Another season is upon us and I welcome you all again to another year of captain's picks by the numbers! Every week I will try to identify obvious (and maybe not so obvious) captain's choices based on past numbers.

Round 1 this season poses another question for us: to start, or not to start, everyone's Captain Obvious - Gary Ablett. Ablett only played 15 games last season at a league leading average of 137. He last stepped onto the field against Collingwood in Round 16 which is when he suffered his shoulder injury at the 8 minute mark of the third quarter. Ablett finished that game with 61 SC points - which was his second score below 100 for the year. His only other sub-100 score for 2014 was against the Western Bulldogs in Round 10 when he was effectively tagged by Picken.

It is interesting to note that if you take the injury affected 61 SC points out, Ablett's average for 2014 was a massive 142 SC points from 14 games which would have been his highest season average ever. His current best season average is 140 SC points in 2009 which was his second last season playing with Geelong.

Now to the numbers for the round …

CARLTON v. RICHMOND

Recent game: Round 2 2014 MCG - Richmond 98 defeated Carlton 86.

Murphy v. Richmond

Rd 2 2014: 121 SC points, 28 disposals
QF 2013: 132 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 21 2013: 102 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 1 2013: 104 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 18 2012: 160 SC points, 36 disposals
Rd 1 2012: 119 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 15 2011: 118 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 1 2011: 107 SC points, 31 disposals

Average is 120 SC points with 28 disposals.

Note: In the game last year, Ellis went to Gibbs. Curnow went to Cotchin whilst Bell went to Deledio. These matchups allowed Murphy a little freedom. Great average against Richmond with no scores below 100 in 12 matchups since 2009.

MELBOURNE v. GOLD COAST

Recent game: Round 5 2014 MCG - Gold Coast 86 defeated Melbourne 78.

Ablett v. Melbourne

Rd 4 2014: 161 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 20 2013: 67 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 19 2012: 165 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 23 2011: 125 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 10 2010: 138 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 16 2009: 124 SC points, 40 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 91 SC points, 25 disposals

Average is 124 SC points with 30 disposals.

Note: Most recently played a lot of the game playing head to head against Jones before McKenzie was moved onto him. Had a terrible game in 2013 where he was manhandled” (as per Guy McKenna) by McKenzie and Garland (and the whole Melbourne team) in his 250th game.

SYDNEY v. ESSENDON

Recent game: Round 19 2014 SCG - Sydney 79 defeated Essendon 57.

Kennedy v. Essendon

Rd 19 2014: 100 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 9 2014: 151 SC points, 39 disposals
Rd 10 2013: 126 SC points, 37 disposals
Rd 11 2012: 86 SC points, 26 disposals

Average is 116 SC points with 33 disposals.

Note: Good recent record against Essendon. Most recently played head to head against Goddard before having Hocking move to him. Played head to head against Watson in the game in Round 9.

Watson v. Sydney

Rd 9 2014: 120 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 10 2013: 73 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 11 2012: 149 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 20 2011: 131 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 2 2011: 88 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 11 2010: 98 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 15 2009: 108 SC points, 29 disposals

Average is 110 SC points with 28 disposals.

Note: Missed the game against Sydney in Round 19 last year. Played head to head against Kennedy in the game in Round 9. Poor game in 2013 when he played head to head against O'Keefe. Tagged by Bolton but still managed 149 SC points in the 2012 clash.

BRISBANE v. COLLINGWOOD

Recent game: Round 21 2014 MCG - Brisbane 123 defeated Collingwood 56.

Pendlebury v. Brisbane

Rd 10 2013: 119 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 7 2012: 107 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 22 2011: 108 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 10 2010: 132 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 18 2009: 159 SC points, 36 disposals
Rd 4 2009: 147 SC points, 35 disposals

Average is 129 SC points with 33 disposals.

Note: Missed the game against Brisbane last year after pulling out after the pre-game warm up. Tagged by Raines in the previous three matchups.

Swan v. Brisbane

Rd 21 2014: 90 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 10 2013: 131 SC points, 36 disposals
Rd 7 2012: 138 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 22 2011: 132 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 10 2010: 122 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 18 2009: 170 SC points, 36 disposals
Rd 4 2009: 73 SC points, 19 disposals

Average is 122 SC points with 31 disposals.

Note: Normally matched up against Redden or Rich with the tagger going to Pendlebury.

Rockliff v. Collingwood

Rd 21 2014: 137 SC points, 43 disposals
Rd 7 2012: 86 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 22 2011: 119 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 10 2010: 95 SC points, 30 disposals

Average is 109 SC points with 31 disposals.

Note: Had a big game last year which was his milestone 100th game. Macaffer was sent to Hanley (who still picked up 34 touches). He also missed the matchup in 2013 when Macaffer was again sent to Hanley.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v. WEST COAST

Recent game: Round 1 2014 Patersons Stadium - West Coast 134 defeated Western Bulldogs 69.

ST KILDA v. GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Recent game: Round 2 2014 Etihad Stadium - St Kilda 95 defeated Greater Western Sydney 88.

ADELAIDE v. NORTH MELBOURNE

Recent game: Round 22 2014 Blundstone Arena - North Melbourne 101 defeated Adelaide 94.

Dangerfield v. North Melbourne

Rd 22 2014: 101 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 13 2014: 91 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 20 2013: 101 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 9 2013: 123 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 13 2012: 100 SC points, 25 disposals

Average is 103 SC points with 24 disposals.

Notes: Most recently played head to head against Ziebell. Relatively poor record against North Melbourne with only one score over 101.

FREMANTLE v. PORT ADELAIDE

Recent game: Semi Final 2014 Patersons Stadium - Port Adelaide 105 defeated Fremantle 83.

Fyfe v. Port Adelaide

SF 2014: 151 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 8 2014: 141 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 22 2013: 122 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 18 2012: 87 SC points, 26 disposals

Average is 127 SC points with 28 disposals.

Notes: Had a huge game in a losing effort in last year's Semi Final. Played head to head against Ebert. Score boosted by his 11 tackles.

Gray v. Fremantle

SF 2014: 121 SC points, 21 disposals
Rd 23 2014: 123 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 8 2014: 126 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 22 2013: 115 SC points, 28 disposals

Average is 121 SC points with 28 disposals.

Notes: A relatively low possession count in the game last year but kicked four pivotal third quarter goals. Played head to head against Hill. His SC score was helped by his four frees four. Crowley was sent to Boak.

HAWTHORN v. GEELONG

Recent game: Qualifying Final 2014 MCG - Hawthorn 104 defeated Geelong 68.

Selwood v. Hawthorn

QF 2014: 151 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 22 2014: 90 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 5 2014: 83 SC points, 20 disposals
PF 2013: 105 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 15 2013: 151 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 1 2013: 126 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 19 2012: 132 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 2 2012: 112 SC points, 25 disposals

Average is 119 SC points with 27 disposals.

Notes: Huge game last year in the Qualifying Final. Finished with 3 goals and had 20 disposals at half time. Tagged by Langford after his big first half. Had poor games against Hawthorn prior to that game. He has most recently been tagged by Langford or Shiels.

In my opinion it is impossible to go past Ablett playing against an emerging Melbourne team - even though he has had a very limited pre-season. For those who do not have Ablett, I would pick Pendlebury, then Fyfe and then Rockliff.

Good luck all!