AFL $25,000+ Cats v Power Line-Up
This looms as an absolute Krakouer… pardon the pun. Sir Doug Nicholls Round opens with the Cats hosting the Power at Simonds Stadium, and it should be a really interesting contest. Port Adelaide have smashed bottom sides but are yet to really assert themselves as a serious contender. You’d expect it will be a tough ask for them. Oh, and did you hear Simonds Stadium has a new stand?
Here is a team you may consider for the AFL $25,000+ Cats v Power competition
Forward
Karl Amon ($11,250)
This is a bit of an odd player to start with. Many of you will be going “Karl who?”, but Amon’s price is justified considering his efforts over the past three weeks (albeit against poor opposition). Amon is averaging 98 Draftstars points in his past three matches including two tons, compared to 55 points per game before this hot streak. You’ve gotta risk it to get the biscuit in this Draftstars caper, and I think Amon is a risk worth taking for Friday night.
Daniel Menzel ($9,400)
Speaking of risks, this man is prone to a bit of a stinker, and last week was no exception. Menzel has just the six disposals against the Bulldogs, with a couple of late goals pushing him up to a paltry total of 36 Draftstars points… Yuck. Menzel hasn’t scored over 63 points since Round 3, which explains his low price. Despite all these factors going against him, I’m backing him in.
Midfield
Joel Selwood ($15,100)
Is there anything that Joel Selwood loves more than standing up in big moments? Yes, and that’s playing at Simonds Stadium. Last week proved just that, with Selwood punching out a 116-point total, ending a month-long century drought. Selwood’s good form comes in waves, so this means another big score is on the cards for the skipper. Priced very nicely in my eyes.
Ollie Wines ($12,650)
Ollie Wines started the season like a house on fire, scoring 116 Draftstars points per game in his first three games. Since then, the man with the squarest head in the business has not scored a ton. A week off should do Wines the world of good, considering he is a player who smashes his body around on a weekly basis. Provides some value at a deflated price tag of $12.65k.
Sam Powell-Pepper ($9,650)
Like Ollie Wines, man-child Sam Powell-Pepper will benefit immensely from the week off. His style of play is to be a bull, and he has made an impressive start to his career averaging 67 Draftstars points per game. The salt shaker has churned out two 70’s in past three games, including 21 disposals, three tackles and 76 points in his last outing.
James Parsons ($7,100)
After starting his career with a figurative and literal bang (remember his elbow on Luke Hodge, anyone?), Parsons has been pretty disappointing in Draftstars, averaging 41 points in his past three. He did produce a 55-point performance against the Bulldogs though, laying five tackles and winning 14 disposals. We are very short of genuine cheapies in this contest, and I think he is our best chance of reaching a solid total.
Defence
Zach Tuohy ($12,550)
The Catters just love getting the ball in this bloke’s hands. Tuohy has averaged 27 disposals and 94 Draftstars points so far this season, fulfilling the Enright role across the half-back flank. Harbrow racked up 31 disposals against the Power in their late game, and I reckon Zachariah will be gifted the same sort of freedom on Friday night. Hopefully.
Darcy Byrne-Jones ($9,700)
Darcy Byrne-Jones has been a bit up and down this season, posting three 90+ totals but also two scores in the 30’s. His average of 66 is probably a better indication of his output though, and he has managed to exceed this in four of his matches. With Tuohy likely to get a bit of latitude, I expect Geelong to let Pittard and DBJ run free as well.
Ruck
Zac Smith ($12,150)
Zac Smith played his best game in Cats colours on the weekend, and one of the best games of his career. The big man scored a monster 148 Draftstars points, collecting 25 disposals, 48 hitouts and laying 10 tackles. There is no doubt he’s not going to score that every week, although Smith probably wishes he could come up against Tom Boyd again on Friday night. I would have liked to afford Ryder but I couldn’t fit him in, so Smith will have to do!
The Line Up
FWD: Karl Amon ($11,250)
FWD: Daniel Menzel ($9,400)
MID: Joel Selwood ($15,100)
MID: Ollie Wines ($12,650)
MID: Sam Powell-Pepper ($9,650)
MID: James Parsons ($7,100)
DEF: Zach Tuohy ($12,550)
DEF: Darcy Byrne-Jones ($9,700)
RUCK: Zac Smith ($12,150)
Salary Remaining: $450
AFL SCORING SYSTEM
Kick = 3 points
Mark = 3 points
Handball = 2 points
Goal = 6 points
Behind = 1 point
Tackle = 4 points
Free Kick For = 1 point
Free Kick Against = -3 points
Hitout = 1 point