The 50 Most Relevant series continues with #28 Dylan Moore, Hawthorn’s forward who offers consistency and unique scoring potential in AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach 2025.
In this episode, MJ Want and Jordox cover:
Dylan Moore’s 2024 performance analysis and reliability as a fantasy forward 🏉
The importance of avoiding groupthink in fantasy drafts and creating unique strategies 🤔
Moore’s role in Hawthorn’s forward line and its impact on his fantasy value 🔥
Strategic drafting considerations to maximize his upside in 2025 🎯
Is Dylan Moore the reliable forward your fantasy team needs? Don’t miss this deep dive!
We can get obsessed about the next ‘breakout in the preseason.’ Nothing inherently is wrong with that. But we should also be looking at those who’ve had significant regression that could present the same level of upside. It’s why Callum Mills is still a highly relevant fantasy football prospect in 2024 despite his injury.
WHY IS HE RELEVANT?
2023 was a challenging year for Callum Mills and, understandably, for the fantasy football coaches who had high hopes for him. A midseason calf injury, a juggle of roles, and a post-season marred by shoulder surgery – it was a tough run. Yet, as we stand on the brink of a new season, it’s evident that Mills is a phoenix ready to rise from the ashes.
Despite a statistical dip in possessions, clearances, marks, tackles, goals, and overall fantasy scoring, Mills’ resilience shone through. His AFLFantasy/DreamTeam average was a respectable 84.1, featuring eight scores above 90, while in SuperCoach, his 87.7 average, with eleven scores above 90, highlighted his latent potential.
Dig deeper, and you’ll uncover the hidden gems of his season. Take, for example, his final game of the year: a staggering 30 possessions, 12 tackles, 8 marks, and a goal. This performance alone netted him 155 points in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 143 in SuperCoach, a testament to his undoubted talent.
Mills’ scoring volatility last year can largely be attributed to his fluctuating roles – from being a central player in some matches in the midfield to a peripheral figure in others. Furthermore, in two games where he was forced to don the red vest impacted his averages significantly. His average would likely have been in the mid-low 90s without these injury / vest-affected anomalies.
Flashback to just a year prior, and Mills’ prowess was undeniable. In AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he boasted an average of 111, outscoring renowned players like Touk Miller, Jack Steele, and Zach Merrett. His SuperCoach performance was equally impressive, with an average of 116.7, ranking him among the top scorers in this format. Fourteen scores over 100 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, fifteen in SuperCoach, with several soaring above 120 and even reaching the heights of 214 against Hawthorn. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they’re a testament to his exceptional ability when playing in the midfield.
As we approach 2024, Mills is not just a player to watch but a goldmine of potential for fantasy football coaches. The discrepancies in his recent performance have significantly undervalued him, making him an irresistible prospect. His proven track record in the midfield positions him as a contemporary fantasy football legend. The message is clear: disregard his recent setbacks. Callum is a player who demands respect and serious consideration for your team. His comeback story could be the cornerstone of your fantasy football success this year.
One of the great variables in fantasy football relevance is health. We know it intuitively in the community, but a player’s availability is one of their greatest abilities. With Callum Mills, his scoring capacity or even role aren’t the primary reasons nobody is discussing him this preseason. Rather, it’s his availability.
In September of last year, it was revealed that the Swans Co-Captain could miss a large chunk of the coming season after requiring shoulder surgery. While some corners of the AFL community believe he could miss the entirety of the season, since the revelation of his injury, the forecast length of time missed seems to be more promising to be back somewhere in the front half of the 2024 season.
One of the most common mistakes I see coaches make during the preseason is that they spend months thinking about the initial thirty players and little to no time thinking about their team’s trade cadence or player trade considerations during the year. Furthermore, the talk all preseason is about ‘chasing value’ but very quickly goes out the window as coaches start trying to trade and ‘pay up’ to get premiums in.
It’s why Callum Mills, even should he miss the opening round (which sounds all but certain), is still very relevant for us as an upgrade target. It’s the perfect spot to make his season debut in round ten. There, he plays the Blues and the Bulldogs and walks straight into the Swan’s week off on the bye. Then, from round thirteen, should he pass all the eye tests physically, you can get a player with 110 proven potential at his discounted price, which is currently approximately thirty points per game of value.
Targetting him as an upgrade during the season allows you to also look at the Swans structure and to see how John Longmire chooses to use him. Over the past few years, he’s been moved to plug holes across key position defensive posts and the wing. But the off-season inclusions of Joel Hamling and James Jordan should minimise the need to use him as the ‘gap filler’ when he does return.
Barring a miracle, Callum won’t be ready for round one and should be someone you fade in your starting squad because of this. But monitor him during the opening months of the season. If he has confidence in his shoulder and that midfield role receives no volatility, then trading into Mills isn’t just an option. It might be essential!
