The statistics below show two clear captain’s choices for the round. (By the way, due to some demand, I have now added scores from finals as well). Unfortunately, one of those players is Franklin (who averaged a massive 140 SuperCoach points in 6 games against the Bombers with just over 6 goals per game).

The other player is …

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Ablett v. Western Bulldogs

Rd 3 2011: 141 SuperCoach points, 34 disposals
Rd 20 2010: 154 SuperCoach points, 39 disposals
QF 2009: 131 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals
Rd 21 2009: 122 SuperCoach points, 40 disposals
Rd 9 2009: 149 SuperCoach points, 38 disposals
PF 2008: 116 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 16 2007: 127 SuperCoach points, 35 disposals
Rd 1 2007: 97 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals

Average is 130 SuperCoach points with 34 disposals.

Note: Who missed the Ablett train this year? Is it too late to get him? He has averaged 148 over his past 5 games this season. These 5 games have all been losses (by an average of 53 points). Can still score heavily in a losing team. Has averaged 139 SuperCoach points with 36 possessions in his past 5 games against the Bulldogs. (And he plays Fremantle next week – in his 3 most recent games against the Dockers he averaged 141 SuperCoach points with 35 disposals).

Pendlebury v. Sydney

Rd 13 2010: 97 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 21 2009: 77 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals
Rd 21 2008: 147 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 14 2008: 75 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
EF 2007: 114 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals
Rd 21 2007: 82 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 12 2007: 109 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals

Average is 100 SuperCoach points with 21 disposals.

Note: Not the best record against the Swans. Only cracked the ton in 3 out of the 7 games. Coming off a bye. Had averaged 135 SuperCoach points in his past four games. Been consistently good this season (only three scores below 120).

Swan v. Sydney

Rd 13 2010: 101 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals
Rd 21 2009: 90 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 12 2009: 126 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 21 2008: 139 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals
Rd 14 2008: 101 SuperCoach points, 30 disposals
EF 2007: 105 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals
Rd 21 2007: 122 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals
Rd 12 2007: 50 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals

Average is 104 SuperCoach points with 25 disposals.

Note: Take out the Rd 12 2007 score and his average jumps to 112 SuperCoach points with 26 disposals. Has not played senior football for two weeks. In the four previous games, he only averaged 90 (with scores of 94, 86, 80 and 98). Now back from Arizona, he is definitely drug free and raring to go.

Goodes v. Collingwood

Rd 13 2010: 16 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals
Rd 21 2009: 107 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals
Rd 12 2009: 92 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 21 2008: 87 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals
EF 2007: 146 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 21 2007: 193 SuperCoach points, 33 disposals
Rd 12 2007: 96 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals

Average is 105 SuperCoach points with 23 disposals.

Note: Typical Goodes scores. Some shockers (16 most recently) and some huge scores (193 back in 2007). Previous three scores this season have been 104, 53 and 144. Model of inconsistency. Not worth the risk in my opinion.

Cox v. Carlton

Rd 17 2010: 33 SuperCoach points, 8 disposals, 16 hitouts
Rd 10 2010: 81 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals, 26 hitouts
Rd 10 2009: 116 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals, 29 hitouts
Rd 7 2008: 149 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals, 36 hitouts
Rd 4 2007: 125 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals, 22 hitouts

Average is 101 SuperCoach points with 18 disposals and 26 hitouts.

Note: Take out the 2010 numbers and his average jumps to 130 SuperCoach points with 24 disposals and 29 hitouts. Recent form has been good but not great. Averaging 120 over his past 4 games – but only one game over 114 which was 166 three rounds ago. Facing a rejuvenated Kreuzer who has a lot to prove.

Watson v. Hawthorn

Rd 13 2010: 150 SuperCoach points, 33 disposals
Rd 6 2010: 140 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 22 2009: 90 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
Rd 7 2009: 89 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 18 2007: 72 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 6 2007: 77 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals

Average is 103 SuperCoach points with 26 disposals.

Note: A great record against the Hawks in 2010. Failed to reach 100 prior to that year. Since returning from injury has only managed scores of 67 and 94. Essendon in a form slump.

Hodge v. Essendon

Rd 13 2010: 67 SuperCoach points, 12 disposals
Rd 6 2010: 118 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 22 2009: 91 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 7 2009: 45 SuperCoach points, 11 disposals
Rd 11 2008: 140 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 18 2007: 108 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals
Rd 6 2007: 72 SuperCoach points, 16 disposals

Average is 92 SuperCoach points with 18 disposals.

Note: A pretty ordinary record against the Bombers. Recently kept quiet by Hocking. Only one big score of 140 which was back in 2008. His recent form very ordinary with scores of 115, 55 and 95.

Mitchell v. Essendon

Rd 13 2010: 110 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 22 2009: 113 SuperCoach points, 36 disposals
Rd 7 2009: 68 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 11 2008: 59 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals
Rd 18 2007: 114 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 6 2007: 83 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals

Average is 91 SuperCoach points with 26 disposals.

Note: Like Hodge, an ordinary record against the Bombers. No big scores against them. Four most recent games this season he has averaged 121.

Rioli v. Essendon

Rd 13 2010: 102 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals
Rd 6 2010: 47 SuperCoach points, 12 disposals
Rd 22 2009: 62 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals
Rd 7 2009: 104 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 11 2008: 47 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals

Average is 72 SuperCoach points with 17 disposals.

Note: Seems all of the Hawks, except for Franklin, have a poor record against the Bombers. Only two scores barely above 100 amongst some shocking scores. Recent form patchy with scores of 85, 113, 121 and 84.

Judd v. West Coast

Rd 17 2010: 110 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 10 2010: 142 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 10 2009: 110 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 7 2008: 112 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals

Average is 119 SuperCoach points with 26 disposals.

Note: Very solid but unspectacular record against his former side. Has only averaged 95 in his three most recent games (92, 111 and 83).

Murphy v. West Coast

Rd 17 2010: 129 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 10 2010: 135 SuperCoach points, 36 disposals
Rd 10 2009: 143 SuperCoach points, 32 disposals
Rd 7 2008: 85 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 4 2007: 52 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals

Average is 109 SuperCoach points with 26 disposals.

Note: Great record against the Eagles in the past couple of years. Last three games against them, his average is 136 SuperCoach points with 31 disposals. In fantastic form at the moment – averaging 136 SuperCoach points over his previous 5 games (second behind Ablett in the league).


My opinion: The clear choice is Ablett. Full stop. Perma-captain is back. He is also playing a Bulldogs side that is really struggling and making a long interstate trip. (Franklin would have been a good choice too but for his untimely suspension – and I suspect he may have burned a few people last week anyway …).

Swan is a bit of an unknown. Will he return to his best or will he continue to give us the sub-100 scores (4 in a row!) he gave us before his trip to Arizona?

After Ablett, Murphy is in a purple patch at the moment and has a great record against the Eagles. He is the second choice and is closely followed by Pendlebury. Pendlebury doesn’t have the best record against the Swans but his recent consistently good form is impossible to ignore. After Pendlebury, I would pick Cox. Finally, I would pick Boyd who will be making the long interstate trip to take on the Suns. Bulldogs are struggling at the moment and Boyd has been a little up and down recently (91, 164, 72) but he should bounce back with a big one.

To summarise, Ablett, Murphy, Pendlebury, Cox and then Boyd.

Good luck to all!!