The first move that went down in the 2020 trade window was the moving of unrestricted free agent Rory Atkins to the gold Coast Suns. What are the fantasy footy impacts on this player movement?

Fantasy Stats

Career High SuperCoach Score: 130 Vs Bombers (2017)

Career High AFLFantasy Score: 133 v Power (2018)

Career High SuperCoach Average: 78.9 (2017)

Career High AFLFantasy Average: 81.2 (2017)

Impact on New Club

Clearly, the Gold Coast Suns rate what Rory Atkins can bring to the football club. You don’t offer a four-year deal at good money to someone to sit in your reserves side. Rory’s a pure wingman, who looks to use his ability to get busy on the outside of stoppage and create an outlet for his inside midfielders.What confuses me about this move is that I believe the Suns already have players that can sufficiently player that outside midfield role to a similar ability of Atkins. Noah Anderson, Lachie Weller and Brandon Ellis all provide plenty of outside run and skill, while developing youngster Jeremy Sharp has shown in time that he could fulfil this role. I think at best Rory holds down a wing role for up to two seasons before the next generation of Suns overtake him.

Impact on Old Club

Back in 2016-2018 the Adelaide Crows loved the run and carry work of Rat. However, even before and after his shoulder injury this year, Atkins has spent the better part of the past two seasons in and out of the best 22.The Crows are right into a rebuild and the eyes are well onto the future of the club. So the departure of has almost zero impact on the 2021 team plans. Players like Wayne Milera coming back from injury would be someone the Crows would love to see player higher up the ground. His skills and speed would be a welcome addition to the midfield unit. Late last year Lachie Sholl and William Hamill both are great users of the ball by foot and looked comfortable in the role. Additionally, the club could look to still use more experienced hands Paul Seedsman, Ben Keays or Brodie Smith.

Fantasy Summary

For the salary cap players among us, he’ll get a discount due to missing a big chunk of the year through injury. However, it’s nowhere near enough of a discount to consider him as a genuine option. In draft leagues and daily fantasy, he’s shown he can pop with the odd 120+ score when his team are dominating. So potentially a plug a play option off the waiver wire depending on the matchups.