<p style='text-align: justify;]I know that the loophole has been mentioned before, but I will do it again for the sake of completeness You can change your captain and vice captain as often as you like, prior to the start of the round and during a round and Rolling Lockout, up until the time that your currently selected captain's (or vice captain's) match has started. At this point, your selection is locked in for the round and cannot be changed.&amp;rdquo;
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<p style='text-align: justify;]Many of us have Ablett in our teams. The question is whether we give another player (who plays in a game that is completed before Ablett's game commences) the vice captaincy with the view of keeping this player's score as our captain's&amp;rdquo; score should this player score big. If this player scores big, we simply take the captaincy off Ablett and, instead, put the captaincy onto a non-playing player for the rest of the round.
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<p style='text-align: justify;]Alternatively, if our vice captain scores poorly, we can rely on our back up&amp;rdquo; plan and retain Ablett as our captain.
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<p style='text-align: justify;]Ant's write up highlighted the importance of timing and, in particular, the importance of having a non-playing player who plays in the late games of the round.
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<p style='text-align: justify;]Still focussing on Ablett, it is interesting to note that he only scored the 16th highest score for last round with 131. Cloke led the way last week with a huge 195. The top five was rounded out by Swan (168), Scott D. Thompson (NM) (164), Selwood (163) and Cornes (160).
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<p style='text-align: justify;]Let's see if the numbers help us decide what to do this week &amp;hellip;
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Ablett v. Greater Western Sydney
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 20 2012: 126 SC points, 23 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 7 2012: 125 SC points, 33 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 125.5 SC points with 28 disposals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Solid, but not great record against the Giants. Small sample size. Recently tagged by Miles and Kennedy in Round 20 2012 but top scored for the game with 126. Was tagged by Shiel in Round 7 2012 and scored the third highest score for the game with 125 (behind Giles with 134 and Sam Iles with 127). Started the season with 178, 99 and 112. Managed 131 playing with an injured hand last week (he had 55 SC points and 15 disposals in the first quarter).
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Swan v. Essendon
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 23 2012: 175 SC points, 42 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2012: 180 SC points, 42 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 19 2011: 176 SC points, 45 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2011: 106 SC points, 24 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 20 2010: 142 SC points, 31 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2010: 78 SC points, 25 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 14 2009: 107 SC points, 30 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2009: 123 SC points, 37 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 17 2008: 91 SC points, 26 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 6 2008: 125 SC points, 22 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 16 2007: 63 SC points, 11 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2007: 94 SC points, 21 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 122 SC points with 30 disposals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Unbelievable recent record against Essendon. Averaging 177 SC points over his past three games against them or averaging 156 SC points over his past five games against them. Was awarded the Anzac Medal in the corresponding game last year beating Watson, then Howlett and then Stanton on his way to his season high 180 SC points. A quiet start to the season with scores of 136, 103 and 91 (average of 110) before accumulating a huge 168 SC points against Richmond last week.
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Pendlebury v. Essendon
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 23 2012: 125 SC points, 31 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2012: 140 SC points, 34 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 19 2011: 160 SC points, 32 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2011: 130 SC points, 34 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 20 2010: 120 SC points, 32 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2010: 130 SC points, 29 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 14 2009: 68 SC points, 20 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2009: 170 SC points, 30 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 17 2008: 46 SC points, 16 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 6 2008: 167 SC points, 33 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 16 2007: 105 SC points, 20 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2007: 102 SC points, 21 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 122 SC points with 28 disposals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Fantastic record against Essendon averaging 134 SC points in his six games against them since 2010. Three scores over 150 in his 12 games against them with only two scores below 100. A poor 105 SC points last week which dragged his season average down to 128 (after starting the season with 160, 121 and 124).
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Franklin v. North Melbourne
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 10 2012: 236 SC points, 23 disposals, 13 goals, 4 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 20 2011: 96 SC points, 13 disposals, 3 goals, 2 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2010: 115 SC points, 13 disposals, 5 goals, 2 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 15 2009: 177 SC points, 24 disposals, 4 goals, 4 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 3 2009: 72 SC points, 13 disposals, 4 goals, 3 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 13 2008: 18 SC points, 10 disposals, 1 goal, 3 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 3 2008: 83 SC points, 14 disposals, 5 goals, 4 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]SF 2007: 66 SC points, 12 disposals, 3 goals, 3 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 3 2006: 128 SC points, 15 disposals, 3 goals, 3 behinds
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 110 SC points with 15 disposals with 4.5 goals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Who could forget his 13 goal performance against North Melbourne last year in Tasmania? A huge 236 SC points with 13 goals manned by Luke Delaney and Scott Thompson. Another huge score in Rd 15 2009 as well with 171 SC points. A couple of poor games including an 18 SC point performance in 2008. Started the season with a disinterested 62 but has been solid, without being spectacular, with scores of 116, 121 and 116 since (average of 118 SC points).
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Judd v. Adelaide
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 8 2012: 112 SC points, 24 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2011: 110 SC points, 32 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 4 2010: 148 SC points, 30 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 22 2009: 77 SC points, 23 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 9 2009: 66 SC points, 19 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 18 2008: 84 SC points, 15 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 6 2008: 71 SC points, 15 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]PF 2006: 143 SC points, 29 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 17 2006: 129 SC points, 21 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 2 2006: 134 SC points, 23 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 22 2005: 158 SC points, 26 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 1 2005: 51 SC points, 12 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 107 SC points with 22 disposals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Poor record against Adelaide between 2008 and 2009. Five scores over 125 in 12 games against them. Has always been tagged by the Crows (most recently by Douglas but also by Reilly, Doughty or Shirley). Only managed 18 touches last week (at 50% disposal effiency) against West Coast to score 80 SC points. Only averaging 97 SC points a game this season.
