Swan has left the country. Has Ablett now done enough to resume his mantle of perma-captain? There seem to be a number of players in great form at the moment. Picking a captain is proving unbelievably difficult - as shown by the low scores by Judd and Selwood last week. Do we trust them again? Can we trust any St Kilda player??

Hopefully the numbers assist some of you. Unfortunately, the numbers don’t really point to any particular player …

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Ablett v. North Melbourne

Rd 14 2010: 106 SuperCoach points, 33 disposals
Rd 21 2008: 83 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals
Rd 11 2008: 180 SuperCoach points, 39 disposals
Rd 20 2007: 153 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals
Rd 5 2007: 68 SuperCoach points, 16 disposals
Rd 17 2006: 9 SuperCoach points, 5 disposals
Rd 2 2006: 126 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals

Average is 104 SuperCoach points with 24 disposals.

Note: Take out the Rd 17 game in 2006 when he received a shoulder injury in the first quarter and his average jumps to 119 SuperCoach points with 27 disposals. Has been in vintage form recently – scores of 154, 106 and 198 at an average of 153 (to lead the league).

Cox v. Adelaide

Rd 15 2010: 101 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 9 2008: 83 SuperCoach points, 12 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 146 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 13 2007: 134 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 2 2006: 128 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals
Rd 22 2005: 110 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 1 2005: 87 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals

Average is 113 SuperCoach points with 20 disposals.

Note: Solid record against the Crows. In great form at the moment averaging 128 over his past 6 games. Scored a huge 166 against the Suns last week. Should have a big game against Sam Jacobs – even if the game is at AAMI.

Pendlebury v. Melbourne

Rd 12 2010: 123 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 122 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 11 2009: 108 SuperCoach points, 39 disposals
Rd 2 2009: 86 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 20 2007: 40 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals
Rd 11 2007: 72 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals

Average is 92 SuperCoach points with 25 disposals.

Note: Has averaged 118 over his past 3 games against Melbourne. One of the best performing player in the competition at the moment averaging 137 over his past 3 games (149, 138, 124). Been very consistent all season. Will be interesting to see how he plays without Swan and Thomas running next to him though.

Goodes v. Richmond

Rd 14 2010: 72 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals
Rd 3 2010: 99 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals
Rd 19 2009: 223 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 58 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals
Rd 10 2008: 142 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 17: 2007: 113 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
Rd 2 2007: 115 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals

Average is 117 SuperCoach points with 19 disposals.

Note: Any risk takers out there? Anyone like that score of 223 in Rd 19 2009?? It was a game at the MCG. Goodes kicked 4 goals, 3 behinds that day. Imagine if he kicked straight … Goodes is the classic hot and cold player. Note the earlier score of 58 in the same year. He scored 144 last round but only 68 the week prior. Probably too inconsistent to be given the nod as captain.

Judd v. Brisbane

Rd 14 2010: 123 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 11 2009: 163 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 2 2009: 130 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 21 2008: 139 SuperCoach points, 33 disposals
Rd 8 2008: 105 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 14 2007: 112 SuperCoach points, 35 disposals

Average is 129 SuperCoach points with 29 disposals.

Notes: Fantastic solid and consistent record against the Lions. And yes, in the article last week I suggested him as captain and he rewarded us all with his lowest score for the season (83). Will that be enough to scare us away this week?? Prior to the 83, he scored 155, 102, 99 and 154.

Murphy v. Brisbane

Rd 14 2010: 106 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 11 2009: 111 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 2 2009: 104 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals
Rd 21 2008: 124 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals
Rd 8 2008: 133 SuperCoach points, 32 disposals
Rd 16 2007: 21 SuperCoach points, 11 disposals
Rd 5 2007: 92 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals

Average is 99 SuperCoach points with 23 disposals.

Notes: The 21 SuperCoach points in Rd 16 2007 was the game where the Blues were flogged by the Lions 163 to 46. Take out both 2007 games and Murphy’s average jumps to 116 SuperCoach points with 27 disposals. Hasn’t pulled out a huge game against the Lions. However, has the second highest average (behind Ablett) over the past three games this season of 140 (127, 147 and 145).

Selwood v. Hawthorn

Rd 5 2011: 115 SuperCoach points, 32 disposals
Rd 15 2010: 144 SuperCoach points, 30 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 95 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 185 SuperCoach points, 42 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 71 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 138 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals

Average is 125 SuperCoach points with 30 disposals.

Notes: Solid record against the Hawks with a big 185 SuperCoach points back in 2009. He burnt a lot of people with 103 last week but in the previous 4 games was averaging 134.

Bartel v. Hawthorn

Rd 5 2011: 120 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 15 2010: 156 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 128 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 109 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 99 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 153 SuperCoach points, 36 disposals
Rd 4 2007: 165 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals

Average is 133 SuperCoach points with 29 disposals.

Notes: Is the Geelong player with the best record against the Hawks. Rarely has a bad game against Hawthorn. Last round returned to form with 144. A bit patchy before that game with returns of 82, 61 and 102).

Johnson v. Hawthorn

Rd 5 2011: 79 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 77 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 119 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 111 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals

Average is 97 SuperCoach points with 24 disposals.

Notes: No big scores against the Hawks and not the best recent record against them either. However, is in career best form coming off the back of two huge games (147 and 162).

Chapman v. Hawthorn

Rd 5 2011: 120 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 15 2010: 125 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 121 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 103 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 121 SuperCoach points, 30 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 67 SuperCoach points, 16 disposals
Rd 4 2007: 63 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals

Average is 103 SuperCoach points with 23 disposals.

Notes: Take out the 2008 and 2007 scores and his average jumps to 118 SuperCoach points with 26 disposals. Missed last week. Was not in great form prior to that averaging only 83 over the previous 4 games.

