The final game from the preseason saw two highly relevant fantasy teams face off at Casey Fields. The game was fairly uncontested, with dominant in the game, notably in the first half.
Max Gawn
The Ruckman was back to his dominant best, registering a massive first half in which he kicked three goals. He then played a little more down to earth in the second half, with he and Grundy sharing the ruck load. This game exemplifies the likely splits they will have but Gawn has shown they could still score well despite this.
Brodie Grundy
The other half of Gawndy also kicked three goals in the first half but was far less dominant around the ground. It is going to be tough to know which of the two will get the dominant ruck share each week but DPP might be on the cards for one or both of them early in the season.
Clayton Oliver
Oliver has shown yet again that he will remain a top end premium across the formats. He coasted through much of the game yet still had class and skills that exceeded most on the field. A player that once again we will want to own in 2023.
Christian Petracca
Much like his partner in crime, Petracca looked a cut above the rest in this game. Petracca split his time between midfield and forward duties and got his hand on the ball all over the ground. Still a genuine premium option for us across the formats.
Angus Brayshaw
Brayshaw came back down to earth after his seagull-like behaviour last week, despite having a near identical role. He worked his way back into the game in the second half and looked better as the game went on. Tempers may have cooled on him, but he still has the ability to pop a massive score when he is on.
Kyle Chandler
A rookie priced player for us in 2023, Chandler slotted into the Demons side well. 1.3 on the day showed he had plenty of opportunities and he is one to monitor for a bench spot come Round 1.
Tim Taranto
Taranto coasted in second gear yet managed to get his hand on the ball 33 times. High CBA usage, marks around the ground, and a willingness to hunt the ball was all we needed to see from Tim this week and he showed it in spades. Definitely one to consider for starting squads.
Jacob Hopper
Hopper saw the highest CBA usage of any Tigers player this week and managed to get his hands on it plenty, but was used more of an extractor. He played a very inside game which we should expect again come round 1, but with the free-flowing nature of preseason games I expect his scoring output to be higher than what we saw this week.
Samson Ryan
Ryan came onto the field in the last quarter and scored well in the process. As a near-basement rookie with R/F status, he should be in consideration if named round 1.
One of the most relevant games of the weekend was the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne. Have we finally solved our ruckline dilemma? And have some players that we’ve locked away all preseason created cause for concern. Check out my review of the match.
Just two weeks ago, the fantasy community got spooked that Jackson Macrae was spending time in an intra-club match rotating between the midfield and half-forward. I said on a podcast with Rids that it was the perfect role for him and that it was getting time on the wing that we wanted to avoid. However, throughout this match, we saw Macae be and do what he’s done for so long, and that be in a role that propels him to be one of the best fantasy prospects across the formats. He’s been in all my teams since day one, and I saw nothing that would make me want to move him.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
Marcus Bontempelli
No Josh Dunkley + a set tall forward line = a move midfield stable role for Marcus Bontempelli. Simply put, if you were bullish on Bont before this game, then he’s done everything you need to lock him in.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
Bailey Smith
Flying under the radar this preseason has been Bailey Smith. For the first time in the preseason, we got a public viewing of his role, and it was Bazlenka returning to his combination centre-bounce midfield and as a high half-forward. In this role, he dominated early in 2022 and switched-on fantasy coaches already have him in the mix for their starting squads, especially in AFLFantasy & DreamTeam.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
Oskar Baker
I was super impressed with his outside run and carry. His ability to work between the arcs and link up across the flanks was excellent. I’d be very surprised if we didn’t see Oskar Baker get his club debut in round one. He is an absolute lock in DreamTeam & SuperCoach if he’s named.
Tim English
Have you been part of the ‘set & forget’ mindset for multiple years? It’s done for these reasons. But, in 2023, it’s still a genuine play. Tim English built beautifully into the game and gave me confidence that what we saw from Tim pre-injury last year is what he’ll be this year—worried about his injury history? That’s an extra reason to start him again… Don’t make me go off on the injury history talk again, lol.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
Toby McLean
At the start of the preseason, Toby McLean was one of the first picked for many, but as the preseason has gone on, people have started too cool on him. One of the reasons for it is we’ve got an overflow of forward cash cows. As a result, we no longer have to ‘pay up’ in AFLFantasy & DreamTeam for him. He played primarily as a forward and pushed up the ground on the weekend. I didn’t love the role, but his picking up much midfield time was always a long shot. The other consideration is that he’s a genuine vest candidate most weeks. So beyond SuperCoach, I understand why the community has decided to fade him.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
Tom Liberatore
Looking for a unique in the midfield? Tom Liberatore is someone to at least consider in SuperCoach. Historically he’s got multiple years where he’s averaged 105 but does have just the one season (2014) where he went over 110. He showed again on the weekend why he’s one of the most elite inside and contested footballers in the game. Unless you are bullish that he can go well north of 110, he’s just a draft option or someone to target should he have a slow start to the year.
