Dream Team Couch – 2008 AFL Dream Team Blog

It's finally here....

For a long time, since the dawn of Dream Team the ‘Who do i go as captain’ question has been asked and is the basis of many office, family, recess and imaginary friend conversations. BUT NOW THERE IS AN ANSWER! The Dream Team Couch is here and we heard your prays and now we are hear to save the day with the brand new segment.

The people asked for it, and we have now delivered in this new segment to the couch called ‘Couch Capitanos’. We’ll be taking a look at the stats, the opposition and any other factors that need be applied in order to find ‘Pom’s Perfectly Precise Pick for Captain’……

Our system is based on a risk percentage number with 10% meaning you can’t go wrong and 100% meaning that you need a lot of balls to go this guy….

Hawthorn vs Collingwood

My first choice here would be Buddy Franklin. I liked his match last week with Scarlett on him and i think that kicking 4.5 against Geelong is a pretty good effort. His form has been a little up and down recently but seriously i’m liking him a lot. Last time he scored 146 and beat NJ Brown easily. Might get Brown again or Harry O’Brien but should be too good. Risk Factor: 30% – It always is a bit of a risk with Buddy but could score 120+ fairly easily.

Sam Mitchell loves the MCG and also loves playing against a team with no real taggers. Last time he scored 122 off 39 disposals and 101 the time before and is good form avg 96.2 in his last 5. Risk Factor = 15% – should make the ton easy.

Dane Swan tends to be left to run free against the Hawks and averages 102 in his last two games against them. Averaging at 105 points per round and a great captain choice. Risk Factor = 10% – will score well and a guaranteed performer.

Essendon vs Melbourne

Yuck Yuck Yuck!!! Last time these two met only Cameron Bruce would come across as a good captain choice. 

Brent Stanton scored 63 last time and is likely to cop a tag from either Lynden Dunn or Clint Bartram so is a risk despite showing some awesome form of late (RF = 60%). 

Cameron Bruce could cop a tag from Andrew Welsh which could hinder his score. His average is at 95.65 this season and scored 103 last time and he copes with a tag fairly well so should get a pretty good score. Risk Factor = 45%

Adelaide vs Carlton

First Pick goes to Scott Thompson - dominated last time these two teams met with a big 120 and that was with Bryce Gibbs as his direct opponent, whose become quite a handful this season. His average for the year is 101 points per round and i think that trend is set to continue. Risk Factor = 25% – could get tagged but should still make the ton and get the job done.

Nick Stevens and Marc Murphy should have a field day as the Crows only real tagger Robert Shirley will go automatically to Judd leaving these guys to dominate. Last time around Stevens got 100 and Murphy got 108. After a few disappointing weeks these guys played well last week and should get the job done. Risk Factor = 30% for Stevens and 15% for Murphy

Geelong vs Richmond

Its basically up to you. Its either Joel Corey or Jimmy Bartel who will do the job. Both average over 108 this year and both average over 120 in their last 3 games. They scored in the 90s last time but it was in soaking wet conditions and they should fire up for a biggy! Risk Factor = 10% – They’ll do the job

Matthew Richardson was thought by many to struggle when he took on the Cats in the wet but instead he took 13 marks and scored 101. Having a stellar season and can’t really be effectively tagged – Geelong will let him run and take out playmakers like Nathan Foley or Brett Deledio. Also Richo loves no wind and having a roof over his head. Conditions at the dome will suit him brilliantly. Risk Factor = 15%

Kangaroos vs Brisbane

Looking back at past matches, current form and logical match ups Jonathan Brown is just streets ahead. Averaging at 95.5 in his last 4, JB just looks too strong for any of the Kangas Backmen. Last time they met JB scored 133 and barring poor wet weather should make the ton or go even higher. He did have a bit of an injury cloud hanging over him but seems to have shaken it off and should get the job done here. Risk Factor = 18%

Brent Harvey and Simon Black are other captain contenders but not this week. Though solid 90s these guys shouldn’t be considered as they won’t rip out the big scores (120, 130+). 

Western Bulldogs vs Sydney

Personally, i think this match is just a nightmare. Sydney just try to cancel everyone else down and the players scored well last time are now in some of their worst form for the year (Cooney, Cross, R Murphy). Kirk is playing like a champ but only scored 65 last time and will tag Cooney probably as they won’t make the mistake of letting him run free again!

Daniel Cross is not in the best form and probably will continue that trend after probably getting tagged by someone random like Luke Ablett or Craig Birdy Birdy. No captains here thankyou very much but if i had to pick one id say Robert Murphy. Don’t be suprised if he pulls out a 100+ from the magic hat.

St Kilda vs Port Adelaide

Kane Cornes has a very nice average against St Kilda and after 128 last week it seems he is playing in some form. Last time these two met, Kane pwned Nick Dal Santo tagging him out of it for only 50 and scoring himself 113 in return. Risk Factor = 25% – Kane is a little up and down these days

Nick Riewoldt is another obvious choice. Though many other DT sites warn that his past record is poor and that he can’t cope with Troy Chaplin, i personally have all the answers. Firstly, Riewoldt is playing a different role and getting more cheap ball. Secondly, who cares about past scores have you noticed the form he is in at the moment? And finally, his arch nemesis is Troy Chaplin – who has a sore ankle and might not even play. In fact Port themselves are really fluent in options generally and i think that Nick Riewoldt will go big. Risk Factor = 15% – just in super super form and can’t be overlooked

West Coast vs Fremantle

This is actually not a brilliant captain choice game with the exception of Matthew Pavlich. Then again, even Pav is sore and might not play as hard as usual. Then again the West Coast defense is a shambles, but i still don’t rate Pavlich as the best option. In fact i don’t think i see any one who is a lock in captain. Dean Cox will get high 80s/90s but won’t get a big score because though he’ll dominate through the floor, Aaron Sandilands dominates him in the ruck. No cheap hit outs this week Coxy plus you’re looking more sore by the game. Matthew Priddis scored well last time but is in just horrible form for him at the moment and could cop a tag from Ryan Creepy Crowley. Andrew Embley has been too bad of late but struggled last time and is too risky to go as captain – there are better choices out there!

‘Pom’s Perfectly Precise Picks for Captain’

1. Buddy Franklin
2. Joel Corey/Jimmy Bartel
3. Kane Cornes
4. Jonathan Brown
5. Nick Riewoldt

Agree? Disagree? Who will you be going?