We are now just days away from the first bounce of the 2021 Fantasy football season. Every year the panel sit down and share their predictions for the season. Today they share their big calls on the defenders. Do you agree or disagree with them?
Rainman | Jake Lloyd. Rolled gold is Rolled gold. Streaming half backs will be a thing for a bit but clubs aren’t stupid and counter measures will be put in place to nullify there influence. Lloyd will keep on keeping on. – Midprice player that booms
The Midprice player that fires
Rids | Jordan Clark or Isaac Quaynor
MJ | Liam Duggan
Jimmy | Oleg Markov
Fox | Isaac Quaynor
Tim | James Harmes
Ben | Hayden Young
Lewy | Orazio Fantasia
Rainman | Jack Lukoscious in Supercoach. Will glock between half back distributor and wing. Sublime disposal and excellent decision maker. He is on the higher side of mid price but fits nice enough into the non premium bucket. – Midprice player that busts
The Midprice player that is a bust
Rids | James Harmes
MJ | Isaac Cumming
Jimmy | Orazio Fantasia
Fox | Ryan Burton + Orazio Fantasia
Tim | Isaac Cumming
Ben | Jordan Clark
Lewy | Andy McPherson
Rainman | Alex Witherden. His decision making is poor and his confidence has taken a hell of a hit from his halcyon days. West Coast have a very structured defence that thrives on clean disposal. It will take him a while to become part of the system, and his poor decision making will likely see him left by the way side – A must have cash cow
Cash Cow you need to start with
Rids | Jacob Koschitze
MJ | There are none, they all suck!
Tim | Jacob Koschitze
Ben | Jacob Koschitze
Lewy | Nathan Murray
Rainman | Very tough this year, but I will say Nik Cox, this kid looks a smooth mover and sonagile for his size. The bombers will be keen to get games into him and he can play a variety of roles. I reckon he could just be the one. – A big call
My 2021 Big Call Is…
Rids | Tom Stewart will average more than Laird in DT and AF for the year
MJ | Caleb Daniel will score over 200 in a game this season in SuperCoach
Jimmy | A defender will be the highest scoring player across all formats this season
Fox | Hearing Sam Docherty’s name more and more as the year wears on
Tim | Tom Stewart to actually have a game where he does not score within his patented 80-100 range
Ben | Luke McDonald is fools gold this time round.
Lewy | Zac Williams won’t be a top 6 defender. But he’ll be a top 6 forward in AFLFantasy
Rainman | A defender will kick a goal from kicking out from a point. Talking advantage of the 15 mtr rule from kick out and the man on the mark rule, a defender will kick out and then be involved in significant chains and then kick a bomb from out side 50 for one of the goals of the year. My tip would be Adam Saad or Brodie Smith
With just two rounds remaining in the 2019 fantasy footy season coaches focus is in one of three things. Firstly, you’re in contention for winning the overall rankings prize focussed on winning your league or you’ve already started to prepare for 2020.
In this article, we look at some players that have held down a specific positional status in 2019 but won’t have in 2020.
From the beginning of the preseason, it was obvious that Caleb was getting a role change at the kennel. The coaching staff love his poise and skills coming off the back flanks and his teammates all season have looked to get the ball in his hands as frequently as possible. He’s been one of the better forward options for us this season and could become even more valuable as a defender in 2020.
Travis Boak – Lose FWD
Like many of our top-scoring forward of the year, it’s been because of an increase in midfield time where the former skipper has moved back to an almost exclusive midfield role for Port Adelaide. This year he’s averaging 30 possessions a game, up from 21 and 22 the previous seasons.
Jack Billings – Lose FWD
Others may disagree, but I don’t see how Jack retains forward status next year. Especially since the bye, he’s playing the vast majority of game time on the wing and as such his scoring consistency has increased. The only negative is he’s probably too much midfield now to be a forward in 2020.
Tim Kelly – Lose FWD
Playing as a pure midfielder… The simple choice here for champion data. Say farewell to one of the best forwards of the year.
James Worpel – Lose FWD
Much like Tim Kelly above the Worpedo has enjoyed a breakout second season in the AFL and has thrived as a pure midfielder in 2019. While fantasy coaches and Hawks fans alike mourned the lost season for Tom Mitchell this year it did create the opportunity for Worpel to take greater midfield responsibility. We won’t be seeing this kid with DPP again anytime soon, he’s locked into the Hawks midfield unit now.
Really pretty simple explanation this one, since coming into the Saints team in round 2 he’s been the sole ruck at St Kilda all year. Say ‘bye’ to him as a forward, but hello to another ruck that can average over 100.
