DANE Swan's suspension has thrown the Toyota AFL Dream Team world into crisis as coaches prepare for the start of the finals series this week.??
With the Collingwood star - who is averaging 135 points a game this year - suspended by his club for two weeks, it's time for coaches to trade him out. If you have trades left, that is.
Before you do, it's worth remembering that at $617,900, Swan is the most expensive player in the competition.
If you have more than one trade left, the money you make from trading Swan could come in handy if you're upgrading another player.
But first things first: who to get for Swan? Here's some options you might be considering, depending on who you already have in your Dream Team midfield.
Gary Ablett ($574,600)?
Since the news broke on Tuesday afternoon that Swan was out, Ablett has been the most popular replacement for coaches. And it's not hard to see why. In his past four weeks he has averaged 138 points a game and is an easy choice for captain with Swan missing. If you haven't got him already, he's your man.
??Jobe Watson ($504,600)?
Only Swan and Western Bulldogs captain Matthew Boyd have scored more points this season than Watson. Like Ablett, he has also enjoyed a rich vein of form in the past month, despite the Bombers' drop in form. Watson is averaging 114 points and it seems no tagger can stop him at the moment.??
Scott Thompson ($455,100)
It would be a risk to pick Thompson now considering his past five games. The Adelaide midfielder has reached triple figures only once in that period, and scored 80 points against Essendon last week - Thompson's third-lowest score of the year. I'd be wary bringing him in now.
??Scott Pendlebury ($498,000)
For coaches already with Ablett, Pendlebury should be right on your radar. At this stage, I'll be going with him to replace Swan. There's a couple of reasons for this. Not only is he a star in his own right - he's averaging 110 points this season - but he's also significantly cheaper. If you need some money in the bank to upgrade another player in your side, pick 'Pendles'. ??
Dayne Beams ($541,700)
It's hard to think of a more improved player in the competition this year than Beams. He has lifted his DT average to 114 points a game, and has even become seen as a possible captaincy choice - a sign he has moved into the DT elite.
Dark Horse
Brad Ebert ($406,600)
Good value in the low $400k, Ebert has been Port's most consistent player in 2012 and its most prolific in terms of scoring. Ebert has scored in excess of 100 points most games this season and bordered on cracking he $500,000 value mark mid-way through the year. With games against the Hawks and his old side West Coast coming up he's a definite smoky for a big finish.
There are others who might take your fancy. Geelong's Joel Selwood, Richmond's Trent Cotchin and Hawk Sam Mitchell are all inside the top 20 for total points this season and they could go some way to filling Swan's sizeable shoes. ??
If you're looking for something from left field, Brisbane's Jack Redden is cheap and Andrew Swallow has been in magnificent form. The North Melbourne captain has averaged 103 this season.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
