<p style='line-height: 18px; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;]The Best Buys is back once again to help you with those all-important trade decisions for the SC finals, and from here on out will have more focus on POD's. We've dropped the waiting list section, as there isn't much use looking at the players who will be cheap/good in a few weeks, but included some lesser selected players in good form right now.
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<p style='line-height: 18px; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;]The Best Buy of the week is young Giant, Callan Ward. A massive 3-game average and a cheap price with small selection numbers make Ward the perfect finals smoky, and for many coaches out there that ticks all the boxes. With Brisbane, Richmond and then the Suns rounding out the season for the Giants Ward should have every opportunity to go large, and could well be the difference come the grand final. On a side note we were going to go with 'Onward and Upward' for the title this week, but there are some connotations there that just didn't quite work.
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DEFENSE

MID-PRICERS


Pearce Hanley (BRI) DEF 488k 100

Pearce is still in solid form, after returning early from injury he brought a good score with him but was a little down this last weekend. Priced at under 490 grand and averaging 100 for the season he is in around 65,000 teams to date and is a solid defensive option.



Harry Taylor (GEE) DEF 465.2k 96

Harry Taylor tends to be a bit up and down, but at the moment he's up with a 3 game average of 106. Priced nicely at 465 grand he is in a surprising 28,000 sides, but still has some POD value to offer. A seasons average of 96 isn't too shabby, but it's his ability to move forward and pump out some big scores that is most appealing.





PREMIUMS


Robert Murphy (WBD) DEF 514.2k 99

Bob Murphy is finishing the season strong this year, averaging 99 so far but 114 from his last 3 games. The Dogs look a much different side now to the one that was struggling so much early on, and 2014 isn't looking so bleak now after all. Bob is in around 7,000 teams so far, and still looks a good POD.





REGULARS


Brendon Goddard (ESS) D/M 482.3k 103





MIDFIELD

ROOKIES


Jesse O'BRIEN (BRI) MID 136.4k 56 +38k

O'Brien has made it onto the bubble for the Lions just in time for SC finals. Averaging 56 in his first 2 games and priced at just over 135 grand he offers a decent downgrade choice at this stage of the year, but Crazy Vossy's departure may change things up a bit at Brisbane.





MID-PRICERS


Jobe Watson (ESS) MID 478.5k 111

Jobe is back, and back in form to boot. Averaging 111 for the season and priced at a low 480 grand the Dons may continue to struggle for the remainder, but Jobe looks like finishing the year strongly. Hopefully the results of the interim report will help him lift his game even more for his 36,000 coaches.



Nathan FYFE (FRE) MID 534.5k 107

Fyfe is still hanging around the Best Buys, with both shoulders intact and scoring reasonably well for his 60,000 coaches. Freo's run home is still looking excellent, to go with Fyfe's recent from, and will likely make him a pretty popular trade-in.



Jarrad McVeigh (SYD) MID 498.2k 107

This week it's McVeigh leading the charge for the Swans midfield, after a massive 150 on the weekend he has brought his average up to 107 for the season and is now facing a 22 grand price rise in the coming weeks. As previously noted the Swans seem to share the big numbers around a bit however, so don't be too surprised if he doesn't score that well this week or next. Still in under 7,500 teams.



Sam Mitchell (HAW) MID 488.9k 106

SMitch keeps on keeping on, now averaging 106 for the season and looking at a 23 grand price rise after his next game. Currently in a little over 50,000 sides he has been great off the half-back flank and will be interesting to look at next year, especially if he gains DPP.



Rory Sloane (ADE) MID 518.6k 106

Sloane came back with a bang after suffering a slight tear to his retina, proving once and for all that eyes are overrated. A 180 on the weekend saw his average for the season jump to 106 and will give him a 40 grand price rise next week. Obviosuly in great form, however that kind of scoring shouldn't be expected regularly.



Steele Sidebottom (COL) MID 549.2k 105

Sidey only made it into the Best Buys recently, but to be fair his recent form is what's most appealing. Now averaging 105 for the season he has been solid without starring, however his 3 game average of 132 indicates that could be changing. Currently in just over 10,000 sides and offering great POD value to Pendles/Swan Sidey is a real finals smoky.



Travis Boak (PTA) MID 512.9k 105

Boak is another player who looks to have taken a step up this year, but without quite reaching elite status yet. A season average of 105 in a much improved Port outfit is quite promising though, and Boak will likely gain a lot of attention next year. Still with under 10,000 selections so far, Boak looks a great POD.



Callan Ward (GWS) MID 538.1k 100

The Best Buy of the week, Cal Ward has been on fire of late. Averaging a flat 100 for the season but a very impressive 138 over his last 3 matches Ward is locking himself into many starting sides for next year, and may still help a couple of teams over the line this season also. A bit risky but clearly a star of the future, Ward has only managed a touch over 3,000 selections to date.



Daniel Wells (NM) MID 463.3k 95

Wells is another player to really step up recently, probably among the Roos BOG for a few weeks now and showing some real skills. His 95 average for the season isn't great, even though his 110 average from the last 3 is a fair bit better, which probably explains his sub 4,000 selections so far. A real POD, and showing a lot of fight late in the season, Wells is a risky but decent POD option.





PREMIUMS


Patrick Dangerfield (ADE) MID 550k 113

Danger has looked good since his return, priced at 550 grand on the dot and averaging 113 he still has around 45,000 selections and the coaches are all surely pretty pleased they kept him. The Crows want a strong finish to a disappointing year, and with Sloane pulling one out of the bag Danger may get a little less attention this weekend.



