If you believe in changing your team mid AAMI community series, then this clash would’ve given your fantasy footy apps a workout. With premiums delivering big numbers, we got alot to take away from the Bulldogs and Demons game.
Bontempelli
He’s not bad at football hey? Just remember he did the exact same thing in last year during the preseason.
Macrae
He also goes ok at this game, for those who hadn’t noticed yet.
Dunkley
Ok let me elaborate on this one because there have been questions raised – by his own coach no less – about Dunkley’s current footballing ability. So nevermind the score and the fact he played mids, the key thing here is that he played mids with a clearly defined run-with role and he thrived on it. Playing accountable means he plays, and he plays near a man to cuddle. Double figure tackle numbers in preseason is an excellent display which makes me (and hopefully Bevo) very happy.
Daniel
Rocketed out of the gates but slowed down as he copped a little more attention. Expect him to cop a lot this year. Depending on whether you were keen on him or not, confirmation bias is easily found in one of the two halves of today’s match.
Martin & English
Double-teamed Gawn and nullified influence. Martin looks like he has a new lease on life while English did a pretty good impression of a key forward at times. The two will give a lot of teams a lot of grief in the ruck this year, meaning the Dogs aren’t necessarily giving up bulk points in that department like they have in recent history. Given English played a lot forward, keep in mind that forwards might score well against Melbourne but perhaps less so against other teams. Handy if he does gain DPP in the formats which allow that.
Hunter & Smith
On the eye test both were pushed out of the midfield a lot tonight; Hunter to the half-forward line and Smith to the wing. Both did a lot of damage in their respective roles. Does this allow Treloar to slot straight into the mid rotations?
Scott
Not often we get a bottom priced 25 year old rookie in the mix for rd 1. This is exactly what we got. Scott didn’t do his chances any harm at all in this game. He kicked a couple of goals, rotated through the flanks. He obviously was rookied (from the dogs VFL squad) for a role.
McNeil
Played the pressure small fwd role through the game. Wasn’t prolific but did snag himself a goal. This game he didn’t bang the door down but will stay in contention for early games.
Mopped up everything that went into the forward line that didn’t go through the big sticks. Unfortunately went off very sore after a marking contest and missed the last part of the game, so monitor news in the coming days.
Gawn
Dominated the ruck but had little of his trademark influence around the ground. As noted above, the Martin and English combo will annoy a lot of big men this year.
Harmes
Not the best player, but maybe the most enthusiastic. Spent a lot of time dancing without finding a partner or a possession and there must be questions about a midfield role once Brayshaw Viney & Oliver return. Does he go back to tagging, or back to the backline, or back to the VFL?
Petracca
Barely got out of first gear but got well acquainted with Dunkley for awhile. No reason not to pick him if you were already keen.
Langdon
Ok yes I know, but hear me out. If this week is anything to go by (and that does remain to be seen, it is a small sample size after all), it does appear as though this is the sort of year where running half backs who can create space and overlap and nail the 45 kick are getting a lot of easy marks and possessions. And that’s what Langdon did. Make of that what you will.
It was a one sided affair in the mini showdown. The Power controlled the tempo of the game and, as a result, dominated the possession and the scoreboard. Here’s my review of the AAMI Community series match between the Power and the Crows.
Rory Laird
Confirmed his midfield role. If you like him then lock him in. Will be a top 3 defender.
Rory Sloane
Sloane looked okay, but a veteran like him and a player of his ability doesn’t break a sweat in preseason games anyway. Personally, I think age is catching up to him, and his midfield rotation may become volatile as the season goes on if he’s on your side though he only needs to have a good first 6 weeks.
Jordan Butts
Took 5 marks as a key position defender. Won’t be a large scorer but the ball will be in his area plenty. With thin defensive stocks Butts has put his hand up as an option.
James Rowe
Got involved in the play and pushed high up the ground to find the footy. Lock for R1 and great job security. Scoring a question mark.
Reilly O’Brien
Took things easy. If Crows get belted every week, he’ll be attending plenty of centre bounces as the Crows #1 ruckman.
Lachie Sholl
Quiet first half but scored 60 of his fantasy points after half time. Nicks will look to use a young crow as he pumps experience into a young Adelaide group. Awkward price, though, and Adelaide will not be a fantasy friendly enough team to warrant it.
Andy McPherson
Quality player and found plenty of the footy in adelaides defensive 50. Another that’s awkwardly priced as I believe he’s more of a stopper than accumulator.
Brodie Smith
Took the kick-ins and the Crows continually looked to use him and his booming leg to gain metres forward.
A very good, contested game that doesn’t always necessarily translate to fantasy scoring. This game did but I’m not sure wines has the consistent ceiling or upside to consider as a starting option
Allir Aliir
Took intercept marks at Will and given how thin defensive stocks are could actually be an option at his price. Hard to do it though with how poor Crows I50s were and not playing Adelaide every week. Port picking both Jonas and Clurey does point to Aliir being there intercept marking defender but scoring will be volatile and role could rotate based on opponent.