Josh Dunkley – Lose FWD
The first 6- 8 weeks of the year he was playing as a forward that would get the occasional midfield rotation. However, over the past few months, he’s been a lock inside the Bulldogs midfield and is one of the key reasons they find themselves currently inside the top 8.
Gary Ablett – Gain FWD
This will be one of the easier selections for champion data in the offseason. This year he’s moved back into an identical role that the little master started his football career as which is a classy and creative small forward. Gaz is still getting some midfield minutes, so at best he’s a MID/FWD for us next year. This is a possibly relevant gain, especially in SuperCoach. The big question mark won’t be in that format will he average 90+, but rather will he play enough games to be a viable option?
Andrew McGrath – Lose DEF
Playing as an outside midfielder off the wing for Essendon. Sadly he hasn’t boomed yet as the fantasy player that keeper league owners especially would’ve liked.
Brad Ebert – Gain FWD
Sadly injury has impacted his season, however throughout the preseason and early season we saw a clear role change. From wingman to this new role-playing from half-forward he looked very fantasy footy friendly. Between rounds 1-6 we saw him deliver multiple tons and had just one score under 90. One to keep an eye on as he could also pick up an injury impacted discount with him playing just 11 games this season.
Sam Lloyd – Gain FWD
This was a shock that he didn’t have it this year. The former Tiger barely played as a midfielder in the Yellow and Black and has spent his time as a bulldog much like at Richmond as a goal-kicking forward.
Once a pressure small forward, but the coaching staff at Gold Coast love his hardness and pressure inside the midfield. He’s been one of the most underrated forwards this year, but sadly next year he’ll just be a midfielder.
Lachie Whitfield – Lose DEF
It was always only ever going to last one season. With the return of Zac Williams, Lachie moved right back into the midfield this year and is an absolute certainty to not be defensive eligible in 2020. However, he might be a sneaky chance to gain forward status, he spends a lot of the time starting at centre bounces inside forward 50 and then pushing up the ground. Depending on Champion Data’s selection criteria he might just be a surprise forward entry.
Hugh Greenwood – Gain FWD
Depending on the AFL websites and social media accounts you follow it seems that Hugh is destined to depart the Crows and head for club able to give him some greater longer-term security. Regardless of where he plays his footy next season, he should be awarded forward status (possibly even M/F DPP) given the amount of time he replaced the role of an injured Tom Lynch in the Crows side. Watch which team he moves to (if any) especially if an inside midfield role is available he could be one of the most relevant fantasy players that change clubs in the trade period.
If it wasn’t for Sam Walsh he’d be the clear favourite for thew Rising Star award in 2019. The current DPP option though has been spending a majority of his time creating havoc inside the powers forward 50 and will not be defensive eligible next year.
Aaron Naughton – Gain FWD
In 2018 he was a developing star of the AFL as a key defender, however, for all of this year he’s been playing a lone hand as a forward target for much of 2019 inside the Dogs forward line.
Josh Battle – Gain DEF
With injuries down back constantly in 2018 and St Kilda brimming for tall forward options the move in the preseason was to take a developing tall forward and develop them into a defender. Battle was given the chance to prove himself early in the year and has thrived as a defender capable not just of locking down on opposition talls, but also intercepting possession to set up the Saints forward movements. Lock him in for a defender next year, and for SuperCoach draft players especially he’s one to watch.
Buy low, Sell high! It’s the age-old motto to succeed in Fantasy football of all formats. Every week we share with you the players with the lowest breakevens across AFLFantasy, SuperCoach & DreamTeam.
For SuperCoach and DreamTeam we only include players who are on the price bubble and have played more than one game.
With just 5 weeks left to go in the 2019 season for SuperCoach season coaches are feverishly preparing for league finals and a last-ditch push for overall rankings glory. The name of the game for many is now about bringing in players into your team that will set you apart and create a point of difference in your team.
That said, some players are getting almost no attention or love from coaches in the run home. So here are 10 inform players in SuperCoach that have crazy low ownership.
In ripping form at the moment, averaging 119 in his previous five weeks and has 8 tons over the past 11 weeks. Matches against the Hawks, Dogs and Suns is a reasonably favourable midfield matchup and with all the opposition attention going to Lachie Neale it means Lion’s magician is sneaking under the radar for SuperCoach owners and is among one of the most inform midfielders.