We had some of our ‘midprice’ guys show plenty during the weekend. So many teams have one of Jacob Hopper, Dom Sheed, Finn Callaghan or James Worpel. Another name you can throw into that mix with MID/FWD eligible Tom Powell putting on another strong performance in the offseason. He’s back in that Kangaroos midfield mix under Clarko and winning more than a fair share of the ball. Two years ago, he was one of the best cash cows for the year and showed plenty of fantasy pedigree. Perhaps he’s primed to ‘breakout’ in his third year.
Will Phillips
He won’t be one of the highest-scoring cash cows, but Will Phillips does look like he’ll have some of the best job security of all available options. Phillips played his role through the midfield and showed glimpses of why the Kangaroos drafted some early a few seasons ago. The ideal would be to find a way to slide him to the bench emergency spot, but not a disaster if he’s your M8.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
Luke Davies-Uniacke
Over the preseason, LDU has been one of the most in-demand ‘breakout’ players that could become a premium and someone you hold for the year. If you were bullish heading into the game, he did nothing that should concern you and make you cool on him. However, some guys in this realm have bashed the door down in the preseason. So his ownership might fade because of what others have done, not because of Luke.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
Harry’s the best forward cash cow we’ve got available to us. In the intra-club match simulations and the practice game, we saw that Clarko was happy to use him across the flanks at either end of the ground. He’s a classy user of the ball by hand and foot, and you can see the Kangaroos players and fans falling in love with him. The kid is a future jet!
Miller Bergman
A smokey for a game in round one. Bergman got limited time, but he looked good across the backline when he was on the field. He is a cash cow to monitor across the season, but he does scream a vest candidate to me.
Charlie Comben
Was an option as a forward cash cow heading into the weekend, but Charlie Comben has left it as someone your only picking if all the other cows fall over. He struggled to find his role with both Tristan Xerri and Todd Goldstein playing. A pass unless we get desperate.
The Giants and the Suns kicked off the last day of practice matches for us. In a relatively high-scoring affair, the Giants took their foot off the gas in the second half and cruised comfortably towards round 1.
Kelly was used exclusively through the midfield for the Giants and looked good in doing so, finding plenty of space. Didn’t go as hard as he could’ve, and if you were hot before then, there are no red flags as to starting the Rolls Royce himself. Maybe MJ should’ve put him in the 50…
Isaac Cumming
Cumming had a ton of the ball in the middle portion of the game, getting involved in plenty of switching and providing run and carry off the half-back line. As a defender premium who has gone under the radar, Cumming has put himself firmly into conversations around being near the top of his line.
Tom Green
The kid is just a contested bull. Green gets in and under at every opportunity he can and works hard the entire time. Exclusive midfield usage and looked good in the process. Big ticks for him.
Stephen Coniglio
He was one of the four who got heavy CBA rotation for the Giants, but he was certainly outshone by both Green and Kelly. Coniglio was pushing forward off stoppages, finding himself in a ‘no mans land’ at times. Certainly some red flags there now, especially with the plethora of Forward premiums in our consideration for round 1.
Lachie Whitfield
The Whitfield of old was back, sweeping off the back of stoppages and finding plenty of the ball. Was one of the most impressive Giants in the first half before slowing down in the second as they used other players in a similar role. Whitfield is all but guaranteed DPP in round 6, but can he be started in our midfields and ran until then?
Finn Callaghan
Callaghan didn’t see any CBAs but that didn’t stop his ability to rack up the ball. He was clearly one of the better players for the Giants on the wing during the game, finding his way into stoppages after the initial centre bounces. At his price tag there is plenty to like.
Witts just eased his way into Round 1 with a hit out in this game, resting most of the fourth quarter. He looked solid matched up against Preuss and moved well. With the ruck carnage around, Witts could be a stable option for us to start the season.
Noah Anderson
Anderson was quiet but was another who didn’t need to do much. He only really played in the first three quarters and had low time on ground. One who could still have a great 2023, but nothing can be taken from this game regarding Noah.
Charlie Constable
Constable played off of half back and managed to get plenty of ball. He took kick outs and got involved with the ball movement out of defence for the Suns. At his price, should he be selected for round 1 he should be an easy decision.
No Touk Miller and a decreased prominence of Anderson meant Flanders was the big beneficiary. Worked around the ground well and got into the right spots. He will be a phenomenal player; he just needs the doors to open for him.
Ben King
Played only the first half of the game as part of a managed load. Had one goal but didn’t do too much to impress. He fits in as a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ option.
In warm conditions, the Crows finished off their pre-season in style with a commanding win over the Eagles. With the scoreboard blown out early, the sting was gone out from the game but there was still plenty of fantasy take aways.
Played the predicted role of bouncing between half back and on ball and looked great doing it. He was seen everywhere and brought a physical game laying 5 tackles. Role and job security look strong, an easy cash cow to pick.
Elliot Yeo
Basically, swapped with Ginbey between half back and on ball and looked solid without setting the world on fire. Kicked a raking long range goal late in the game showing the strength is back in his legs. He didn’t have huge time on ground numbers, likely indicating the Eagles want him fresh and ready for round 1. Lock and load.
