This week see's the start of a split round for AFL, which brings with it the strong potential for more SC carnage. Last weekend, even without Gaz, the majority of teams seemed to avoid too many issues and post some nice scores, and I'm sure we'll all be hoping for more of the same over the next two weeks. Unfortunately though the SC gods don't often work like that, so while we need to be prepared for bad news at the selection table this week it's also important to try and keep a trade handy for next weeks games, just in case. Due to the split round the Best Buys are a bit shorter this time around, and especially so in defense where there's only one option to make the cut and even then it's a risky one. Hopefully most teams can afford to wait a week and grab SMitch to fill any defensive holes.

The Best Buy for this week is also a risky one, but after missing a lot of games early has really found some good form including a 140+ score on the weekend past. Steven Motlop, the young Cats star, has really started turning heads once again lately and is looking like a great pick in the forward line to finish out the SC year. Spending decent time through the midfield and showing his obvious class, Motts is a POD in great touch and could well end the season on a high by continuing his form into the finals.


DEFENSE
MID-PRICERS





Corey Enright (GEE) DEF 438k 85
In a week where defensive options are severely limited, thanks in big part to the split round, Enright is the only one that gets the nod and even then he's obviously quite risky. Averaging 85 for the season he pumped out a 117 on the weekend to bring his price to around 440 grand but will only see a minimal price rise after his next match. Currently sitting in around 15,000 sides the Cats defender is a POD who hasn't been scoring especially well this season, and the majority of coaches chasing a defender would likely be better off waiting a week for SMitch or keeping an eye on Fisher.

MIDFIELD
MID-PRICERS





Tom Liberatore (WBD) MID 543.4k 113

Libba has averaged 113 so far in his break-out season, but has struggled a bit when Griff hasn't made the field. Hopefully for his 49,000 teams this week Griffen will make a return to the side, and bring Libba's numbers back into the 120's. Facing a 7 grand price rise after his next match, the young Bulldog has all the hallmarks of a star in the making.



Steve Johnson (GEE) MID 533.7k 111

Stevie J appears to be regaining his early season form, knocking out a 135 in his last game in a week where a large chunk of teams brought him in and put the C on him. Currently quite cheap at a price of around 535 grand, Stevie J is looking at a near 20 grand price rise and will probably be a popular trade in again this week for many.



Marc Murphy (CAR) MID 529.9k 110

Murphy has been in and out of the Best Buys this season, and his 130 in a smashing by the Swans has him firmly back in our sights. Costing 530 grand with an average of 110 he offers solid value, and his 39,000 coaches will be hoping he can continue to pump out good scores as he should top the 550 grand price mark after his next game.



Jackson Macrae (WBD) MID 462.1k 101

Macrae put in the game of his life on the weekend, in possibly the best game by a second year player ever. A massive 172 has brought him a fair bit of attention over the week, and with a price of 460 grand and around 21,000 selections so far if that's an indication of what he can offer a fair few teams may well take the punt on him for finals.



Brent Stanton (ESS) MID 449.2k 94
Stanton has been an up-and-down player for years now, showing glimpses of what he is capable of before inevitably throwing in a few shockers. One of these glimpses occurred on the weekend past when he scored 142 in a big game against the Pies. With Jobe still out many teams are still working out who to tag, with BJ and Heppel other main contenders, but Stants' 3,000 coaches will be hoping he can avoid too much opposition attention for the remainder of the year.

PREMIUMS





Callan Ward (GWS) MID 582.8k 115

Ward has been good this season, without being great. Averaging 115 with a price tag of around 580 grand is pretty good, albeit somewhat overpriced currently, but his real achievement has been leading the Giants to some solid wins and showing they will be real contenders for years to come. Sitting in around 16,000 sides and facing a slight price drop after his next game he has a habit of putting in poor matches from time to time but is still a premium midfielder and decent option for finals.



Nick Dal Santo (NM) MID 559.6k 111

NDS is again in the Best Buys, averaging 111 for his 19,000 coaches and currently priced at just under 560 grand. The Roos will need a big game from Dal, as well as their other guns, to beat the Blues on Friday night this week, as while they have knocked off all the main premiership contenders this season they have often really struggled in the games they should win comfortably. A solid option, and likely D/M next year.



