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Everyone is quiet as the proverbial has hit the fan!!!
Hurn, Whitfield, no Hately……. At least M.Crouch, Z.Williams and Hore are back.

For me now that teams have dropped I have two decisions: Cop it now or Cop it later.

I could do one prep trade to bank a little bit of cash then use two less trades through the byes. It means holding 4 rookies for the rest of the year and use them as swingmen cover for injuries (Duursma, Rozee, Answorth and get in Gardner) which with Whitfield is now!!
It would mean keeping Rozee or Hore as D6 and B.Smith at D5 for the run home

The Original Plan was a triple downgrade this week of 3 Port Rookies that plan is now dead.

Next was a 2 Down 1 Up to complete Mids. Problem is the only downgrade targets I like, both have only played one game and both have the bye this week. Bad Risk management with only a little upside. Also the Targets I like have R13 or R14 byes just making more problems in the weeks to come....

So instead of treating these byes like Xmas has come, with all this extra 'Tradey Goodness', I think I am going to be really conservative and hold on to some of the better rookies, Trades and ride this season out carefully.

Smart choices -

I was going to do the downgrades like @dabombers but I need a player with a round 14 bye to cover for Whitfield. I have tossed up between Laird and Finlayson which will give me between $60000 and $70000 in cash and I think I am leaning toward Laird. It will give me 19 on the field and good cover for Rd 13. What's wrong with Gawn - is he really a possible late out?
Thumbs up Laird
Thumbs down Finlayson

Gawn - only noted due to Preuss on Emergency list.

After messing around with the numbers and possible teams Rounds 12, 13, 14 and then from that point.
I can not see holding onto Whitfield for 6-8 weeks a viable option..
I don't trust info saying he will be back in 4 weeks after surgery. (Had a hairline fracture in my collarbone and had not much confidence in it for 8 weeks.)
So will wait till 6:30pm Friday, but I think he will be gonski and turn into a 600k midfielder.....
May also go Rotham and Gardner early and don't care if they play going fwd as just get rid of Parker and Butters and open up some DPP swings for injuries....
Next week cull Hore and either Clark or Baker to Dunkley/Mundy/Waters/???? and ???? and Good cover on all lines bar rucks with Duursma and Rozee able to swing freely...

I reckon after another 10k permutations I may make a decision.. or not!!

If Roth and Gardner are fillers that’s good. WC and WBD have the most Sunday games. Perfect for Looping (assuming they don’t hold their spots).

Dunkley my pick of those.

Thoughts?

Whitfield > Rotham (Loop)
Butters > Cogniglio or Cunnington
Bolton > Laird

Puts 19 on field this week.

TU - Cogd
TD - Cunn

Thank the SC gods that Williams and Hore are back this week. Gives me 19 onfield. Shame Hurn is out, but no point trading him. Think I might also hold Whitfield this week and trade him to Ryan next week. Would like to get Rotham if named, but thinking he will likely be in and out.

Rotham might be in and out but going into finals he could be a great non-playing bench option considering he plays a lot of Sunday games.

What do we think of Naish's js .. is he worth the punt? The sooner Jackson hately changes his name to Jackson lovely it could improve his chances,.. meantime.

Currently facing 2 donuts thanks to Whitfield/Bolton and not loving who to bring in (Rotham if named probably doesn't help for next week), Naish may not have the best JS but suits my bye structure (Ellis and Astbury expected to miss 1 week plus Broad could come back in next). I am prepared to not trade for the sole purpose of avoiding donuts.

I was thinking of trading with an eye to next week, Drew and Bolton to either Daniel or Cameron and a rookie likely to score the next 2 rounds ideally. Are there any good options? I might be forced to take a risk with Naish

I was thinking Daniel over Cameron due to games played in previous seasons and seems to be a bit more consistent (20/20/20 vs 16/18/18 games), Cameron has played sore (bye could help him) and may cop more attention etc as a key fwd, but his ceiling is obviously much higher. I think Daniel could easily be shut down, but I don't see him as a damaging player so think this is unlikely to occur. Cameron has the last bye but think I can cover. GWS looks to have the soft draw home, could be good for scoring, but this may allow a rest.

I don't want to make the choice lol, both currently in 10.1% of teams, perhaps I'm leaning toward Cameron

TU Daniel
TD Cameron
Best rookie to bring in this week likely to play the next 2? Are there any other options I'm not seeing?

Such is my predicament that I think I am trading in a fallen Sicily (bye) for Whitfield this week in order to trade Beams up to Cogs. Has obvious risk attached but gives me another body for next week and I wouldn't be able to get 18 out even with 3 trades so think it's not a bad plan. Feel free to tell me otherwise though.

Not sure on your current rookie situation Captain but I have put a line through Rotham as I already have the likes of Hayes and Scott wasting away on the bench. Most likely scenario imo is that he's in this week and straight back out for Hurn after their bye. I also have Bines as a loophole though so would not derive any benefit from Rotham in that regard.

I’m pulling him in.