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Hi all,

Gotta say last few nights have been sleepless as I have been struggling to come to terms with the ramifications of the loss of Sandilands from the Supercoach scene.

On the one hand, I can see the justification of getting in a relatively like-for-like replacement in a player such as the Swans Mumford (I hold Dean Cox already), however I possess not just Smith on the bench, but also the Petrie-Tippett combination (a better one than last years debacle).

This depth of Petrie-Smith allows me to have a player who should on average score in the 70-90 region.   Sure, its not Sandilands, but its very much in line with the recent scores of Mumford.

And that brings me to the next thought, and really a Supercoach maxim thats been hard to apply this year, but never truer: Bench money is wasted money - the only dollars that count are on the field.

Rommels Legion (my team) was created with the thought in mind of "more premiums on field more often".   But old habits died hard, and I kept players like Selwood through their trials (wise move) and also Rioli (unwise).   Through it all, Ive lost ground on the leaders, so I cant really afford to think Sandilands will be back in 3, or that I can do a quick Smith cover, keep Sandi on the bench, then work it all out.  Because Sandi sits on the bench, giving no return for his 550k.   I need to use this money, and the fortuitous Petrie combination to drive improvement in my squad.

And thats where the Bailey Vardy thinking comes in.   I wasnt a fan of it at first, but now Im thinking theres not too many other options.   More musing, some Best Value Buys, the All-Australian Teams - its all after the break!

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Heres the rub, by getting in a non-playing rookie ruckman for the non-playing Sandilands, I can strengthen my team. I can pocket 400k, which generally means two quality upgrades that can be made immediately.   And given my team is already sitting on the Grimes 200k generated earlier, it means the upgrades needed in my team can be made: bang, bang, bang.   And they can be to the best available players, no skimping around average Joes for my team.

The danger - well that Petrie and/or Smith dont really live up to their averages, get rested, or injured.   That Sandilands returns quicker than expected.   That Mumford returns to his dominant best.   All are very possible.

So here are the alternatives laid out, from worst to best:

1) Keep Sandilands on the bench.
Advantages: Keeps Sandilands ready for a return.  Make points lost now on return.  Save trade to use in finals.   Still a decent option for people solely focussed on leagues.
Disadvantages: Bench money is wasted money.  Team wont be as competitive with Sandilands out.  If you dont have Smith-Petrie you could struggle to find even average coverage.

2) Trade Sandilands for the best possible alternative ruckman. In my view thats still Mumford regardless of his recent dip in form (and smashed in scoring by Roughead on the weekend)
Advantages: Makes some cheap cash.  Losses minimised.  Safe option, and Mumford could go bang 150 - thats his style.   A trade back to Sandilands is easier.  This is the conservatives best option.
Disadvantages: Mumford is out of form, and no other ruck fits the bill (maybe Goldstein, but McIntosh lurks over him).  The replacement ruck could do worse than Smith in the weeks specified.   You dont really maximise Sandilands high dollar value.

3) Trade Sandilands for a rookie ruckman. Debate all you like about the options, and when you consider youre talking about one-game rookies, its hard to look into this with any sort of clarity.  Theres Browne, Vardy and Bailey.   Id suggest Browne will ruck most of the year and be a solid backup for your backups, but comes with a 60k price tag extra.   Bailey is in my view just behind Renouf at Hawthorn and Vardy is behind Ottens and Hawkins at Geelong.   Neither will get more than 10 games.   Browne could play rest of the year given the courage he showed and grit in the Dreamtime Match.  (But he does have Angus Graham still to compete with if theres a loss of form, and lets face it - he is a backup of backups if you have the option to use both Petrie and Smith.)

Advantages: Get money for trades.  Then you can get the best players in and really maximise your team for now.  If Sandilands either takes longer to come back or starts slowly you will win on this one, and it helps you hold onto some cash cows for later on - giving vital reinforcements backup in bye-affected rounds.  You get better, presumably more healthy cows which could be slaughtered on your terms - leading to presumably healthier premiums in your team.   And then as indicated if Sandilands starts slowly, you can use Smith/Petrie to upgrade back into him for the SuperCoach finals (or any rounds after R16).
Disadvantages: Sandilands comes back quicker than expected, your replacements tank it, and Mumford smashes it out.  All really out of your control, but all possible.

I cant give you specific advice for your situation, but think you need to consider all these options if you have Lurch in your team.

Best Value Per Position - talking about players averaging 90+ this year...

DEF: At lower end: Suckling-Enright-Gibbs.   (Newman excl due to 2 byes) At the high end: Adcock-Scotland-Goddard
MID: Scott Thompson hits the sweet spot.  Fantastic against the best mids in the comp on Sunday and I had a close look.  Outside him, Id steer clear of Swan because he looks injured.  Pendlebury is a better option.   Theres Murphy-Ablett-Judd-Boyd-Selwood all about the same mark.   Murphy and Thompson to me seem great underpriced PODs.   Hodge and Montagna - past champs a touch below this level, and Im not sure you can skimp on mids when they churn out 120s vs 100s.   But they are about the same value as the latter group.   Nowhere near Pendlebury or Thompson though.
RUC: See above!
FWD: A make or break area.   Fyfe slightly > Rioli and Pavlich.  ROK slightly > Goodes.  Johnson slightly > Chapman.   But certainly if you dont have Nick Riewoldt or Lance Franklin, nows the time to get on board.   As for JB...hmmm...have another week to have a look, but to be honest way too much $ for the output - can drop a good 50k.    Harvey and Sylvia are worse value than all on the above list but keep hammering out points.  Sometimes you just have to get the points regardless of value.

Best Downgrade Targets Per Position

DEF: If you dont have Hibberd, Jacobs is your man.   Pedersen maybe getting a run, but dont be too sure!
MID: Melbournes Evans came at a great time, but we have another week to have a good watch.  Could still be Bail/Gysberts type only getting a game because of others injury.
RUC: See above!
FWD: Isaac Smith (pending selection) and Tom Lynch.  Both have good points and are safe downgrade options for Tapscott.   If selected they will go up heaps in value, so get on.

I put these teams below in because I think that these should be players on your radar.  Your team should look close to the AA team for the season as the year progresses.

SC All-Australian Team (Season)

DEF: Adcock, Scotland, Deledio, Fisher, Goddard, Shaw, Newman (Suckling, Gibbs, Malceski/Enright)
MID: Swan, Pendlebury, Mundy, Boyd, Priddis, Ablett (Watson, Embley, M Murphy)
RUC: Cox, Sandilands (Mumford, Goldstein)
FWD: Franklin, Pavlich, Fyfe, Sylvia,  Harvey, Chapman, Rioli (OKeefe, Roughead, Goodes/S Johnson)

SC All-Australian Team (3 Round)

DEF: Fisher, Scotland, Shaw, Deledio, Chaplin, Adcock, Suckling (Birchall, Carazzo, S Martin)
MID: Selwood, Wells, Ablett, D Thomas, S Thompson, Boyd (Watson, Judd, M Murphy)
RUC: Sandilands, Cox (Naitanui, Goldstein)
FWD: Franklin, Sylvia, Roughead, Pavlich, JJ Kennedy, OKeefe, Goodes (Nahas, Brennan, Harvey)

Until next week, happy trading!