A replay of last years boring Grand Final (unless you’re a Tigers fan.) This time the result was very different. Sadly for them, they didn’t even pick up premiership points. Regardless of the result, we learnt plenty from a fantasy footy perspective.
Both teams were missing their marquee big forwards in Brown and Franklin but despite that this was about as entertaining as a Sydney vs North game can get. There were some fascinating one on one contests across the ground and some interesting faces made some interesting cases for selection. Here’s what I noticed while nursing a post-shiva hangover:
The Blues took on the Lions in a scrappy affair at Ikon Park with both sides keen to snag a win after falling short last time out. It was a tale of two halves with Carlton looking exceptional for most of the first half before running out of steam and being completely overrun by Brisbane who went on to post a handsome 45 point win. It was a modest game fantasy wise with Cripps the only player on the ground to have more than 25 disposals. But there’s still plenty to unpack as we start finalising our squads for round 1.
What’s interesting is that basically this was both teams’ best 22’s. The only players missing are all due to injury, so if you had your eye on someone and they didn’t play in this game and weren’t injured, it doesn’t bode well for them.
It a late afternoon game at Joondalup the Dockers took the Pre Season Derby win over the Eagles by a miserly one point 55 v 54 after a late and spirited fight back.
Despite both teams rolling out something very very close to their best 22 and conditions being reasonable, skills were poor with turnovers aplenty and this was a hard game to watch. Despite that, there is still plenty we can take from this game across the fantasy formats. Here are my observations on a few key players:
The Crows hosted a reinvigorated Suns outfit fresh off their trouncing of the Cats last week. Gold Coast picked up right where they left off two weeks ago and were the dominant team. Adelaide looked like a side still getting use to the huge changes over the Summer and almost pinched this one albeit with some help from the Suns poor goal conversion. The visitors held on for a 7 point win in what was at times a feisty and entertaining dress rehearsal for Round 1.
It was a warm 32 degree day with gusty winds at the infamous Norm Minns Oval in Wangaratta. The Tigers were without Dusty, Cotchin, Houli, Tommy Lynch, Riewoldt and Edwards. Whilst the Pies had Grundy, Pendles, Sidebottom, Moore and Howe missing. Was a good hit-out for both teams, low tackling affair where the Pies had it pretty much on their terms before running out 40 point winners.
An interesting fantasy game this one – there were plenty of watchlist players running around for their first formal match practise of 2020. To start with however, here’s a list to keep in mind of important players who didn’t play.
It was a dirty day at Blacktown. Not just for the young Swans but also for coaches that had targeted a unique Tim Taranto as a premium in 2020.