Dream Team Couch – 2008 AFL Dream Team Blog

Let’s begin this week with a ‘look how good i am’ with my picks last week. Sam Mitchell and Heath Shaw have copped a fair amount of abuse for some terrible performances. However, they bounced back with dominate as 141 and 132 respective performances that put all that poor form to rest.

Righto, this week is all about the midfield. We’ll start with a look at a rookie who’s disappointed after a good start, a ‘Mr Consistency’ who’s not that consistent but really frustrating, a gun whose having terrible time at the moment and a true champion whose bottomed out just under $400k!!

Steven Browne

After his first two scores were 79 and 72 an awful lot of people jumped on him – however those poor coaches didn’t realise, as i did, that Browne has a disease that is widespread in younger footy players. Similar to the common cold it changes slightly every year making it almost impossible to avoid – it is called Josh Hill syndrome this year. After a great start his scores plummeted by around 30 points. Last week he scored a weak and pathetic 38.  Hmmm, not really the ideal cash cow as he has only made you +$83,400. He’s peaked now at a solid $166,900 having fallen -$1,100 last round – an average of 52.43 and a break even of 65. Alas, its time to say goodbye unless you enjoy watching a cash cow fall an expected -$4000. 

Q: Man that’s sucks – why’s he so annoying???

A: Cause he plays for Carlton…….at least he’s not as bad as……

Cameron Ling (aka The Pink Pig/Sir Taggalot)

Ah yes i have just a little vent at you – YOU USELESS PRICK!!!! Yes Cameron has not had a great year – okay he claims to be avergaging 87 but really he’s not. He’s Mr solid 81 points every match – with the odd shocker. Why’s he averaging 87 – cause he made a great start to the year. Okay Lingy, i bought you at the start cause you were $350k and i thought you were a $400k, 100 avg per game player. But your not. Then as if to rub salt into the wound, stick a knife through my head – your not even tagging well. With exception to Shaun Burgoyne two weeks ago, you’ve let your men have too much of it!!! During my loss to DJ earlier in the year i expected Ling to smash Dane Swan down to at least 80. No, try 130 – incidently i lost that match by 40 points – basically i blame you Lingy. Get off him, he’ll only frustrate the hell out of your expected 100+ per round. Buy Sam Mitchell like me!!!

Or………

Leigh Montagna

Yeah bit of a risk this one as he is known for his up-down performances generally. Last year averaged a cool 95 points per round but this year after a great start is averaging just 83.62. However it was 92.1 after 10 rounds then in the last three matches he has struggled averaging just 55.33 in his last three. With a break even of 111 it is gettable especially as the Saints play the Kangas – a side that Montagna likes a lot. The main reason for getting him though is that he is just too cheap to ignore. He’s fallen -$125,400 - more than anyone else in the competition!!! Last week he fell -$28,400 to be at just $290,500 – like i said too cheap to ignore.

 If you have the cash…….

Jimmy Bartel

What a champion – averaged 114, won a Brownlow and a Premiership medal in 2007 but has received a little more attention this year. He’s fallen -$109,100 in value including -$11,800 last round. Stats like that would indicate that Jimmy Bartel is struggling – which he is for Jimmy Bartel. He is averaging just 103 points per round and is priced at just $387, 700 - so cheap!!! Yeah bare with me that last few sentences were written with extreme sarcasm. The thing is Bartel is a champion, an against Adelaide can easily make 121. He’s basically as cheap as he’ll ever be so now is the time to get him.

Pom