Hi team, Jordox here! One of my favourite parts of fantasy footy is nabbing a free agent off the waiver wire before anyone else does and watching him turn into a gun scorer for my draft sides. Each week I’ll bring you some names to consider for your Ultimate Footy side that will hopefully give you the edge you need. To be eligible, a player needs to be available as a free agent in at least 30% of Ultimate Footy leagues.
A couple of young Bombers have impressed me this week plus a couple of old timers showing they still have what it takes to hit a decent fantasy score!
BACKS
Nik Cox – Essendon
% owned – 46%
2021 average – 6
Taken at pick 8 in last year’s draft, we have already seen more than a glimpse of why this guy was so highly rated. Standing at 200cm (just in case you hadn’t already heard that 10 times from the broadcast team on Thursday night), Cox has been playing all over the ground looking particularly good on the wing. Against Sydney last week, he collected 18 disposals and kicked a very nice goal for a score of 93. Also available as a forward, Cox will be snapped up very quick, particularly in Keeper leagues.
Grant Birchall – Brisbane
% owned – 49%
2021 average – 74.5
Now in his second season at the Lions, Birchall is starting to put together a form line that resembles his prime years at the Hawks. Along with Daniel Rich, he looks like someone they want repelling from the back half which is resulting in plenty of marks. He is averaging just under 8 marks a game and if he stays healthy, will be a decent scorer.
Become a Patron!CENTRE
Jack Sinclair – St.Kilda
% owned – 56%
2021 average – 66.5
A new role playing off halfback looked set to make Sinclair a fantasy relevant player this season and his AAMI Series performance against Carlton only added to the hype. He scored 112 off 28 touches in a dominant display in that game but unfortunately did not carry that form into the season proper. His scoring has been up and down but a nice 82 on the weekend shows he has the potential. He also should be a lock for DPP status at some point this season which would make him a handy defender to have.
Callan Ward – GWS
% owned – 71% (ineligible by 1% but had to squeeze him in)
2021 average – 80
The Giants’ fearless leader has been slowly moving out of midfield rotations due to his age and injury history but also to expose the rising stars at GWS. The long-term injury to Coniglio last week, however, has appeared to put Ward back at the coalface as we saw him attend more centre bounces than other midfielder on the ground against Collingwood on the weekend. He more than made the most of this opportunity collecting 37 touches and scoring 121 which was his best score since the 2018 season. He’s not getting any younger but if the role’s there, the points will come.
Become a Patron!FORWARD
Bailey Dale – Western Bulldogs
% owned – 42%
2021 average – 72.5
For varying reasons, Dale hasn’t been able to lock down a spot in the 22 across his 6 seasons leading into 2021 but a role change has seen him move to a halfback flank and importantly, find more footy. He is averaging career high numbers for disposals and marks and after back to back scores of 85, is a great option for the forward line. He will also surely gain defender status down the track too.
Will Snelling – Essendon
% owned – 68%
2021 average – 81.5
Playing as a pressure forward with stints in the midfield, Snelling is having a breakout 4th season after establishing himself in Essendon’s best 22 last season. He is a tackling machine averaging just under 7 a game and laying 11 on the weekend! He had a career high 23 touches the week before and is continuing to build his stat line around the tackles column averaging 99.5 fantasy points in the last two weeks. If he can hit the scoreboard more frequently and/or increase his disposals average, he will become a very good scorer.
