you've seen the error of your ways, yes?) Operation Get Cox needs to start.
Hille has shed $52,700 and trading him now would seriously short-change you. Sandilands (down $30,600 and averaging 71.75) continues to tap his way to middle-of-the-road scores but he needs to do more around the ground to justify taking up Cox's spot on your list. He's the man to lose.
You will obviously need to orchestrate another trade to make up the $127,900 difference, but the ruck stability, and the extra captain option when Cox gets on a roll, will help your scores.
Hi Doc. My team is doing quite well (top 300 overall) but I have some under-performing, highly-priced players. My main concern is Daniel Giansiracusa (as well as Selwood, Enright and Didak). After 129 in round one, Gia is averaging 66 over the last 3 weeks and has cost me nearly $50k. Should I trade him? – Brett (17 trades, $14,000)
I doff my peak to you, Brett. You must have some real warhorses holding up that underperforming quartet.
Gia's round four flop of 51 is going to haunt you for the next two weeks with the rolling pricing system, so there's more pain on the way. But loyalty is integral in Dream Team and it's called for here. Gia's a proven DT player.
Although his return to Subiaco, the site of his round one 129, didn’t turn his season around, I'm sure it's not far away. A bail-out option if you can't back the Bulldog is Geelong's Andrew Mackie, who is down $52,700 to $350,800.
Doc, I have a heap of convoluted trades running through my mind, but the only way I can fund them is to trade in Daniel Rich. Is it too early to cash in? – Nina (16 trades, $4,500)
Rich has already made you a nice wad, Nina, but $96,500 is not nearly enough to get out of this quality kid. The nuggety Brisbane Lion is well on track for a finishing price around $350,000 plus. He just keeps doing his job.
You may have some grand plans for now, but think about what you can do when Rich hits his peak and someone, let's say Jimmy Bartel, is coming off a rare flat spell.
They're the legendary trades DT coaches dedicate premierships to. Rhys Palmer was the player to do it last year and it's plain to see it will be Rich this year. You simply can't trade him yet.
Captains
I can't say I'm surprised there was no captain correspondence after last week's debacle, but my own doctor tells me to get back on the horse. So, contrary to last week's musings, long term trends are out and reactionary is in!
The little master will make you pay every time you jump off him, so it's Ablett this week for mine.
There's nothing to weigh up, no supporting stats, just pick him if you have him.
For those of you who don't, Bruce and Ethel, here's a top three of the rest:
Dean Cox (119 last week)
Chad Cornes (129)
Jimmy Bartel (111)
Best of luck to you all, Dream Teamers!
