@Dreamteam_Guru has had a bad week. I didn't even crack 1800 this week in DT, and I have become moody, introspective, reclusive and doubting my DT skills.
Then I considered my bench & bad luck for the week.
Firstly Prestia & Krak didn't play forcing me to play Richardson (whose 14-odd saw his price increase!!!) and get the dreaded zero. Broughton didn't play meaning I picked up 37 for Tape. I had Petrie on my bench and he scored 6,000 (slight exaggeration). I had Sylvia, Jack & Grimes on my bench too.
My initial strategy was to take a hit in non-league weeks. I picked players from teams that had their byes twice during multi bye weeks.
My score this week is a reflection on this strategy as well as bad luck. That's ok - I didn't lose any matches!
This week is another multi bye round with lots of my freo players having a week off. That's ok - they will be back for head-to-head competition the next week.
I'd be happy with 2000 this week and hopefully get higher scores there after!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Dreamteam & Twitter: The Unwritten Rules
@Dreamteam_Guru has a look at twitter etiquette on how we interact with afl football players.
Andrew Bogut (Australian NBA player) tweeted this week. To paraphrase, he wrote "yes - I'm out for the season. No - I don't care about your fantasy teams."
This reminded the guru of when his primary school buddy played with an afl club. Chatting over facebook, the guru kept asking the player afl related questions before the player wrote "can we talk about something else - I get a bit tired of talking about work all the time."
In short, AFL (or sport in Bogut's example) is a career to these people. Dreamteam is a hobby of ours, but one the players don't necessarily care for.
Scenario - let's say twitter's Jobe Watson goes down with injury. Diagnosis out for 7 weeks. This would figuratively cripple some dreamteams. He would probably like to get messages stating "all the best in your recovery mate."
He probably wouldn't care much for an addition of "get better quickly as The Gurus Men need you" or "great - now I have to play Dion Prestia" or "you just cost me a trade, Jobe!"
If you do contact players via twitter, have a think first - what are you actually saying, will 150 people write the same thing & does your hobby interest your audience. You don't want them to pull a Bogut on you!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Andrew Bogut (Australian NBA player) tweeted this week. To paraphrase, he wrote "yes - I'm out for the season. No - I don't care about your fantasy teams."
This reminded the guru of when his primary school buddy played with an afl club. Chatting over facebook, the guru kept asking the player afl related questions before the player wrote "can we talk about something else - I get a bit tired of talking about work all the time."
In short, AFL (or sport in Bogut's example) is a career to these people. Dreamteam is a hobby of ours, but one the players don't necessarily care for.
Scenario - let's say twitter's Jobe Watson goes down with injury. Diagnosis out for 7 weeks. This would figuratively cripple some dreamteams. He would probably like to get messages stating "all the best in your recovery mate."
He probably wouldn't care much for an addition of "get better quickly as The Gurus Men need you" or "great - now I have to play Dion Prestia" or "you just cost me a trade, Jobe!"
If you do contact players via twitter, have a think first - what are you actually saying, will 150 people write the same thing & does your hobby interest your audience. You don't want them to pull a Bogut on you!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Dreamteam - What Happens Between Rounds 4-6?
@Dreamteam_Guru looks at the peculiar 2011 DT rules and what it means for your strategy.
Dreamteam players play for several reasons. The most common for the dedicated are:
A) Win the league
B) Win the overall competition (the car)
C) Win the week
For the next three rounds, there are three teams sharing the bye. This can effect your strategy for all of these player types.
The League winner: no head to head competition means don't burn your trades. Save them up, and only use them for cash cows. If an Ed Curnow makes his debut this week, trade him in before his third game. If not, don't trade at all and save the trades up for DT finals time or for when you need them.
Win the whole comp: make sure you have enough cover for the multi-team byes. Use trades as normal - when necessary and for cash cows. Try not to use more than one trade a week for the whole season.