Christian Salem | DEF | $507,200 |Avg: 98 (4.6% owned)
It’s been a disastrous season for the Demons but one of the few shining lights has been the consistency of Salem. Since returning from the bye he’s posted scores of 104, 133, 87, 94 & 139. His next two opponents in St Kilda and Richmond over the year have shown to give up significant scores to outside ball users and I full expect Salem to capitalise on that.
He is slightly down on his scoring last year, but he’s still a very worthwhile selection. Over his past 11 matches, he’s had just three scores below 110 and has only once scored under 90. His upcoming opposition includes North Melbourne, Adelaide, Carlton & Richmond with none of them that have a designated tagger that I believe is capable of negating his impact on the game. The other factor about him is he doesn’t build his scores by disposals and scoreboard impact alone, but it’s also his defensive pressure. In his previous five matches, his tackle count has been between 7 – 12, so even if some defensive pressure comes on him like last week, he’s still got great scoring avenues.
I know on first glance this looks bad, but sometimes we need to look beneath the surface. In his past nine matches, DBJ has really turned it on with no scores below 80 and five tons. He also has three of his final five games at Adelaide Oval where his past three scores have been 117, 121 and 130.
Tom Lynch| FWD | $484,8100 |Avg: 90.9 (0.9% owned)
It took him longer to return than Crows fans wanted to from injury but now that he’s back he could be perfectly unique way to finish that forward line. Over the next two weeks, the Crows take on the Blues and Saints and then have a round 23 matchup against the Bulldogs, all favourable for the link-up man. This year prior to injury between rounds 6-11 he scored: 95, 99, 111, 100 & 109.
He’s on the hot streak of his life with six tons in his past eight matches including scores of 127, 130, 139 & last weekend against the Kangaroos a massive 165. Just over 1,500 coaches own him in the entire competition so if he keeps on this form stretch he’ll be the absolute pinnacle definition of unique as sadly sometimes as coaches we fall for a ‘name’ player rather than just letting the data direct us to who we should pick.
Josh Kelly | MID | $614,000 |Avg: 119.8 (8.4% owned)
This might be a slightly controversial inclusion for some, but given he’s only two weeks away from returning from injury and when fit is arguably the best midfielder in the game he needs to be featured. With less than 10% of coaches owning him he’d be a massive unique on the run home against the Hawks, Dogs and Suns when he returns. He’s currently on a run of nine consecutive 100’s and it’d be brave and bold but to bring him but it could be a masterstroke as he’s also a viable captaincy option.
Buy low, Sell high! It’s the age-old motto to succeed in Fantasy football of all formats. Every week we share with you the players with the lowest breakevens across AFLFantasy, SuperCoach & DreamTeam.
For SuperCoach and DreamTeam we only include players who are on the price bubble and have played more than one game.
Buy low, Sell high! It’s the age-old motto to succeed in Fantasy football of all formats. Every week we share with you the players with the lowest breakevens across AFLFantasy, SuperCoach & DreamTeam.
For SuperCoach and DreamTeam we only include players who are on the price bubble and have played more than one game.
Buy low, Sell high! It’s the age-old motto to succeed in Fantasy football of all formats. Every week we share with you the players with the lowest breakevens across AFLFantasy, SuperCoach & DreamTeam.
For SuperCoach and DreamTeam we only include players who are on the price bubble and have played more than one game.
Welcome to another Koel Kings, and we can talk weekly captaincy options. The difference with this year’s captaincy advice is we won’t be telling you who is the best captain selections overall or even ranking them, but instead explaining who our previous Nobel Koel winners will be selected in their teams and why.
Bakas: VC – the Pies will be fired up after last week and I expect Grundy to lead the charge with another dominant performance C – Macrae has been hitting top gear in recent weeks and should be a safe back up especially at Marvel
Troy: VC: Grundy should have a field day against Hawks. C: Macrae’s CBA numbers have been big recently so I’m counting on that to continue.
Russ: Grundy will enjoy a slow Hawks outfit and will come out guns blazing…130+ C: Kelly will enjoy Whitfield back and will be free to play his own game..140+
Bakas: VC – Treloar just keeps racking them up and could be set to go on a big run home especially with Beams not there. C – Macrae has been hitting top gear in recent weeks and should be a safe back up especially at Marvel
Troy: VC: Treloar should score well against Hawthorn who are playing like the cue’s in the rack. C: Macrae again just like in SuperCoach.
Russ: VC: Grundy here again will enjoy gathering possessions left right and center .125+ C: Dunkley will just rack it up with no tag.. 130+
After rounds 3, 6, 9, 12 & 15 the drafting format of Ultimate Footy awards additional player positions to players that have had a role change in season. As always players are required to have played a minimum of 3 games to be eligible and to be playing the new position as their primary role in the side.