Liam Duggan
Played a very fantasy friendly game in the backline where there was lots of pill to be had. Took 12 marks and continued on from his high scoring finish to season 2022. Could be a nice point of difference if you’re confident the role is secure. There’s a heap of players tipped to spend time in the rebounding role, Yeo, Ginbey, Shuey, Hurn, Witherden. The ball will be down there a lot this season again for West Coast but that’s a lot of mouths to feed.
Dom Sheed
Similarly to Yeo, if you were considering him pre-match, then he did his job. He had a heap of centre bounce attendances and tried hard in a losing cause. The role is good and he’ll remain a popular mid-pricer.
Andrew Gaff
Nope. I thought he’d be an interesting watch considering how cheap he is and the Eagles need for some experienced heads. But he played on a wing and was rarely sighted.
Shannon Hurn
He just keeps on keeping on doesn’t he! Another huge game stat-wise as the Eagles backline was under assault for most of the game. 25 touches, 11 marks and 6 tackles. The guy’s a freak. Only pick him in Drafts though.
Campbell Chesser
Low time on ground but looked a likely type when he got his chance. He should be named for round 1 but will be a wait and see.
Alex Witherden
Was not used at all in the first half which was a surprise considering how strong a pre-season he has had. He racked up his 8 touches pretty quickly, joining in the backline’s attempts to control the footy. Hard to know where he fits in still.
Performed like the Laird we saw explode last year and is likely to replicate it this year. 32 touches, 10 tackles and 2 goals. He’s worth the money.
Sam Berry
Was a constant figure in the centre bounce setup for the Crows and played a terrific game, even adding a couple of goals from midfield. Still remains to be seen if he can add enough to his average this year to justify picking in classic formats, but he’s a great get in drafts.
Ben Keays
Forward status looks very likely because even though Keays was used at times in the middle, he did most of his work forward of centre, including a handy 4 goals! It’s a stacked forward line in fantasy this year and Keays may complicate things later by adding to the options.
I put these guys together because they played similar roles, rotating between a small forward role and running through the midfield. Rachele looked the better of the two on the night, and whilst there’s no interest just yet in a fantasy sense, Crows fan would be licking their lips.
Luke Pedlar
Excellent performance that has all but guaranteed a round 1 gig. He looked tough around the ball and found himself in some good spots. He won’t be a high fantasy scorer but will serve us well as an F7 or F8
Jordan Dawson
The newly appointed Adelaide skipper cruised around intercepting the ball and distributing with class. Set for another great season.
Matt Crouch
Similar to Witherden, was surprisingly not used until the last quarter despite having a strong pre-season. Collected 9 touches in just 15% game time which proves what we already knew, Crouch is a magnet when he plays. The unanswered question remains, though, does he play round 1?
Reilly O’Brien
Did what he was expected to do against such an inexperienced West Coast ruck division, but he looked great doing it. He did plenty around the ground, collecting 17 disposals and resting forward at times. Not a crazy pick at R2 this year but there are those worried about his place in the team. I don’t think that’s an issue at this stage, particularly early in the season.
Darcy Fogarty
The breakout continues as Fogarty picked up right where he left off last season in a dominant performance. Kicked 3 goals in the first quarter to effectively end the contest and finished with 4. Not a terrible late pick in drafts.
All the talk in this match will be about one man, but the reality, there’s a plethora of takeaways that the fantasy community should be getting beyond Errol Gulden. From cows to premiums and everything in between, this match will be one of the most relevant from the weekend.
45 touches! What the actual. I empathise with those who’ve been bullish on Errol Gulden all preseason. They’ve endured weeks of comments from the community that he won’t get the midfield role or have a high enough ceiling. It might be preseason, but that can’t be said now. We’ve seen Errol as one of the midfield’s primary staples for multiple weeks.
In these match reviews, people often forget about the missing players; in this clash, there was no Callum Mills. So that doe need to factor in, but it’s important to note that in the match simulation last week, Mills did play, and Errol held a similar midfield role. The role looks real, and his preseason performances now elevate him into serious consideration for our starting squads.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
Matt Roberts
I was impressed with Matt Roberts. He showed his high footy IQ, and he’s got all the signs he’s yet another strong insider midfielder. But he screams vest candidate to me; I couldn’t select him with any confidence.
Luke Parker
This is what Luke Parker is. Safe & reliable. Unless he picks up DPP again, he’s unlikely to feature in too many teams outside of draft and daily fantasy. But you have to respect how consistently good he has been over his career.
Lachlan McAndrew
The fantasy community watched with great interest to see how Lachie McAndrew would go. With no Tom Hickey early in the season, coaches hoped we could’ve landed a basement price RUC/FWD at R3. While he looked good out there, he only played 38% of the game. The positive for McAndrew truthers is that Peter Ladhams didn’t look great. The Swans coaching staff will have some decisions to make ahead of round one. However, he’s no lock to miss or get named round one.
Angus Sheldrick
The club has been bullish to talk up Angus Sheldrick a lot in the preseason, but the fact he only got minimal minutes and with a few of the best 22 absent it doesn’t bode well for him getting named round one. Even if named, he’s got a coloured vest hanging around his neck.