The Weekly Winner: with Goddard, Libber & Riewoldt having the bye this week, there will be lots of Dreamteams using their bench cover. Trade these players out, and instead of using your bench you can bring in other high profile talent that doesn't have the bye. Multi-bye weeks are a good opportunity to win the week while other players starting 22 are far weaker than normal.
Are you playing by either of these strategies or one the Guru hasn't considered?
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Dreamteam players play for several reasons. The most common for the dedicated are:
A) Win the league
B) Win the overall competition (the car)
C) Win the week
For the next three rounds, there are three teams sharing the bye. This can effect your strategy for all of these player types.
The League winner: no head to head competition means don't burn your trades. Save them up, and only use them for cash cows. If an Ed Curnow makes his debut this week, trade him in before his third game. If not, don't trade at all and save the trades up for DT finals time or for when you need them.
Win the whole comp: make sure you have enough cover for the multi-team byes. Use trades as normal - when necessary and for cash cows. Try not to use more than one trade a week for the whole season.
The Weekly Winner: with Goddard, Libber & Riewoldt having the bye this week, there will be lots of Dreamteams using their bench cover. Trade these players out, and instead of using your bench you can bring in other high profile talent that doesn't have the bye. Multi-bye weeks are a good opportunity to win the week while other players starting 22 are far weaker than normal.
Are you playing by either of these strategies or one the Guru hasn't considered?
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Round 3 - Why the Trade?
When @Dreamteam_Guru has the time, he will BLOG on his trade decisions.
This week there was two - both value trades.
1 - Curnow in, Atley out. Curnow is averaging. 99, Atley 40. I want Curnow now before his value rises. That way if & when I sell him, I would have made profit off him.
2 -Dawes in, Davis out. Although named this week, it has become apparent that Collingwood don't have Davis in their best xxii. I liked the way he played in preseason and 2 years ago he averaged 99. That's why I had him. Now I pick up Dawes as he is averaging 100+ and is less than $300k. This leads to another value trade.
As I twitter-ed, I wanted Luenberger for Cox this week, but I didn't have the dosh!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
This week there was two - both value trades.
1 - Curnow in, Atley out. Curnow is averaging. 99, Atley 40. I want Curnow now before his value rises. That way if & when I sell him, I would have made profit off him.
2 -Dawes in, Davis out. Although named this week, it has become apparent that Collingwood don't have Davis in their best xxii. I liked the way he played in preseason and 2 years ago he averaged 99. That's why I had him. Now I pick up Dawes as he is averaging 100+ and is less than $300k. This leads to another value trade.
As I twitter-ed, I wanted Luenberger for Cox this week, but I didn't have the dosh!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Round 3 - Captain's Choices
Each week @Dreamteam_Guru looks at three possibilities as captain: his captain, someone he doesn't have & a smokie.
Guru's captain this week. Dane Swan, same as most weeks.
Someone I don't have that could be a good choices: Leigh Montagna. Stepping out of the Hayes shadow to lead the saints against a young Essendon team. Could be DT gold.
Smokie: Tom Liberratore. Playing against a team of his peers, he will be motivated to show them what they missed out on thanks to the doggies use of the father/son rule. Huge risk here, but huge potential too - especially if you have your eye on winning the week!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Guru's captain this week. Dane Swan, same as most weeks.
Someone I don't have that could be a good choices: Leigh Montagna. Stepping out of the Hayes shadow to lead the saints against a young Essendon team. Could be DT gold.
Smokie: Tom Liberratore. Playing against a team of his peers, he will be motivated to show them what they missed out on thanks to the doggies use of the father/son rule. Huge risk here, but huge potential too - especially if you have your eye on winning the week!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
What is @Dreamteam_Guru on about when he says "unaffected by the bye" (2nd attempt)
I received a good question via twitter. What do I mean when I talk about teams that are unaffected by the bye?