Karl Amon
Will go to the next level in 2021. Attended more centre bounces than previous years which has been the messaging out of port Adelaide throughout the preseason as well. Really interesting pick that has a lot of upside – but it’s unnecessarily risky with other safer options priced similarly or less.
Zak Butters
Will see a large uptick in centre bounces and being high up the ground. Fills every stat line and his inclusion into the port midfield could see him breakout in 2021. He’s a high impact per possession player, and his best footy performances may not always translate in fantasy though. He’s a great pod to consider starting this year.
Miles Bergman
Plenty of uncontested marks were up for grabs today, and Bergman was a beneficiary of that. Looked at home across half back and extremely composed with the footy. Likely to play R1 on that performance.
Orazio Fantasia
He had extremely high PPM as he scored 73 in the first half before being rested in the second. Handy DPP of F/D and a low salary cap price make him an intriguing option to start this year. Scoring will be volatile, but he does have a little bit of fantasy game about him.
Lachie Jones
Ready to play but won’t be a large accumulator. He won’t score enough to warrant his price but he will be an excellent player one day
Connor Rozee
Port have confirmed he will be having footy surgery. No longer an option
Dan Houston
Another ACS hype player. Took advantage of playing a bottom 4, young side, in a preseason game. If you were already keen on him, it’s a great confirmation of your own thoughts; however, if he wasn’t on your radar before, he shouldn’t be now.
What a big day of footy with three state based rivalry clashes. The first of them went down at Giants Stadium. From cash cows to stepping stones and premiums, we’ve got plenty of fantasy relevant players to consider from this game. Here’s my AAMI Community series review of the Swans Vs Giants.
Callum Mills
Got that midfield role though the game, so tick! However, just because he will get this role, it doesn’t automatically translate to fantasy scoring. He should be good, but is it top 6 defensive good? Those intercept marks and possessions will disappear from his score build, so he’ll need to recreate other scoring avenues.
Chad Warner
If he wasn’t on your cash cow radar before the game, he must be now. Split his time between the midfield and forward line and showed he belonged at the elite level.
Sam Wicks
He won’t get 9 tackles in every game he plays. That said, Wicks provided get defensive pressure on the ball carrier. Additionally he got into space and was a dangerous option. At his price point I like some others ahead of him, but he’s showed plenty in this match.
Errol Gulden
In a keeper league, he’s someone I really like. He’s a crafty player with neat skills and has the ability to impact the scoreboard. Having him alongside papley at the club for the next 10 years will be an exciting small-medium forward setup. Kicked a goal, set up some others and added some speed to the forward line.
Braeden Campbell
Was kept busy keeping mindful of Toby Greene. I have no questions he’ll play round one, especially with Callum Mills’ move into the midfield. He’s a beautiful kick and used it well everytime he got near it. Is he worth the premium price tag? Ultimately, the number of cheaper available cows will determine how many pay for him.
Isaac Heeney
Got through the game unscathed and played his regular midfield and forward split role. If you were keen before today, you were given little reason to change the decision.
James Rowbottom
The future of the Sydney midfield was on display today with James playing a central role. The majority of his possessions were contested and he was skilfull enough to finish up with two goals.
He’s not for salary capo formats, but in drafts especially in keeper leagues he’s well worth a list spot. The kid looks like he’ll be a player!
He’ll be the talk of the fantasy footy town today, given his performance. 31 touches, 11 contested possessions, + a goal. This is exactly the sort of game we can expect from him. When fit, Taranto is a serious fantasy player. He split his time between midfield and forward today.
Josh Kelly
Just cruised around in first gear most of the game. Still picked up a lazy 13 contested possessions and showed his class when needed. He’s a fantasy jet, but the common player won’t jump on after this match given he didn’t tear the game apart.
Kieran Briggs
Played through the ruck for the majority of the game. With Matt Flynn taking a rest, Briggs certainly took his opportunity by the scruff of the neck. He crashed in and made a contest. Whether it’s enough to dethrone Flynn or get a debut alongside him is something I’m uncertain of.
Stephen Coniglio
Subbed off during the third quarter. While he was out on the field, he was an influential presence in the midfielder and won his fair share of clearances. He might not be a top 8 midfielder in 2021, but I think he’s set to go between 100-105 across all formats.
Harry Perryman
With no Lachie Whitfiled early in the season the Giants looked to Harry to provide some run, skill and drive from defensive 50. He’s probably more draft relevant, but is certainly worth noting.
Isaac Cumming
Whenever it wasn’t Perryman, Isaac would get the ‘give and go’ handball from his teammates. He should generate some cash, but with some defender rookies starting to emerge he might not be needed in our starting squads.
Tanner Bruhn
He won’t kick four goals every week. His 11 disposal game was impressive, and he’s all but locked himself in a round 1 debut after an effort like that.
