The Drongo Wrap-Up: Round 8, Soaring Eagles, Silly Papley

This article is part of our The Drongo Wrap-Up series.

Sorry, Footy Fans, the Drongo Wrap-Up is a bit late because it was critical the Dockers be on Monday Night prime time television so Freo could post only 16 points versus Geelong.  I kid, the rain was terrible.  Frankly, I don't know how anyone scored.  Kudos to the Cats for banging out 48 points (6.12.48).  Crank up the Divinyls and let's dive into Round 8:

TOP RUCKS

1. Max Gawn, MEL, 103 DraftKings Fantasy Points
2. Rowan Marshall, STK, 95 DK FP's
3. Jarrod Witts, GC, 81DK FP's

Big Value:  Nobody, really, but technically it's Collingwood's rookie Darcy Cameron, who generated 50 points from $3,100 (16.1x) with the Pies getting blown out and Brodie Grundy getting some rest.

It wasn't a great week for rucks.  Max Gawn certainly deserves some love, even though his Demons lost to Brisbane in a tight one. Gawn is a beast, week in, week out, and he's a photographer's dream:

TOP FORWARDS

1. Andrew Gaff, WC, 126 DraftKings Fantasy Points
2. Jaeger O'Meara, HAW 107 DK FP's
3. Jared Polec, NM, 103 DK FP's

Big Values:   The big fella, Josh J. Kennedy from WC with 91 points from $4,000 for 22.8x value. Also, Tyson Stengle had 61 points for the Crows at $2,800 and 66 FP's for 23.6x.

Big Josh J. Kennedy, Andrew Gaff and Tim Kelly absolutely owned Collingwood.  The ball was always in Gaff's (26 disposals, 11 marks) or Kelly's hands.  And Kennedy is such a joy to watch.  Enjoy the victorious glow from his seven goals:

Let's pause a moment and discuss the battle between Kennedy and Papley for the Coleman Meddle. Kennedy is nothing but class. After the win, he made a point to graciously thank the fans: 

On the other hand, as I hinted at in my DraftKings preview, Tom Papley is a bit of a ball hog.  Oh, sure, the Swans definitely need his star power, but he blew a big opportunity to make a bigger statement than just scoring a fourth goal.  He really should have handballed to rookie Elijah Taylor on this run, which former Hawk Jordan Lewis points out on Fox Footy. I thought the exact same thing when I first saw this goal. I'm cheering for Kennedy, but Papley is up 19 goals to 18, with Charlie Dixon chasing at 16.

 TOP MIDFIELDERS

1. Zach Merrett, ESS, 136 DraftKings Fantasy Points
2. Clayton Oliver, MEL, 125 DK FP's
3. Jarryd Lyons, BRI and Josh Kelly, GWS with 119 DK FP's

Big Values:  Paul Seedsman, ADE (104 FP's, $5,100, 20.4x) and Mitchell Hibberd, ESS (81 FP's, $4,000, 20.3).

This is where I wonder if DraftKings needs to give more points for goals or less points for disposals. Toby Greene was a dominant game changer with his five goals in Friday's win over Richmond.  Yet his 102 fantasy points ranks tied for 12th for midfielders. You think the Bombers would trade Merrett for Greene?  They'd make that deal in half a heartbeat. 

TOP DEFENDERS

1. Jake Lloyd, SYD, 115 DraftKings Fantasy Points
2. Zach Tuohy, GEE, 98 DK FP's
3. James Sicily, HAW, 95 DK FP's

Big Value:  Andrew McPherson, ADE, 69 FP's for $2,800 salary for a 24.6x value.

As I said in my DK column last week, pay for Jake Lloyd. He's the Swans' only good defender. We clearly need to keep an eye out for the young guns maturing in Adelaide. This was McPherson's third career game - will he stay cheap next week?

SOME EXTRA GOOD OIL

Collingwood's roller coaster season continues with Scott Pendlebury as a late scratch just before the Pies were blown out by the Eagles. The skipper has a hamstring injury that might keep him out of all the "Four Rounds in 20 Days" craziness.  But the good news is everyone's favorite, Steele Sidebottom, returns from suspension this upcoming Sunday versus Freo.

I love this play from the Demons Lions game.  First, Max Gawn battling is always fun viewing.  But then the quick hand passes to get Dayne Zorko open of this even quicker goal is just gold:

And then of course, this guy:

The Eagles certainly deserve the fight song.  And then, the Ladder.