Captain’s Corner: Round 7, skippers to target and avoid

Last week was a tricky one for many coaches, with lots of popular captaincy options not scoring as well as we would have hoped.

Jack Macrae (92 vs Adelaide) and Lachie Neale (108 vs Gold Coast) were the two main culprits, leaving many coaches high and dry by way of a big captain score.

Those who took Jack Steele as their VC on Friday night against GWS got a big leg up on the competition as the Saints’ skipper produced his biggest score of the season to date. Clayton Oliver was dominant against Richmond with a 168-point performance and Josh Dunkley was a nice POD option as well.

Round 7 looms as a tricky one for coaches, with no standout picks in the first three games of the round.

Without further ado, here are the best VC/C options for Round 7.

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Max Gawn

Could produce a cricket score this week against a Hawks midfield which was hapless against the Swans in the second half last week. Max Lynch performed reasonably well against Gawn in Collingwood colours last year, but this looks like a tough assignment for the first-year Hawk. Expecting at least 130 points this week.

Last 3 vs HAW: 172, 95, 185

Clayton Oliver

Fresh off his biggest score of the season last week, he comes up against a Hawthorn midfield that doesn’t just leak points to opposition midfielders, they basically give them away on a silver platter. That’s great news for Oliver, who will be a popular trade in for many coaches this week.

Last 3 vs HAW: 115, 139, 121

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Christian Petracca

Probably the least appealing option in terms of Melbourne players this week, but Petracca is another one who could go enormous against the Hawks. Feels like he’s just been going through the motions in the last couple of weeks and he’s due for a big one.

Last 3 vs HAW: 108, 125, 160

Jack Steele

One of the most in-form SC players going around right now and he gets another excellent opportunity to post a big score this week against Port Adelaide in Cairns. The Power historically don’t tag all that much and to be honest I can’t see anyone going with Steele in this game. The Saints will have Marshall and Ryder up against rookie Sam Hayes, which means Steele and his team mates should get first use at stoppages.

Last 3 vs PORT: 105, 145, 114

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Patrick Cripps

I think it’s fair to say that the ‘uber premo’ Patrick Cripps is back in a big way in 2022. He’ll get a great chance to continue that this week against a team, let’s be honest, that are VFL standard at best in North Melbourne. If Carlton get on top early I can see a case where they potentially play him forward more and just get him through the game without exerting too much energy, but he could explode early and put the game to bed which can result in favourable SC scoring.

Last 3 vs NM: 75, 75, 123

Touk Miller

Has had three ‘quiet’ weeks in a row bouncing between 99 and 107 which isn’t terrible, but it’s not what owners would be hoping for from the star Sun. Gets a perfect opportunity to post a huge score this week against Collingwood who will be missing Brodie Grundy and don’t have an obvious run with player in their side.

Last 3 vs COLL: 115, 122, 84

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Jarrod Witts

We have a brand-new inclusion to Captain’s Corner! Witts is coming off a dominant game against the Lions where he scored 143 SC points and coming up against a Grundy-less Collingwood side this week should see him score well again. If I was an owner, I would probably consider him as a VC and have a safe C option like Macrae backing him up as insurance but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he goes large again this week.

Last 3 vs COLL: 71, 65, 76

Jack Macrae

Macrae was another player who was ‘quiet’ last week with 92 SC points against Adelaide, but he’s back under the lid at Marvel this and can definitely bounce back. Probably the safest C option this week.

Last 3 vs ESS: 154, 122, 137

SC BANDIT’S RECOMMENDATIONS

VC: One of Gawn, Oliver or Cripps

C: Jack Macrae