Michael BARLOW (FRE) MID 550.7k 113

Barlow is edging closer to being a regular, consistently being solid over the last few weeks and as always offering that tantalising run home. Priced at just over 550 grand and averaging 113 for the year Barlow offers solid value, and is in around 40,000 sides.



Leigh Montagna (StK) MID 570.3k 112

Monty has continued his run of solid recent form, lifting his average to 112 for the year and meaning he'll likely rise in price by another 10 grand or so this week. Still in under 5,000 teams he still looks a great POD, and can hopefully maintain this form for another few weeks.



Trent Cotchin (RIC) MID 553.3k 111

Cotch has been in and out of the Best Buys all year, but is looking like he'll finish the season in. Averaging 111 for the season with a 10 grand price rise on the way, he is still in just under 90,000 sides and more of a negative POD than anything else.





REGULARS


Scott Pendlebury (COL) MID 580.8k 127

Ryan Griffen (WBD) MID 573.4k 122

Dane Swan (COL) MID 605.4k 119

Joel Selwood (GEE) MID 625k 116





RUCK

MID-PRICERS


Dean Cox (WCE) R/F 483.3k 106

Coxy is still Coxy, and without NicNat that should be good enough for most. In fact, it is good enough for most and the big Cox is still in over 160,000 sides, but with the ruck options looking pretty shallow at the moment his 106 average and 30 grand price rise coming will be all the more appealing.



Shane Mumford (SYD) RUC 477.3k 87

The POD in the ruck for this week is big Mummy, after a poor start to the year his average is only 87, and his 3 game average of 115 has boosted that considerably. In around 15,000 teams so far he looks to have come good of late, just in time for the Swans run at the flag, but is still a pretty big risk.





REGULARS


Todd Goldstein (NM) RUC 545.1k 112

Will Minson (WBD) RUC 519.4k 111





FORWARD

ROOKIES


Matt Spangher (HAW) FWD 128k 80 +71k

Spangher has looked very good in his first 2 matches for the Hawks, averaging 80 over them and snagging some nice goals. Facing a 70 grand price rise this week and looking the best value of the rookies this round, Spangher will be a popular downgrade for many.



Lewis Johnston (ADE) FWD 188.3k 82 +58k

Johnston has been given a lot of wraps by the commentators in his first 2 games at Adelaide, why we didn't hear these wraps earlier is a bit of a mystery but still, his 82 average goes some way to explaining why the attention now. Priced at just under 190 grand he is on the high side of the rookie&amp;rdquo; spectrum but if he can keep getting games for the Crows he could well be worth it.



Nathan Wilson (GWS) FWD 176k 30 -7k

Wilson is the dud of the rookies this week, nothing against him personally but his 30 average for a price of 175 grand really isn't going to cut it. I haven't had the chance to really see him play so I can't offer much explanation for his poor scores, other than he's playing for GWS.





MID-PRICERS


Nick Riewoldt (StK) FWD 451.8k 103

Roo has been a strange one this year, starting slow but then coming into near-career best form (and a 600 grand price tag) only to suddenly drop off again before looking to pick back up. Now priced at just over 450 grand you have to feel for the coaches who bought him in at top dollar, but really, that's fantasy football for you. Averaging 103 for the season and in 31,000 sides Roo will be looking to finish the year on a high.



Steven Motlop (GEE) FWD 457.7k 84

Motlop has really come along over the course of this season, with an 84 average for the year not doing him justice at all. A bit slow to start but now averaging a huge 124 from his last 3 games Motts is the epitome of POD, with around 15,000 selections and a massive ceiling. Another star of the future, and just under 460 grand this week.



Luke DAHLHAUS (WBD) FWD 438k 77

The Haus is another player to really step up his game of late, averaging 77 for the season but 111 for his last 3 games. This coincides with the Doggies great recent form, which is a bit chicken-and-egg, but for a young forward who exerts a lot of pressure the signs are all positive. Under 440 grand in price, and only 6,000 selections make him a good POD.



Kurt Tippett (SYD) FWD 452.6k 94

Spud Tippett appears to be another Sydney selection coup, greatly lifting his game since debuting for them and putting on some muscle in his extended pre-season. A player who always struggled with the physical side Tippett now looks better able to cope with the demands of AFL footy, and has a much stronger group around him for support. Priced at around 450 grand Tippett offers decent value for his 14,000 coaches, and is now giving rise to the question: does TTT live again?





Allan CHRISTENSEN (GEE) M/F 450.9k 90

Bundy is another Cat to have excelled after the mid-season break, bringing his years average up to 90 and his average over the last 3 games to 106. With only 7,000 selections Bundy has good POD value, to go with his 450 grand price-tag, and can offer some great bench cover for those with spare trades.



Chris Mayne (FRE) FWD 465.2k 92

Mayne has been good this season, he seems to be perpetually overlooked by many but that appears to be starting to change. Currently in around 11,000 sides he has averaged 92 for the year, and a solid 103 for his last 3 games. I won't go into the Fremantle fixture again, suffice to say most of you should be aware of what it means by now, but Mayne looks a great smoky for finals.





REGULARS


Steve Johnson (GEE) M/F 573.5k 116

Tom Rockliff (BRI) M/F 583.4k 107

Dustin MARTIN (RIC) M/F 522.6k 105