Chad Warner
If you have been bullish on Chad Warner all preseason, nothing in this match should have changed your mind. He still has the midfield role; he got through unscathed and cruised in second gear.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
With all the talk from this match about Errol Gulden, people are sleeping on one of the biggest stories of the preseason. That being that, Sam Docherty will once again be a points-scoring force. He still picked up some centre bounces but was primarily back in the role he held last year across halfback. If you choose not to start him, you’ll be either paying up to land him or hoping for an injury to come his way. He’s showing no signs of slowing down and looks like a clear topline defensive premium.
I wrote about him earlier in the preseason during the 50 most relevant. You can read the article & listen to the podcast here.
George Hewett
Twelve months ago, the community was all aboard George Hewett as one of the best midprice defenders. He became a legit premium, and only an injury impacted him doing even better. Losing defensive status has impacted his standing in the fantasy community, but it hasn’t impacted his role and scoring potential that he has.
While I’m not advocating for him as a pick in ‘classic,’ he’s still a genuine premium to pick in drafts. Every season this happens, a player loses DPP, and the community loses interest in them. If you’re lucky enough to land him on draft day, chances are you’ve got him below his market rate.
Alex Cincotta
The signing of Alex Cincotta as an SSP looks like a masterful addition to Carlton. He has settled in well to the Blues back six. His speed, clearance work, defensive pressure and vertical leap were displayed. He looks to have found the speed and tempo of AFL, and I believe he’s done enough to have won a debut in round one.
All preseason we’ve known that Blakes Acres will hold down one of the wings for Carlton. He was recruited for a purpose. But who’d get the other? Oliver Hollands has the skills, speed and smarts for this role. His connection between the other midfielders and the forward line will improve as he gets opportunities. A handful of marks and almost 20 touches means he’s shown that he more than ‘belongs’ at the level.
I’ve got him right in the mix for a round-one debut. And with Carlton playing in round one, the fantasy community will jump on him if he gets a debut. However, the need to lock away a midfield bench spot and not ‘miss a cow’ will be more of a driver rather than how good he has looked.
Lachie Cowan
Lachie Cowan is battling with Alex Cincotta to get the spot left by the injury to Zac Williams. We saw flashes of Cowan’s speed and skill. Carlton fans and the fantasy community should be excited about his potential in time. Based on this match, you’d have to say Alex has pulled ahead and should get the opportunity against the Tigers. The Blues cannot play them both unless another injury hits.
This was a crucial game for fantasy coaches. We had plenty of premiums and cash cows on show, and by the end of the game, a much clearer picture had been painted. Here’s my review of the St Kilda and Essendon practice match.
The preseason specialist. However, this felt a little different with a new coach in charge. Wood roamed the wing. Had one of the friendliest roles I can remember. Often plays a kick behind play, then pushes into the contest at a stoppage. So much to like in the hit-out. Maybe one for a sneaky late pick in a draft. Rowan Marshall – when he has the sole ruck duty, he is pure fantasy. You will be nervous after viewing this game if he isn’t in your starting plans.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
What a silky smooth mover. Shame he is mid only. He is odds on to gain def at some stage. Makes good decisions by foot and hand. He will only improve too as the year goes on. Definitely one for keepers.
Brad Crouch
Has always been able to find the ball. His body has been an issue previously but looked super fit. Not sure he is a salary option, but he has the role and very little CBA competition outside of Steele. The new game plan will suit his style too of being an extractor.
Jack Steele
His body shape has changed this off-season. The guy still loves a hug. I haven’t been huge on Steele this year due to the change of coach and game plan. If you were big on him before this game, nothing I saw would change your mind. The fact he played was prob enough.
Jack Bytel
Unfortunately, his stocks rose in this game due to the injury to Windhager. Had a very nice role when he got on the park. Also priced ok across the formats. If Windhager is out for a while, then Bytel looks like the beneficiary. Monitor.
Mattaes Phillipou
I reckon Ross loves this kid. He is a decent size and has a few tricks. Played more fwd than mid but didn’t look out of place. The DPP also will be handy. His job security looks solid.
Hunter Clark
He has the role but doesn’t find the ball enough. Hard to gauge what to expect out of Clark this year, but will improve as the year goes on and he gets more games under his belt.
He played across half-back. The Bombers looked for him at every opportunity in this game. Questionable if he can average enough to be a top-10 defender. It’s a tough line in defence. McGrath may be a solid option moving into the year proper. He should see a bit of ball this year.
Jordan Ridley
The intercepting Jordan Ridley is back. The Bomber backs shared the ball, and Ridley looked good throughout. Another sneaky option moving into round 1 esp in SC.
Zac Merrett
Just did Zerrett things with a minimum of fuss. May have played himself into a round one tag though. Buyer beware.
He didn’t look right at all in this game. He was in the guts much, and when he was couldn’t get his hands on it at all. Saw a pic post-game of ice strapped to his calf. Too risky now to even think about starting him. Pass.
Alwyn Davey
Alwyn started as a small forward but didn’t play like a small forward. Roamed the ground and looked very, very good. Welcome to round 1 Alwyn junior, and welcome to my team.
