Doc, Richo and Gary Ablett have been carrying my team for too long and caused me an embarrassing defeat to my best mate in round six. Dane Swan or Nick Dal Santo will definitely come in for Richo but I want to keep Ablett on the bench. I need to trade for a playing emergency to cover Ablett and can spare about $230,000. Any ideas? – Dan ($272,100, 13 trades)
Dan, you're getting all hung up on the wrong details! Everywhere I've gone this week, it's Ablett this, trade that, what's an adductor? I'm told Julia Gillard was asked where she stood on the vexing issue at a mid-week press conference. For the record, her press secretary chimed in to remind the inquisitor of Ms Gillard's round six score of 1553.
But your mind seems pretty clear on this; so, to bench cover. I have three names for you. Adam Cockie looks the pick out west after debuting last week. The young Eagle scored 58 in the western derby and had 25 to quarter time. Matt de Boer is your second option at Fremantle and is also bottom-priced at $75,300. Mark Coughlan is the third. At $176,400 the Tiger has a ritzier price tag, but his job security and scoring potential is well above the rookie pair, if he can stay away from the medical room…
Hey Doc, along with 25,000 other DT coaches I have a case of the Didak flew [sic]. He hasn't played for two weeks and there is talk of a further two weeks on the sidelines. With No. 1 draft pick Jack Watts missing, along with No. 6 pick Chris Yarran, I don't have a back up – leaving me a player short each round. Should I trade Didak? If so, for who? Also any tips on the Watts/Yarran quandary? – Tom (12 Trades, $43,000)
Tom my friend, a bad pun never goes unnoticed around here, so well done old sport. Didak, Magpies, flew – it was a pun, yes? Never mind, let's focus. You have just 12 trades left, and that is key here. Didak seems all the more expensive while he's sitting on the pine, but after using eight trades you can't afford to be going sideways on this.
I'd look at trading Watts for an already proven youngster and Mitch Brown ($187,100) is the man. The young Eagle is soaring, averaging a healthy 53, and is close to guaranteed a game every week.
Melbourne has taken the cotton wool approach and allowed Jack Watts to concentrate on his handwriting and sums this year, so I'm afraid you've been left with a grounded emergency there.
Getting Brown will solve your bench woes both now and for the long-term in case another forward falls from the sky once Didak returns.
As an added bonus, Chris Yarran will debut against Fremantle on Saturday night. You're flying, Tom!
Doc, I drafted Steele Sidebottom at the start of the year hoping he would play a game but he hasn't so far. Collingwood doesn't look like changing its line-up, so should I trade him for someone bottom-priced to free up some cash and then upgrade elsewhere? – Adam (14 Trades, $4200)
The writing was on the wall with Sidebottom pre-season, Adam, after Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse took a conservative approach with the young gun in the NAB Cup. But he's on the extended bench for the Pies' Monday night clash and pretty close to getting the call up DT coaches are waiting on. When that happens do you really want to have him on your traded out list? By my reckoning, you'll only free up around $20,000 if you trade him down now, and the bottom-priced forwards are pretty thin on the ground. Save the trade and stick with him if you're not copping any zeros.
Hey Doc, I have been toying with trading Steve Johnson for someone like Leon Davis but I'm unsure whether his form will continue. Is this a good trade or should I look elsewhere? – Martyn (16 Trades, $40,600)
Martyn, with 16 trades you struck me as a man of great patience. The sort of man that stands by his faltering forwards and decrepit defence until they show their master coach why they earned a spot in his dream team. But your query leaves me seriously doubting your equanimity.
Johnson opened the season with scores of 124 and 130 and has since dropped below the 90s just once. He's a keeper in your team and trading him for Davis is a sideways move that won't benefit your team.
By all means, target Neon Leon, but look to trade up one of your lesser lights by freeing up some cash on your bench. You've still go the trades in hand to do this sort of double-trading, so be greedy – get them both!
Captains
Okay, things are interesting down the bottom again with the Little Master warming the bench for a few weeks, so let's look at our options.
Most sides have Dean Cox, and against a depleted Demons' ruck division he could tap his way into record territory on Subiaco Oval. He's the No.1 pick for mine.
If you've traded Ablett out, you're probably bringing in a ready-made skipper in the mould of Jimmy Bartel or Dane Swan, so they are also obviously good options.
There are some other options too, but they're not without risk. Buddy, for example, has averaged 118 in his last five games against the Bombers.
With Dustin Fletcher out for the Bombers, Cale Hooker and Tayte Pears are shaping as possible opponents for Buddy, alongside Adam McPhee.
He could have a big one despite his poor scoring this season and be a surprise skipper choice this week.
This week's top three:
Dean Cox (103 last week)
Jimmy Bartel (144)
Lance Franklin (55)
Best of luck to you all, Dream Teamers!
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs
