Who was brave enough to pick Buddy last week as he pulled out his highest score of the season? Or Cyril? On the other side of the coin, who picked Selwood (or any Cats player) or Goddard or Hodge? Or, to a lesser extent, the disappointing Dal Santo or Pendlebury?

This week, again, it seems difficult to pick because we are spoilt for choice. Let’s look at the numbers:

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Ablett v. Adelaide

Rd 8 2011: 198 SuperCoach points, 41 disposals
Rd 16 2010: 76 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 18 2009: 115 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals
Rd 4 2009: 197 SuperCoach points, 46 disposals
Rd 14 2008: 91 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals
Rd 19 2007: 86 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 11 2007: 104 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals

Average is 124 SuperCoach points with 27 disposals.

Note: Very puzzling figures against the Crows. Two huge scores against them including one earlier this season (boosted by his 15 possessions and 3 goals in the first quarter). He was tagged by Douglas in that game. In previous games has been tagged by Reilly and Shirley. Some very poor games against the Crows too. Been ultra consistent in the latter part of this season averaging 141 over his past 9 games (not including the game where he was injured and only scored 19).

Pendlebury v. Brisbane

Rd 10 2010: 132 SuperCoach points, 33 disposals
Rd 18 2009: 159 SuperCoach points, 36 disposals
Rd 4 2009: 147 SuperCoach points, 35 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 71 SuperCoach points, 12 disposals
Rd 17 2007: 6 SuperCoach points, 1 disposals
Rd 9 2007: 132 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals

Average is 108 SuperCoach points with 23 disposals.

Note: We can disregard the Rd 17 2007 game as Pendlebury was injured in the first quarter. Taking that score out, his average rises to 128 SuperCoach points with 27 disposals. The 71 SuperCoach points he scored in 2008 was a game played in the wet. Otherwise, he has scored big in all other games. Most recently tagged by Rischitelli. Scored his second lowest score for the season last round with 102 but had averaged 144 in the five games prior to last week (133, 160, 123, 145, 160).

Swan v. Brisbane

Rd 10 2010: 122 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 18 2009: 170 SuperCoach points, 36 disposals
Rd 4 2009: 73 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 97 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 17 2007: 88 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 9 2007: 117 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals

Average is 111 SuperCoach points with 26 disposals.

Note: Has played the last two games against the Lions playing head to head against Rich. Only one big game against the Lions which was in Rd 18 2009. In exceptional form at the moment and is averaging 156 over his previous three games (156, 136, 176).

Dal Santo v. Sydney

Rd 1 2010: 78 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals
Rd 18 2009: 101 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 161 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals
Rd 12 2008: 45 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals
Rd 1 2008: 145 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 19 2007: 95 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals
Rd 7 2007: 121 SuperCoach points, 16 disposals

Average is 107 SuperCoach points with 20 disposals.

Note: Not the best record against the Swans. Tagged by Kirk in the game last year and tagged by Luke Ablett in the game prior to that one. His 100 SuperCoach points last round was his lowest score since Round 12. He had averaged 148 over the seven games prior to last round (133, 189, 158, 107, 174, 139, 134).

Goddard v. Sydney

Rd 1 2010: 131 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 18 2009: 132 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 128 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 12 2008: 88 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals
Rd 7 2007: 27 SuperCoach points, 4 disposals

Average is 101 SuperCoach points with 20 disposals.

Note: Very good recent history against the Swans. He was tagged by Jack in the game last year and then was moved to the backline. In the game prior to that, he played head to head with O’Keefe. Had a poor game last week with only 81 – he had not scored below 100 in his previous six games (100, 138, 119, 106, 108, 161) – an average of 122.

Cox v. Essendon

Rd 7 2011: 125 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals, 34 hitouts
Rd 16 2010: 84 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals, 23 hitouts
Rd 4 2010: 119 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals, 30 hitouts
Rd 19 2008: 97 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals, 36 hitouts
Rd 12 2008: 56 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals, 29 hitouts
Rd 22 2007: 76 SuperCoach points, 12 disposals, 27 hitouts
Rd 11 2007: 67 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals, 28 hitouts

Average is 89 SuperCoach points with 16 disposals and 30 hitouts.

Note: Poor record against the Bombers. Only scored above 100 in two out of the seven games. There is a question mark over the extent of his rib injury but he managed to score a very solid 124 last round. Prior to last round, he had managed scores of 78, 213, 149 and 137 – an average of 140 over these five games.

Judd v. Hawthorn

Rd 9 2010: 109 SuperCoach points, 30 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 126 SuperCoach points, 34 disposals
Rd 22 2008: 117 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals
Rd 9 2007: 109 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals

Average is 115 SuperCoach points with 30 disposals.