Jye Menzie
The forward rookie with the biggest job security probably did not let us down. Didnt hit the scoreboard in this game but did enough to earn his first full game in round one. Also a sneaky on-field option proposition depending on the opposition.
Finally, the games started and we got underway with the Magpies and the Hawks. Here’s my take on the game,
Tom Mitchell
If you were keen before there’s no reason not to be now. Played midfield and found a good mix of contested and uncontested footy. Within this Collingwood game style the Titch scoring of old won’t return, but he’s clearly an important part of how the Pies midfield set up as demonstrated by his CBA numbers (19 – third highest)
Darcy Cameron
A pretty invisible game despite what the numbers suggest. A positive here is that his split of the ruck was larger than Cox this week – roughly 60/40 in his favour. From R7 2022 Cameron had 56% of the ruck share for his 92 average, so we may see a similar split in 2023, though his scoring may be affected with an added tall in McStay coming into the side. For this reason, Cameron could potentially be a sub out candidate if the Pies feel they are too tall.
Taylor Adams
Played a decent bit up forward and could be a forward DPP candidate come R6. He looks super fit at the moment and a fit Adams always has a capacity to score, but the consistency may be lacking in this role.
Jack Crisp
Looks to be purely a midfielder now. Was relevant in a Buckley era Collingwood side, but will struggle to get up amongst the top midfielders to be worth using a starting pick on. With no chance of DPP, I’d be looking elsewhere.
Jordan De Goey
Played through the midfield and despite low TOG put up some impressive numbers. Would be worth serious consideration if he still had forward status, but as a mid only you’d need to be really confident in him – and even then I think his ceiling will be capped by the current Collingwood gamestyle of move the ball forward at all costs.
Nick Daicos
Was tagged by Finn Maginness and had to get creative with how he found the footy. It was a pretty tight tag so I tend to look at the positives in that he still managed 17 disposals and a modest 58 fantasy score, and you’d think he’d be better off for the experience…perhaps it’s lit a fire in his belly for R1. Still, this could be the beginning of a trend and Sam Mitchell has put the blueprint up on the wall for all the other clubs. Aside from this concern, when he was involved in the play he looked like the same Nick Daicos many coaches grew to love last year. I wouldn’t be hitting the panic button on this one.
Jai Newcombe
This kid is going to be a star. Every chance he takes another step in his fantasy potential as it looks like he’s locked down the main mid spot in the hawthorn engine room. The best fantasy players come into the comp with an ability to tackle, then learn to hunt the footy – and I think that sums up Newcombe well. It remains to be seen if he can find the footy consistently but I think this pick screams upside – the question is how much, and is he worth picking over other players priced similarly? I’ll leave that up to you as a reader because this one needs the eye test.
Cam Mackenzie
Lock him in on field for round 1. Classy, high footy IQ and uses the ball superbly. Couldn’t have shown any more.
James Sicily
Did as Sicily does – if you were keen before then he gave you no reason not to be now. You’ll get what you pay for here, and likely find some upside in games where the Hawks are uncompetitive. A slight flag would be the share of kick ins with Bramble, but it’s impossible to answer whether this’ll happen in the season proper.
Had the mid role and worked into it as the game went on. He looked good in there but is very much a sweeper so will be reliant on getting the ball fed out to him. I don’t think hawthorns engine room will be good enough to make him a worthwhile pick, but he does represent value at his price if you were bullish.
Fergus Greene
A seriously hard working and clever player. Ironically there’s a bit of Jack Gunston about him. A mature age player that knows how to position himself and find the goals…I’d be stashing him on the bench and be confident in him ticking over the cash, albeit he may be a slower burn than some other rookies. He’ll have rock solid job security though so this shouldn’t matter too much.
Dylan Moore
Didn’t attend a single centre bounce. This man is a specialist half forward and he’s extremely good at it. Unfortunately for fantasy in a poor hawks side I don’t think it’ll translate to consistent scoring.
Fremantle and Port Adelaide battled it out at Fremantle Oval on Thursday night in conditions which had sunshine, rain, and the Fremantle Doctor pumping out some serious wind. As always, these factors need to be considered when trying to draw conclusions from players scores.
Andrew Brayshaw
Brayshaw continued where finished last season and looked phenomenal. He had a great build throughout the game and with Fremantle keeping their tight midfield mix he will continue to score. Just an outright jet of a player and certainly one to consider for your round 1 teams.
Caleb Serong
Another staple of the midfield mix, Serong was another who impressed me. However, he couldn’t find as much space as his counterpart during the game. He could be one who jumps out of the gate early with the relatively easy start the Dockers have in 2023, but the competition at his price point is there.
Sean Darcy
No Jackson, no worries. Darcy looks leaner and fitter as he worked the Port Adelaide ruckmen around the ground with 38 hit-outs. Most impressively, he had 8 tackles and 4 marks. If he continues to put up similar numbers to these with Jackson in the team, he could be a sneaky premium Ruck option.