Several variables surround the likely outcome of where Callum Mills is drafted. When your league draft is will determine a lot, as will what returning timeline information has been revealed by the club. The other primary variable is the depth of your league’s benches.
The outcomes of these pieces of information will ultimately determine whether he achieves the unfathomable and is left to super late on draft day right through to seeing him get taken inside the first 30 midfielders off the board.
The upside with Mills is that it will eventually become undeniable value on draft day, and the question shouldn’t be, will you take him, but when?
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Happy New Year, and welcome back to the 50 most relevant! Kicking off the annual countdown is one of my favourites in Connor Macdonald. For some, he’s a name you’ve never considered; for others, he’s someone they wish we didn’t cover. Either way, the cat is out of the bag! Let’s leap into the start of the 2024 50 most relevant.
WHY IS HE RELEVANT?
Experiencing the thrill of identifying a fantasy football gem that few others spot and then seeing your insight validated is unparalleled. In 2024, Connor Macdonald of Hawthorn could very well be that breakout forward of the season.
At 20 years old, Macdonald shows promise as a potential long-term midfielder for the Hawks, displaying a commendable balance between offensive and defensive play. Known for his dynamic style, he effectively propels the ball into the forward 50 and is pivotal in transitional plays. Although drafted as a midfielder, he has found his footing in the forward line, contributing significantly to the new, youthful Hawthorn lineup.
Chris Newman, formerly coaching with Hawthorn in 2023 and now back with Richmond, praised Macdonald’s versatility in the club’s season review. He noted Macdonald’s exceptional runs, stamina, and ability to adapt to multiple positions – from midfield to wing – highlighting his significant growth in just his second year.
When scouting for players poised to ascend to the next level, it’s essential to spot subtle indicators of a potential surge in scoring. Macdonald showed several such signs throughout 2023. For instance, in round thirteen against Brisbane, he amassed 28 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals, and scored 91 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 113 in SuperCoach.
Again, in round twenty-one, with 18 disposals, 9 marks, 3 tackles, he exceeded 90 points across all formats. Two weeks later, he tallied 104 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 95 in SuperCoach with 19 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles, and 2 goals. These performances highlight his ability to score well across multiple statistical categories. Imagine his heights with consistent, combined efforts in these areas.
Macdonald’s scoring improved as the 2023 season progressed, and his consistency stabilized. From an average of 67.8 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 61.4 in SuperCoach over the first five games, he jumped to an average of 86.6 and 82, respectively, in the final five matches.
While it’s risky to emphasise this trend too much, it underscores his potential for significant value in a forward line lacking top-tier premiums. Based on his performance in the last five games, he could offer an additional 16 points per game in AFLFantasy and potentially rank in the top 10 forwards based on average. In SuperCoach, this translates to a 19-point-per-game upside, positioning him well within the top 20 forward averages.
However, one should cautiously interpret these statistics. The intent here is to emphasize two points: the scarcity of elite forwards across formats and how Macdonald’s late-season form, albeit not the highest scoring range, makes him an increasingly relevant choice. Macdonald achieved these scores without significant time in the Hawks’ midfield. As a draftee known for his inside midfield capabilities, he attended more than 10% of centre bounces in only one game all season.
Hawthorn’s tight midfield rotations last year suggest a need for more players to step up alongside Will Day and Jai Newcombe. The team’s focus on developing Macdonald’s versatility is evident, enhancing his skills as a winger/forward in 2023, which could catalyze his move into a more rounded footballer.
His potential was not just a glimpse in 2023 but evident during his draft year. In the NAB league, he averaged 30 touches, seven marks, and five tackles per game, translating to an AFLFantasy average of 121 points. Scouts and draft watchers recognized him as a high-accumulating, stoppage-dominant player.
Macdonald’s fantasy pedigree, evident from his junior days and his growth in the AFL, positions him as a legitimate choice for your AFL Fantasy/DreamTeam and SuperCoach sides as he enters his third season.
As the 2024 AFL Fantasy, DreamTeam and SuperCoach season approaches, coaches face a unique challenge in the forward line. This year, the absence of forwards with high averages presents an opportunity to think outside the box, and Connor Macdonald emerges as a potential game-changer in this new landscape.
Navigating through the scarcity of high-averaging forwards, Macdonald stands out. His midrange positioning in a landscape devoid of the usual high-scoring stalwarts makes him a beacon of value. In a season where average scores are the norm, Macdonald’s potential to outperform his peers shines even brighter.
Flexibility is key, and Macdonald embodies this. As a mid-priced forward, he’s not just a player but a tactical asset. The ideal is he obviously becomes a premium forward, and as possible as that is, that’s not the only avenue to success. He can easily be upgraded to a premium player if he maintains a solid average up until the Hawks round 15 bye. This versatility makes Macdonald a vital component in any strategic fantasy plan.