Tom Green
Got his fair share of midfield opportunities. I don’t think he’ll get enough midfield time to push the premium scoring territory.
What a weird game of AFL. Geelong spent the vast majority of it either unwilling or unable to apply much defensive structure. At the same time, Essendon was playing as if they had 4 premiership points available. Regardless, there was plenty to take away from the AAMI Community Series clash between the Cats and Bombers.
Patrick Dangerfield
All you wanted to see from Danger in this match was getting through it pain and problem free. Mission accomplished. The former Brownlow Medalist was a prolific part of the Geelong midfield when he was on the ground. If Paddy was already in your starting squad, you’d have no reasons to question that choice. However, those without him currently might have a few nervous nights sleep. He looks fit and ready to dominate through the Geelong midfield again.
Jeremy Cameron
He took his time to build into the game, but with two second quarter goals, Jezza showed glimpses of his brilliance. This was his first competitive hit out for his new side, so it was no surprise to see he and Tom Hawkins occasionally get in the way of each other. Both he and his Cats will be better for the run.
If you were keen before tonight, then there was nothing from this game to suggest to cool your interest in him.
Shaun Higgins
Subbed out of the game at 3/4 time, but his class through the midfield and inside forward 50 was evident. If he maintains this split role, he should be gain himself a MID/FWD eligibility and become a valuable forward commodity in drafts formats of AFLFantasy & UltimateFooty.
Jordan Clark
Floated around playing in a vairety of roles and ended the match as the leading metres gained player in the game. He displayed some of his line breaking speed and took the odd kick out whenever Stewart couldn’t.
At under $250k in SuperCoach, he’s a genuine option if named round against the Crows. In this match, he showed his workrate, improved the defensive stuff and his ability to drive the ball forward. With minimal defensive cash cows with job security, it’s players like this we need to consider.
Tom Atkins
This one is more for draft coaches, but the human moustache has thrived in his new role off half-back. Gaining defensive eligibility in UltimateFooty and AFLFantasy is a certainty if this role continues. He got into dangerous positions across the backline and won plenty of the ball in the cats high possession game style. Certainly worth a late round flyer if positional changes are on,
Tom Stewart
It was business as usual for the defensive general. Yet again, he was the primary mover of the ball for kick-ins for the Cats from the defence. His teammates still look to him to control the play’s tempo, and barring an injury; he’ll be right in the mix for being a top 6 defender in 2021.
If before this match you were a Jye Caldwell truther then tonight’s game would only further have established that view. It’s clear, at Essendon he’s got that centre bounce heavy midfield role he never would’ve got at GWS.
Conversely, if you were still skeptical, not of the role but of his scoring potential then he’s probably not changed your mind tonight either.
Zach Merrett
Open match, low defensive pressure from the opposition and plenty of midfield minutes = a prime Zac Merrett style of game.
Harrison Jones
I was impressed with this kid. I think in time, he’ll provide a great marking target for the club. Even though he’s undersized physically, he still competes and throws his body around. He took a ripping aerial grab late in the game. I think he’s done enough to secure a round one debut.
Alec Waterman
He came into the game late, was only present for the final quarter. You can read this from one of two lenses. The first is an optimistic perspective and that the dons where wanting manage his workload and look at giving others a go in the forward structure. The other is more pessimistic that potential a forward line of Cale Hooker and Peter Wright the Dons have room for one of Waterman and Jones.
Dyson Heppell
The halfback role is there, but I’m not convinced the scoring will be. And while Heppell does have the halfback gig, he’s not going to be the primary mover. The club based off tonight will either look to get Hind’s hands to rebound and run or allow Ridley to be the general with his foot skills.
I’ve had him on my side at various times of the preseason in all formats. But for now, I think we’ve got better scoring options at comparable prices. Sorry Dyson, your getting replaced!
Nick Hind
He was impressive with his run and carry off half-back for the first three quarters of the game. However, at three quarter time, he was subbed out of the game with a shoulder injury. He’s likely to be among the first to gain a new position, and in draft leagues especially, he’s a nice late flyer option.
Jordan Ridley
The role and the scoring trend we all came to know and love in 2020 appears to be carrying through into this year. He’s the clubs preferred kick in candidate and is still one of the best interceptors in the league. He’s a safe top 10 defenders in SuperCoach and right around the mark in AFLFantasy.
Darcy Parish
Another one that’s probably more draft relevant than classic formats, but Parish was impressive tonight. He played through the midfield, was clever and tight, and would then work hard to push into space for link-up possessions. Hopefully, the Bombers keep him in this role. He’s got the potential to be a fantasy performer if he does.
Ned Cahill
Worked his way into the game, and provided some drive late especially once Hind went off injured. He won’t be a great scoring cash cow, but he’ll be a pulse if we get desperate in our forward lines.
