One of the most fun aspects of playing draft style fantasy football is making trades. It’s not like the salary cap version where you just make them, in draft you’re haggling with league mates and trying to get the best deal and sell high, buy low – all while balancing your team for a tilt at a premiership.

If you’re new to the Draft Doctors podcast, the ‘A Dozen Deals’ article has been a staple for 2 years, where each week I write about various transactions you could make; be it a BUY, SELL, HOLD, ADD or DROP. Buy, sell and hold all relate to players who are most likely owned, and add/drop to players who may or may not be, more fringe type players. I base these suggestions on a 10 team-22 player roster, so depending on your league size and format, there may be some variation in value (which I will generally specify). The whole point of the article was to give advice on making moves in your draft league. Did all the moves work out? Not quite. However, through the season there was a very high success rate and by and large they worked out.

DROP – RYAN BURTON (D) – This hurts. Played (and scored) great last year but that’s been flipped on it’s head with a totally defensive role. Even with the kick in duties and a plus matchup on the weekend didn’t help Burton. It hurt even more watching his teammates Stratton, Hardwick and Duryea score okay. Keep an eye on his role as Clarko can switch things at the drop of a hat.

BUY – DYLAN SHIEL (M) – Scores been down the last two weeks, but don’t fret – matchups galore are coming the Giants way. Is always susceptible to a low score given his TOG isn’t up there with the Kelly’s of the world but with a 2 month string of good matchups, I’m on.

SELL – DEVON SMITH (F) – If you drafted Smith you probably don’t want to sell and that’s fine but I drafted him and I’m cagey. Playing mid and isn’t hitting big disposal numbers or finding space and taking marks. Is reliable for tackles and bobbing up for a goal, but with Zerrett struggling, I would’ve thought Smith could do more in transition. Plus the injury thing is always nagging away at me. If your forward line is barren, hold, but if you hit on Curnow/Hogan/Acres/Mundy and have some depth and want to try buy a Matt Crouch, I think there’s some logic.

ADD – JACOB HOPPER (M) – Only 62% owned on UF, Hopper certainly has some upside for the Giants. A good draw and hopefully some decent job security make him a low risk potential great add.

SELL – SAM MENEGOLA (M/F) – Gary Ablett’s injured! Menegola tonned up! Mid time! These are the things you tell your league mates as you try flog Menegola off to them after his big score. Of course, you know Tim Kelly and Scott Selwood aren’t going anywhere and Mitch Duncan will be back, leading to Menegola staying in that half forward role. Try get some big value and ditch his up and down scoring. However, if you got him dirt cheap last week, tip of the cap to you.

SELL – JACK DARLING (F) – More for the SuperCoaches, JJK is back soon, NicNat is going to up his TOG as well meaning more forward time for Lycett presumably, so more competition for goals amongst the West Coast forwards. Darling has been good so far, try cash in – maybe package deal it.

BUY – TOM ROCKLIFF (M) – If you’re a gambler, his TOG is slowly moving up. The tackle numbers are a concern, but if you want Rocky, you’re making the move before a score spike. Also mid time might be available if something happens in the SPP #situation. Tread carefully, this is a lowball offer situation but owning Rocky is always a tantalising proposition.

ADD – MARK BLICAVS (M) – Something to note from the weekend was that Blicavs spent a lot of time in the ruck. His scores were okay with 81 DT and 91 SC on the back of some disposals, hitouts and tackles. Anyone who can lay 8 tackles and get 17 hitouts should be rostered. The interesting thing is, Geelong were playing West Coast, who surrender (by far) the fewest hitouts per game. So if the Cats are going with Blicavs in the ruck, we might see this guy return to the prominence of his outlier season of 2015 where he averaged 100 and won the Cats’ BnF. Interesting, very interesting. Of course they could bring back Stanley or Smith and it’s gone.

ADD – ROWAN MARSHALL (F) – So following on from Blicavs, Geelong are bleeding points to opposition ruckmen. Get on for an 80 if you need a freebie.

DROP – SAM REID (F) – Out for a couple of months. Too bad, had a cracking matchup.

ADD – YOUR CHOICE OF RICHMOND FORWARD (F) – Brisbane are giving it up to forwards. Richmond have forwards you can get from the pool. SuperCoaches might like Edwards. Others may like Castagna. Or Butler. Or Caddy. Or someone else. I dunno. There’s points to be had though.

ADD – TOM STEWART (D) – I had to put a defender in. Stewart’s going low key awesome, is lowly owned and has a gravy matchup this week. Go.