Historical trends in AFL Fantasy/DreamTeam and SuperCoach show that mid-priced forwards can offer significant returns both as quick money makers or as season-long premiums. Players like Jack Ziebell, Aaron Hall, Darcy Macpherson and Taylor Walker have been valuable in early rounds in past seasons.
Macdonald not only holds the promise of strong early-season performance, making him a smart investment, but with a simple single trade, it can be used as a pathway to the stepping stone, which is firing without having to amend your squad’s structure.
The probable lowered average scores among forwards this season mean Macdonald doesn’t need to reach astronomical heights to succeed. This lower threshold for success enhances his appeal, transforming him, now an average of 85 over the opening half dozen to dozen games is arguably a gigantic success.
There’s also exciting potential for Connor in terms of role expansion. Everyone in the preseason is always set for #MoreMidfieldTime, but should the rumours of him gaining more midfield time eventuate, then he could significantly increase his scoring potential. Remember, last year he barely cracked the Hawks midfield. Imagine the upside should he get even a consistent run of 15-25% CBA’s per game.
Each season requires a different strategy, and while last year’s focus was on premium forwards, this year’s winning formula seems to lie in identifying high-value players inside the forward line. Macdonald, with his current pricing and potential, fits perfectly into this strategy and allows multiple pathways for owners to pursue depending on his scoring.
Pre-season analysis is crucial. Monitoring Macdonald’s role and performance in the pre-season can provide early insights into his potential for a breakout year. These indicators can offer a significant edge in fantasy leagues.
Connor Macdonald represents more than just a player; he’s a strategic choice in a year where identifying high-value players is crucial. His potential for consistent performance, coupled with the unique dynamics of the 2024 season, makes him an essential consideration for any coach looking to gain an edge. In a landscape where finding value is key, Macdonald might just be the piece that completes your winning fantasy puzzle.
Connor Macdonald presents as an intriguing prospect in drafts, likely to be picked as an F4, yet he harbours the potential to deliver F2-level performances. This positioning offers a tantalizing upside with little to no discernable downside.
Macdonald’s current trajectory’s worst-case scenario seems to be maintaining his existing average throughout the coming year. Should this occur, it still leaves him as a valuable asset, albeit one that might eventually find his way back to the waiver wire. However, his demonstrated ability to enhance his game and the lack of risk in selecting him make Macdonald an astute pick, especially for coaches looking to capitalize on the value and upside in their lineup.
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Do you believe he is fantasy relevant? Will you be starting with him? Have your say on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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Get ready for an exhilarating ride into the world of SuperCoach, AFLFantasy & DreamTeam as we gear up for the 2024 season, brimming with endless possibilities and the tantalizing chance that this could be your year to clinch fantasy glory! Introducing the 50 Most Relevant.
From this moment until the season kicks off, you’ll dive into an ocean of player statistics, experiment with countless team configurations, and likely adjust your fantasy lineup several times daily. Here at the Coaches Panel, our mission isn’t to dictate your strategy but our player selections. Instead, we’re here to arm you with top-tier insights, enabling you to make well-informed choices for your team.
Every year at the Coaches Panel, we kick start the preseason with our annual series, the 50 Most Relevant. This series isn’t a random collection of players or predicting who the top 50 scoring players will be in 2024. Instead, we cast a wider net, analyzing players across various salary cap formats. We consider the elite premiums, mid-prices, stepping stones, and cash cows to identify those who might be crucial in propelling us towards fantasy football success.
What makes a player stand out in the realm of salary cap formats? It’s a blend of factors: their initial price tag, potential for high scores, consistency in performance, the role assigned by Champion Data, and the new opportunities that have emerged during the offseason. These are just some elements that collectively define a player’s relevance in your fantasy football journey.
In the early preseason, success in fantasy football hinges on thorough research, engaging in open-minded dialogues, and recognizing potential strategies at your disposal.
Beginning January 1st and over the next 49 days, join me as I reveal who I believe are the 50 most relevant players in the salary cap formats of SuperCoach, DreamTeam, and AFLFantasy, presented in a comprehensive, unified list.
This countdown will feature daily articles, podcasts, videos, and projections for drafting ranges in single-season and keeper leagues. For those eager for early access to our ’50 Most Relevant’ podcasts, a special invitation awaits you on our Patreon. Sign up as a breakout or premium tier supporter and gain access to the podcasts a day before everybody else.
I’m excited to embark on this journey of fantasy football discussions with you over the coming months and eagerly await your thoughts on the 50 Most Relevant players for 2024.
And so it begins! Another fantasy football preseason filled with optimism, hope and the possibilities that in 2020 maybe this year will be your year for fantasy success.
