Dr Dream Team: Congratulations, Mr Fantasy, you're a Toyota Dream Team premiership coach. How does it feel?
Mr Fantasy: It feels great, Doc. The monkey is definitely off the back. My win shows why it is important to save a few trades when the whips are cracking. I was able to trade out rested Hawks such as Lance Franklin and Grant Birchall in the last round to make sure I was choc-full of A-graders. What score (out of 10) would you give yourself for your season?
Dr Dream Team: Who did you get into your side to cover for Buddy and Birch? You were very strategic with your trades in holding a couple back, and it certainly worked out well for you. I'd give myself about a 6. I averaged 2,220 points (sounds a bit Richie Benaud, doesn't it?) in the last eight weeks of the season. If I had started that run a bit earlier the FJ Cruiser might have been in sight.
Mr Fantasy: If I won the Toyota FJ Cruiser, I'd drive around the block near your house until you called the cops. That would be fun. I brought Travis Cloke in for Franklin, which didn't work out that well, but Heath Scotland was a super replacement for Birchall. Your season was a bit like North Melbourne's: pounding the teams below you but finding it hard to defeat anybody of any worth throughout the season. I bet you're glad the insults thrown your way on Twitter should start to die down.
Dr Dream Team: The North Melbourne comparison is a little harsh. I had about 15 players in the All-Australian squad, not just four. I'm a little glad the insults might stop, but Twitter is a 24/7 forum which is free for anyone to have a crack, so I'm expecting some more abuse as the off-season begins. I tell you what though, I am looking forward to watching a game without Dream Team stats running through my head every second minute.
Mr Fantasy: Touche, Doc. I couldn't care less if Bryce Gibbs scores below 100 this week, or if Mark LeCras spends less time running through the midfield. As funny as it sounds, it is a taxing season and I love the fact we can now sit back and watch the best eight teams in the competition battle it out to achieve what I managed this year - premiership glory. I'm having a Dream Team wrap up of my season - going through it round by round - over the weekend. You're more than welcome to come over, Doc. I'm serving up some humble pie.
Dr Dream Team: Think I'll give that one a miss, but thanks for the offer. The last time you invited me over to your house you cooked a souvlaki that tasted like you had spat in it before serving it on a filthy plate. I have learned my lesson. A bit like the biggest lesson I learned in DT '11: don't ever have complete trust in your first-year players (Jeremy Howe, I'm still looking at you). What was the biggest thing you took out of the season?
Mr Fantasy: Apart from a shiny new trophy, I learned that holding your nerve and not trading for the sake of it is still the number one rule if you're serious about Dream Team. With extra substitute support in 2011, I felt it was easier to rest stars on the bench this year, rather than look for a replacement week in, week out. Next year throws up more challenges with the inclusion of the Greater Western Sydney Giants. I'm not sad to see the back of the bye, either.
Dr Dream Team: Yep, we can all give the bye a fond farewell. Picking Dream Teams will be made a lot less stressful if every team has their byes at the same time. I'm looking forward to the introduction of the Giants. More cashcows for another year, plus some guns like Dylan Shiel to be 2012's Dyson Heppell. Anyway, it's been a long year Mr Fantasy. I'm glad you made no headlines for your Mad Monday antics. Have a good summer and keep out of trouble.
Mr Fantasy: Definitely add Dylan Shiel to the black book. I look forward to renewing the rivalry with you in 2012. So long, Doc.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