Note: Very solid, but not spectacular average against the Hawks. Is normally tagged by Sewell. Has been solid recently with scores of 125, 163, 88, 197, 122, 106, 180 –an average of 140 over these seven games.

Murphy v. Hawthorn

Rd 9 2010: 119 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 107 SuperCoach points, 33 disposals
Rd 22 2008: 139 SuperCoach points, 36 disposals
Rd 12 2007: 94 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals

Average is 115 SuperCoach points with 27 disposals.

Note: Similar numbers to Judd. Only one big score amongst the four games. Does not seem to get tagged by the Hawks. Consistent recent form with scores of 118, 110, 138, 131, 113, 103, 118 – at an average of 119 (over seven games).

Pavlich v. North Melbourne

Rd 4 2011: 158 SuperCoach points, 34 disposals
Rd 19 2010: 41 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals
Rd 10 2010: 99 SuperCoach points, 20 disposals
Rd 9 2009: 80 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals
Rd 12 2008: 164 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals
Rd 15 2007: 97 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals

Average is 107 SuperCoach points with 20 disposals.

Note: Two big scores against the Roos but otherwise, no other scores over 100. Grima has manned up on him in recent times. Inconsistent recent form with scores of 115, 96, 117, 74 and 82 – an average of only 97.

Sandilands v. North Melbourne

Rd 4 2011: 117 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals, 38 hitouts
Rd 10 2010: 90 SuperCoach points, 10 disposals, 36 hitouts
Rd 9 2009: 83 SuperCoach points, 12 disposals, 43 hitouts
Rd 12 2008: 87 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals, 19 hitouts
Rd 15 2007: 78 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals, 22 hitouts

Average is 91 SuperCoach points with 14 disposals and 32 hitouts

Note: Only one score over 100 against the Roos. Returned from injury last week with 94 SuperCoach points. Had been in good form prior to his injury this season averaging 121 SuperCoach points in his first eight games.

Franklin v. Carlton

Rd 9 2010: 133 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals, 5 goals, 4 behinds
Rd 6 2009: 70 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals, 2 goals, 1 behind
Rd 22 2008: 86 SuperCoach points, 14 disposals, 4 goals, 5 behinds

Average is 96 SuperCoach points with 15 disposals and 3 and a half goals.

Note: Manned up by Thornton and/or Jamieson in the game last year. Coming off a season high 162 last week. However, he had only scored more than 100 in two out of the seven games prior to last week (96, 63, 132, 132, 66, 89, 85) – an average of 95.

Hodge v. Carlton

Rd 9 2010: 136 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 79 SuperCoach points, 16 disposals
Rd 22 2008: 167 SuperCoach points, 32 disposals
Rd 12 2007: 181 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals

Average is 141 SuperCoach points with 27 disposals.

Note: Some very big scores against the Blues. Kicked 4 goals in the game in 2007 which helped him reach 181. Played loose across half back in 2008 for the first half (before being tagged by Grigg) which helped him get 167. Terrible game last week with 66 SuperCoach points after averaging 133 in the four games prior to that (117, 110, 163, 142).

Mitchell v. Carlton

Rd 9 2010: 85 SuperCoach points, 23 disposals
Rd 6 2009: 155 SuperCoach points, 35 disposals
Rd 22 2008: 100 SuperCoach points, 28 disposals
Rd 12 2007: 100 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals

Average is 110 SuperCoach points with 28 disposals.

Note: Only one big score against the Blues. Was tagged by Carazzo in the game last year. Is normally the first player that the Blues will tag. Big score last week with 155. Averaging 130 over his five previous games (155, 137, 117, 111, 129).

Boyd v. Port Adelaide

Rd 16 2010: 130 SuperCoach points, 35 disposals
Rd 12 2009: 92 SuperCoach points, 29 disposals
Rd 14 2008: 78 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals
Rd 14 2007: 129 SuperCoach points, 31 disposals

Average is 107 SuperCoach points with 30 disposals.

Note: Inconsistent record against the Power. Two good scores and two very ordinary scores. Played head to head against Rodan in the game last year but was tagged by Kane Cornes in the game prior to that one. Has not scored over 120 since Rd 12 (averaging 99 over his previous eight games this season).


My opinion: In terms of the historical stats above, Pendlebury, Hodge and Ablett rank the highest. In terms of recent form, Swan is really stepping up. I think his short break has done him wonders. Meanwhile, Pendlebury, Dal Santo and Ablett are still scoring well.

In my opinion, I would pick, in order: Swan, Pendlebury, Ablett and then Dal Santo.

Good luck to all!!