Hodge v. Geelong

Rd 5 2011: 47 SuperCoach points, 12 disposals
Rd 15 2010: 103 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 94 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 53 SuperCoach points, 11 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 57 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 72 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals
Rd 4 2007: 111 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals

Average is 77 SuperCoach points with 19 disposals.

Notes: Terrible numbers. And Chris Scott has already said that he is going to tag Hodge with Ling. He only managed 95 SuperCoach points in last week’s win. However, Hodge did score a nice 155 SuperCoach points with 26 disposals in the 2008 Grand Final …

Rioli v. Geelong

Rd 5 2011: 73 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 15 2010: 115 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 82 SuperCoach points, 10 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 76 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 75 SuperCoach points, 10 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 99 SuperCoach points, 16 disposals

Average is 87 SuperCoach points with 16 disposals.

Notes: Not great numbers either. I looked up the 2008 Grand Final numbers (who can forget Rioli’s brilliance!) and he only managed 85 SuperCoach points with 10 disposals. Kicked 5 goals with 121 SuperCoach points last week.

Mitchell v. Geelong

Rd 5 2011: 109 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 64 SuperCoach points, 30 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 117 SuperCoach points, 38 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 127 SuperCoach points, 34 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 113 SuperCoach points, 33 disposals
Rd 4 2007: 81 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals

Average is 102 SuperCoach points with 30 disposals.

Notes: Seems that no-one from Hawthorn manages to get consistently high numbers against the Cats (I looked up Franklin’s numbers and he only averaged 102 SuperCoach points over the past 8 games against them). Mitchell with solid games of 123 and 125 in previous 2 games.

Dal Santo v. Western Bulldogs

Rd 6 2010: 118 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 88 SuperCoach points, 39 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 97 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 11 2008: 118 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals
Rd 3 2008: 75 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
Rd 18 2007: 110 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals
Rd 3 2007: 120 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals

Average is 104 SuperCoach points with 25 disposals.

Notes: A solid record but nothing spectacular. Highest score against Bulldogs was 120 SuperCoach points back in 2007. Seems to be returning to form with scores of 123 and 137 following below par games of 78 and 81.

Goddard v. Western Bulldogs

Rd 6 2010: 98 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 152 SuperCoach points, 37 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 174 SuperCoach points, 33 disposals
Rd 11 2008: 92 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 3 2008: 103 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
Rd 3 2007: 144 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 21 2006: 108 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 6 2006: 169 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals

Average is 130 SuperCoach points with 27 disposals.

Notes: Fantastic record against the Bulldogs with nice scores of 152, 174 and 169. However, Goddard is clearly struggling this year – he has only hit the 100 once in the past 6 weeks.

Riewoldt v. Western Bulldogs

Rd 17 2009: 141 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals, 5 goals, 1 behind
Rd 6 2009: 129 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals, 4 goals, 5 behinds
Rd 11 2008: 63 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals, 2 goals, 2 behinds
Rd 3 2008: 65 SuperCoach points, 10 disposals, 2 goals
Rd 18 2007: 164 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals, 3 goals, 2 behinds
Rd 3 2007: 125 SuperCoach points, 10 disposals, 4 goals, 2 behinds
Rd 21 2006: 107 SuperCoach points, 10 disposals, 5 goals, 1 behind
Rd 6 2006: 116 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals, 1 goal

Average is 114 SuperCoach points with 15 disposals and over 3 goals

Notes: Great scores every year except for 2008. Take out those scores and his average jumps to 130. However, like Goddard, in terrible form – only breaking the 100 once in his past 7 games.

Boyd v. St Kilda

Rd 17 2009: 123 SuperCoach points, 39 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 65 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 11 2008: 123 SuperCoach points, 34 disposals
Rd 3 2008: 84 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals
Rd 18 2007: 104 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 3 2007: 85 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 21 2006: 88 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 6 2006: 68 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals

Average is 93 SuperCoach points with 25 disposals.

Notes: Scores a bit up and down against the Saints. No huge scores. Scored a 72 last round. Has not scored over 130 since Round 5.

Priddis v. Adelaide

Rd 15 2010: 64 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals
Rd 21 2009: 64 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 9 2008: 143 SuperCoach points, 34 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 93 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 13 2007: 86 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals

Average is 90 SuperCoach points with 25 disposals.

Notes: Terrible numbers against the Crows. Been in consistent, but not great, form recently with scores of 117, 112, 109 and 126.

Thompson v. West Coast

Rd 15 2010: 81 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 21 2009: 115 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 9 2008: 135 SuperCoach points, 32 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 133 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 13 2007: 65 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 17 2006: 97 SuperCoach points, 30 disposals
Rd 2 2006: 67 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals

Average is 99 SuperCoach points with 27 disposals.

Notes: Nice scores in 2008 but otherwise quite unimpressive. Coming off a terrible 76 last round.


My opinion: Looking at recent form, Ablett, Murphy, Pendlebury, Cox and Johnson lead the pack. Looking at the numbers Bartel, Goddard and Judd look very good.

I generally look for someone who appears in both categories but this week, as you can see, no-one fits the bill.

Recent form might also suggest Andrew Swallow who scored big last week. He is playing Gold Coast on the weekend.

For me, Pendlebury against Melbourne looks very enticing. So does Cox against Adelaide. Ablett’s numbers against North haven’t been the best but he appears to be in a purple patch at the moment. Judd and Murphy look like safe bets against a struggling Brisbane side. Selwood, as always, is a safe and consistent pick but is playing against a Hawthorn team that is on a roll. I think it is pretty hard to separate all these players.

In my opinion, I would pick Ablett, then Pendlebury, then Cox, then Murphy and then Selwood.

Good luck to all!!