Complete Idiots Guide to Dream Team in 2011

[LemmingMaster]

Do you want to have an initial team that will potentially allow you to finish in the top 2000? Then this is the guide for you. It will give a step by step instructions on how to create a strong initial team.

This post will be broken down into bite sized portions and should be easy to digest. Starting from the Backs and then heading all the way to the Forwards. While this will help you create a strong starting team, this is not going to help you trading like a spud.

Chapter 1 - Design your structure.

The structure is nice and simple to implement it is the buzz style in Dream Team. The approach that will be used in this guide is often called the guns and rookies approach. Some user definitions are also provided to help understand this selection process.

Premium - They will be the top scorers in each division.
Potential Premium - Close to being a premium in 2010, just missed out.
Cheap Option - Normally returning from injury and are under-priced.
Rookies - These are players normally priced from $160,000 and below.

The bench will ALWAYS be made up of rookies cheaper than $120,000

Backs - Premium, Premium, Premium, Premium, Premium, Cheap, Rookie

Mids - Premium, Premium, Premium, Potential Premium, Rookie, Rookie

Option 1 Rucks - Premium, Premium
Option 2 Rucks - Premium, Cheap

Forwards - Premium, Premium, Premium, Premium, Premium, Cheap, Rookie

There you have it, the rough structure on becoming a star. Now it is time to determine how to select your team. This process will expand on how to pick a premium, cheap option and rookie.

Chapter 2 Selecting your backs.

You have to start at one position when selecting your team, defense wins premierships, so lets start here. As you remember from Chapter one, the structure looks like the following:

Backs - Premium, Premium, Premium, Premium, Premium, Cheap, Rookie

So, how do you select the premiums, I have a fool proof method. Do NOT think about UPSIDE, DO NOT USE A CRYSTAL BALL TO PREDICT SOMEONE BREAKING OUT... Just use sound and solid proof from previous years.

Premium Selection

• This player did finish in the top 10 in TOTAL POINTS (not average)
• This player has proven to play 20+ games
• This player is not heading past 30 years of age
• This player has not spent large portions of the preseason injured, or constantly in the news for the wrong reasons (Gilbert clause).

So, you have 5 premiums to select, this should be fun. How do you start? Well why not start from the top! (This is the only position that some potential spoon feeding will occur)

1. Goddard - Top 10 in total points TICK, 20+ games TICK, Not over 30 TICK, Not injured in the preseason TICK... Goddard is in the TEAM!!
2. Lake - Top 10 in total points TICK, 20+ games TICK, Not over 30 TICK, Not injured in the preseason CROSS... Lake is NOT in the team

Now complete this process down the rankings page.

You should now have 5 players, time to move onto the cheap section.
Look for a guy that is heavily discounted from their 2009 average. This is normally due to an injury in 2010 affecting their average. The cheaper the better as it is normally easy to increase your average from 30 -> 50 than improving from 50 -> 70. You would hope for a 20+ppg improvement on their scoring.

Rookies - They simply have to fill a void on their respective team. This year the Gold Coast is going to be a happy hunting ground. Research will be required as they will not be playing in round 1. Rookies are all about research, so the four names you need to select are going to change depending on NAB cup information.

Chapter 3 - Selecting your midfield.

The midfield is where the BIG points get produced. It is also often the place where you money generation occurs. This is all about getting the best of the best and combining them with the rookies that will generate the cash.

Once again, here is the structure

Mids - Premium, Premium, Premium, Potential Premium, Rookie, Rookie

Use the same process as in the backs, I would only add one little change. Ablett and Swan, it is very costly to have two this season, so maybe you will want to select one of these options. Just some added information, it is very very hard for a player in a team outside the top 8 to average over 100, let alone 105, which is what you hope for your top line midfielders.

The potential premium, this is the person that averaged 85-100 last season, but you feel will make the jump. If you don't feel confident in this selection, then just pick another premium like you did for the first 3 selections.

Rookies there are a couple of rules this season. If good solid dual position players appear, select a M/F and a M/B option. This will come in handy for the rest of the year. This year, there should be some cheap options in the midfield, so it may be time to skip over those first round expensive options.

Chapter 4 - Selecting your Rucks.

