AFL $25,000+ Saturday Line-Up

Welcome to Showdown Saturday – or as we like to call it at Draftstars HQ, $25,000 Saturday . There are some interesting matchups and some great picks to choose from for Saturdays matches, including one Cat who has a pretty decent record against the Dees.

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Here is a team you may consider for the AFL $25,000+ Saturday competition

Forward

Toby Greene ($13,950)

Toby kicked a bag of five last week against the Suns, and he comes up against another average line-up this weekend. Greene posted 102 Draftstars in the Giants’ demolition of the Suns, snagging a couple of his goals in last quarter junk time. North Melbourne have been competitive thus far but I can’t see this continuing against GWS – even at their home away from home in Hobart. Greene should have plenty of opportunity to claim another big haul.

Dan Houston ($6,400)

Houston – we don’t have a problem. Here we have a player priced at $6,400 who nearly hit a ton last week, but was left stranded on 99*. Houston had just 18 disposals for his 95 Draftstars points, all of which were kicks. In his two games for the Power he has recorded 28 kicks and two handballs in Heath Shaw-esque fashion out of defence. Still no Pittard in so back the lad to get another solid total for his discount price.

Midfield

Joel Selwood ($15,450)

Joel Selwood was absolutely enormous last week in the Cats’ win, rising to another level in the last quarter. He scored 119 Draftstars points last week, but this isn’t the major reason why I’m picking him. Instead, it is his fantastic record against the Dees that has me licking my chops. Selwood has scored 120+ points in four of his last five encounters with the red and the blue. One of these was a gargantuan 178-point game, just 10 shy of the margin Melbourne lost by on that day in 2011. He looks the goods.

Marcus Bontempelli ($14,950)

‘The Bont’ is one of my favourite players – and I am sure I’m not alone – because he stands up when it matters most. Last week was no exception, racking up 19 disposals in the second half against Sydney and scoring 126 Draftstars points. While I don’t think there will be many crucial moments in their clash with Fremantle, I’m backing him to have another big one against the dismal Dockers. Didn’t ton up in either of their matches last year, but he is in red hot form at the minute.

Tom Liberatore ($13,200)

According to Champion Data, this man has had 90 presssure acts in the last two weeks – the most of any player across a two week period. I’m not exactly sure what constitutes a ‘pressure act’, but the stats also say Liberatore has laid 30 tackles this season – that’s 60 points per game through tackles ALONE. The fan favourite has averaged 110 Draftstars points in 2017, and should continue his tackling ways against the Dockers who play ugly footy.

Sam Powell-Pepper ($7,700)

Powell-Pepper got plenty of opportunity in the middle on Sunday, racking up 25 disposals and 84 Draftstars points. SPP is simply a manchild who presents an awful lot of value for his $7,700 price tag. A score of 70+ will be just what the doctor ordered, and he has reached this mark in his two games so far. It is early days, but he looks to be a player who can rise to the challenge, which I’m backing him to do in the Showdown on Saturday night.

Defence

Christian Salem ($10,750)

Salem played one of the best games of his career on the weekend, collecting 31 disposals and 127 Draftstars points against the Blues. The 21-year-old appears to be relishing his move into the middle and his kick to handball ratio is fantastic for Drafstars. Salem has registered four kicks for every handball so far in 2017, and expect that trend to continue under the roof at Etihad on Saturday afternoon.

Curtly Hampton ($6,900)

Curtly Hampton should be relieved he can tackle, otherwise he probably wouldn’t be in the Crows lineup. Hampton is averaging just the twelve disposals per game but has laid eight tackles per game, including 10 against the Hawks. Hampton is named in the guts for the much anticipated Showdown, where you would expect his superb defensive efforts to continue. Considering he garnered 40 Draftstars points through tackles alone last weekend, he presents value.

Ruck

Toby Nankervis ($10,500)

Toby Nankervis has handled the Richmond #1 ruck role with aplomb in his first two games, averaging 88.5 Draftstars points. Nank the Tank comes up against list-clogger Jonathan Giles on Saturday, who he should dominate both around the ground and in the ruck. He battled manfully with Brodie Grundy last weekend and despite losing the matchup, Nank managed 94 points. I can see Nankervis raising his bat for his first Draftstars ton for the year on Saturday afternoon.

The Line Up

FWD: Toby Greene ($13,950)

FWD: Dan Houston ($6,400)

MID: Joel Selwood ($15,450)

MID: Marcus Bontempelli ($14,950)

MID: Tom Liberatore ($13,200)

MID: Sam Powell Pepper ($7,700)

DEF: Christian Salem ($10,750)

DEF: Curtly Hampton ($6,900)

RUCK: Toby Nankervis ($10,500)

Salary Remaining: $200