Nik Cox
Floated between playing a forward and defensive role. No doubt the Bombers will try to get plenty of games into him, but don’t expect a lot of points as he’s a key position player. His DEF/FWD DPP is probably more helpful than the actual scoring or cash generation he brings.
If you expect me (Rids) to put scores and stats into this, you have clicked on the wrong review. This review is my thoughts and opinions from watching the game. If you want stats and scores, then use google.
Tom Phillips
He had a slightly different role to what I was expecting entering this game. I thought I would see him running up and down a wing, gathering possessions at will. Instead, he was on the ball a lot. I was right, though, with the gathering possessions at will.
The important thing to remember here is that this was a Hawk midfield with no Tom Mitchell and no JOM, so I expect Phillips to find himself back out to the wing more often than not. Having said that, though, it is always good to add some strings to the bow.
He was everywhere and ran the game out well. If he played North every week, he could very well be the best forward in all formats for 2021. The kid can play and needs to be considered.
Jacob Koschitzke
Kicked a bag full of goals which is nice. Will play rd 1. Lock that in now. Th best thing about his game is he actually played on a solid defender in Corr. Finally a def rookie option has emerged! His defensive efforts in the forward line also caught the eye
Ben McEvoy
He is a serious option as a ruck 2, especially if Ceglar doesn’t get named round 1. Played plenty of ruck, then rested forward. Massive watch awaits on round 1 teams now. Damon Greaves – draft option, but this kid finds the footy. If he plays, then he will score. It is exactly what they say about life and taxes and death etc. One occurs, then the other will.
Connor Downie
Shocking hair on the kid! Sat on a wing and looked at home. He has a ready made body for AFL footy. He will debut in rd 1. Lock that in now. He is also an on field rookie option across all the formats.
Tyler Brockman
Started the game with a bang with 3 first qtr goals. Super quick and tackles which is great news. Another who will likely debut rd 1 (Clarko said as much before the game) Also has DPP so very handy.
That doesnt look right. That is right… it is Dom Tyson. Been a while since I have seen him play. He moved well and looked like the Dom Tyson who played so very well at the Melbourne footy club a few years back. This guy needs to be considered. Not sure you want 2 of Heppell and Tyson starting in your teams but Tyson did everything to be considered in this game.
Jaidyn Stephenson
He is very outside but because of his pace he outruns so many others on the field. He might actually be an ok option as a mid priced forward this year. He is a footballer. Silky smooth type. If you liked him before this game then no reason to jump off.
Jack Ziebell
Hmmmm. Just hmmmm. He is big and slow and clumsy. He also took kick ins and played the half back role we have heard so much about. The best news is he is very cheap across the formats minus AF. It will turn you grey watching him though so try and make the coin quickly and urn him into someone that is fun to watch play footy. He will impact McDonald scoring though as his teammates try to look for him (no idea why as he isnt really clean by foot).
North Rookies
Powell is fantasy. Just start him on the field. Lazarro will be a player but not right away. Phillips is a while away. Needs a few runs under his belt. Stay away even if named early. Atu still forgets to try and get the ball in a game. Lachie Young was solid enough but his hair was in a bun so it is a no for me.
Jy Simpkin
Ccan play. Sometimes forgets he has feet and handballs too many times. But I like him. Did nothing to not select him if you were already keen. I have gone a little cold but it had nothing to do with this game.
Luke Davies-Uniacke
He’s starting to look like the junior LDU. I love watching how he gets thru traffic. I would suggest he is a draft only option this year, but he may go bang and surprise!
Overall, North deserves to be a heavy favourite for the spoon. They might cop a hiding or 2 thru the year. Be wary picking too many of them.
This was a different game to last night, but there was plenty of entertainment and fantasy interest. Richmond jumped out of the blocks, but Collingwood lifted before the scoreboard got away from them. The game’s intensity levels were up and down, and it did feel like a practice game for the most part, but the final 10 minutes were thrilling as the Tigers just held on. Plenty of talking points, so let’s get to it.
Jordan De Goey: A man that has been dubbed a potential Dusty 2.0 may finally be able to honour that comparison this season. De Goey was huge tonight, playing up the field and impacting the play all over the ground. His numbers matched his impact with 27 touches, 11 marks, 5 clearances and 2 goals. He sent a scare through the Collingwood camp late coming off the ground looking proppy but thankfully returned unharmed. He’s ready and will be a worthy selection this year.
Brodie Grundy: The big fella didn’t look all that interested for most of the night and had his hands full with Nankervis early. He was more involved late once Nank had hit the showers and will surely show more urgency once the real stuff starts. The main concern here was how functional Collingwood looked with Grundy, Cameron and Cox all in the same line up. Grundy is still the main man in the middle when the game is on the line but honestly, it’s hard to see him recreating his 2018-19 scoring if the three talls all play.
Jack Crisp and Brayden Maynard: I’ve lumped these two together because they both look like playing the same fantasy friendly roles as last year and are both viable options once again down back. They had 29 and 24 touches respectively and were both frequently involved in link up plays exiting the defensive 50. Maynard did finish the game with ice on his lower leg after a nasty knock but should be fine.
