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With Lachie Young departing the Dogs, they needed a replacement. Enter Hawthorn free agent Tim O’Brien. But is he fantasy relevant?
Career High SuperCoach Score: 125 vs Western Bulldogs (2021)
Career High SuperCoach Average: 71.6 (2019)
Career High AFLFantasy Score: 102 vs Western Bulldogs (2021)
Career High AFLFantasy Average: 63.4 (2017)
Embed from Getty ImagesImpact on New Club
Much has been made about whether or not the Bulldogs back six is strong enough to be a premiership side. To be honest, I think it’s pretty close to it. Barring a stirring last 45 minutes of unstoppable Demon football, they’d be premiership players.
Alex Keath is the backline general alongside Easton Wood, who can play taller than his 187cm. Caleb Daniel, Bailey Dale, Taylor Duryea and Bailey Williams round out the weekly backline crew. Then it’s a toss of the coin between Ryan Gardner or Zayne Cordy for the other key position role. Unfortunately, I can’t see Tim O’Brien breaking into that mix. Instead, It’ll take an injury for him to get games.
The Dogs lost Lachie Young in the trade period, and while he was a key defender, he was more often used as a ruckman when playing. So ‘TOB’s’ inclusion is nothing more than an insurance policy.
Impact on Old Club
The Hawks are undertaking a rebuild. And while Tim O’Brien has shown glimpses of his ability, it’s not been consistent enough. So for Hawthorn, the best course of action is to allow the next generation to take flight and for him to move on.
Over the past few seasons, the swingman has found himself more inside the Hawks back 50. The KPD stocks are well stocked. James Sicily will return from an ACL. Denver Grainger-Barrass has shown moments in his first year. At the same time, Changkuoth Jiath was one of the breakout players in the league. Throw in the old-timers in Sam Frost and Kyle Hartigan, and it’s not a space that they lack in depth options.
Fantasy Summary
In fantasy footy terms, I’ve got no interest in owning Tim O’Brien. His new side does love to hold onto the football and have a high possession game style. But any team with both Caleb Daniel and Bailey Dale in the back half, you can guarantee they’ll take a monopoly of those opportunities. I don’t see the disposal opportunities for him to thrive.
A personal high average of 71 in SuperCoach is nothing to write home about. And in AFLFantasy, his 102 against the Bulldogs isn’t just a career high score, but also his only triple digit score.
It’d take some injuries to their key stocks to have him in the best 22, let alone a fantasy option. Pass!
