Round 1 recap: Ablett was my choice last week (and I am thinking that the masses did the same) and he didn’t disappoint with a very solid 139. My second choice was Cox who only managed 110 against the Bulldogs which would have disappointed many after his mammoth scores of 213 and 149 against them last season. My fourth choice of Scott Thompson continued his great form against the Suns with 147 (following up scores of 162 and 136 last season). The risky pick of Franklin would have made everyone happy as he managed a great 142 against the Tarrant-less Magpies.

Round 1 regrets: All my picks for the captain’s loophole failed with Mumford (95), Goodes (90) and Judd, who was my third choice, (94) all underperforming.

Now to Round 2, and the captain’s loophole is open again with the early game of Brisbane against Carlton tonight. The candidates for the loophole would be Judd, Murphy or Rockliff. The numbers begin over the break …

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Judd v. Brisbane

Rd 12 2011: 111 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 14 2010: 123 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 11 2009: 163 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 2 2009: 130 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 21 2008: 139 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 8 2008: 105 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 14 2007: 112 SC points, 35 disposals

Average is 126 SC points with 30 disposals.

Notes: Solid and consistent record against the Lions with no scores below 100. Last year played head to head against Power and the year before was matched up against Rich. Started the season slowly with 94 from 26 touches last round.

Murphy v. Brisbane

Rd 12 2011: 122 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 14 2010: 106 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 11 2009: 111 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 2 2009: 104 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 21 2008: 124 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 8 2008: 133 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 16 2007: 21 SC points, 11 disposals
Rd 5 2007: 92 SC points, 17 disposals

Average is 101 SC points with 24 disposals.

Notes: Solid record from 2008 onwards. Only scored 21 SC points in Rd 16 2007 when Carlton was smashed by the Lions 163 to 46. Take out both 2007 games and Murphy’s average jumps to 117 SC points with 27 disposals. No big games against the Lions. Solid last round with 119 from 32 touches.

Rockliff v. Carlton

Rd 12 2011: 90 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 14 2010: 65 SC points, 25 disposals

Average is 78 SC points with 24 disposals.

Notes: The small sample size doesn’t really tell the story. After his 90 against Carlton in Round 12 last season, Rockliff did not score under 100 for the rest of the season. Over the final 11 games of the season, he averaged 125. Started the season well with 139 SC points from 23 disposals and 3 goals and 5 behinds. The question is whether he will get tagged by Carrazzo (who tagged Rich in the game last year).

Dal Santo v. Gold Coast

Rd 19 2011: 189 SC points, 39 disposals

Note: Only one game against the Suns – but a huge one. Had a huge game in Round 1 with 148 SC points from 28 disposals with 2 goals.

Swan v. Richmond

Rd 4 2011: 163 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 17 2010: 190 SC points, 37 disposals
Rd 20 2009: 149 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 3 2008: 69 SC points, 18 disposals
Rd 19 2007: 51 SC points, 13 disposals
Rd 3 2007: 132 SC points, 35 disposals

Average is 126 SC points with 28 disposals.

Note: Fantastic recent record against Richmond. Three huge recent scores. Able to accumulate possessions despite being tagged by the likes of Tuck or Jackson. A quiet start to the year with 92 against the Hawks last round.

Ablett v. St Kilda

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 119 SC points with 28 disposals.

Note: One poor game in the Qualifying Final in 2010. Taking out this game and his average jumps to 125 with 29 disposals. He is the obvious candidate to get tagged by Clint Jones. Had a great Round 1 with 139 SC points from 42 disposals with 2 goals.

Selwood v. Hawthorn

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 116 SC points with 28 disposals.

Notes: Slightly inconsistent record against the Hawks with a big 185 SC points back in 2009 but a low score of 71 in the same year. Was tagged by Lewis in the Qualifying Final last year but more commonly wears the Sewell tag. 33 disposals with 116 SC points last week in Geelong’s loss.

Cox v. Melbourne

Rd 21 2011: 124 SC points, 17 disposals, 21 hitouts
Rd 6 2011: 131 SC points, 23 disposals, 20 hitouts
Rd 8 2010: 119 SC points, 25 disposals, 14 hitouts
Rd 7 2009: 123 SC points, 23 disposals, 27 hitouts
Rd 20 2008: 104 SC points, 24 disposals, 13 hitouts
Rd 8 2007: 61 SC points, 14 disposals, 15 hitouts

Average is 110 SC points with 21 disposals and 18 hitouts.

Note: Solid and consistent record for the past four years against Melbourne. Take out his 61 in 2007 and his average jumps to 120.

Pendlebury v. Richmond

Rd 4 2011: 132 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 17 2010: 84 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 20 2009: 116 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 3 2008: 87 SC points, 21 disposals
Rd 3 2007: 92 SC points, 16 disposals

Average is 102 SC points with 25 disposals.

Note: Poor record against Richmond. Has played head to head against Deledio in the past. Swan normally cops the Richmond tag. Huge first week with 167 against Hawthorn last round.

Franklin v. Geelong

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 99 SC points with 15 disposals with 3 goals.

Notes: Poor record against Geelong. Highest score of only 127 back in 2009. 5 scores under 100 from 9 matches. 32 disposals with 139 SC points last week against the Pies.

Mitchell v. Geelong

QF 2011: 94 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 12 2011: 92 SC points, 38 disposals
Rd 5 2011: 109 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 2 2010: 64 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 117 SC points, 38 disposals
Rd 1 2009: 127 SC points, 34 disposals
GF 2008: 60 SC points, 13 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 113 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 4 2007: 81 SC points, 13 disposals

Average is 95 SC points with 27 disposals.

Notes: Poor record against Geelong. Highest score of only 127 back in 2009. 5 scores under 100 from 9 matches. 32 disposals with 139 SC points last week against the Pies.

My opinion: From the Brisbane and Carlton game, I think that the best option for the captain’s loophole would be Rockliff. He ended the 2011 season on fire and has started this year in good form. Judd also has a great record against the Lions.

We shouldn’t forget that Greater Western Sydney is up against North Melbourne this week. The usual suspects Andrew Swallow (90), Brent Harvey (91) and Daniel Wells (90) did not have a great week against Essendon last week and putting the captaincy on any of these players is a huge risk. You would recall, however, that Wells scored 180 whilst Harvey scored 155 against the Suns last year …

This week, the numbers suggest Ablett, Dal Santo or Swan. Despite the small sample size, I am persuaded by Dal Santo’s strong start to the season plus his huge game against the Suns last year that he is the pick of the bunch. Following Dal Santo, I would pick Ablett, then Pendlebury and then Swan.

For my smoky, try Harvey who should have a day out against the Giants.

Good luck to all!