Jeremy Howe: It was great to see the high flyer return from the serious knee injury he suffered last year and get through unscathed. He played the familiar role off half back and looked pretty good for his 20 touches in only 67% game time. He only took 3 marks but showed great spirit in one play that stood out. Running out from full back, Howe kicked the ground instead of the ball and turned it over. He chased the ball down and laid a big tackle winning a free and showing the old legs are good to go for another season. Could be a shrewd pick.
Isaac Quaynor: Just when you think Collingwood have enough run and dash off half back, this guy puts in a performance like this. Quaynor was clean, composed and put himself in all the right places helping to repel many Richmond attacks. He finished with 23 touches and, entering his third season, is primed for a breakout season.
Brayden Sier: On our watchlist since Treloar’s departure, Sier really grew into the game tonight and showed plenty to suggest he could play good consistent footy in Collingwood’s midfield. He contributed across all four quarters and finished with 22 touches and 4 tackles. The role is his for the taking and if he can take it with both hands, is very tastily priced.
Scott Pendlebury: It’s just year in, year out with this guy so it was no surprise that he was huge again tonight. 24 touches and a game high 9 tackles for the fantasy legend and yet another 100 plus average across the formats is on the cards.
John Noble: Yet another decent defender option for the Pies and a good game from him tonight too with 20 touches, 5 marks and 4 tackles. Unfortunately, I think there’s too many ahead of him but a great choice in Drafts.
Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox: We’re not going to pick these guys, but their output is important because of the impact on Grundy as noted earlier. They were huge in the second half, both finishing with 3 goals apiece, and were crucial in Collingwood nearly pinching the win.
Steele Sidebottom: Yikes, last year’s number 1 forward went off early with what we are being told is calf awareness. How could you not already be aware of your calves? Anyway, fingers crossed it was just precautionary, especially for those that nabbed him early in Drafts.
Josh Daicos: There’s been a bit of hype around this son of a gun this pre-season but tonight he didn’t justify it. Matched up on Dusty early gave him an opportunity to learn from the best and although I wouldn’t put a line through him, I’ve cooled on him.
Oliver Henry and Trey Ruscoe: Both showed signs at times but if I had to pick one for round 1, it’d be Henry. He only had 6 touches, but his 5 marks showed he has good awareness for a kid, and with the injuries mounting, is a good chance to debut against the Bulldogs. Ruscoe was ok in patches but was a bit too fumbly and I’d be surprised if he keeps his spot.
Jayden Short: Goodness me, where did that come from?? If that doesn’t shout top 6 defenders this year, then I don’t know what does. I don’t want to overreact to a preseason game but Short looked like short circuiting the stats machine towards the end there. 43 touches, 35 of which were kicks, and 12 marks are crazy numbers. His AF/RDT score of 171 was the second highest in a pre-season match in the last 10 years. Once we’ve calmed down, though, we need to work out if this was just a bit of March madness or is Short about to step into the elite fantasy category?
The short answer is both. He has been building his fantasy game steadily over the last couple of years in Houli’s shadow, but I don’t see him being afforded the same amount of space as tonight in a regular season game. Don’t be too swayed by tonight but if you like him, put him in and he won’t disappoint.
Josh Caddy: Now this one I AM putting down to March madness. Caddy was taking uncontested marks all over the place and, if it wasn’t for Short, would’ve been the fantasy story of the night for the Tigers.
He had 27 touches from his 11 marks and kicked a goal for good measure. Bump him up in your Draft ratings if you were impressed tonight but don’t expect him to become relevant in salary cap comps.
Dustin Martin: Did as he pleased for most of the night and as usual, his ball use and strength was first class. He had 23 touches from three quarters in what was a ho-hum performance. He’s not as prolific a scorer as he used to be but still an assured pick in our forward lines.
Callum Coleman-Jones: It was great to get another look at this guy tonight as we haven’t seen him since his one and only game in the seniors in 2019. I thought he really took his opportunity collecting 12 touches and kicking what ended up being the winning goal.
Standing at 200cms, Coleman-Jones would be a great foil for Nankervis in the absence of Ivan Soldo and could be a handy DPP ruck/forward cash cow for us once his AFL imposed suspension ends.
Just quickly…
Shai Bolton: Was quiet with just the 16 touches but did show flashes of what he can do. A dynamic player when he’s up and going and still worth considering in the forward line, particularly in Draft.
Toby Nankervis: A popular R2 option this year and he showed enough in just 35% game time with 8 touches and 8 hitouts. He did a great job of negating Grundy’s influence and looks set for a solid year.
Riley Collier-Dawkins and Will Martyn: Both got a bit of the ball when they came on but it was hard to get a read on them with such little game time (39% and 21% time on ground). The fact that they got a run with the reigning premiers means they should be close to senior action this year, particularly Collier-Dawkins who has been knocking on the door for some time now.
