Welcome to the Grand Final Edition of the Captain’s Log. Hopefully you are still alive and playing for the win …

Round 22 recap: Zorko: the player who broke into the Brisbane lineup in Round 7 with a sub-effected 16 SC points and with a starting price tag of $113,200 managed to get the equal highest score of the round with 163. The score was shared by Naitanui. O’Keefe was next with 159 and he was followed by Pendlebury and Tuck both with 155, Walker with 154 and Sandilands also with 154.

Ablett managed the 29th highest score for the round with 124 and could not even manage the top score for his winning team. The highest score by a Suns player was Bennell with 132.

Last week, Ablett was in 52.25% of all Supercoach teams. At the time of writing, the number has inched higher to 52.44%. So, for the remaining 47.56% of you, let’s look at the numbers for the week in a slightly extended finale version …

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Thompson v. Gold Coast

Rd 1 2012: 147 SC points, 39 disposals
Rd 22 2011: 162 SC points, 51 disposals
Rd 8 2011: 136 SC points, 34 disposals

Average is 148 SC points with 41 disposals.

Note: Small sample size but a fantastic record against the Suns. Head to head against Ablett in the first half of the game earlier this year. 18 touches in first quarter in Round 22 2011 led to a big SC score in that game as the Crows ended up winning by more than 10 goals. Is in a bad form slump with only one score over 100 in his past six games this season: 75, 99, 94, 78, 106 and 92 (average of 91).

Ablett v. Adelaide

Rd 1 2012: 139 SC points, 42 disposals
Rd 22 2011: 145 SC points, 39 disposals
Rd 8 2011: 198 SC points, 41 disposals
Rd 16 2010: 76 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 18 2009: 115 SC points, 21 disposals
Rd 4 2009: 197 SC points, 46 disposals
Rd 14 2008: 91 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 19 2007: 86 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 11 2007: 104 SC points, 21 disposals

Average is 128 SC points with 30 disposals.

Notes: Fantastic scores against the Crows this year and last year. Played head to head against Thompson in the first half in Round 1 before being tagged by Van Berlo in the second half. Too good for the Van Berlo in Round 22 2011. Huge score in Round 8 2011 due to his dominant first quarter where he gathered 15 disposals and 3 goals. He was tagged by Douglas in that game. A below average score of only 124 last week (possibly still affected by the flu) which had followed scores of 189, 126, 165, 171 and 150 (average of 154 in his past six games).

Pendlebury v. Essendon

Rd 5 2012: 140 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 19 2011: 160 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 5 2011: 130 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 20 2010: 120 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 5 2010: 130 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 14 2009: 68 SC points, 20 disposals
Rd 5 2009: 170 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 46 SC points, 16 disposals
Rd 6 2008: 167 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 16 2007: 105 SC points, 20 disposals
Rd 5 2007: 102 SC points, 21 disposals

Average is 122 SC points with 27 disposals.

Note: Fantastic record against Essendon averaging 136 SC points with 32 disposals in his five games against them since 2010. Bounced back with a huge 155 last week after a poor 86 the week prior. Prior to that poor game, he had scores of 132, 127, 136 and 126 (average 125 in his seven games since returning from injury).

Swan v. Essendon

Rd 5 2012: 180 SC points, 42 disposals
Rd 19 2011: 176 SC points, 45 disposals
Rd 5 2011: 106 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 20 2010: 142 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 5 2010: 78 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 14 2009: 107 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 5 2009: 123 SC points, 37 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 91 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 6 2008: 125 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 16 2007: 63 SC points, 11 disposals
Rd 5 2007: 94 SC points, 21 disposals

Average is 117 SC points with 29 disposals.

Note: Fantastic recent record against Essendon with an average of 151 SC points and 36 disposals in his last four games against them. Was awarded the Anzac Medal earlier this year after beating Watson, then Howlett and then Stanton. Returned last round from his club imposed suspension with a solid 118. Prior to the suspension, he had scores of 97, 141 and 143 (average of 127).

Dal Santo v. Carlton

Rd 7 2012: 101 SC points, 21 disposals
Rd 24 2011: 89 SC points, 20 disposals
Rd 7 2011: 117 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 7 2010: 46 SC points, 12 disposals
Rd 12 2009: 135 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 15 2008: 114 SC points, 20 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 91 SC points, 21 disposals
Rd 17 2007: 110 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 6 2007: 178 SC points, 30 disposals

Average is 110 SC points with 23 disposals.

Note: Tagged by Armfield for the past two games but normally cops the Carrazzo tag. Some big scores with some shocking scores. Returned to form last week with 135 which had followed two poor scores of 75 and 92.