There are two options here, either the two premium option or the premium and cheap option. Use the same logic as in the backs and midfield for selecting these premiums. I would just add that the 4th ruck option should be a super cheap option.

Here is the two options for the structure:

Option 1 Rucks - Premium, Premium
Option 2 Rucks - Premium, Cheap

It is important to remember to have a look at the TOTAL points for 2010 and not the averages, you may find some strange results. Rucks is not about being super smart, just pick solid options.

Chapter 5 - Selecting the forwards.

Forwards - Premium, Premium, Premium, Premium, Cheap, Cheap, Rookie

The first thing you will notice when selecting your premium forwards is the amount of premiums that either miss games or look to be on the wrong side of 30. This may be an area where you go for the premiums that are not the highest in average but are likely to play 22 games. If it is a choice between a tall forward and a midfielder styled forward, then select the midfield styled forward.

The Cheap options are also looking to increase by 20+ ppg and the cheaper the better in this case. Rookies, once again there should be some solid GC options to pad out your team, research will be important to determine if they will play.

Chapter 6 - My team is over budget and it has bye issues.

So you've made the team and firstly it is over budget. This is the point when you pick one position and downgrade a premium that you are not happy with and select the next viable option using the rules stated for selecting premiums. This should free up some cash to allow your team to come under budget, keep repeating this process until your team is under budget.

If somehow you have 3 players with a bye on a certain round, then I would suggest changing one of these players. Depending on which player you feel is the weakest link or you have an equal replacement, swap them around. I would not worry about two players with a bye in the one round.

You now have a team which should be able to finish in the top 2000 in dream team for 2011. Give it a shot and see how your team looks, remember ignore your previous thoughts.. I know you may think that Morton will break out for Richmond, if the rules don't allow this selection, you don't pick him.

Is this the ONLY way to design a team, NO. Is this going to win you DT in 2010, probably not. Will it give you a good chance in finishing high in 2011, YES.

 

[Dunn - Well Done]

Its good because we can start giving this information out knowing they will start with a very good team, but stuff up all the trades whilst the more experience dont.

Although we all know you can get lucky and win without trading so keep this stuff to a minimum please

 

[Parasite]

Its good because we can start giving this information out knowing they will start with a very good team, but stuff up all the trades whilst the more experience? give up half way through the year and don't use their trades.

Although we all know you can get lucky and win without trading so keep this stuff to a minimum please

I was going to say with that thread title it was funny that you were the only one that has posted in it...but now I have, doh. I edited your post for accuracy.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Its good because we can start giving this information out knowing they will start with a very good team, but stuff up all the trades whilst the more experience dont.

Although we all know you can get lucky and win without trading so keep this stuff to a minimum please

Trades can ruin any well thought out team.

 

[Dunn - Well Done]

yet i still wont get anywhere near DWD

I also edited your post for accuracy.

 

[timskul]

i saw this, and with a pitiful rank last year, after a top 1000 rank the previous year, i thought id see if my team fits in. To get that structure Id have to go 200k over the salary cap, but probs closer to 150k if you dont consider swallow and gaff rookies coz of their high prices.

 

[Dunn - Well Done]

I havnt read all of the OP so i may have missed something important, but id say its impossible to have 16 premiums from the start who can fit under the budget.

 

[Ollies]

i saw this, and with a pitiful rank last year, after a top 1000 rank the previous year, i thought id see if my team fits in. To get that structure Id have to go 200k over the salary cap, but probs closer to 150k if you dont consider swallow and gaff rookies coz of their high prices.

I suspect that means that the premiums you have are right at the top end of the price scale then. Not a bad thing. With 24 trades this year the option of starting with one or two less premiums so as to ensure those you do have are the best of the best is quite sensible. Now you need to trade agressively and upgrade earlier than you might have done in previous years by traqding out cash cows before their optimum price has been reached.

 

[timskul]

Alright yeh they are quite top range, trying not to skimp on premiums, I did last year, trying to pick breakout premiums for cheaper, like Watson etc. Werent awful picks, did improve, but not super premiums so it hurt. Trade earlier hey, I will keep that in mind. Cheers

 

[dylan123]

Should probably add (although I'm sure it's obvious) that there will always be exceptions to all the rules/guides above.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Should probably add (although I'm sure it's obvious) that there will always be exceptions to all the rules/guides above. (Call this the Nick Riewoldt rue)

There will always be exceptions to the rule, I would just prefer those exceptions to the rule get limited to two players or so. I think often many people attempt to outwit themselves when the most obvious player is sitting there.