Wow, that game was unrecognisable from the footy we saw in 2020. It was all out attack from both sides in what could be a welcome return to high scoring in 2021. Both sides showed plenty, but the Saints were too slick, holding off the fast finishing Blues. Fantasy relevant players were as plentiful as goals, so strap yourselves in as I give you my take.
Sam Walsh: Lived up to the pre-season hype with an excellent display on the ball. As expected, Walsh played more on the inside attending a heap of centre bounces. He looks much tougher this year as he stood up strong in tackles. Had a quiet finish spending half the last quarter on the bench but it was still a commanding display with 25 touches at the finish. Don’t hesitate if you had him in your side before tonight.
Patrick Cripps: Every year Cripps lures me in, and this pre-season was no different. Priced tastily and with the promise of getting back to being the midfield bull that saw him feature in Brownlow conversations in recent years, I have to say I was disappointed with what I saw tonight. Yes, it was a practice match and yes, he spent a lot of time forward in the absence of the injured Blues forwards, but 3 kicks from 91% time on ground terrifies me. He’ll probably prove me wrong but I’m not touching him this year.
Zac Williams: I must say I was a sceptic of the notion that this guy was a lock for our backlines. I am, however, putting my hand up early to say I was wrong. This was a dynamic performance that would have had Blues fans salivating. Wearing flashy pink boots, he was everywhere for the first 3 quarters. Like Walsh, he spent most of the final term on the pine but to 3 quarter time was just about man of the match. Finished with 17 touches, a couple of goals and a solid 6 tackles!
Sam Docherty: Doc will be somewhat unique this season which makes him particularly appealing. He accumulated touches in his usual fashion with an excellent kick to handball ratio finishing with a handsome 21 kicks and 6 handballs but was uncharacteristically messy by foot. I lost count of how many times he made unforced errors that lead to turnovers and in some cases, goals. The main thing I wanted to see, though, was how he’d go without his kick-to-kick mate Kade Simpson and it was a big tick.
Paddy Dow: Was it Paddy Dow or Paddy Wow? Still Dow…for now. I love this kid; everything he touches comes off, he just doesn’t miss a target. He’ll improve a lot this year but not sure he’s going to accumulate enough ball to be worth the investment. I think he’s going to play every game though and at his price point, you could do worse, especially in SC.
Just quickly…
Marc Pittonet: Dominated and looked excellent all game even kicking two first quarter goals but was against the journeyman McKernan and until recently, the unlisted Hunter.
Oscar McDonald: May have found a new home at his new home in the forward line. The former Demon was more than serviceable kicking two goals and, with Carlton’s injury concerns in the forward line, is a real shout for round 1.
Marc Murphy: One for Draft leagues, particularly if you have in-season DPP changes activated. Played forward but zipped around the field without a care in the world finishing with 22 touches and 2 goals.
Adam Saad: Looked great for his new club. Kicked a raking long-range textbook goal and provided plenty of dash but showed nothing to suggest he’ll increase his fantasy output this year.
Jack Silvagni: 3 goals padded out his stats but was a real X factor for the Blues in their second half comeback. Is developing into a very nice footballer. Keep an eye on him.
Zac Fisher: Along with Silvagni, was a real excitement machine in the second half kicking 2.3 for the match. Could he take the next step this year? It’s hard to see with that midfield being so stacked.
Lachlan Fogarty: The former Cat was given plenty of game time and tackled his heart out with a match high 7 tackles. Was pretty handy around the field with 14 touches and should get a gig against Richmond in a fortnight.
Jack Steele: The newly announced co-captain is priced right near the top this year but I think he’s worth it. With his tagging days well behind him, Steele can go to another level this year based on what we saw tonight. Despite a slow start, he finished with 27 touches and his customary 6 tackles in a dominant display.
Jack Sinclair: Best on ground tonight in a sizzling 4 quarter performance. He has been given a shot at playing off half back and is taking the opportunity with both hands and his bizarrely flowing mullet (Rids will love that). He had a game high 28 disposals (with a goal) and provided so much pizazz running up and attacking each centre bounce. St.Kilda owed a heap of their high octane running style to Sinclair’s game. All that being said, I don’t know how we pick a guy in our midfield knowing he’s going to be a defender all year. He’ll be first picked in my 2022 backline though!
Jack Higgins: Wow what a game from Higgins. He was very quiet early and then exploded into action with 24 touches, 7 marks and 1 goal 3 behinds. He played high half forward and his positioning was first class, he just always found space. He becomes very relevant after that performance.
Hunter Clark: We can be seduced by stats and just as easily turned off by them in pre- season games but the key here with Clark was his role. With Sinclair controlling the half back line, Clark has found his way into the engine room and even though he started slowly,worked his way into the game nicely finishing with 21 touches and a game high 8 clearances. Plenty of centre bounce attendances suggest he is about to become a full-time midfielder.