Dangerfield v. Gold Coast

Rd 1 2012: 93 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 22 2011: 95 SC points, 16 disposals
Rd 8 2011: 138 SC points, 23 disposals

Average is 109 SC points with 21 disposals.

Note: Surprisingly poor average against the Suns. Big score in Round 8 2011 due to the fact that he managed to kick six goals. Struggled last week and was moved to the forward line where he kicked some late goals. Finished the game with 106 SC points which had followed mammoth and career best scores of 134, 187, 127, 133 and 138 (average of 138 in his past six games).

Cox v. Hawthorn

Rd 4 2012: 96 SC points, 17 disposals, 22 hitouts
Rd 4 2011: 87 SC points, 13 disposals, 36 hitouts
Rd 7 2010: 112 SC points, 16 disposals, 35 hitouts
Rd 5 2009: 163 SC points, 30 disposals, 31 hitouts
Rd 21 2008: 98 SC points, 22 disposals, 31 hitouts
Rd 14 2008: 128 SC points, 22 disposals, 27 hitouts
Rd 9 2007: 81 SC points, 16 disposals, 23 hitouts

Average is 109 SC points with 19 disposals and 29 hitouts

Note: Below average record against Hawthorn. Two most recent scores against them have been below 100. Only one huge score back in 2009. A poor 84 last week after a disappointing 104 the week prior. This had followed scores of 190, 76, 121, 76, 74 and 215 (average of 122).

Deledio v. Port Adelaide

Rd 6 2012: 143 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 10 2011: 99 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 22 2010: 83 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 10 2010: 107 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 8 2009: 99 SC points, 20 disposals
Rd 13 2008: 79 SC points, 14 disposals
Rd 7 2007: 127 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 6 2006: 76 SC points, 14 disposals

Average is 102 SC points with 21 disposals.

Note: Not a good record against Port Adelaide with only three scores over 100. A big 143 in the game earlier this year at AAMI Stadium. In solid recent form with scores of 130, 104, 116, 144 and 126 (average of 124).

Watson v. Collingwood

Rd 5 2012: 93 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 19 2011: 119 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 5 2011: 90 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 20 2010: 119 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 5 2010: 80 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 5 2009: 83 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 17 2008: 151 SC points, 41 disposals
Rd 6 2008: 113 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 16 2007: 99 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 5 2007: 64 SC points, 23 disposals

Average is 101 SC points with 28 disposals.

Note: Four scores over 100 and six scores under 100. Only one big score back in 2008. Well beaten in the first quarter in Round 5 this year playing head to head against Swan and was then shifted. Had played head to head against Swan for the entire game in Round 19 2011. Has struggled in the past two weeks with poor scores of 73 against Richmond and 87 against Carlton. Season may be taking its toll on the early Brownlow favourite.

Judd v. St Kilda

Rd 7 2012: 144 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 24 2011: 81 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 7 2011: 99 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 7 2010: 106 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 12 2009: 99 SC points, 20 disposals
Rd 15 2008: 120 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 71 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 21 2007: 31 SC points, 10 disposals
Rd 18 2006: 123 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 1 2006: 107 SC points, 23 disposals

Average is 98 SC points with 23 disposals.

Note: Taking out the game in 2007 when he was injured, his average rises slightly to 106 SC points with 19 disposals. Not the best record against St Kilda but one recent big score when he played head to head against Dal Santo. Has not been tagged by Jones. In 2011 he played head to head against Montagna (Rd 24) and was tagged by Gilbert (Rd 7). In his two games since his suspension, he scored 105 and 95. Prior to his suspension he had scored 159, 126 and 126 (average of 137).

Selwood v. Sydney

Rd 13 2012: 101 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 23 2011: 105 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 4 2011: 95 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 18 2010: 102 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 7 2010: 117 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 20 2009: 66 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 7 2009: 140 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 20 2008: 72 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 5 2008: 69 SC points, 20 disposals
Rd 13 2007: 69 SC points, 19 disposals

Average is 94 SC points with 25 disposals.

Note: Poor record against the Swans. Played the game earlier this year head to head with Josh Kennedy. Prior to that, had always been tagged. Last year tagged by McGlynn and Bolton. Had usually attracted the Kirk tag before that. Only one big score back in 2009 when he scored 140. Had a rest last week but had come off poor scores of 81 and 99 prior.