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Watson v. Collingwood
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 23 2012: 126 SC points, 28 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2012: 93 SC points, 23 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 19 2011: 119 SC points, 27 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2011: 90 SC points, 29 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 20 2010: 119 SC points, 30 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2010: 80 SC points, 32 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2009: 83 SC points, 27 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 17 2008: 151 SC points, 41 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 6 2008: 113 SC points, 30 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 16 2007: 99 SC points, 22 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2007: 64 SC points, 23 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 19 2006: 111 SC points, 28 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 4 2006: 105 SC points, 26 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 104 SC points with 28 disposals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Poor record against Collingwood with only two scores over 120 in 13 games. Only one big score back in 2008 which was 151 with a huge 41 touches. Most recently tagged by Wellingham. Well beaten in the first quarter in Round 5 2011 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. 37 touches and 138 SC points last week after a terrible 67 SC points the week prior. Averaging 123 SC points this season.
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Selwood v. Western Bulldogs
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 9 2012: 110 SC points, 22 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 11 2011: 103 SC points, 25 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 20 2010: 142 SC points, 35 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]QF 2009: 25 SC points, 18 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 21 2009: 122 SC points, 33 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 9 2009: 109 SC points, 32 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]PF 2008: 89 SC points, 24 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 16 2008: 92 SC points, 27 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 16 2007: 130 SC points, 23 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 102 SC points with 27 disposals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: A couple of big scores against the Bulldogs amongst some shockers. Most recently tagged by Picken in two most recent games. Has also been tagged by Ward including his terrible game in the Qualifying Final in 2009 when he was beaten badly and also had four frees against. A match winning 163 SC points last week against Sydney after being comprehensively beaten by Carrazzo the week prior (scoring 74 SC points). Taking out that score, he is averaging 143 SC points for the season (126, 140 and 163).
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Kennedy v. St. Kilda
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 17 2012: 157 SC points, 35 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 9 2012: 122 SC points, 24 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]EF 2011: 63 SC points, 20 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 22 2011: 99 SC points, 23 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 1 2010: 61 SC points, 18 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 100 SC points with 24 disposals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Small sample size but two good scores last year including a 157 SC points in Round 17. He avoided the Clint Jones tag in that game (Jones tagged Jetta instead). Played head to head against Hayes in Round 9. Two scores over 100 in five games. Poor game last week with only 80 SC points (6 kicks, 17 handballs). Season average dropped to 118 SC points after starting the season with 147, 106 and 136.
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Cox v. Port Adelaide
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 21 2012: 104 SC points, 20 disposals, 24 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 13 2011: 105 SC points, 14 disposals, 39 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 2 2011: 129 SC points, 21 disposals, 34 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 20 2010: 126 SC points, 23 disposals, 29 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 2 2010: 41 SC points, 7 disposals, 22 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 2 2009: 116 SC points, 21 disposals, 23 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2008: 95 SC points, 19 disposals, 23 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]QF 2007: 123 SC points, 20 disposals, 16 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 15 2007: 60 SC points, 15 disposals, 12 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 12 2006: 85 SC points, 15 disposals, 10 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 10 2005: 42 SC points, 17 disposals, 10 hitouts
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 93 SC points with 17 disposals and 22 hitouts.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Solid recent record against the Power averaging 116 SC points in his last four matchup against them. Poor record prior to that due to being matched up against Brogan and Lade in their prime. Struggled against Carlton last week with only 11 disposals and 96 SC points. This had followed his demolition of Melbourne the week before when he scored 171 SC points with 24 disposals.
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Murphy v. Adelaide
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 8 2012: 37 SC points, 5 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 5 2011: 137 SC points, 34 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 4 2010: 115 SC points, 32 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 22 2009: 76 SC points, 20 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 9 2009: 109 SC points, 23 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 18 2008: 69 SC points, 26 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 6 2008: 93 SC points, 24 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 9 2007: 81 SC points, 17 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Rd 9 2006: 77 SC points, 24 disposals
<p style='text-align: justify;]Average is 88 SC points with 23 disposals.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Note: Injured his knee in the second quarter and was subbed out at half time in his most recent game against them. Taking this score out, his average is still a poor 95 SC points with 25 disposals. Only three scores over 100 in seven games prior to last year. Poor start to this season with scores of 104, 92, 114 and 98 - averaging only 102 SC points a game.
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My opinion: It really is difficult to pick against Ablett - not only this week, but every week. He is only&amp;rdquo; averaging 130 SC points this season (trailing surprise packets Kane Cornes with 142 and Westhoff with 141). He is marginally ahead of Pendlebury and Birchall who both average 128.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Last week, Ablett started the game against Port Adelaide on fire. He picked up 15 disposals and 55 SC points in the first quarter. Unfortunately for Ablett owners, Cornes was shifted off him and, instead, he was tagged by Cassisi. Ablett only managed to touch the ball twice in the decisive second quarter as Port kicked 9 goals to 1 to set up the win. Ablett picked up 9 disposals in the fourth quarter and finished the game with a serviceable, but not great, 131 SC points.
<p style='text-align: justify;]For me, I am cannot go past Ablett given he is playing Greater Western Sydney. Swan's recent record against Essendon is spectacular and he is the clear second choice. Following him, I would pick Pendlebury, then Watson and then Kennedy who is playing against the disappointing Saints in Wellington.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Good luck all!