It's great having PODs who score less than the players other teams have in their team. That means you lose matches week after week. As HomerJ says "in case you don't know I was being sarcastic"
As I said last year about points of difference - it is no use having them unless they are any good. Any measure of a true point of difference should involve examining the player you are looking at as a POD, and then looking at the 3, 4 or 5 players that you are choosing this POD instead of. What you should be looking for is a player who compares favourably to those more "mainstream" options - not only in terms of points, but in terms of other possible advantages along the way. They might include: * Chance to get greater game time due to positional move, injury to teammate, etc. * Chance to score better due to a soft early draw, or because of a period in the mid or late part of the season where they are playing against easy teams/opponents (check the Ticker for that!) * Recruitment or development of teammate who will suddenly take the taggers away from your potential POD, leading to increased scoring, etc. * Good draw during bye rounds. All these things should be examined and if your potential POD measures up well then he is a very real POD prospect. But if you just want a POD so you have a different name in your team compared to others, then you are barking up the wrong tree. PODs need to, in some measurable way, be as good as or better than the mainstream options. If they are not, you are just being contrary for contrary's sake and WILL lose points each and every week in comparison to those better performing "mainstream" options. So pick your PODs carefully.
As I think I said in another thread - Heath Scotland = classic POD. He's at the very top of the tree in defender scoring yet every year has far less coaches picking him than deledio, shaw etc What are the reasons? Perhaps one his he's always had Gibbs with the MPP and coaches might only want one Carlton defender. Or is it because he's fairly unobtrusive on the field and doesn't excite coaches? Is it age? It's weird but he's the classic POD.
<blockquote>Quote from Lucas on February 17, 2012, 11:00 It's great having PODs who score less than the players other teams have in their team. That means you lose matches week after week. As HomerJ says "in case you don't know I was being sarcastic"</blockquote> My POD was JRoo last year so got plenty of that
Last year my PODs in the midfield were Priddis and Swallow. Now both of those players had good years but for a similar price I could have started with Pendlebury and Bartel. Thanks to Pendelbury's break-out year, my POD gamble did not pay off
Interestingly Cox could be a POD this season, I'm really not seeing him mentioned much anywhere at all. He is expensive but for a 122 average he was always going to be, and he's only 31 this year. According to walesys ruck article from last pre-season ruckmen tend to peak in their early thirties rather than decline. Nicnat may take more points off him this year but even if its 5ppg Coxy in form would still be a top ruckman
Im all for a POD, but only if they finish in the top 6-10 of their position come seasons end. If they fail to do so, your giving away ground each week and if your playing for overall, that may spell disaster. IMO, the best POD is Andrew Swallow, he has the potential to average 120ppg.
Chris88, I think that was a very eloquent description. Nice work mate! I currently have no real POD's in my team, but my plan is to keep an eye on the injuries during the preseason, and find a player who should get a bigger piece of the pie this year.
The only time a POD can be useful and not finish in the top 10 of their position is if you upgrade to them half way through the season and then they go on a rampage. I believe Chris credited a lot of his win to upgrading to Didak instead of Riewoldt and Didak going on a massive tear, even though Riewoldt would have been ranked higher over the full year. (This was back in 09-10 from memory??) I'll be saving my POD's for the second half of the year personally and worrying about getting the right rookies so I have the right amount of money to play with initially and trying to upgrade asap.
Good post Chris88, agree with all of that. I'm thinking about Scott Thompson. Crows play Port, GCS and GWS twice in the season (I think the only club to do that?). Plus his first five games are: 1. GCS 2. Dogs (at home) 3. Hawks 4. GWS 5. Port Could be a flying start to the season. I think he'll be in the lower half of the top 10 mids for the season, so might be my M3.
I haven't heard one mention of Nick Dal Santo this year. In 2011 he: - came 2nd place in the Brownlow, - was the 2th best mid for SC, - averaged above 110 for the 5th time in the last 6 years. - played every game He is mister consistent when it comes to supercoach and has only missed 3 games in the past 8 years. Still only 27 (almost 28). Why does nobody want him?
Agreed regarding Dal Santo being a SC specialist. I think what annoys with him is his tendency to play a couple of stinkers (when heavily tagged). A nice upgrade option later on in the year I think. A more interesting player as a PoD is Montagna, capable of monster scores and underpriced for what he can produce, not convinced however that he can reach the heights of 09/10 again.
NDS usually is one of the players you trade into your team rather than starting with him as he can have those poor games when he gets tagged out. I did that last year, and may do that this year depending on when he bottoms out. He might not score as high with Hayes back in the side though...
Yep, what Jibba said! NDS is one of those players I have never started with but usually end up in my side. He is in the same boat as Shaw for mine, both will be top 8 in SC in there positions but are prone to the odd quite game and leak money. What did people make of Balla on the ball last night? He seemed to get a lot of it but made some pretty poor decisons and his disposal was poor, I'd love to see SC scores for his games. Anyone considering him?
Cox probably not so much of a POD after last night! Looked to be flying. Rucks will be tough this year. I agree that Thommo is looking tasty, and will still be a POD a believe regardless of his good draw. Rory Sloane could also be another one to look at. Elevated to leadership group, "tearing it up", easy start, new ruck....
What are people’s thoughts on Chappy? 2 solid years behind him now playing 21 and 20 games respectively and averaging 116 and 101. Chapman has been very vocal about saying 2011 was his worst year in memory and he still averaged 101...not bad! He has had a full preseason and says he keen to repay his team mates for "carrying" him in 2011. I have him pencilled in at the moment and think he could be a great POD, what do people think?
@nottooserious Chappy is the kind of genuine POD that could make or break your season. Everyone will pass over him, and for the most part with justification: -Age -Injury history (particularly those hammies) -Declining side (haven't you heard? Geelong are too old and therefore must slide this year ) -having been burnt by him in the past But as you point out, there is very good reason to believe he can once again reach the heights of 2010 and avg around 115. The question is though, will he improve more than one of the other popular fwd options you'll have to forgo (ie Beams) in order to pick him? Risk is marginally higher than say Beams, but so too is the reward. It's what this game is all about!