Franklin v. West Coast

Rd 4 2012: 89 SC points, 19 disposals, 1 goal and 6 behinds
Rd 4 2011: 146 SC points, 24 disposals, 6 goals and 2 behinds
Rd 13 2009: 69 SC points, 11 disposals, 4 goals straight
Rd 5 2009: 82 SC points, 12 disposals, 2 goals and 3 behinds
Rd 21 2008: 82 SC points, 13 disposals, 4 goals and 5 behinds
Rd 14 2008: 79 SC points, 14 disposals, 5 goals and 2 behinds

Average is 91 SC points with 16 disposals and 3 and a half goals.

Note: Only one big score over 100 but five games under 100. Still remains a risky proposition after returning from a six game injury break with a score of 77 last week against Sydney. Prior to injury, he had scored 109 and 130.

Naitanui v. Hawthorn

Rd 4 2012: 102 SC points, 15 disposals, 26 hitouts
Rd 4 2011: 42 SC points, 11 disposals, 12 hitouts
Rd 7 2010: 126 SC points, 19 disposals, 22 hitouts
Rd 13 2009: 74 SC points, 8 disposals, 14 hitouts

Average is 86 SC points with 13 disposals and 19 hitouts

Note: Poor record against Hawthorn with no big scores from his limited games against them. In inconsistent form at the moment with scores of 163, 94, 153, 81 and 164 (average of 131 in five games).

Murphy v. St Kilda

Rd 7 2012: 73 SC points, 17 disposals
Rd 24 2011: 115 SC points, 36 disposals
Rd 7 2011: 90 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 7 2010: 75 SC points, 17 disposals
Rd 12 2009: 105 SC points, 16 disposals
Rd 15 2008: 45 SC points, 15 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 142 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 17 2007: 68 SC points, 14 disposals
Rd 6 2007: 63 SC points, 12 disposals

Average is 86 SC points with 19 disposals.

Note: Very poor record against St Kilda with only three scores over 100 (out of nine games). Only one big score back in 2008. Has been tagged by Jones in every game since 2009. Murphy came back to earth with a poor 98 last week against the Suns but had scored a huge 187 against Essendon in the game prior. Since returning from injury, his average in his seven games is 127.

Beams v. Essendon

Rd 5 2012: 98 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 19 2011: 76 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 5 2011: 59 SC points, 12 disposals
Rd 20 2010: 94 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 5 2010: 96 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 14 2009: 97 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 5 2009: 69 SC points, 17 disposals

Average is 84 SC points with 23 disposals.

Note: Poor record against Essendon with no scores over 100. Is in the best form of his career with recent scores of 123, 166, 170, 144, 109 and 162 (average of 146 in his past six games).

My opinion: One player has stood out this season. Ablett has an average so far of 139 SC points from 19 games. Pendlebury is a distant second with an average of 125 from 17 games. Swan is next with 123 and he is followed by another Magpie, Beams with 122.

In his 19 games, Ablett has let us down with two scores below 100 – 64 in Round 11 (against St. Kilda) and 87 in Round 14 (against West Coast). It would be a brave person who picks anyone other than Ablett in the Grand Final. For me, I am locking in Ablett once again.

Following Ablett, I am ignoring the Carlton players who are playing for pride against St Kilda. Based on the numbers, it is hard to go past Swan or Pendlebury who both have huge recent numbers against the Bombers. It is a toss of the coin but I might go with Swan because I think that Pendlebury will cop the Hocking tag.

Adelaide plays Gold Coast this week. The standout player against the Suns is Thompson with his huge average of 148 SC points and 41 touches. The worrying thing about Thompson, however, is his poor form (averaging only 91 in his past six games). Following Thompson, surprisingly, there are not many standouts for the Crows against the Suns. Sam Jacobs has scored 102, 149 and 105 (average of 119) whilst Tippett has scored 150, 122 and 40 (average of 104). Dangerfield’s average of 109 is not great either (only one score over 100).

Despite his poor recent record, however, Thompson would be my fourth pick behind Ablett, Swan and Pendlebury.

North Melbourne are playing away to Greater Western Sydney. Swallow, Harvey, Petrie and Goldstein are all options to be considered. Swallow has been in solid form recently with only one big score in his past five games (113, 103, 106, 94 and 158 – average of 115). Harvey had a poor game last week with 74 which had followed a good run of 135, 118, 125, 130 (average of 127 in those four games). Goldstein was demolished by Sandilands last week and only managed 27. Petrie wasn’t much better with 32 last week – however, he may be force fed the ball a lot with the Coleman Medal up for the taking.

My smoky pick this week therefore is Drew Petrie. He should score a lot of goals against a tired Giants side and should therefore have a huge SC impact.

Thanks everyone for your support through the season. Good luck to all!!