Eliminate or Be Eliminated – Round 14

Yes! Week 2 of Eliminate or Be Eliminated and no one can take this away from me. Last week’s matchup got pretty hairy – after thinking I had the better of the matchup my opponent decided to bring in the big guns – Chad Cornes and Buddy Franklin to be exact.

Ironically – these 2 failed to combine for 100 between them, and may have cost him the win! When I heard Matty Stokes was a late withdrawal I was filthy I had inexplicably left Kurt Tippett as my forward emergency over Jarryd Morton (who of course blew up with a big 90) but the young Crow staggered to 75 so it wasn’t as bad as first thought. In the end a relatively painless 70 odd point margin and I roll into the last 512 teams!

Come today, and my bullish outlook has turned into pained torture, for a number of reasons.

OK, well actually one major reason. God damn injuries.

P Burgoyne, C Cornes, A McLeod – all out for most likely extended lay offs means an absolute disaster for my chances of winning (however remote as they originally were). With only 3 trades left – 1 earmarked for Big Coxy when his foot finally falls off and he goes in for surgery – I was hoping for at least a couple of weeks where I could escape unscathed from the Holy God of Injuries.

Instead, he decided to not only tease me with Burgs and Chad going down mid game, but just pluck this McLeod knee surgery out of nowhere just as I was feeling a bit better with him in my team coming off a 78.

Anyway, I’ve decided to go for broke – McLeod and Chad – you’re both out of here. At the moment I’m definitely bringing in Birchall who at 275k is excellent value if he can start dodging these ridiculous tags – also gets a crack at the woeful Eagles this week. My other ‘in’ will probably be Jordan McMahon – as much as it makes me ill. Chad’s plummeting value has turned this into a double whammy – I first thought I’d be fine and was looking forward to bringing in Goddard who I expect to rip it up with the current St Kilda rubbish style of play they’re serving up, but Chad can’t even match his price! Gilbee and The Rough One are my other options but I’m leaning to McMahon.

Anyway, here’s this week’s matchup:

We Shot JR – overall rank 2,296, averaging 1,892 a game and ranked 150 in last week’s play.

I’m still in at 1,098, but last week’s tally only placed me 330 amongst the remaining Eliminator teams. Still, not a bad draw.

His team though looks very strong indeed – 7 quality backs, although Chad is one of them, as is Brett Jones who is a surprise out this week which could be key. Proud and Hansen are his backups so he should be able to get one of them on the park if required. Even making my 2 trades I’m going to have to play Urquhart in place of PBurgs, so being able to match up Urq on one of his reserves is very handy.

He is very strong through the midfield, and has the great man G Ablett – there goes the big advantage I’ve had in recent weeks. Think he’s got my measure here with the likes of Corey, Cooney, Kelly and Griff, while we both have Stevens. The doubt surrounding Judd only compounds my problems, although at least I have Cotchin ready and willing to come in.

On paper I have an edge in the ruck – Cox and Simmonds taking on Cox and Kreuzer. This will be key – I’ll need Simmonds to pack about 40 on here to give me a big shot.

Finally up forward – we both have Pav, JB and Buddy, so it will be down to a matchup of my Didak, BJ, Bock and Stokes against Porps, Murphy, Meddy and Cyril. Cyril looked after me last week with only 36 so hopefully he can get the job done (ie blow it) again this week.

To be honest – my spirits have lifted a little from typing this out – I see a clear advantage in the rucks, and hopefully up forward as well, I just have to hope I can hold my own through the middle and down back to let rip with another column next week.

If you have some advice for me on the backs I’d love to hear it – anyone at Chad’s price or under please as I’m using every last cent to send McLeod to Birchall.