HEY DOC, I need your help. Currently I’m going okay, but I’m desperate for that big score to put some scares through my comp! I want to know your opinion on trading both Hitchcock and Gumbleton for Podsiadly and Rockliff this week to free some money up for that next big trade. - Dylan (19 trades, $24,000)
You’re on the front foot, Dylan, and you want to take the wind out of your competition’s sails. I like that, but let’s ease up a second.
Some of the hardest DT trades to decide on happen during the early rounds when an unknown youngster takes everyone by surprise and notches a couple of big scores.
Pods is no young bloke - in AFL years he’s approaching old codger status - but with a neat average of 100 and a price tag of $77,800, he’s thrown up the same dilemma: whether or not to trade early when your current cash cows haven’t completely matured.
Rockliff ($101,100) is averaging 82.5 in his two games and is also on a lot of coaches’ radars, but I would recommend doing just one of your suggested trades - Hitchcock to Pods.
The big Cat has been very impressive and looks like holding his spot at least for the medium term, allowing his price to balloon substantially. Hitchcock, meanwhile, has been left out this week with a back injury.
You pocket $66,300 doing this trade, which is short of what you should be aiming to gain from your cash cows. But don’t discount the extra money Pods will make you as he matures into a future trading asset by mid to late season. I think he’s looking too good to overlook.
Hey Doc, I’m looking to upgrade Luke Ball as his inconsistency is hurting my scores, but I'm unsure which premium to upgrade him to. Who would you recommend? - James (19 trades, $80,100)
I’m sure that $80,100 sitting in the bank is burning a bit of a hole, James, but hold tight for a moment.
Ball has scored 80, 75, 98 and then last week’s 62, which is the score I suggest was the last straw for you. He’s dropped $15,100 in value, but if you’re set on getting the best possible upgrade for him, I think it’s a week or two too early to move.
If we start at the top end of town, Ablett is out of your reach, but it is possible Swan and Bartel will come into range if you’re willing to be patient.
The idea is to take advantage of your bank balance and get this upgrade done with the one trade, so you need to keep an eye on how much your target is going to drop, while also being aware of how much Ball will continue to fall.
Beyond Swan ($488,600) and Bartel ($471,200) there are two A-grade players who are available to you now, but are certain to fall in value over the next two weeks.
Sam Mitchell ($429,500) scored 66 last week while Joel Selwood ($407,700) scored 60. Terrible scores from excellent players, and sure to bring on a price drop you won’t see from them again this season.
Best-case scenario, Ball finds some form on Anzac Day and you decide to hold him. Worst-case scenario you trade for one of these two in a couple of weeks.
Keep an eye on Saints Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna in coming weeks as well.
Hey Doc, I have Kurt Tippett in my forward line as well as Patrick Dangerfield. The way the Crows are going, should I look at getting rid of them? I'm also stuck with Daniel Kerr in my midfield. Thanks. - Harry (16 trades, $57,900)
Harry, I remember a time not so long ago when we were referring to Neil Craig’s men as ‘Crowbots’ - a splendid term that encapsulated their faultless application of Craig’s game plan and steely resolve late in games.
However, it would seem the ‘Crowbots’ are short-circuiting and it’s having massive implications in DT land.
There will certainly be coaches out there off-loading Tippett and Dangerfield, but I don’t reckon you should join them. You’ve already used four trades in four rounds of footy and Kerr is a player you should be off-loading.
Neither Crow is worth a great deal of money, so their modest performance are only going to see modest drops in value. Instead, let’s focus on replacing Kerr.
At $257,000 I assume he was in your side to net you some bills and contribute to a premium trade late in the season. So why not make a bit of cash here and bring in a rookie?
The best option going around this week is Carlton’s Kane Lucas ($113,500), who is averaging 80 from his two games so far. Essendon’s Jake Melksham ($121,500) is also coming into his third game.
If neither of those tempts you, and you have bench cover in the midfield, hold tight and see who presents in the coming weeks. Ben Cunnington is playing his first game for the Roos in round five.
G’day Doc, I’m trading Riewoldt for a rookie forward this week and would like to strengthen my backline with the money made. I have Goddard, Enright and Hodge and I’m thinking of getting the great Magpie Heath Shaw. Are there any better options you can see? - Marcus (17 trades, $28,000)
There is but one, Marcus, and I reckon he’s a safer buy than your mate Shaw ($383,800), who has continued a hot-and-cold trend this season with scores of 143, 64 and 111.
Chief Fremantle kicker-inner Paul Duffield comes in at $381,900, and despite an off-game against Essendon in round two, I actually think he’s much more consistent than Shaw.
We love it when our players kick to themselves when bringing the ball back in from an opposition behind, and Duffield is one of the best in the business.
He also kicks rather than handballs at every opportunity and is a go-to man out of Fremantle’s back 50m.
That 55 he scored against the Bombers is no longer in his score cycle after this week, but the 135 he notched against the Saints last week (The Saints!) remains. He’s your man.
It's never too late to register! $10,000 cash to be won for the highest single-round score in 2010
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
