Like 122,000 other SC players who have SMitch on their team, I have been possible replacements. It seems to have boiled down to 2: Hibberd and Hooker. Both have similar averages and points totals and have played all games so far. Hibberd has a track record of staying on the park, i.e. will reliably score points all year; Hooker's track record is more uncertain in terms of games played but he has the advantage of being 56k cheaper. My head says Hibberd, but my wallet says Hooker and am leaning in the Hooker direction. That 56k could be the difference between getting Pendles on deck on R10 or having to settle for less. 24 trades in hand before the next three rounds of trading frenzy, so I am thinking that if Hooker gets hurt I can get Hibberd in at that point. Bartel is coming for R9 as part of the trading plan. Thoughts and comments?
I assume you have Burgoyne? Obviously the same team means the same bye as SMitch... He's also got a higher yearly average than both the Bomber boys, has tonned up 6/7 games and has a break even around 68.
Burgoyne or hodge both seem like good replacements for Smitch. Both cheaper, same team, and likely to pick up some of the extra points with Smitch out.
Great suggestion! I had him on a short list for consideration, he is playing and scoring very well. Priced in the right range, only 15k more than Hooker. Is a mid fielder rather than a key back like Hooker is. Only problem from my perspective is he misses a few games, which drops his total score potential for the season. Hooker is in the same boat: inconsistent total games in a season. Thanks for prompting me to reconsider.
JP, Hodge is not a candiate at all IMHO. He just does not play enough games to justify. A bit like Mummy and Stevei J: injuries or suspensions are just around the corner. But, Burgoyne has my attention for sure. cheers and thanks for the comment.
Darn it...was hoping for some insight on the Hooker v Hibberd debate as I already have Burgoyne. Anyone?
I've got Hibberd in my side, I picked him up when Mitchell got injured the first time (that magical time where overall still seems possible). I would have started with Hibberd, but there were preseason injury concerns so I was going to get him mid-year. To keep it short, I predicted Hibberd to break out last year and he did, due to his intercept marking and ability to find plenty of footy, win lose or draw. He's clean and consistent, and is the classic 'half back'. Hooker surprised me this year. While I admit I didn't follow preseason very closely, it is obvious he has improved his game massively. He was always a good intercept mark, but he's now taken that to another level, and is supported by the new high-possession style game of the Bombers. If you can afford Hibberd, get him instead of Hooker. Simply because Hibberd will always be a half-back, and maybe go through the midfield a bit, whereas Hooker has the possibility of really going into a key-defensive lockdown role if necessary. In other words: Hibberd will get you 90-110 every week, Hooker will get you 70-110 every week. Go with the consistency and role-security of Hibberd.
nice analysis H_dons Hooker has the advantage that he is also a bit of a POD, and $56K cheaper. Decision, decisions
Cheers jp. Ha ha, you are indeed correct on Hooker. He will most definitely be a POD, if not for the TSers but for the general SC masses who remember him being tormented by Buddy in multiple games. Could definitely pay off, but the conservative bet is with Hibberd. Watch on Saturday night. If Brown winds back the clock again, I daresay both Hurley and Hooker will take turns locking down. Or Hurley will lockdown for the whole game, and Hooker will be third man up and subsequently ton up again. Tough choice!
H-Dons, thank you for your terrific analysis, much appreciated. I ended up going with Burgoyne myself, the extra dough for Hibberd hurt me with other upgrades over the next couple of rounds. I agree that if money is not a concern, Hibberd is the best choice and would have gone with him if I had made better rookie choices (Langdon and Tyson in particular are missing from my team). Hooker is tantlising form a value perspective.