This year with a 17 team comp, each team has 2 byes. As there isn't 34 rounds, there are some weeks when 3 teams have a bye.
When 3 teams have a bye there is no head to head games in DT. Therefore if you have a player whose team shares a bye with 2 other teams you don't need a quality back up bench that week to win a game. You just won't have a high score that week. As this doesn't effect league competition, it's ok to make this sacrifice (unless you are trying to win the whole thing - the car that is).
Melbourne, Sydney, Freo and Brisbane all share both their byes with 2 other clubs. The Guru has stocked up on dockers and dees for this reason and also has a couple of swans and a lion.
Adelaide's remaining bye is shared with 2 other clubs so from now on the crows too are unaffected by the bye. The Guru has Knights & McKernnan for value reasons, but may keep them for this reason too.
So if you are considering upgrading a defender and you can't split Enright, Grimes or Deledio this could be the deciding factor. Enright has a bye in DT finals, Deledio is effected by the bye and Grimes isn't. In this scenario, Grimes would get the nod. (I currently have both Grimes & Deledio by the way!)
It's a strategy the Guru is keen on to position himself well within the league. Is it something you'll look at too?
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
This year with a 17 team comp, each team has 2 byes. As there isn't 34 rounds, there are some weeks when 3 teams have a bye.
When 3 teams have a bye there is no head to head games in DT. Therefore if you have a player whose team shares a bye with 2 other teams you don't need a quality back up bench that week to win a game. You just won't have a high score that week. As this doesn't effect league competition, it's ok to make this sacrifice (unless you are trying to win the whole thing - the car that is).
Melbourne, Sydney, Freo and Brisbane all share both their byes with 2 other clubs. The Guru has stocked up on dockers and dees for this reason and also has a couple of swans and a lion.
Adelaide's remaining bye is shared with 2 other clubs so from now on the crows too are unaffected by the bye. The Guru has Knights & McKernnan for value reasons, but may keep them for this reason too.
So if you are considering upgrading a defender and you can't split Enright, Grimes or Deledio this could be the deciding factor. Enright has a bye in DT finals, Deledio is effected by the bye and Grimes isn't. In this scenario, Grimes would get the nod. (I currently have both Grimes & Deledio by the way!)
It's a strategy the Guru is keen on to position himself well within the league. Is it something you'll look at too?
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
If I Had 8 Trades
@Dreamteam_Guru looks at the importance of trading this week - the week before values change for the majority of players.
After a player has played 3 games for the season their price changes due to their average score. As most players have played 2 games, this is the time to trade out under performing players for players that have been playing out of their skins.
Most people will pick up Carlton's Curnow this week - you should too.This leaves one more trade you can make.
Mature defender - if you don't have Gibbs already you must now. 2 games of 140+ means his price will explode!
Job security: A+
durability: A+
bye effect: C
Carlton have a bye in DT finals.
Young defender. Dyson Heppell looks like a third year player to me. Jump on if you don't have him already!
Job security: A-
Durability: ?
Bye effect: D-
Essendon have a bye for DT grand finals.
Mature Midfielder: Pendles. Gaining Swan like numbers. I'd love to have the money for him!
Job Security: A+
Durability: A
Bye Effect: B-
If you have Swan too, when the pies have a bye you will be crippled.
Young mid: Libber Jnr
Big numbers so far. Jump on for week 3!
Job Security: C
Durability: ?
Bye Effect: B
Hard to keep a spot in the doggies line up for a first year player.
Mature Ruck: Dean Cox
Two 100+ games makes Cox a DT threat again!
Job Security: A
Durability: B
Bye Effect: B+
Age and sustainability are key here.
First year ruck: Zac Smith, but hold off until next week as Gold Coast have already had a bye so have played just one game.
Job security: A-
Durability: ?
Bye effect: A-
Keep an eye on his DT numbers this week.
Mature Forward: Chris Dawes
Big numbers from the big man so far. Has good supply from a good team making him a good option.