Just quickly…
Seb Ross: Looked really good and may be finding his way in the backline with 25 touches and 6 marks but you’d be a brave coach to pick him.
Brad Crouch: Looked alright in his new stripes with 12 touches and 5 tackles from limited game time but hard to make a case for starting him when he’s suspended until round 3. Will be a big scorer this year.
Jimmy Webster: Great to see him out there after injury ruined his 2020 season. He looked composed on the ball with 16 touches and could well be worth a look considering he is cheap as chips.
Brad Hill: Looked irresistible tonight with 25 touches (21 kicks!), a goal and the most metres gained on the ground by a fair way. But what stood out was his running power, no one could go with him and if he continues like that in the season proper, we will have to reassess where he sits in fantasy circles.
Footy is back! Tonight the AAMI Community Series gets underway. It’s our final chance to see players in a semi-competitive hitout before the round one lockout in a fortnight. So we asked members of the panel to list some players that are on their watchlist.
LEWY
Jy Simpkin
Ready to take the next step going into his 5th year. I will be watching closely how often kangaroos use him. Obviously, he’ll attend every centre bounce.
Tom Green
It’s no secret that he is a gun midfielder in the making, but he may not reach his full potential in a stacked giants midfield brigade. I’ll be watching for how he fits in that midfield rotation.
James Harmes
We know what he’s been able to score playing a midfield role. He moved down last year back, but a projected move back to the midfield could see him underpriced to begin the year.
Jimmy
Will Brodie
What’s his role, and just as importantly, what’s his endurance like now, and can he run out four quarters in the mids?
Marc Murphy
Will slide in just about every draft but by all accounts is playing forward this year. Keen to see if that role change is apparent and how well he moves across the ground given recent struggles.
Rookie Watch
The cupboard is looking awfully sparse atm. Can any of these kids put their hand up for round one?
How does he look this week with a game under his belt.
Paddy Dow
Role and performance in a more meaningful matchup.
Darcy Cameron
Does he play a full game and split duties with Grundy as he did in the finals last year? Or will Grundy go back to being a sole ruck like normal to start 2021?
Rids
Jimmy Webster
What is his role? Is he best 22? Is he the Paton replacement?
Jack Higgins
Will he remain Fox’s 2021 boy?
Patrick Dangerfield
Full game? Pure mid? Hmmm?
North Melbourne
Watch the rookies. Do they look like they have a role? Is that role q replacement for someone missing?
Riley Collier-Dawkins
How quickly will he pass the former tiger as Fox’s boy?
Fox
Jack Higgins
Saints made a bid play for the effervescent Higgins, will we see the spark ignite into a flame, the kids been a Saints supporter since he was in nappies and think this could be a match made in heaven.
Alex Witherden
We all know he’s going to end up a great fantasy cog in the West Coast back half but is he going to be eased in or thrown into that role
Rylie Collier Dawkins
Over the past 2 years he’s been touted as a mixture of Dangerfield, Fyfe and Veszpremi, we’re finally going to see what he brings to the table, unfortunately was nursed last week under concussion protocol And Will Martyn do enough to get the Houli spot in Round 1.
Paddy Dow
Not even sure he’s the best Dow playing AFL footy atm. Wanting to see how he goes with an opponent or in a contested situation, not sold on the hype train but willing to watch another game
This was a fun game with which to end the preseason. It was a low scoring arm-wrestle but highly entertaining with both clubs apparently giving it their all. Here are a few final notes to finish your preseason homework before the next podcast drops:
Jack Steven
Played midfield. Looked explosive around stoppages and racked up plenty of possessions from limited game time. I’d be interested to know if the reduced TOG was deliberate to ease him back into senior footy and it’s only a practice game anyway, or if it was because he’s not quite fit enough after an interrupted preseason (and an interrupted 2019). Got through the game unscathed though which is the most important thing.
Quinton Narkle
Also played midfield. More handball-happy than usual but he sure stands out with that ridiculous haircut. Can’t miss him and neither did his teammates. His price is awkward in salary formats after a mini-breakout last year from a handful of games, but he’s a very interesting draft prospect.
Darcy Fort & Rhys Stanley
Fort played half a game and performed admirably enough to put Rhys Stanley under pressure. Geelong’s ruck situation is an interesting one but the bottom line is that Smith leaving doesn’t necessarily mean Stanley is #1 all season.
Zac Tuohy
Loves playing kick to kick with his teammates and might be an underrated option in fantasy formats this year. The role is definitely still there for him.
Patrick Dangerfield
He’s actually pretty good at football, in case anyone had forgotten.
Zach Merrett
He’s also actually pretty good at football too. Not as good as Dangerfield, but still pretty good.
Devon Smith
This is what track-watchers wanted to see heading into round one. Double figure tackle numbers and not anchored inside forward fifty – although he did spend plenty of time there. Enough to be concerned? Probably not.
