Round 2 recap: Ablett and Pendlebury were my second and third choices last week (behind a disappointing Dal Santo). Both of these players did not disappoint with solid scores of 143 and 127 respectively. My second choice for the captain’s loophole was even better as Judd smashed out a 150. I was also happy with my smoky pick of Harvey who managed 137 against the Giants. It was a slightly disappointing end total considering he was already in the 90’s at half time.

Round 2 regrets: Last week I thought Dal Santo would have a huge game against the Suns but he disappointed with 112. For the loophole, I thought Rockliff would fire up but he crashed out big time with only 61 (his first sub 100 score since Round 12 last year).

Hopefully, my Round 3 picks will be a little more successful. The statistics seem to indicate a clear choice …

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Ablett v. Essendon

Rd 6 2011: 95 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 12 2010: 97 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 1 2010: 127 SC points, 37 disposals
Rd 10 2009: 150 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 2 2008: 148 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 14 2007: 133 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 11 2006: 156 SC points, 19 disposals

Average is 129 SC points with 31 disposals.

Note: Huge numbers against Essendon. Low score of 95 last year when he was tagged by Hocking and Essendon smashed the Suns 197 to 58. Considering the losing margin, not a bad effort. The other sub 100 game was in Round 12 2010 when he picked up a lot of disposals in garbage time in a 154 to 83 victory after being tagged by Welsh. Played head to head with Stanton in 2009 resulting in 150 SC points and was not tagged in 2008 resulting in 148 SC points. Had a great Round 1 with 139 SC points from 42 disposals with 2 goals followed by 143 SC points last Round.

Pendlebury v. Carlton

Rd 17 2011: 145 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 3 2011: 94 SC points, 21 disposals
Rd 18 2010: 139 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 6 2010: 115 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 131 SC points, 28 disposals
Rd 8 2009: 150 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 12 2008: 89 SC points, 19 disposals
Rd 4 2008: 100 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 7 2007: 131 SC points, 24 disposals

Average is 122 SC points with 26 disposals.

Note: Very solid record with only two scores below 100. In good form at the moment. Huge first week with 167 against Hawthorn in Round 1 followed by a solid 127 in Round 2 against Richmond.

Judd v. Collingwood

Rd 17 2011: 122 SC points, 35 disposals
Rd 3 2011: 112 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 18 2010: 85 SC points, 17 disposals
Rd 6 2010: 106 SC points, 37 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 100 SC points, 20 disposals
Rd 8 2009: 141 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 12 2008: 101 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 4 2008: 98 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 2 2007: 133 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 16 2006: 96 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 7 2006: 184 SC points, 32 disposals

Average is 116 SC points with 27 disposals.

Note: No big scores against Collingwood in recent times. Only one score over 133 since 2007. Solid but not spectacular average. Started the season slowly with 94 from 26 touches in Round 1 but followed with a vintage Judd performance in Round 2 with 150 against Brisbane.

Swan v. Carlton

Rd 17 2011: 107 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 3 2011: 108 SC points, 34 disposals
Rd 18 2010: 152 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 6 2010: 113 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 136 SC points, 38 disposals
Rd 8 2009: 90 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 12 2008: 124 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 4 2008: 85 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 18 2007: 108 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 7 2007: 128 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 21 2006: 130 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 6 2006: 109 SC points, 24 disposals

Average is 115 SC points with 30 disposals.

Note: Pretty consistent and solid record against the Blues with only two scores below 100. Three scores of 130 or higher. A quiet start to the year with 92 against Hawthorn in Round 1 followed by 100 in Round 2 against Richmond.

Broughton v. Brisbane

Rd 14 2011: 145 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 1 2011: 98 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 7 2010: 99 SC points, 21 disposals
Rd 16 2009: 82 SC points, 19 disposals

Average is 106 SC points with 25 disposals.

Notes: Huge most recent game against Brisbane but no other scores over 100. Sorry, I just had to include him because of all the talk about dropping him this week ;-)

Murphy v. Collingwood

Rd 17 2011: 113 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 3 2011: 79 SC points, 18 disposals
Rd 18 2010: 79 SC points, 21 disposals
Rd 6 2010: 114 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 17 2009: 109 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 8 2009: 98 SC points, 24 disposals
Rd 12 2008: 132 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 4 2008: 107 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 18 2007: 72 SC points, 17 disposals
Rd 7 2007: 118 SC points, 22 disposals

Average is 102 SC points with 24 disposals.

Note: Poor recent scores against the Pies. Only one score of 120 in 10 games. Solid in Round 1 with 119 from 32 touches followed by a huge 147 in Round 2 against Brisbane.

Mitchell v. Adelaide

Rd 1 2011: 122 SC points, 38 disposals
Rd 12 2010: 100 SC points, 31 disposals
Rd 20 2009: 127 SC points, 32 disposals
Rd 10 2009: 76 SC points, 22 disposals
Rd 12 2008: 78 SC points, 25 disposals
EF 2007: 73 SC points, 29 disposals
Rd 14 2007: 96 SC points, 20 disposals

Average is 96 SC points with 28 disposals.

Notes: Only his three most recent scores against Adelaide over 100. Poor record prior to that. Has started the season in top form with 139 and 141.

Franklin v. Adelaide

Rd 1 2011: 72 SC points, 15 disposals, 2 goals
Rd 12 2010: 111 SC points, 18 disposals, 3 goals
Rd 20 2009: 107 SC points, 14 disposals, 4 goals
Rd 10 2009: 28 SC points, 12 disposals, 3 goals
Rd 12 2008: 66 SC points, 21 disposals, 1 goal
Rd 4 2008: 137 SC points, 18 disposals, 6 goals
EF 2007: 109 SC points, 12 disposals, 7 goal
Rd 14 2007: 37 SC points, 5 disposals, 1 goal

Average is 83 SC points with 14 disposals with 3 goals.

Notes: Poor record against Adelaide with only one big score in 2008. Some absolute shocking scores here as he was normally manned up by Bock. Huge 142 in Round 1 but only followed up with 89 last round against Geelong.

My opinion: Ablett’s last two games against Essendon are slightly concerning but not enough to put the captaincy on someone else. He is the clear choice followed by Pendlebury who is in great form at the moment

For my smoky, I am considering an Essendon player matched up against Gold Coast or a West Coast player who is travelling to play Greater Western Sydney. Dean Brogan has been brought back into the team to help rookie Giles cope with the twin towers of Cox and Naitanui. Cox would normally be a safe bet in a team that will smash the Giants but his scores this year have slightly worrying signs due to his current job share. In last week’s 108 pounding of Melbourne, he only managed 89 whilst Naitanui managed 116. In Round 1, he managed 110 whilst Naitanui managed 105.

A safer smoky would be one of the Essendon players. Essendon are playing Gold Coast this round and Stanton (scores of 180 and 134 this year) and Watson (scores of 107, 149 this year) are both in exceptional form. In their matchup with the Suns last year (Round 6), Stanton scored 141 and Watson scored 122 in a 139 point massacre. I am expecting the points scoring party to continue for both players. My smoky this round has to be Stanton.

Good luck to all!