 

[LemmingMaster]

i saw this, and with a pitiful rank last year, after a top 1000 rank the previous year, i thought id see if my team fits in. To get that structure Id have to go 200k over the salary cap, but probs closer to 150k if you dont consider swallow and gaff rookies coz of their high prices.

How about you post your team that is over the salary cap and I will highlight some players which may actually be incorrect/I disagree with them being premiums.

I think I did mention somewhere in my OP that you can easily skip the likes of Swallow and Gaff this year for cheaper options.

 

[CursoryMercenary]

It's good to have players from all 17 teams I reckon.

 

[timskul]

How about you post your team that is over the salary cap and I will highlight some players which may actually be incorrect/I disagree with them being premiums.

I think I did mention somewhere in my OP that you can easily skip the likes of Swallow and Gaff this year for cheaper options.

I'll post the team I have which is currently 115k under the salary cap. Proposed changes to the structure to add more premiums would take it well over. But yeah, as i mentioned to Ollies, the premiums are top range premiums, and thats not gonna change.

Goddard-471K Gibbs-400 Deledio-371 Duffield-364 Adcock-262
Otten-142 Coad-112 (Howard-97 Toy-97 Duigan-92)

Swan-511 Boyd-478 Pendles-442 Ward-228 Swallow-160 Gaff-148
(Heppell-132 Mzungu-97 Weller-97)

Ryder-356 Jolly-331 (Smith-106 Campbell-92)

Franklin-412 Sylvia-399 Riewoldt-391 Rioli-357 Morton-315
Knights-222 Krakouer-139 (Matera-97 Richardson-97 Callinan-80)

 

[Ollies]

Kudos to Tarqs for launching this thread. NPs exists to try to help people interested in DT and to keep posts on BF supportive and constructive.

I have a couple of additions to make. Take em or leave em.

This year I believe there is a fundamental decision to make which will determine how you structure your team. Its the rucks.

Rucks have traditionally posed problems and this year is no different. Sandi starts like a bomd but will he last the distance? Will the byes help him get through? Cox is the resident gun. Yep even allowing for Sandi Cox is the gun. Will he get back to his best? If you are worried about one or both of these who appeals as a safe gun? Answer Jolly. If you are inclined to look for the "next big thing" look at Leuey and Ryder. If you want to take a risk in the rucks because you think you have spied some value elsewhere who do you gamb le on in the rucks to free up $$. Answer Petrie.

Now, having determined what you are comfortable with in the rucks regarding risk/reward/security/peace of mind turn your attention to the mids. This is where the action is. Get the guns in and get them in quick! This is where the differential between guns and rookie is greater than in any other position (Barlow rule excepted) so more guns less rookies in the mids equals more points in the early rounds. Gettingv the best mids from the get go CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED.

Now go to the backs. Why the backs? Because the standard deviation is less in the backs than the forwards and logically the differential between guns and rookies is less. Therefore you can take a risk here and not suffer as much if it goes wrong.

Finally go to the forwards. This is where the most risk/reward is. This is where uber premiums can turn in to spuds overnight. Age can have serious effects anywhere but tends to be more marked in the forwards. The loss of a yard of pace can be critical to a leading forward. Small forwards with mid rotation have recently been more reliable.

Now look at your upgrade strategy. Where do you anticipate upgrading first? Don't be shy. The answer is the mids. So look at who you think will be you first upgrade/downgrade. Look at the byes. Look at DP. Can you plot a course whereby you maintain your DP links but still are able to upgrade a mid as your first upgrade?

GOOD. Your are half way there!!

Good Luck.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

It's good to have players from all 17 teams I reckon.