Hayden Young
For those who were unimpressed by Young last week, the game this week didn’t do much to alleviate those concerns. Young struggled to get much ball expect for in the 3rd where he got a lot more involved. I don’t have as much concerns as others though and believe this is just a blip based on conditions, matchups, and team structure. Still one to strongly consider for starting squads.
Nat Fyfe
Fyfe played out of the goal square for the majority of the game and didn’t look out of place. He kicked a goal in each of the first three quarters and showed his aerial abilities. You could do worse for a cheap option in SuperCoach and Dream Team, but there is no midfield time there for him in 2023 unless an injury occurs to one of the core four.
Liam Henry
With wing spots vacant for Fremantle, Henry put his hand up to be in the frame for a round 1 spot. His hard work impressed me as he ran on the outside wing, dropping right back when the ball was switched. Fremantle wings have scored decently in the past so I wouldn’t be crossing his name off quite yet.
Sam Sturt
Another 200k FWD rookie who could see regular games. Sturt has only played 4 games since being picked in the 2018 draft for the Dockers, but could be a sneaky bench option for us. Worked into the game well as a hybrid forward.
Connor Rozee
High TOG, High CBAs, High Scoring. The game from Rozee is what you want to see from someone you hope to break into the top echelon of forwards in fantasy. He showed he deserves to be in the conversation with the other big forwards for 2023.
Zac Butters
Butters was one who struggled to get involved for the Power. He was thrown around the ground quite a lot and didn’t get the CBA mix that you would have hoped for if you were eager to start him. Perhaps eased into the game after his AC joint setbacks last week. He probably fits in as one to monitor as an upgrade candidate through the season.
Port Adelaide were outright bullied in the Ruck through the game and Lycett struggled to perform aside from the last quarter. One to monitor with the continued struggles we are having to pick a second ruck, but alarm bells are certainly there.
Jason Horne-Francis
Impossible to miss with his high socks, Horne-Francis was also used substantially through the Power’s midfield mix and had flashes of quality. No doubts that he will be a premium at some point in the future, but is 2023 the year that happens?
On a beautiful Thursday evening in Ipswich, the reigning premiers Geelong took on the Lions at Brighton Homes Arena. We’ve got plenty of fantasy-relevant names to discuss, so let’s check out my game review.
Everything you wanted to see from Josh Dunkley was on full display tonight. The midfield role was evident. He won centre clerances; he tackled, and when he did drift forward was involved in impacting the scoreboard and did it all without breaking out of second gear. Keep the game simple; start Dunkley. I can only foresee an injury as the reason he isn’t one of the top-scoring forwards in 2023.
Cam Rayner
The halfback role that was mooted in the preseason eventuated for Cam Rayner. His speed and class were on display. He’ll share his time through this line with Daniel Rich, Conor McKenna and Kiedean Coleman. On paper, that’s a powerful rebounding core. All can be elite with the ball by foot. The challenge is they’ll potentially clip the scoring capacity of each other and make it very hard to own any of them across all formats, not just in classic but drafts and daily fantasy.
Will Ashcroft
Is Will Ashcroft as special a talent as he’s been touted? Oh, you bet he is! This kid is going to be something special. The perfect combination of power & precision, speed and smarts. He will be an elite player in the AFL very soon. So lock him into your side. While he might not his the scoring ceiling years of Sam Walsh and Nick Daicos from their debut seasons, I wonder if he’ll be far behind.
Lachie Neale
This a perfect reminder from Lachie Neale to the SuperCoach community. Sleep on him at your peril. 31 touches, a goal, all while barely breaking a sweat. The newly crowned skipper will again lead from the front and through the midfield in 2023. He’ll cop a few tags throughout the season, but we know by season’s end, he’ll be among the top SuperCoach scorers again.
Darcy Wilmot
Darcy spent his time running across the wing, and while he didn’t get a high volume of opportunity with the ball, he did look composed and functioned well within the Lions structure. He’s no lock inside the best 22, but I’d be surprised if he isn’t named in round one.
Hugh McCluggage
On our most recent podcast, Kane articulated a point beautifully. He stated that practice games like these often suit the more outside and athletically gifted players. It’s often due to the need for more defensive pressure and intensity. So it’s no surprise that a player with Hugh McCluggae’s skill had a good game. Both teams were barely getting out of first gear.
Last week Jack Bowes was the standout that the fantasy community jumped on, and I suspect it’ll be Tanner Bruhn this week. The former Giant had plenty of midfield opportunities and looked composed with the ball. I’m not convinced he’ll get the volume of midfield opportunities in the season proper when they have their full complement of midfielders available. But he’s a decent late-round selection within your drafts.
Esava Ratugolea
I liked the look of Esava Ratugolea. He held the key position spot in the backline well but didn’t just look to defend. Instead, he used his athleticism and strength to impose himself on every opportunity to intercept he could. It’s worth noting that in this match, Sam DeKoning did play predominantly as a key position forward in the second half. I would’ve loved to see how the Cats and Stewart would use these two in the backline for a match. Regardless, it looks probable the Cats will give him a go in round one, and for DreamTeam and SuperCoach, his RUC/FWD status will make him a viable option for us. Copped a decent knock to the head the cut him open, so did spend plenty of time off the field in the third term.