In the final DPP opportunity of the year, nine players have gained an additional position; four players have gained back status, one gaining centre, one ruck addition while four have picked up forward status. Let’s look at who they are and the relevance to your draft sides and leagues.
For some, this could come as a surprise addition but pretty much since coming back from injury in round 8 he’s found a home as part of the Magpies defensive six. The defensive pressure that served him well over his career first as a forward, then as a wingman has translated into him applying plenty of defensive pressure when the ball comes into the oppositions forward 50. Since coming back from injury he’s had just two of his seven games where his scores dropped below 80, and if that trend can continue for the final few months of the season he’ll find himself from a fringe centre who’s needed only to cover injuries and suspensions to a guy worth rounding out your defensive unit.
David Zaharakis (ES – C) add B
The Dons have reshuffled their midfield rotations and in doing so it’s seen the former Anzac Day medallist spend his time starting off half-back and then being used to push up the ground and between the arcs. A seasonal average of 88 does place him in an upper bracket of backs, however for what it’s worth since moving into the defensive role his scores have been 81, 83, 85, 88 & 86. Consistency plus, but his ceiling for scores seem to have been capped with this new role.
Jack Lukosius (GC – F) add B
While fellow draftees Connor Rozee and Sam Walsh have been getting plenty of accolades as future stars of the AFL from last years draft crop don’t discount the body of work Jack Lukosius is putting together. To be clear, he’s not a prayers chance of being the Rising Star this year, but he’s developing nicely as a player. Recently the Suns have started to use him as a swingman able to play forward and back, and last week it was on display the most with his role on Sydney’s Nick Blakey. He holds value in keeper and dynasty leagues, but shouldn’t be even on your watchlist in a seasonal league.
Jordan Dawson (SY – C) add B
This is probably one of if not the big gains for drafts this time round. Earlier in the year Jordan was rotating between half forward and midfield, however, over the past month (since round 11 against the Cats) he’s been the driving force of the Swans defensive unit. Over the past four weeks, Sydney has used him as the primary distributor of the ball out of defensive fifty with him having 16 rebound fifties in that time. A seasonal average of 83 isn’t anything crazy as a midfielder, however as a backman that places him inside the top 25 averaging players. Coming off the back of a 96 & 107 owners will be hoping this new role keeps his scoring high.
When a player gains centre rarely does it boost their relevance for coaches, and it’s the same in Jordan’s case. Clark will be a long term star of the future and is a currently high-value proposition in keeper and dynasty leagues but for single seasons his value is as a back eligible player. The team at UltimateFooty have got this one bang on, with him spending more time across the wing since the return of Zach Tuohy.
Hugh’s always spent plenty of time inside forward fifty for the Crows. On countless times over the past 2 & 1/2 seasons, he’s taken game saving (or winning) contested pack marks. Greenwood is also strong contested ball winner and does do some of his best work inside the stoppages, but with Tom Lynch missing through injury the past month the Crows have opted to use Hugh almost exclusively as a forward. Four of his past five scores have been 83 or above and if he is to gain FWD status it makes his transition from being a bench cover midfielder to being an on-field scoring forward and as such his draft relevance boost dramatically. A squad boost for current owners.
Dougal Howard (PA – B) add F
A seasonal average of under 60 and just one score over 80 in 11 matches gives me know confidence that even this DPP addition will make him of any value to your side. Chances are Dougal is available on in the player market and that’s exactly where he should stay.
Nick Hind (SK – C) add F
Since his debut three weeks ago as a Saint, he’s found himself at home predominantly inside the Saints forward fifty. His goal sense and speed have made him a valuable asset to the structure of the side. Averaging just on 59 means he’s certainly not worth placing on your roster or using a waiver wire selection on, even in most sized keeper leagues.
Matthew Suckling (WB – B) add F
The Western Bulldogs and their coaching staff are well known for their flexibility and that many players can be used in multiple positions. Over the past month to six weeks he’s become an important part of the dogs ball movement especially when it comes to delivering the ball inside forward 50. The B/F DPP is handy for squad versatility, especially if your strong in your backline and light for forwards, but for most coaches the value of Matthew will be that he’s a backman.
Buy low, Sell high! It’s the age-old motto to succeed in Fantasy football of all formats. Every week we share with you the players with the lowest breakevens across AFLFantasy, SuperCoach & DreamTeam.
For SuperCoach and DreamTeam we only include players who are on the price bubble and have played more than one game.
