Calder Cannons don’t sit as equal leaders of the TAC Cup for no reason. They have plenty of solid depth that is helping them to a top-four finish. They have used 39 players at least twice with a good mix of bottom-age, top-age and over-age players. After a preliminary final last year, they’ll be hoping to go a step better and make the TAC Cup Grand Final.

Nicholas O’Kearney is often underrated when discussing Cannons’ players, yet statistically he is the leading player at the club. An impressive 26.14 disposals, 5.7 marks and 3.9 tackles indicates he has seen plenty of action in his seven games. To go with this, he’s averaged 103.7 DT points and just under 100 SC points with a disposal efficiency of 64.48 per cent.

Touk Miller is the name that plenty may have heard of, but if anything, he’s the guy who’s taken his game to another level in 2014. A very neat 24.71 disposals a game to go with 3.4 marks and 6.2 tackles shows he applies plenty of defensive pressure, while kicking goals – averaging just under a goal per game. For those out there that prefer SuperCoach over Dream Team, Miller is one to watch, with a clean skill set and the highest base SC average of all Calder players.

Damien Cavka has only played the five games, but his 21 disposals, 4.2 tackles and team high 7.4 marks per game has seen him excel in the TAC Cup. He’s only 184 centimetres but can take a strong grab and use the ball well by foot. He is incredibly dangerous because he not only leads the club in marks, but also in disposal efficiency of those players with three games or more at 70.8 per cent. Fantasy-wise, he holds a DT average of 101.6 and a SC median of 99.3 points.

Peter Wright is by far the most known Cannon – and with good reason. He’s a big chance to potentially go pick one, and won’t last beyond the top ten. For a ruck/forward he still holds a disposal efficiency of 68.4 per cent from his 12.7 disposals a game. In his six games, he’s booted 20 goals and averaged 9.5 hit-outs while pinch-hitting there. If you’re keen to find out what he’s worth in the fantasy world, his averages are 87.17 for Dream Team and a median SC average of 102.

The Top Ten:

1. Nicholas O’Kearney (7 games, 2 goals, 26.1 disposals, 5.7 marks, 3.9 tackles)
2. Touk Miller (7 games, 6 goals, 24.7 disposals, 3.4 marks, 6.3 tackles)
3. Damien Cavka (5 games, 6 goals, 21. disposals, 7.4 marks, 4.2 tackles)
4. Peter Wright (6 games, 20 goals, 12.7 disposals, 6.3 marks, 9.5 hit-outs)
5. Hisham Kerbatieh (5 games, 7 goals, 19.6 disposals, 3.6 marks, 4.2 tackles)
6. Zak Wunhym (6 games, 5 goals, 21 disposals, 3.7 marks, 3.7 tackles)
7. Matthew Goodyear (7 games, 3 goals, 24.57 disposals, 2 marks, 3.4 tackles)
8. Aaron Christensen (6 games, 4 goals, 19.2 disposals, 6.2 marks, 2.8 tackles)
9. Mark Kovacevic (8 games, 7 goals, 11 disposals, 3.6 marks, 24.38 hit-outs)
10. Paul Ahern (8 games, 9 goals, 17.63 disposals, 4.9 marks, 1.4 tackles)

Remaining Fixtures:

Round 10 – NSW/ACT Rams (A)
Round 12 – Dandenong Stingrays (H)
Round 13 – Western Jets (A)
Round 14 – Sandringham Dragons (H)
Round 15 – Oakleigh Chargers (H)
Round 16 – Murray Bushrangers (A)
Round 17 – North Ballarat Rebels (A)
Round 18 – Northern Knights (A)

It’s hard to not see Calder Cannons finish top two. They are three wins clear – albeit with an extra game compared to country teams – and they have a relatively easy run home. Western Jets and Oakleigh Chargers will provide them with their hardest challenges, while the jury is still out on the Stingrays and Dragons. Hard to see them going down to the Rebels or Knights (though the latter defeated them in round two) even with a spike in form. They simply won’t lose to the Rams.

Prediction: 1st