DirtyWhorks has been tweeting about playing keepings off.   Its not too difficult to do, except when you have the marauding hordes chasing you, and a few of my mates who are 600 down saying his team is pretty darn average and they are looking to grab some points off him.

Now sure, I think that 600 down is too far down to be playing in the big league, but it just shows how much people are prepared to consider themselves "in the game" with the occasional havoc the bye and team selections can play.

First, heres Dirtys team:

D: Deledio, Adcock, Goddard, Gibbs, Heppell, Suckling, Lower (Batchelor, Puopolo, Hibberd)
M: Pendlebury, Mundy, Priddis, Dal Santo, Selwood, Hodge (Savage, Prestia, Smith)
R: Cox, Sandilands (Smith, Campbell)
F: Pavlich, Fyfe, Franklin, OKeefe, Goodes, Petrie, Krakouer (McKernan, Matera, Lynch)

Some quick analysis over the break, then I give it over to you lot!

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Firstly, Im not going to really go into the trading of DW, but Im sure many of you are already well aware given the league function here at TS.   If not, Walesy can regale us in the comments.

The team, well its steady without being outstanding.   The fact is though, heaps of points already racked up must mean wise captain choices, and shrewd trading for value.

Steady meaning: Heppell and Lower still in defence.  No Shaw, Scotland or Fisher.   Midfield doesnt have Ablett or Boyd.   Theres no Petrie link, so Smith has to perform (still similar situation to lots of teams) in Sandilands absence.   The forward division is strong, but will come under heat when Hawthorn and Sydney have the bye.   It remains under Mick Malthouses whim to whether Krakouer is the sub, and the reinforcements, at least up forward and in the middle, arent what youd call super.

In the main, DW will need to upgrade his reserves, hoping a few more get good game time or at least maintain their performances.

How Id take DW on, remembering of course that POD is not James Podsiadly but Point of Difference:

First try to limit the amount of losses from byes each week.   Try to craft a team that only has 2 premiums out maximum in any week.
Second, get some POD pain into the backline.   If you can put in all 3 of Shaw, Scotland and Fisher, you can dish out some serious hurt to this team over time.   The lack of a defence-midfield link leaves this team in danger if theres a player out in defence or the middle.   So knowing DW has probably got his team to only need one upgrade left in defence, you know for sure that you can keep chipping away with any of these three gilt edged options.   To be honest Id get all 3 even if that means upgrading someone like Heppell into Scotland.
Fully upgrade your forwards, trying to ensure Darling is your backup if at all possible.   That way if theres a player like Buddy that pulls out which hurts everyone and forces sub action you are playing Darling vs McKernan.  Win.
Id be putting in a forward POD like Chapman or Johnson.   No Cats in this team is a weakness Im sure DW will address, but he could hurt  in the short term if you can set this up.

Finally you will need luck in captains.   I think more often than not you should hit on using a player not in his team, but playing a weakened opponent, unless theres absolute standout evidence (say Cox v Gold Coast which I duly ignored).   So this means loading up double on Ablett.  Or Judd.   Most would have one of these two in their team.   Both can go massive particularly young Gazza.

And Dirty, Im not being deliberately critical of your team, which is of course better than mine this year.   Just trying to hunt you down ruthlessly.   An intelligent leader of the competition should welcome this advice to strengthen their team in response.   Cue General Hodge fanfare...

OK well thats all from me, what do you have to say?