Job security: A
Durability: B+
Bye Effect: B+
Can he keep current scores for the season?
First year forward: Luke Tapscott
Didn't play seniors last year but looks like a pro this year. Plays like a mid which helps his scores.
Job Security: B
Durability; B
Bye Effect: A+
Plays for one of the five teams whose players are unaffected by bye scheduling meaning you don't need to cover him for DT head to head competition.
Will you be picking up from the 8 players above or looking elsewhere? Let the Guru know!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
After a player has played 3 games for the season their price changes due to their average score. As most players have played 2 games, this is the time to trade out under performing players for players that have been playing out of their skins.
Most people will pick up Carlton's Curnow this week - you should too.This leaves one more trade you can make.
Mature defender - if you don't have Gibbs already you must now. 2 games of 140+ means his price will explode!
Job security: A+
durability: A+
bye effect: C
Carlton have a bye in DT finals.
Young defender. Dyson Heppell looks like a third year player to me. Jump on if you don't have him already!
Job security: A-
Durability: ?
Bye effect: D-
Essendon have a bye for DT grand finals.
Mature Midfielder: Pendles. Gaining Swan like numbers. I'd love to have the money for him!
Job Security: A+
Durability: A
Bye Effect: B-
If you have Swan too, when the pies have a bye you will be crippled.
Young mid: Libber Jnr
Big numbers so far. Jump on for week 3!
Job Security: C
Durability: ?
Bye Effect: B
Hard to keep a spot in the doggies line up for a first year player.
Mature Ruck: Dean Cox
Two 100+ games makes Cox a DT threat again!
Job Security: A
Durability: B
Bye Effect: B+
Age and sustainability are key here.
First year ruck: Zac Smith, but hold off until next week as Gold Coast have already had a bye so have played just one game.
Job security: A-
Durability: ?
Bye effect: A-
Keep an eye on his DT numbers this week.
Mature Forward: Chris Dawes
Big numbers from the big man so far. Has good supply from a good team making him a good option.
Job security: A
Durability: B+
Bye Effect: B+
Can he keep current scores for the season?
First year forward: Luke Tapscott
Didn't play seniors last year but looks like a pro this year. Plays like a mid which helps his scores.
Job Security: B
Durability; B
Bye Effect: A+
Plays for one of the five teams whose players are unaffected by bye scheduling meaning you don't need to cover him for DT head to head competition.
Will you be picking up from the 8 players above or looking elsewhere? Let the Guru know!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Time to pick Crows!
@Dreamteam_Guru looks at another feature of the 17 team DT season.
Remember pre season? Thoughts of scoring 2372 each week. Thinking of all the Melbourne (Grimes), Sydney (Jack), Freo (Pav) & Brisbane (?) players you'd pick because they were unaffected by the bye.
Good news. A fifth team is now in the mix. Adelaide have had one bye already, but their next one occurs when they share it with two other teams. This means when they have a bye it won't effect DT head-to-head competition.
So load up on Knights, Vince & Dangerfield! Look at McKernnan because their DT value to you has just increased and they haven't even played this week!
So now there are 5 teams that are unaffected by the bye. More options, more chance of winning your league!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
Remember pre season? Thoughts of scoring 2372 each week. Thinking of all the Melbourne (Grimes), Sydney (Jack), Freo (Pav) & Brisbane (?) players you'd pick because they were unaffected by the bye.
Good news. A fifth team is now in the mix. Adelaide have had one bye already, but their next one occurs when they share it with two other teams. This means when they have a bye it won't effect DT head-to-head competition.
So load up on Knights, Vince & Dangerfield! Look at McKernnan because their DT value to you has just increased and they haven't even played this week!
So now there are 5 teams that are unaffected by the bye. More options, more chance of winning your league!
This blog has been written by the @Dreamteam_Guru - follow on Twitter. To ensure comments are read, please send via Twitter.
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