Captains
Picking a captain in keeper leagues can be a challenge, especially if injuries or lack of depth leave you without a standout option. That’s where we come in. Instead of the obvious choices, we’re looking at some under-the-radar captaincy options who could deliver big scores this week.
If Toby Nankervis returns this weekend, you should feel safe putting the captaincy on him. Kieran Briggs has been giving up points to opposition ruckmen all season, and Nankervis scored 117 the last time he faced the Giants.
Christian Salem is a more left-field option, but he’s been in good form of late and comes up against St Kilda, a side that has leaked plenty of points to defenders in recent times. Salem scored 133 the last time he played them and averages 117 across their past three encounters, so he’s worth a look if you’re chasing a unique captain.
Tom Green looks like a strong bounce-back candidate this week. He faces Richmond, one of the softest matchups for midfielders, and has a three-game average of 113.3 against the Tigers.
Rory Laird is another solid option with a strong history against Sydney. Medium defenders tend to score well against the Swans, and Laird has averaged 112 from his past three outings against them. He also enjoys playing at the SCG, where he averages 108.7 from his last three appearances.
Vice-Captains
For vice-captains, we focus on players featuring in the first two games of the round—guys who fit the same mold as our captains but aren’t the go-to selections. If you’re looking for an early VC loophole play, we’ve got you covered.
Will Ashcroft is a great vice-captaincy option this round. Essendon are the third-easiest team for midfielders to score against, and Ashcroft has made the most of this matchup before, averaging 122.5 points from his two games against them.
Dan Houston could bounce back this week against Hawthorn, who have also proven to be the third-easiest side for medium defenders to score against. Houston scored a massive 136 the last time he played them (when playing for Port Adelaide) and holds a three-game average of 97 in this matchup.
James Sicily has a great scoring history against Collingwood. He’s averaged 116.3 across their last three meetings and notched up 104 the last time they played. If he can get his intercept game going, he’ll be right in the mix again.
Darcy Cameron has also enjoyed recent success against Hawthorn. He scored 112 in their last clash and has a three-game average of 100.3 against them, making him another solid vice-captaincy play.
Streamers
Here we highlight players with strong scoring history against their upcoming opponents or other factors that suggest they could be worth a punt. Whether you’re scraping the waiver wire or looking for a sneaky bench loophole, these are the names to consider.
Jack Ginnivan seems to enjoy playing against his old side. He faced Collingwood twice last year and returned an impressive average of 90.3, including a top score of 122 against them. With some good form behind him, he’s worth fielding this week.
Steven May has only averaged 69 points this season, but this weekend’s matchup against St Kilda could be a turning point. The Saints have allowed good scores to key defenders in recent weeks, so May shapes as a sneaky on-field option if you’re short down back.
Tim Kelly will face his old side Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, a venue that typically seems intimidating. But this season, the Cats are giving up more points to midfielders than any other team. While Kelly’s form has been patchy, he has averaged 89.7 across his last three games against Geelong and could post a serviceable score this week.
Wil Powell is another name to keep in mind. Fremantle have given up plenty of points to medium defenders, and while Powell is competing with the likes of Noble and Rioli for points in defence, he could be more involved this week given the favourable matchup.
Want more projections? View the top 20 projected scores of the round here…
