[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]Well last weekend we were introduced to the captain's loophole whereby we couldselect a player from the Crows, Bombers, Eagles or Dockers as our vice-captain.


The popular choices were Cox who disappointed with 96 and Watson who posted an [span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]impressive 126.



It is important to note, however, that this season, the loophole” continues during the[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]round as well. That is, You can change your captain and vice captain as often as you[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]like, prior to the start of the round and during a round and Rolling Lockout, up until the

time that your currently selected captain's (or vice captain's) match has started. At this [span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]point, your selection is locked in for the round and cannot be changed.”



This means that we during the year, we can select a player from an early game in the[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]round as our vice-captain and, if happy with that score, remember to put the captaincy[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]on a non-playing player whose team is playing later that round.


Murphy v. Richmond



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

Rd 20 2010: 137 SC points, 25 disposals

Rd 1 2010: 119 SC points, 24 disposals

Rd 15 2009: 101 SC points, 19 disposals

Rd 1 2009: 150 SC points, 28 disposals

Rd 14 2008: 90 SC points, 19 disposals

Rd 1 2008: 111 SC points, 21 disposals



Average is 121 SC points with 26 disposals.




Note: Solid but not amazing games against the Tigers until most recently in Round[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]18. He was tagged by Conca but managed a huge 160 points. Will be looking to have[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]a fantastic season as captain of the Blues.


Swan v. North Melbourne



Rd 16 2011: 132 SC points, 39 disposals

Rd 2 2011: 152 SC points, 40 disposals

Rd 7 2010: 127 SC points, 38 disposals

Rd 6 2009: 127 SC points, 33 disposals

Rd 16 2008: 88 SC points, 22 disposals

Rd 5 2008: 87 SC points, 20 disposals

Rd 1 2007: 122 SC points, 21 disposals



Average is 119 SC points with 30 disposals.




Note: Fantastic recent record against North averaging 135 with 38 disposals in his[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]past four games against them.


Selwood v. Hawthorn



Rd 19 2012: 132 SC points, 29 disposals

Rd 2 2012: 112 SC points, 25 disposals

QF 2011: 117 SC points, 20 disposals

Rd 12 2011: 72 SC points, 19 disposals

Rd 5 2011: 115 SC points, 32 disposals

Rd 15 2010: 144 SC points, 30 disposals

Rd 2 2010: 95 SC points, 22 disposals

Rd 17 2009: 185 SC points, 42 disposals

Rd 1 2009: 71 SC points, 25 disposals

GF 2008: 106 SC points, 29 disposals

Rd 17 2008: 138 SC points, 31 disposals



Average is 117 SC points with 28 disposals.




Notes: Slightly inconsistent record against the Hawks with a big 185 SC points back[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]in 2009 but a low score of 71 in the same year. Most recently played head to head[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]against Mitchell. Previously tagged by Lewis or Sewell.


Ablett v. St Kilda



Rd 11 2012: 64 SC points, 20 disposals

Rd 2 2012: 143 SC points, 40 disposals

Rd 19 2011: 138 SC points, 34 disposals

QF 2010: 75 SC points, 21 disposals

Rd 13 2010: 154 SC points, 32 disposals

GF 2009: 123 SC points, 25 disposals

Rd 14 2009: 105 SC points, 27 disposals

QF 2008: 136 SC points, 35 disposals

Rd 4 2008: 115 SC points, 26 disposals

Rd 10 2007: 103 SC points, 27 disposals



Average is 116 SC points with 29 disposals.




Note: Shocking most recent game against St Kilda. Surprisingly, this was the only[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]game in recent memory when he was not tagged by Clint Jones (who went to Harley[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]Bennell). If you take out the two scores below 100, his average jumps to 125.


Pendlebury v. North Melbourne



Rd 21 2012: 86 SC points, 24 disposals

Rd 16 2011: 160 SC points, 29 disposals

Rd 2 2011: 162 SC points, 39 disposals

Rd 7 2010: 70 SC points, 26 disposals

Rd 6 2009: 110 SC points, 31 disposals

Rd 16 2008: 115 SC points, 25 disposals

Rd 5 2008: 89 SC points, 25 disposals

Rd 1 2007: 85 SC points, 18 disposals



Average is 110 SC points with 27 disposals.




Note: Poor most recent score against North in a game where North won 91 to 61. This[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]was his second lowest score for the season as he played head to head against Swallow.
Great scores in 2011 against North Melbourne with scores of 160 (tagged by Firrito)[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]and 162.


Franklin v. Geelong



Rd 2 2012: 89 SC points, 16 disposals, 2 goals, 4 behinds

QF 2011: 93 SC points, 8 disposals, 4 goals, 3 behinds

Rd 12 2011: 85 SC points, 15 disposals, 4 goals, 2 behinds

Rd 5 2011: 95 SC points, 14 disposals, 3 goals, 1 behind

Rd 15 2010: 141 SC points, 22 disposals, 3 goals, 3 behinds

Rd 2 2010: 83 SC points, 16 disposals, 2 goals, 3 behinds

Rd 17 2009: 121 SC points, 20 disposals, 5 goals, 2 behinds

Rd 1 2009: 119 SC points, 13 disposals, 5 goals, 2 behinds

GF 2008: 59 SC points, 12 disposals, 2 goals, 1 behind

Rd 17 2008: 105 SC points, 13 disposals, 4 goals, 5 behinds

Rd 4 2007: 92 SC points, 19 disposals, 1 goal, 3 behinds



Average is 98 SC points with 15 disposals with 3 goals.




Notes: Poor record against Geelong. Normally manned by Lonergan or Taylor. Seven[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]scores below 100 in 11 games.


Beams v. North Melbourne



Rd 21 2012: 166 SC points, 38 disposals

Rd 2 2011: 102 SC points, 26 disposals

Rd 7 2010: 74 SC points, 22 disposals

Rd 6 2009: 40 SC points, 9 disposals



Average is 96 SC points with 24 disposals.



Note: Great most recent score against North. He kicked two goals in that game.

Otherwise, only a small sample size.



My opinion:
At this early stage of the season, it is hard to ignore Ablett's[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]unbelievable average last year which was 138. Scores of 145, 66 and 137 during the[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]pre-season are encouraging. Following Ablett, a Collingwood player against North[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]would be a solid option. Each of the Collingwood big three have great recent scores[span style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3;]against North.



As usual, I will have a look at the teams playing Gold Coast and Greater Western[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]Sydney. St Kilda play Gold Coast. In their Round 11 game last year, Riewoldt top[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]scored with 159 and he was followed by Jason Blake with 144. A popular captain[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]choice would be Dal Santo who only managed 112. In their Round 2 game last year,[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]Goddard top scored with 147 and Dal Santo managed 112 (again). Back in Round 19[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]in 2011, Dal Santo scored an incredible 189 from 39 touches.



Sydney are playing Greater Western Sydney this week. In Round 14 last year,[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]the Swans were led by Jack with 147, McVeigh with 137, O'Keefe with 124 and[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]Kennedy with 123 (tagged by Treloar). In their Round 1 game last year, the Swans[span style='font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;]were led by a best on ground performance by Kennedy (matched up against Ward)[span style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3;]with 137 and he was helped by Jack with 133.


For me, I am going Ablett, then Pendlebury, then Swan and then Kennedy.



Good luck to all!!