Yeah same, but I seen plenty of peoples teams that have Pendles and Swan, instead of Pendles I got Montagna

 

[LemmingMaster]

Goddard-471K - Tick
Gibbs-400 - Tick
Deledio-371 - Tick
Duffield-364 - Tick
Adcock-262 - In my structure, I actually had only one out of Adcock and Ottens, Ottens being cheaper is the keeper. I
Otten-142

Coad-112 (Howard-97 Toy-97 Duigan-92) - Tick

Swan-511 - Tick
Boyd-478 - Tick
Pendles-442 - Tick
Ward-228 - Not sure he fits the bill.
Swallow-160 - Is he worth it more than a Harris?
Gaff-148 - Is he worth it more than a Harris/Illes?
(Heppell-132 Mzungu-97 Weller-97) - Tick, included the two DP links

Ryder-356 - I see you've gone down the two premium Rucks path, I should adjust my idiots guide to say that this will cause a premium in the backs or forwards to be downgraded to a cheap option.
Jolly-331 - Tick
(Smith-106 Campbell-92) - Tick

Franklin-412 - Tick
Sylvia-399 - Now if you really think he will play 20+ games? Has he ever really proven that?
Riewoldt-391 - Tick, that hamstring was a one off
Rioli-357 - Will he play 20+ games? Never proven it.
Morton-315 - I even made a note saying, don't pick Morton for my Idiots guide. (Not saying he is a bad selection, but for the idiots guide he does not fit the bill)
Knights-222 - Tick

Krakouer-139 (Matera-97 Richardson-97 Callinan-80) - Tick

I have left some of your forwards because you obviously love them so much.
Just simply changing Swallow and Gaff and looking for cheaper options, you can turn Ward (water) in Thompson (Wine)... Btw you can even turn him into another more expensive player you prefer.

There is also $44,900 in the salary cap left to make slight adjustments to your team. If you want, turn a Sylvia into an O'Keefe, that will release some free $$$ and also improve the potential durability of your team.
Sylvia - 15, 17, 18, 16, 15, 16
That is 6 years without playing close to 20 games.
Cyril - 19, 19, 22 he has played 20+ games once, so it is possible, but every time he moves into the midfield, something goes snap. Still I think every team needs a fun player, Cyril can be that player in your team. He does have some potential upside.


Salary cap left: $44,900.
(Salary cap left: $85,900 - With O'Keefe instead of Sylvia)

Brendon Goddard, Bryce Gibbs, Brett Deledio, Paul Duffield, Jed Adcock, Andy Otten, Michael Coad
Christian Howard, Josh Toy, Nicholas Duigan

Dane Swan, Matthew Boyd, Scott Pendlebury, Scott Thompson, Dyson Heppell, Daniel Harris
Tendai Mzungu, Maverick Weller, Shaun Atley

Patrick Ryder, Darren Jolly
Zac Smith, Robert Campbell

Lance Franklin, Colin Sylvia, Nick Riewoldt, Cyril Rioli, Mitch Morton, Chris Knights, Andrew Krakouer
Brandon Matera, Cameron Richardson, Ian Callinan


Think of the difference

Swallow v Harris
Gaff v Atley/any other rookie
Ward v Thompson/or another premium that price, if you do the Sylvia downgrade you can afford anyone from Chapman down.

I personally think that Swallow and Gaff may not be worth the extra $$$ this year. Then again, you could turn Atley to Swallow and still have some spare $$$ if that was your wish instead.

 

[LemmingMaster]

This year I believe there is a fundamental decision to make which will determine how you structure your team. Its the rucks.

If you want to take a risk in the rucks because you think you have spied some value elsewhere who do you gamb le on in the rucks to free up $$. Answer Petrie.

Just add two additions to your comments, which I think are first class.

Rucks is where I can see it affecting your structure, depending on which path you decide to go down.

I will add two names to the value rucks, Fraser and Trengove. I think these are two options that have potential to go up in price.

Other than that, all good.

 

[timskul]

Well thanks very much for that Tarqs. Dont want too many GC mids, So Itd be only one of Harris/Iles. I guess i got burnt picking all the cheap mid rookies last year and tried to pick the top ones this year. So yeah, I suppose its different every year and i gotta adjust there. Might kill me to get rid of Ward, im convinced hes gonna carve and be a straight swap to a premium or close to it, but I do see the upside of picking the extra mid gun from the get go. Sylvia is staying 100%, last year was more bad luck (blood clot and broken cheekbone) rather than injury, hes a favourite of mine. Morton/Cyril are subject to PS form - Higgins and Zaha under strong consideration, plus i dunno if buddy/cyril can both fit in. But thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

 

[yogibbear]

So basically if I want to beat every single one of the people reading this post i study this guide, and then do EXACTLY the opposite in key areas where I disagree, hence differentiating my team from the "idiot" teams and winning. Though alternatively i could fail hard, however I think I have the balls to back my own decisions when it comes to DT.