Tom Stewart
Can I cntrl C & cntrl V the sentiments from Lachie Neale and place them here for Tom Stewart? He was exactly what we have known and loved about him over his career. He found space to chop off the lions movements inside forward 50. He intercepted beautifully and was ever-reliable with the ball in hand. Over the season, he will have multiple 150+ scores, but that’s not in doubt. The question coaches will continue to process is whether I should start him or make room for him as an upgrade.
As Tanner listed above, I liked the look of Max Holmes. You can see why the Cats rate him so highly internally. He’s a clever footballer who makes good decisions consistently. I’d be looking at him if he retained MID/FWD DPP this season. But with the volume of strong other stepping-stone midfielders, he looks destined to be a daily fantasy and draft pick.
As we enter a new AFL season, existing keeper league coaches are entrenched in list management decisions. The trade decisions and delisting discussions have kept coaches busy over the summer. However, some keeper leagues are a brand new and exciting format of fantasy footy, and coaches have some significant decisions with the coveted first pick in the draft. Do they draft who’s dominating now? Invest in some potential future stars? Or somewhere in between? Drafting philosophies of keepers is something we’ll unpack over the preseason. But for now, here are the players I believe are in the mix for the number one pick for a brand-new keeper league.
Sam Walsh is a genuine candidate for pick-one in a keeper league, even with off-season back surgery. The positive is that you will no longer have to pay the price for him there. Why? Simple, because you’re not just picking him for the 2023 season in isolation.
Over his first four seasons of AFL, he’s missed just two matches but has delivered seasonal averages of 92.3, 96.6 (adjusted), 108.9 & 103.3. To have achieved it before he was 23 is absurd. Walsh might never make it to the territory of the 115+ seasonal average, but he’s one of the safest 105 midfielders for the next eight seasons.
Had Walsh not had a stalled preseason and potentially missed the first few rounds of the season due to an injury, he’d be locked for a top-three selection. The upside here is people might be able to get him in the second round if people baulk at the few games he’ll miss.
From the moment we saw Nick Daicos play at the elite level, we knew that the scoring capacity we’d seen junior level would eventually translate into AFL.
Last year he scored seven tons, three of them over 115, including his career-high 147 against the Crows. To go with those tons was five additional 80+. On top of these, he had six more scores over 80. Often first-year players see a scoring slide as the season goes along. However, that wasn’t the case for Daicos. In his first eleven games, he averaged 80 & in his final eleven games, he averaged 93.6.
Eventually, Nick will move into the midfield. But I expect his movement to be more gradual this year. The arrival of Tom Mitchell adds further depth to that midfield. Daicos became the general of that backline alongside Darcy Moore. For what the Pies might gain in the midfield by moving him up the ground more, they could lose just as much in their ball movement rebounding out of defence.
Regardless, his proven scoring output, elite junior numbers, and age make him a highly valuable acquisition for keepers.
Clayton Oliver might never have a season where he’s the highest-averaging player in keepers. But that’s not why he should be in contention for the #1 pick. Instead, it’s his durability and consistency that make him so appealing.
Last year he scored a ton in 81% of matches. That’s seventeen triple-digit games, with seven ticking over the 120 markers. It included 136, 139, 146 & 151. Alongside this, he had two additional scores over 90, and just once all year did his scoring drop below 80 (68.) His average of 112.5 was the second highest in the format, with only Rory Laird going higher, and he finished seventh for total points. He was only 110 points from coming first. Had he played every game and scored an average, you’d be talking about Oliver holding the #1 points mantle.
Unbelievably he’s still only 25, so while he might not be the youngest on this list, he’s still got plenty of premier scoring over the next 5-6 seasons. After six consecutive seasons of averaging 100+ and coming off a career season, you’ll feel safe as houses if you land Clarry.
The love for Andy Brayshaw in keeper leagues is obvious. This kid is already a star and arguably will only get better. He scored thirteen tons across the 2022 season; nine went over 120, and six were above 130. It featured 141, 144 & 181 as his three highest scores. Alongside this high volume and frequency of tons was a further four scores between 90-99, and his scoring dipped below 80 in just two matches all year. By the year’s conclusion, he had the third-highest average going at 112.3, and was ranked number one for points! A superb achievement.
2022 isn’t just an isolated one good season, he’s been building his scoring over the past three seasons, and in 2021 he gave you his first season where he averaged 100+ across all formats. During the 2021 season, he scored thirteen tons; five were above 120 and two higher than 135, including his best of 156. In addition, he had three more scores between 90-99. That’s 80% of his 90 or above scores last year. From a scoring basement, he had three scores under 70. All of these were when he copped a heavy tag. Closing out the season, he averaged 104.2
What makes Brayshaw such a good player is he scores in every column. He’s not dependent on just possessions or tackles to score well. Additionally, he has an elite workrate and endurance. This combination ensures he’s always in the game, even when the tags come. By the end of 2023, he’ll still be 23 and has eight years of topline performances. You can’t go wrong picking Brayshaw.
