I'd say your mids were a little light on... GAJ and then 3 premos carrying 4 on-field rookies is a risk. Especially because no-one really knows how the little master will get on. Downgrading GAJ could generate serious coin... Even down to Pendles nets $70k. GAJ to Griffen makes $200k!

Otherwise, looks pretty solid.

In the spirit of information gathering, I always make sure that I visit a number of SC sites for a truly balanced input.
For example, looking over the RMT threads on here, most teams overlook Heater in the backs and start with Gibson. If this is the only site you read, then subliminally, you start to expect similar players, with slight differences.

For consideration, this is Paige Cardona's (the brains behind SCPaige.com.au) team...

DEF: Shaw, Newnes, KK, Brown, McIntosh, Saad (Byrne, Hamling)
MID: GAJ, Pendlebury, Fyfe, Selwood, Beams, Griffen, Cripps, Ellis-Yolmen (Heeney, Lambert, Miller)
RUCK: Goldstein, Maric (Cox)
FWD: Gray, Martin, Swan, Salem, Clark, Hogan (Lonie, Lamb)

Obviously, a VERY mid-centric strategy, few mid-pricers and the usual suspects as rookies. For me, this team is making me take a long hard look at my team, as I just don't think some of my mid-pricers are going to be able to stay with this lot...

I don't mind her team, but that backline is shocking. Can't believe anyone would be brave enough to only have 1 premium in defence coupled with 2 mid pricers and 3 on field rookie priced players. Not convinced on Nathan Brown on field, not to mention McIntosh and Byrne have shaky JS at best. I think she could be completely stuffed come round 5 with that defence and already be copping zeros as she won't have the cash to complete any corrective trades in defence.

Lol!
So to summarise... Make changes to the backs, forwards and mids and it'll be the same as everyone else?

I think the comments about cash generation are valid, but also the requirement for cash is also less, with only 2 mid (the expensive buggers) upgrades required.

FWIW I can't cop having H. Shaw as my 'dependable' back either! That'd be like relying on J. Waite in the forward line!

It's crunch time. I know I put up a good case with stats not to have GAJ in the second edition of RMT but it looks like he is going to play and I have changed my mind. If he is not in my starting team it is too hard to re-jig and get him back in - even if he drops fifty grand. Will use the captains loophole with O'Brien as the fall back just in case he has a bad first game.

I have posted but not made team comments as I think that my knowledge is irrelevant but for the record here is where I am at - no need to answer as it's not protocol.
Gibson, Taylor, Newnes, Lumumba, Geary, Mcintosh (Brown pie, Dalgleish)
Ablett, Pendlebury, Lewis. Boak, Steven, Rich, Cripps, Heeney (Ellis-Yolmen, Miller, Steele)
Goldstein, Leuenberger (O'Brien)
Gray, Martin, Bontempelli, Salem, Clark Hogan, (Adam Saad, Karnezis)
$23,500 in the bank – rookies subject to selection but I don't like Karnezis or Steele as I don't think they will play

I am a Saints man and just love Jack Steven but I guess if I am trying to win I should swap him for Chris Masten. As for Leuenberger I think he deserves a chance despite the fact that he has hurt me before - now the drug saga is over perhaps Bellchambers will fit and give me a bit of extra cash

oops that should be Ahmed Saad

I do the same thing every year, leave it to the last minute then cram like mad. Anyway, give me your worst!

DEF
Shaw, Gibson, Newnes, Lumumba, Goodes, McIntosh (Dalgleish, Hamling)

MID
Ablett, Fyfe, Dangerfield, Griffen, Will Langford, Cripps, Heeney, Ellis-Yolmen (Vandenberg, Miller, Saad)

RUC
Goldstein, Naitanui (Read)

FWD
Gray, Martin, Swan, Bontempelli, Salem, Clark (Hogan, Lonie)

Remaining Salary: $29,600

I'm hoping Langford & Cripps are ready for breakouts. I tried to squeeze Neale in as well but just wasn't able to make it work without leaving my FWD too bare. Never done a RMT so am keen to hear thoughts.

Also, my bye rounds look like this
20/21/19

Whilst I agree with you in principle TTH, one of the most fundamental team picking strategies players need to choose, is the spread of their premium players.

The first is the GnR/Mid Pricer question -> How many premos?
Then where to position those premos...

Most players on TS have gone 4/4/2/3 ('ish')setup with their premium players.
This team is 2.5/6/2/3 strategy. Whilst it looks similar, it's a different focus.

I'm not trying to say it's a winning strategy, but it's something different for the masses to consider. Certainly when I saw it the first time, I thought 'whoa, that's better than mine!' but then Jason's point about taking the long view is very relevant.

Will the points gained early in the season by extra, quality midfielders offset the extra time it will take to upgrade the rest of the team?

Particularly this season, where the backs are thin, so the difference between the top and middle backmen is lessened (~25pts) , the advantage gained by extra quality midfielders over rookies (~50pts) might be significant.

Time will tell...

Backs - Gibson, H.Shaw, Newnes, Lumumba, N.Brown , Dalgleish, (McIntosh, A.Saad)

Mids - GAJ, Ducky, Pendles, Fyfe, Cripps, Watson, I.Heeney, NVB (Ellis Yolmen, J Anderson, Steele)

Rucks - Burger, Goldy (Cox)

Fwds - Bartel, Dusty, Swan, Clark, Salem, Hogan (Saad, Lambert)

93k
Thoughts