Andrew McGrath
Has his time finally come? Solid midfield minutes in both Marsh games and ooh ahh he’s looked good doing it. McGrath seems suited a little more outside than inside but the intent and endeavour is definitely there.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
You’ll enjoy having him in your team just so you can say his name every week. Bit of luck and he’ll make you some cash too. 12 of his 18 possessions were interceptions and he read the play like a player with many more years of experience.
Jacob Townsend
That’s premiership player Jacob Townsend, by the way. He did not play the inside midfield role that we hoped he might, but he did play very well as a pressure forward. The same role in which he won a premiership medal. Playing in a premiership. Premiership player Jacob Townsend, that is. Anyway, he might have earned himself a spot for round one on that performance but his scoring will still be heavily reliant on goals if he’s dancing around the forward pocket.
A replay of last years boring Grand Final (unless you’re a Tigers fan.) This time the result was very different. Sadly for them, they didn’t even pick up premiership points.
Regardless of the result, we learnt plenty from a fantasy footy perspective.
Marlion Pickett: There was a reason I ranked him so high in the 50 Most Relevant. He does things that players who have played a 300 of AFL could only dream of doing. Across the game, he racked up 20 disposals, eight tackles and as one of the few basement priced cows we have in 2020 he’s an absolute lock in every single side.
Dustin Martin: He played, and he didn’t get injured. Pretty simple stuff, Dusty looms likely as a top tier forward in 2020, and only injury will prevent that from happening. Next!
Tom Lynch: If Fox were doing this game review, the entire article would just be filled with superlatives with how amazing Tom Lynch is. To be fair, he’s not wrong. And for those seeking low ownership unique in the forward line then he needs to be considered.
For the first time in years, Lynch has had a preseason and looks set to continue off where he finished his 2019 season. In this game, he looked sharp on the lead and dominant in the contest. Additionally, the most significant indicator that Lynch is physically firing is to see what type of pressure he’s adding to the Tigers lineup. With six tackles in this game and plenty of other non-celebrated stats, my prediction for the Coleman medal couldn’t have done any more than he did on the weekend.
Callum Coleman-Jones: Did some beautiful things in this game, it appears the Tigers are developing a nice group of young talls. CCJ looked at home in the ruck when relieving Soldo. From just a limited game time, he scored nicely and is a genuine chance at being named in round one.
Kane Lambert: Suffered a nasty knock to the head from Jeremy Cameron’s knee early in the second quarter. After this incident, he wasn’t seen for the remainder of the game. While he could be a unique forward ion salary cap formats, his draft owners will likely be watching his recovery with interest. Thankfully the club believes he’ll be right for round one.
Stephen Coniglio: The new GWS skipper was prolific and dominant through the midfield of this game. It’s rare you pay this much money for a premium and still get value for money, but with Cogs, that’s exactly what’s happening. Over the past two seasons, he’s shown he can deliver an average of 110 when fit, and that’s precisely where I believe he is.
Josh Kelly: Please, don’t pick him. He’s a terrible footballer who’s injury prone and can’t score. Avoid, save the trade on this rubbish player. If you start with him, give up on your dreams now.
Tom Green: The Injury to Tim Taranto seems to most benefit this first-year player. Across this game, he showed his ability inside and also on the outside of the contest. While he does have a premium on his price tag, he looks to have embedded himself into the Giants best 22 and has shown excellent scoring capabilities.
For what it’s worth I’m starting him in all formats if he’s named next week.
Toby Greene: The forgotten man of our forward lines. After most coaches have locked away, Whitfield and Dusty many appear to be passing on Toby. In this game, he reminded coaches that he doesn’t have to get significant midfield minutes to be a high scoring forward. AS a forward he’s the complete package player, and for the small percentage of current owners you should be thrilled with your selection
Lachie Whitfield: Spent some time across half-back and with the potential absence of Zac Williams, we might see him reprise his role there for a few games. Regardless of his position on the field, Lachie is the most significant, safest and easiest forward line lock for fantasy coaches.
Only injury will prevent him from averaging over 110 this year and being the top-scoring forward in all formats of the game. Don’t try and get too cute, pick him!
Isaac Cumming: Another player that looks like he’ll benefit from the delayed start to Zac Williams is this young giant. He adds class, courage and speed were coming off the defensive lines. He comes with a premium price tag but looks like a viable D5 who can generate some early cash for us.
Jeremy Cameron: Normally for a key forward to post an AFLFantasy ton they need to kick a bag of 5+ goals. However, that wasn’t the case in this game for ‘Jezza.’ If you’re looking for a unique Round 14 bye forward who has a big scoring ceiling, then Cameron is your man.
Nick Haynes:He’s not a starting squad player in my eyes, but his Marsh preseason games have seen him score similarly to how he ended the 2019 season. He spent the afternoon happily intercepting anything that came his way clunking 14 marks across the day. Very relevant in the draft and daily fantasy formats and should return value on investment.
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