Here is a look at the Go Left Fantasy Surfer team for the
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast:
Mick Fanning ($11.5M): Mick’s taking some time off this
season, but I doubt he even considered missing out on Snapper. He still wants
to qualify for the 2017 CT, so he knows he needs good results in the events in
which he does participate. Therefore, don’t expect to see a laid-back
approach from Mick on the Gold Coast. This is an event that Mick loves, and
expect him to perform well.
Julian Wilson ($9.5M): Snapper suits Julian well, and he
showed that last year by making the Final. He’s got an amazing arsenal, and I
think 2016 will be a big year for him. Look for Wilson to get off to a hot
start with a good result on the Gold Coast. He's my pick to win the event.
Joel Parkinson ($7M): Parko is just a year removed from
making the Final at Snapper, and historically he has performed well at this
event. The price tag is great for him here, and I think he’s definitely worth
the selection.
Taj Burrow ($6.5M): This is a very similar pick to the Parko
selection. Taj is another veteran that has performed well at Snapper over the
years, and like Parko he’s got a very reasonable price tag.
Matt Wilkinson ($.5.5M): Sure, Wilko is a goofy-footer and
Snapper is a right point, but Matty is at his best on his backhand. He made it
to Round 5 in 2015, and he’s fresh off a victory at Surfest. He’s good value.
Koloho Andino ($3.5M): Brother had a disappointing 2015
season on the CT, but he backed himself up by surfing QS events and
requalifying that way. I thought Andino was set for a career year heading into
2015, and I’m still not quite sure what happened last season. He’s supremely
talented, and I like his chances of pulling an upset or two at Snapper. The
talent you’re getting for the low price here is tough to find.
Jack Freestone ($3.5M): Freestone actually surfed in this
event as a Wild Card last year, so there’s the experience factor. He actually
performed pretty well, but was ousted in Round 2 when he came up against Kelly
Slater. For this price you’re basically looking for a lottery ticket, and
Freestone could take a heat or two if he gets the right waves.
Matt Banting ($3M): One of the best values of the event, in
my opinion. Banting missed most of his rookie year due to injury, but prior to
the ailment he took down Mick Fanning in Round 1 of this event last year before
being edged out by Jordy Smith in Round 3. Not a bad track record for a guy you
can get for $3M.
When picking a lineup, my usual strategy is to spend big money only on guys that I trust to advance deep and have a real shot at winning the event (Mick, Julian). Value is a big part of this particular lineup (Parko, Taj) as well, and should always be a major consideration in building a well-rounded and deep lineup. To round things out it's always good to get some high-upside sleepers to use as lottery tickets (Kolohe, Banting). Excluding certain surfers will always be tough (Toledo, Medina), but the budget is the budget.
Play Fantasy Surfer and take a crack at your own lineup. It's free to play, and there are prizes to be won.
Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf
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