Bailey Smith flew out of the blocks for keeper coaches last season with a 154 against the reigning premiers, Melbourne. By the time the 2022 season was done, he’d scored eleven tons from sixteen matches, including 131, 147 & the already mentioned 154. He also had two additional scores of 90+ and only fell under the 90 mark in just three games. In 81% of games last year, he scored 92 or above.
It was what he did between rounds 1-10, where he averaged 118.4, that has keeper coaches the most excited. At just 22 with scoring potential like that, he’s already got the capacity to be one of the best premium picks in the game. Throw in that he’s got the opportunity to take on a greater inside midfielder role with the departure of Josh Dunkley, and it’s seemingly all upside.
Last year Bailey gained forward status, and if you played using AFLFantasy or Sportdeck as your drafting platform, you got an absolute bonus getting a guy with top-eight midfield potential. You might get lucky and see it again in 2023 or another year.
Not many players have the proven scoring of being able to go back to back in averaging 110 or higher. Callum Mills is one of those players. At 25 years of age
Last year he was exceptional. His average of 111 was the fourth highest in the format. Higher than Touk Miller, Jack Steele and Zach Merrett. While he ranked second overall for total points. He was a mere 30 points off dethroning Andrew Brayshaw. He scored fourteen tons over the season, seven over 120, five over 130 and his two top scores of the season were 156 & 162. Alongside this elite, scoring was a phenomenal basement with just three scores under 80 all season and just one under 75.
This was done coming off the back of 2021, where he also averaged over 110. if he can hold his role as a primary centre-bounce midfielder, then Mills has shown the scoring potential to be the best player in the game.
One of the key things I always look for when picking early in keeper leagues isn’t just for players with a high ceiling or a low-scoring floor. I am looking for someone who has the capacity for both. This is the appeal with Jack Steele. Jack isn’t dependent on a high volume of possessions or even marks to score well. Instead, his reliable basement of tackles provides the framework for his strong weekly scores.
Despite an injury setback last year, Steele’s overall season performance was still strong. He scored fourteen tons four his eighteen games. That was a ton in 77.7% of matches last year. Additionally, he delivered five scores over 120, including 121, 124, 130, 139 & 154. Alongside these tons were two additional scores of 90+, and in just two matches, did his scoring fails to get above that 90 marker. He finished the season with an average of 110.4, leaving him ranked as the fifth-best player in the game.
It’s more of a ‘now’ play, given Steele is 27 years old, but remember, a premiership in the first two seasons of a keeper league still counts. Don’t get so infatuated with ‘future’ success when you can still have it now.
In the vein of Steele above, the selection of Touk Miller with your first pick is placing your keeper side with the focus of being in premiership contention from the leagues commencement.
In 2022 he averaged 109.8, comprising fifteen tons and nine scores over 120. They include 132, 133, 134, 140 & 147. Alongside this are three additional scores of 90+, and only once last season did he drop his scoring below 80. As a result, he ended the season with the seventh-best average in the entire format. And speaking of ending the season over the final ten games, he went at an average of 112.
In 2021, the potential of Touk was fulfilled. He ranked first by average in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and third for total points. Good for a guy that missed a match. He scored seventeen tons; thirteen were above 120, while a monster six were over 140. His season in SuperCoach was arguably even better. He scored eighteen tons from his twenty-one matches; an insane thirteen were above 120, ten over 130 and seven scores of 140+. He was one of the most dependable VC/C options in 2021. He had sixteen consecutive tons to end the year and was ranked sixth for total points.
If you believe Touk will score closer to what he did in 2021 and the back half of 2022, then he needs to be in consideration for the top pick of a keeper league. If you think he’ll hold his scoring, let alone regress, he’s someone to look at either later in the first round or hope he gets back to you on the turn.
Josh Dunkley
Only two players in this top ten list have position eligibility other than an exclusive midfield. One is Nick Daicos, and the other is Josh Dunkley. Throughout the preseason, I’ve advocated for Dunks to be the #1 guy picked in seasonal drafts. However, given his MID/FWD status will only last for this year, I can understand the sentiment behind picking him at one for a keeper league.
Last season he scored eighteen tons. That’s four games all year that he didn’t hit triple digits. Six of those tons were 120 or higher, including five over 130. He had just two scores below 80 all year on his way to averaging 108.7. He ranked eighth for averages and sixth for points
Josh should get a 65% MID-FWD, but he doesn’t have to be that high to be a top score. What’s great about Dunkley is he can skip bulk CBAs to score well anyway. For example, in round seven against Essendon last year, he attended only 23% of centre bounces but still posted a 130+ score across the formats. Two weeks later, he scored over 110 with just 24% CBAs, and a further two weeks beyond that, he scored over 135 and attended just 32% of centre bounces.
Choosing Dunkley is a ‘now’ pick, not because of his age, but because you’re valuing his positional allocation that might not be there in coming seasons.
KEEPER RANKINGS?
During the offseason, Kane & I ranked the top 50 players for keeper leagues into eight different tiers. For just a couple of dollars a month, you can access these podcasts & a ton of other great content.
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