We are at the time of year when a major event for many sport fanatics is fast approaching: the often anticipated – for the prepared – and also dreaded – for the unprepared – deadline of when Dream Teams must be submitted for the season ahead.
For the uninitiated, the AFL Dream Team basically involves picking a squad of 30 players under a salary cap, of whom 22 will score points for you (through a scoring scheme) based on their performance that weekend.
For more details visit Dream Team 101
If you forget to set up your AFL Dream Team by the time of the deadline, you will regret it for the whole football season. You will not be able to watch matches, and hope that Buddy Franklin kicks no goals, after being completely outplayed by a dominant Harry Taylor. Or watch matches and hope that Collingwood wins after a best on ground appearance by Dale Thomas.
This article seeks to help those with no idea on how to pick their perfect team underneath a salary cap.
There are a number of tips and tactics used to pick a team that will remain successful and consistent throughout the season.
1. Watching the NAB cup is a must for Dream Team fans to seek out those players who have put in the hard yards in the preseason, and will surely pay off for your team, with a greater amount of points compared to their market value. You can see the points each player accumulates in preseason matches, by looking at Fan Footy. You can also view previous season scores on this website.
2. Check the injury status of all your picks. It is a bad start to the season if you accidentally pick a player who will be out for the first 8 weeks, and have to use up one of your valuable trades on something avoidable.
3. Pick some youngsters who will rise in value quickly. Some players in your team you can afford to gamble on like the stock exchange. If first year player has a brilliant out of the ordinary first three games there price will rise significantly. It might be time to sell down to a first year player who hasn’t played yet (but probably will), and use the extra money to trade up a mid-level player to one of the Dream Team superstars.
4. Don’t judge players by watching them on television. You must pick players by judging them on how many points they score in the dream team, not how well they are setting up goals. Neither Gary Ablett nor Adam Cooney were in the top five dream team scorers last season. Scott Thompson was though.
5. Scour the player lists for bargains. These are most likely players who were injured in previous years, or who had a poor season last year. A lot of the bargains pay off, and the best way to find them is by checking out the Dream Team board on Big Footy.
6. Get at least one superstar player. By appointing one player a week as the captain of your team they receive double points for that week.
7. Have a small amount of cash left over at the start of the season. There is always a player who gets injured in the first round and plummets in value. You want to be able to replace him with a quality player.
8. Don’t overspend on the reserves. If you get lucky the reserves won’t be needed, and you you want to fill these spaces up with stock market players. Less money spent on these possible unwanted players means more money for certain starters.
9. Check team lists each Thursday night. Most rounds start on the Friday night, and team lists will released on the Thursday night before. Check to see if there are any surprises in team lists. Try not to make any changes to your team until after you have seen this list. A star player may be injured at training, and if you have used up all your trades, then it could be a loss on the cards for that week.
10. Think about where your salary cap is being spent. Is it worth spending an extra $20,000 on a player who will get 15 more points a week consistently, or spending it on a player getting 10 – 25 points more each week.
There are many more tips on how to succeed at AFL Dream Team. But you shouldn’t trust my judgement.
I am just like most How to become a Millionaire writers, completely unsuccessful.
But you may be luckier. The Roar has its own Dream Team set up, so sign up now, and then enter league number 610209.
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February 16th 2009 @ 11:09am
Michael C said | February 16th 2009 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Whilst DreamTeams can be fun and great,
once you experience a private comp with draft night and unique squads, then, the dreamteam is a little too ‘flexible’.
I’m in a long running (I think 12th year now) private comp. 10 participants. We set up the team lists in backs, midfielders, forwards and rucks.
We have a draft night – - all players must attend. Draft order 1 – 10, then reverse order for 11-20 and so on. Picking a squad of 38.
Therefore, only one ‘coach’ has Buddy Franklin, only one coach has Dean Cox or Gary Ablett.
Who loads up on forwards, who loads up on versatile backs, or punts on a high pick of a player who MAY get a semi regular run in the ruck and pick up some extra points via tap outs.
Unlike DreamTeam – - we use every round of the season. A 10 team comp is 18 rounds H&A plus 4 weeks of finals – - thus, all 22 rounds are utilised.
The burden of picking quality or inspired selections at squad members 32+, can be the difference, especially should injuries set in and suddenly that previous years rising star nomination is your 6th forward each week heading into a finals campaign.
February 16th 2009 @ 11:12am
Pippinu said | February 16th 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Steady on Forgetmenot – don’t give away trade secrets!
February 16th 2009 @ 3:38pm
Redb said | February 16th 2009 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
The NAB Cup footy record has an excellent form guide for the dream team.
Redb
February 16th 2009 @ 4:18pm
Kazama said | February 16th 2009 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
9 teams in the comp so far – hopefully we can have 16 Roarers in there before the lockout so we don’t get saddled with any ring-ins. So if you’re reading this and thinking about it – come on and give it a go!
Agree the NAB Cup is a great guide for finding form players and bargains. Last year I studied it comprehensively and was rewarded with a (very brief) stint in the top 30.
Another tip – pick players with your head and gut, not your heart. If your favourite player is Presti, you might want to think twice about selecting him. Similarly, if you hate Bartel with a passion it might be a good idea to forget your feelings in exchange for 120 points every week.
Michael C – I played Premium DT last year with some mates (which has the player draft like your league does) and I have to say draft night was a hell of a lot of fun.
February 16th 2009 @ 4:43pm
Pippinu said | February 16th 2009 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
When’s the cut off?
Come on everyone – listen to Kaz – if he can do it (with all that he has to worry about) – anyone can do it!
February 16th 2009 @ 4:55pm
Kazama said | February 16th 2009 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
Start of Round 1 is the cut off. After that, partial leagues are merged together to form a complete league of 16 teams. So, if no one else joins we’ll have a league of 9 Roarers and 7 randomly picked others.
Yes, Pip, if I can fit it in between study, work, managing the UAE and the San Jose Earthquakes, and putting up with crap from Melbourne Victory fans anyone can find the time to play.
February 16th 2009 @ 5:22pm
Adrian Musolino said | February 16th 2009 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
I’m in. Should be good.
February 16th 2009 @ 5:28pm
Kazama said | February 16th 2009 @ 5:28pm | Report comment
6 spots left… get in now peeps!
Don’t forget there’s the F.A. Cup style Eliminator for the first 131,702 complete teams entered into the overall comp – last team standing wins $2000 cash.
February 16th 2009 @ 5:29pm
Adrian Musolino said | February 16th 2009 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
If your looking to rally more people to join the league or want to keep in contact please feel free to use the Roar Facebook group – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49559631399
February 16th 2009 @ 5:37pm
Kazama said | February 16th 2009 @ 5:37pm | Report comment
Cheers. I’m not on Facebook but if there was something on there it might encourage some Roarers to join the quest to become the Roar’s first ever AFL DT champ. Anyone care to do the honours?