Dream Team trouble - Hayden Skipworth injured!

Typically when an AFL player does a hammy it sends a ping around the nation. If that player is on the team you go for you can expect your phone to receive a flood of beeps signifying the one word message from all your mates; ping!

But when Skip did his on the weekend all you could hear was the collective sound of 89,991 Dream Team coaches sighing. And there in lies the good news, you aren’t on your own, Hayden Skipworth was a lock for any serious DT’er after he blitzed the competition during the preseason.

So here is an opportunity to out maneuver other coaches and gain an advantage with Skip looking at 3 weeks on the sidelines according to the Bombers. Here are the options:

1 – Stand Pat

Send Skipworth to your bench and cover him with the likes of Taylor Walker or Mitchell Brown. Here you can hope Skip is only out the minimum 2 weeks, and has solidified his spot in the 22 (which if you read between the lines of the Bombers article linked above it appears he has).

The catch will be how your team is stacking up, if you will be down to two zeros on the bench then it is an obvious risk (especially if you don’t have Ziebell and you are looking at two 50’s from your rooks – although Taylor could be looking to Beast against the lowly Dee’s this weekend).

His break even is at 54, which is precisely what he scores this past weekend meaning there is possibly only a little value left to be gained anyway.

2 – Single trade upgrade

If you have spare cash lying around, cut your losses, don’t wait the 3 week waiting period (possibly more if things don’t go well), and make a straight upgrade to the likes of Riewoldt ($409k – BE 74), Harvey ($371k – BE 62) and Davey ($352k – BE 30). Roo and Harvs have met appear to have dipped as far as they will go this year (particularly Harvey) with their break evens reaching very achievable levels. Meanwhile Davey is has been blazing over the last three and looks set on dominating the ball this season.

Avoid the following though, as they still have some decreases ahead unless they can string some huge games together - Buddy ($382k – BE 104), Pav ($381k – BE 120), Gian ($367k – BE 120), Lids ($403k – BE 125).

3 – Throw all your chips in the middle with the DOUBLE TRADE

If you are ready to make a big move now this would be it. Pick a player to downgrade - whether it is a mid ranger who hasn’t lived up to your expectations ie Travis Cloke – or a rookie that you feel has reached their potential ie Mitch Robinson. Pick from one of the sparse rookie options who haven’t had their price rise yet (Nahas up forward is about all on offer right now). And go bang on one of the gun frw’s that may not be in your arsenal already (Richo, Johno, Chapman). The smart double play if you have the restraint is to still nab one of the Cash Fowls mentioned in part 2 and bank your remaining cash for future upgrades.

In the end remember Skippy was never a keeper to being with. Sure there was some hope after his dominant opening round performance, but since then things have gone downhill. So don’t be scared to upgrade him, you will later in the season anyway.