UV2RL Drafting Experience – Part 3
Before you start this article, make sure you go back to read Part 1 and Part 2 of the UV2RL draft experience.
DRAFT DAY PART 3
During the break in proceedings I notice a text message from Hamish declaring he doesn’t think his picks are that bad. They are, but before I have time to reply the draft is back underway.
Round 6 and another declaration of worst pick of the draft, this time Greg Eastwood is picked up by Mick at the Shufflers. Webby who is picking on Mick’s behalf protests that he is only going off the list of players Mick has given him, which is fine, but it doesn’t change the fact that Eastwood is a bad pick.
Round 7 sees Alex tell everyone what he really thinks of Justin Hodges as he selects him anyway. Round 7 also marks the first time someone tries to pick a player who has already been selected.
Unfortunately it was me. I thought it was a little late in the draft for Chris McQueen to still be around but I went for him anyway not realising Todd had picked him up in the fourth round. Ironically it’s normally Todd that commits this offence, usually on multiple occasions, but this year I am the first and only person to do it leaving my fellow CEO’s to laugh and ridicule me.
With seven rounds complete each side now has a seventeen man squad and most teams recruited evenly enough to be able to name a full team with the 17 they have. The two biggest exceptions are the Snuffmonkeys and the Thundercats, both of whom don’t have a five eighth. A focus on outside backs earlier in the draft has left slim pickings for Nez and he is left with Daniel Mortimer as his starting 5/8 and as if to add insult to injury he goes on to opt for Ben Roberts with his last pick of the night.
But at least Nez got a five eighth. By the end of the night Todd’s strategy of waiting till the end to grab a goal kicker backfires when he opts for Kurt Gidley. Todd already has Tyrone Roberts after retaining him from last year so picking Gidley is smart but neither is listed as a five eigthh in 2014. Nor is anyone else in his squad.
Other NRLCEO’s that left their goal kicking option till the end knowing that most teams already had their first choice kicker retained from last year includes Las who opts for Jamie Soward in the 12th round and Alex who grabs Aiden Sezer with his final pick. Immediately his decision to pick Campese in round 3 makes a little more sense. Having Campo as a back up 5/8 is a great idea if not for the fact that Alex’s original strategy was to partner him with Trent Hodkinson; instead Alex opts for Sezer as his kicker once Las goes for Soward.
I can’t help but notice the number of rookies I’d never heard of that my fellow NRLCEOs picked up in the latter stages of the draft. Are players like Strasser, Sila, Trbojevic, Gutherson and Rona set to be break out stars this season or are they still a year or two off? My strategy is a little different. I draft a number of players who are currently injured but could be massive when they’re fit. In addition to picking up Dugan early I pick Jarrod Mullen in the 8th round and Curtis Sironen in the 14th. Definitely gambles and my fellow NRLCEOs are quick to point out my penchant for injured players this year but in my defence I’m playing a long term strategy.
What brought me undone last year was a number of injuries to star players at the end of the season. It really took the wind out of my sail. I’m not worried about injuries at the start of the year, just who’s healthy at the end so I can afford to carry a few injuries at the beginning of the season.
And with that the draft comes to a close.
As I look through the transcript of the draft, I can’t help but notice how serious I’m taking it this year. A Tweet from Alex sums it up. There was very little banter from me, I was too busy concentrating.
Looking back, laughing at other people’s picks and my comments about picking injured players because I’m not worried about winning the first half of the season could have come across as very defensive and a little bit snarky.
The truth is I love NRLCEO and fantasy football. Deep down I’m really having a ball. I’m extra excited to discover I ended up with 10 out of the 50 players that were on my short list.
Good luck to everyone this season, may your scorers be numerous and your injuries few.
Geoff Adams
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