Day: January 13, 2019

The Most Important JLT Series Ever

I’m prone to exaggerations and at first, glance to say these preseason matches are the ‘most important’ ever probably is a stretch, but it certainly bears more importance for SuperCoach & AFLFantasy coaches than any of recent times. It’s for one major reason…

The rule changes!

While I’ve seen plenty of speculation about how these roles ‘could’ or ‘might’ impact the game of AFL, due to the fact that some of these rules have only been trialled in a small sample size at the state level we do not know in full what this will do to the game. How will these new rules affect the role of certain players, clubs game styles and as such the impact for Fantasy Footy coaches?

Does the new ruck rule drastically diminish the number of hitouts a ruck wins around the ground? Conversely, if rucks grab the ball out of the air more will we see more ruckman tackling? Do ‘kick outs’ count as a possession? Will the hands in the back rule for forwards mean more marks? Does the starting structure at every centre bounce of 6-6-6 open up the game and reward more outside and link up players for fantasy?

We can make an educated guess and come up with a countless number of the hypothesis of what may happen, but the end of the day until we see it we just don’t fully know. This is why these games will be crucial, this will be our first chance to see how clubs have adapted and evolved around these new rules and what impact this will have on our fantasy players.

This will be especially critical in selecting not just potential breakout players but also with our premiums, whom early on their scoring success will either halt or kick start your scoring season. You could build a case that these rules will create fewer stoppages at players who’s fantasy numbers are based on either tackles or winning high volume of contested possesions will see a scoring decline?

Fantasy coaches who do the research and back their gut (plus get a dose of luck) will prevail, hopefully for your sake, it’s you!  What potential impact do you see the new rule changes having? Get in touch with us and have your say at our Facebook,  Twitter or Instagram. 

If you haven’t seen the preseason fixture yet, we’ve added it for you here.

2019 JLT Community Series Fixture

Week one

Thursday, February 28 Carlton v Essendon at Ikon Park, 6.40pm EDT

Friday, March 1 West Coast v Geelong at Leederville Oval, 4.10pm WST

Saturday, March 2 North Melbourne v St Kilda at Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee, 1.10pm EDT Adelaide v Port Adelaide at the Memorial Oval, Port Pirie, 3.40pm CDT GWS Giants v Sydney at Blacktown International Sportspark, 7.10pm EDT

Sunday, March 3 Brisbane v Hawthorn at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex, 12.40pm EST Richmond v Melbourne at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton, 4.40pm EDT Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs at Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 6.40pm EST

Monday, March 4 Fremantle v Collingwood at HBF Arena, Joondalup, 3.40pm WST 

Week two

Thursday, March 7 Geelong v Essendon at GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm EDT

Friday, March 8 GWS Giants v Adelaide at UNSW Canberra Oval, 7.10pm EDT

Saturday, March 9 Port Adelaide v North Melbourne at Alberton Oval, 12.40pm CDT Melbourne v Brisbane at Casey Fields, Cranbourne, 4.10pm EDT Hawthorn v Richmond at UTAS Stadium, 7.10pm EDT

Sunday, March 10 Sydney v Gold Coast at Oakes Oval, Lismore, 1.10pm EDT Western Bulldogs v St Kilda at Mars Stadium, Ballarat, 4.10pm EDT Fremantle v West Coast at Rushton Park, Mandurah, 4.10pm WST

Monday, March 11 Collingwood v Carlton at Morwell Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm EDT

#38 Most Relevant: Josh Corbett

He was one of a number of players plucked from state-based leagues. While Corbett may not be the highest fantasy scoring cash cow we get, I believe In January he does bring one thing that many other cows lack. Best 22 Job Security.

PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Josh Corbett
Age: 22
Club: Gold Coast Suns
Position: Forward

SuperCoach Price: $123,900
AFLFantasy Price: $170,000
AFLDreamTeam Price: $157,900

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WHY IS HE RELEVANT?

In 2018 Josh Corbett was highly regarded as one of the VFL’s best-contested marks and averaged 7.6 marks per game before an eye injury prevented any more appearances for the year. In his 9 matches, he scored 22 goals and won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal the award presented to the most promising young talent in the VFL.

The other key weapon to his footballing arsenal is his strong aerobic capacity, this year he averaged 14 k/m per game, impressive for a guy who is 190cm tall and weights 90kg.

With former co-captain and #46 Most Relevant in this list Tom Lynch departing the club as a free agent, the Suns are desperate for some support and goal scoring power inside 50. Outside of a developing tall Peter Wright, the occasionally fit Sam Day and the craft of Aaron Young, they lack targets that provide compelling forward presence and avenues to goal, something I believe Josh will add immediately to the Suns.

Gold Coast have desperately lacked a player they can target firstly as a tall target to link up across the ground or secondly kick it to as a ‘get out of jail’ option from defensive 50. His strong overhead marking and aerobic skills could perfectly lend himself to a role not too dissimilar to what Adelaide’s Tom Lynch has done so well for many seasons if the Suns wanted to. The new rules that force a 6-6-6 starting structure at centre bounces and also the new hands in the back rule for a player likely to get the third tall certainly increase the positives in Corbett’s favour.

Like many of the state league call-ups, he’s priced at the basement in all salary cap formats of the game and is someone who I can see easily make his way into the Suns best 22 making him a prime candidate for cash generation. Something I can’t confidently say about all Special Assistance selections provided by the AFL Commission.

MY TAKE

Almost 2 weeks ago I launched the 50 Most Relevant listing with Harley Bennell. One of the key reasons Harley and now Josh make the 50 is they possess something that many cheap players lack, that’s job security. Cash Cows that have a stellar ceiling in contrast to their price is fantastic but it’s no benefit for fantasy coaches if they are in the side one week and out of the next.

In December he signed a 4-year contract extension locking himself to the club until 2022. Regardless of the clubs inability to retain quality talent long term, you don’t sign up a player for that long who isn’t apart of your current and future long-term plans. By heading to the Gold Coast Suns a side who are desperately trying to reshape their list, Corbett, now will be given every opportunity and early in the season to show he’s of AFL standard. From the games I’ve seen of him I believe he’s more than ready for a shot at the big leagues. Smash it bro!

While I don’t have a crystal ball and neither am I apart of the Gold Coast selection committee It seems very apparent to me that Josh Corbett will play a lot of footy this year for the Suns. Because of that, given his basement price and likely consistent scoring output, I think he’ll be one of the most owned and successful forward cash cows for 2019!

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DRAFT DECISIONS

He’s only relevant in salary cap formats of the game, can’t see him scoring enough to make him worth drafting. If he shows something then grab him off the waiver wire.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Do you believe he is fantasy relevant?
Will you be starting with him?
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