I think the problem is that things are subjective still. And "idiots" will make the bad subjective calls. Leading their teams to mediocrity.

A few more additions to the complete idiot's guide:
1. follow the news posted on afl.com.au
2. google your player's preseason if you have NFI about anything
3. don't pick travis cloke.
4. if you see lots of teams with a player you've never heard of, you better make damn sure those people are all spuds.
5. being unique doesn't mean having 8 or 10 players different. Often it comes down to a different combination of the same players and trading correctly over the course of the season, and a lot of planning and in the end a bit of luck.
6. don't pick a player based on the nude photos of him on facebook.

 

[LemmingMaster]

So basically if I want to beat every single one of the people reading this post i study this guide, and then do EXACTLY the opposite in key areas where I disagree, hence differentiating my team from the "idiot" teams and winning. Though alternatively i could fail hard, however I think I have the balls to back my own decisions when it comes to DT.

I think the problem is that things are subjective still. And "idiots" will make the bad subjective calls. Leading their teams to mediocrity.

A few more additions to the complete idiot's guide:
1. follow the news posted on afl.com.au
2. google your player's preseason if you have NFI about anything
3. don't pick travis cloke.
4. if you see lots of teams with a player you've never heard of, you better make damn sure those people are all spuds.
5. being unique doesn't mean having 8 or 10 players different. Often it comes down to a different combination of the same players and trading correctly over the course of the season, and a lot of planning and in the end a bit of luck.
6. don't pick a player based on the nude photos of him on facebook.

I really like point 5, everyone searching for the unique player, while it can be fun. I find trading is where you can then obtain a more unique team.

Point 6, serious I always wanted to go to Brazil, so selecting such a player is the closest I will get until 2014 when I attend the World Cup.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Dont want too many GC mids, So Itd be only one of Harris/Iles. I guess i got burnt picking all the cheap mid rookies last year and tried to pick the top ones this year.
Gold Coast is potentially a different kettle of fish. Harris is not a rookie, Iles is not a rookie and Wellar, he would be a highish draft pick if allowed to be in the 2011 draft pool. Still, I completely understand your worry, select a Swallow/Gaff if that is your wish.

Might kill me to get rid of Ward, im convinced hes gonna carve and be a straight swap to a premium or close to it, but I do see the upside of picking the extra mid gun from the get go.
With Ward it is more about price rise, do you really think he is going to rise in price more than Swallow, Gaff, Harris, Illes, Wellar, Mzungu? Not sure he will, but there is every chance he may rise less.

Sylvia is staying 100%, last year was more bad luck (blood clot and broken cheekbone) rather than injury, hes a favourite of mine.
Stick to your guns, as I said, every team needs a player they love. I hate his durability. (Last year may have been bad luck, but my god he has had 6 years of bad luck)
Morton/Cyril are subject to PS form - Higgins and Zaha under strong consideration, plus i dunno if buddy/cyril can both fit in. But thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

My idiots guide was more just to get those newbies a rough guide on how to make a team. It is not the be all and end all...

 

[timskul]

My idiots guide was more just to get those newbies a rough guide on how to make a team. It is not the be all and end all...

haha well you asked for my team, and i dont mind a bit of discussion about my team so far if it helps improve it. but yes gone off topic a bit. Ive made some of those changes, and the team looks better all up, mainly trying to get the extra mid premium

 

[BandF]

Myself & yogibbear will flood every single DT thread with our back and forth nonsense drivel

I also edited your post for accuracy.

 

[RustNeverSleeps]

If you want, turn a Sylvia into an O'Keefe, that will release some free $$$ and also improve the potential durability of your team.

O'Keefe has had a full groin reconstruction over the break. Perhaps not the greatest of recommendations for a 2011 DT starting lineup.