Travis Boak (PTA) MID 557.4k 107
Boak appears to be going the opposite direction to the rest of his team over the last few weeks, putting in some great performances while the side still lost. On the weekend he belted out a 153 for example, to bring his average for the year up to 107 for a price of around 560 grand. Only 4,000 coaches have backed in the Power star, making him a certain POD, but with the Port team's starting fitness level becoming less and less relevant as the year wears on many will remain doubtful over his potential output.

REGULARS





Joel Selwood (GEE) MID 569.9k 116 99k

RUCK
ROOKIES





Rory Lobb (GWS) RUC 117.3k 41 +23k
Lobb is now on the bubble for GWS, averaging 41 over his first 2 games and looking at a price rise of around 23 grand after his 3rd. Unfortunately there was a pretty decent interval between his first and second games however, so his job security must remain in doubt. With Brown still affordable and Apeness reaching the bubble this week, most coaches will likely look elsewhere.

MID-PRICERS





Hamish McIntosh (GEE) RUC 427.3k 85

HMac had a big game on the weekend against the Demon's, scoring 144 to bring his average to 85 for the year and show what he's capable of when fit. Priced at around 430 grand he seems decent value, but will of course need to maintain his form to offer any real benefit to potential coaches. A somewhat surprising 21,000 sides have brought in HMac so far this season, and with a price rise of 30 grand on the way he may well be picked up by a few more yet.

PREMIUMS





Todd Goldstein (NM) RUC 562k 100

Goldy went large on the weekend against the Saint's down in Hobart, smashing out a 166 to bring his average back to 100 for the season so far. His 15,000 coaches will be hoping he can keep that form going, as the Roos are in real contention for a solid finals outing this year if they can start to win the games that they should. Priced at 560 grand he is quite expensive for his numbers, but we all know the potential he has to go massive in any given game.

FORWARD
ROOKIES





Michael Apeness (FRE) R/F 137.3k 44 +21k

Apeness has performed well in his first 2 games at the top, averaging 44 over the 2 and is now facing a price rise of around 21 grand after his 3rd. His R/F status is a boon, especially with S Martin's continued good form, and a few coaches will likely bring him in if named just to generate a bit of cash for finals trading. Costing just under 140 grand he's the cheaper of the 2 R/F rookie options still around, but with Sandi and Clarke still performing his job security remains questionable at best.



Ben Brown (NM) R/F 178.7k 52 +38k
Ben Brown is again in the Best Buys, after it was pointed out I'd neglected him last time around while he's still quite affordable. With the aforementioned S Martin racking them up for a large chunk of teams he provides perfect bench cover, and can hopefully remain in the side for a while yet.

MID-PRICERS





Luke Dahlhaus (WBD) FWD 480.6k 97

Dahlhaus bounced back into form on the weekend pumping out a 141 for his 19,000 coaches and bringing his average back up to 97 for the season to date. For a price of 480 grand he looks decent value, and has shown the potential to go large on more than a few occasions this year.



Paul Chapman (ESS) M/F 433.1k 94

Chappy returned to the Bombers best in their win over the Pies on the weekend, topping the 140 mark for his 24,000 sides to bring his average back to 94 for the season so far. A player with constant risk to miss games, but when he's on his form he can be near unstoppable. Looking at a price rise of around 23 grand after his next match, Chappy still has what it takes to pump out the big scores.



Steven Motlop (GEE) FWD 495.5k 87

Motts is the 3rd of our mid-priced forward options to have hit 140 on the weekend, pumping out a 147 for his just 5,000 selectors and really showing some nice form in the past month to make him our Best Buy of the week. Priced at just under 500 grand he isn't great value for his 87 average, but as previously mentioned his recent form has been much better than the stats suggest. After his next match he will likely cost around 520 grand, so for those looking to take a risk now might well be the time to do it.

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PREMIUMS





Brent Harvey (NM) M/F 564.5k 112
Boomer bounced back in a big way on the weekend, scoring 150 and making Jason's SC week in the process. Averaging 112 for a price of 565 grand he is around the mark on value, but is clearly one of the best forwards going this year. 37,000 sides have picked Boomer for the run home so far, and a fair few more will be expected to do so over the coming weeks.

WAITING LIST





Shane Mumford (GWS) RUC 542.6k 115 -7k

Jimmy Bartel (GEE) D/M 528.7k 104 -21k

Sam Fisher (StK) DEF 430.3k 102

Sam Mitchell (HAW) D/M 412.8k 89 +8k