Between now and when the season opens, and lockouts commence you will consider hundreds of players, trial thousands of combinations and probably tinker with your fantasy football side multiple times per day. Here at the Coaches Panel, our desire is never to tell you what to do. Instead, it’s to give you useful information for you to make informed decisions about your side.
What makes a player fantasy football relevant?
It’s several factors, including but not limited to: starting price, scoring ceiling, scoring consistency, what position they hold, and the opportunities that may have become available during the offseason. These are just some of the reasons a player is relevant in salary cap formats.
The list isn’t about predicting the top 50 averaging players for the year, far from it. Instead, it’s about looking at all players, across all salary cap formats to see who could help us achieve our goal of fantasy footy success.
The goal of the 50 most relevant and fantasy footy content, in general, this early in the preseason is about doing the research, having open-minded conversations and seeing the potential possibilities at our fingertips.
Too often as fantasy coaches, we can become entrenched in a certain way of thinking and don’t enter into a new season with an open mind. Whether it by being ‘burnt’ by a player previously or having a strategy fail. By closing our mind we close ourselves to possibilities. Great coaches always consider different players, alternative approaches and new ways of playing the game. Who knows, we may find ourselves missing out on the very manoeuvre that could be the difference in you winning the title.
When Does it Start?
Starting January 1st, and then for the following 49 days, I’d like to invite you to join with me as I share with you who I believe are the 50 most relevant players in one combined universal list.
The countdown will include a daily article, podcast as well as a drafting range projection for both single-season and keeper leagues. And if you wish to get early access to 50 Most Relevant podcasts, then you can do that by joining our Patreon.
I look forward to spending the next few months discussing fantasy footy and can’t wait to hear about your thoughts on who I believe are the 50 Most Relevant players for the coming season.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Throughout the countdown some players you’ll agree with, others you won’t, and that’s OK. This is a subjective list, but one that I hope encourages you as a fantasy coach. Other members of the panel and I would love to chat about all forms of fantasy with you.
I’ve written about hundreds of different players over the years for a variety of fantasy footy sites and publications and never in life did I predict I’d be writing about Billy Longer, and yet here we are. The thing is, Billy is a highly relevant fantasy footy option this year in all formats of the game. When it comes to selecting a ruckman in any format you only want to seriously consider players who are clear top choice ruck options at their club and those who will largely do the bulk of the work during the match, the former #8 draft pick is exactly that at St Kilda. With the departure of Tom Hickey to West Coast Eagles, Longer now has a clear run at the top job. While the Saints aren’t short of big man coverage, none are realistic chances of knocking him off the perch just yet. Lewis Pearce is developing along OK, Sam Alabkis is a former US college basketballer and is still learning his craft and Rowan Marshall while capable as a relief ruck option is a better forward prospect much in the vain of Adelaide’s Josh Jenkins. In short, the #1 ruck role is a no contest, Billy’s got it in the bag!
Priced at under $300,000 in DreamTeam/SuperCoach he’s less than $50,000 more expensive than first-year player Sam Walsh. If we were to get an average from Walsh at 70 in the opening 6-8 games of the year, most fantasy coaches would probably accept that as a reasonable and that he’d have done his job both with points on field and cash generation. While Billy Longer isn’t a cash cow, he’s a stepping stone who based on his history when #1 ruck can score reasonably, added to this he gives you a look at the performances of other premium ruck options and finally makes you some cash.
If you look at his 2018 average you probably quickly rule out Billy, but sometimes you need to look back beyond the immediate to see the potential. During 2017, Longer won the #1 ruck mantle battle against now former teammate Tom Hickey, and during that season he averaged 78 across all formats. During his 17 games, that year for AFLFantasy/DreamTeam coaches he scored eight times over 80 including scores of 100, 103, 112 and 125. While for SuperCoach it was seven times going north of 80 including scores of 107,108, 111, 119 and 123. All it would take is a few of these higher scores in his opening few weeks for his cash generation to skyrocket and get you closer to another premium in your side and one step closer to a completed side.
MY TAKE
Nailing the ruck combination in your side is crucial to fantasy footy success. I suppose you could say that for every line, but given the least amount of potential scoring variations with just the 2 possible avenues to generate points, it’s probably safe to say that the rucks can make or break your season. If by seasons end last year your ruck combination wasn’t Gawn & Grundy chances were a majority of the competition was outscoring you week in week out in that line. For example, if your combination was Max Gawn & Stefan Martin you would’ve been 285 points worse off in AFLFantasy and 314 points worse off in SuperCoach over the final 10 weeks of the year. That’s a lot of points to be losing ground on in just 2 positions.
By locking in your starting squad two premium ruck options you run the risk of missing out on some serious points if you get it wrong or in using a trade in having to switch premiums mid-season. When starting with a premium option, the only reason you want to be trading them is if an injury arises. You begin with a premium because you believe they’ll be a likely top averaging player in that line for the season and you plan to keep them for 23 rounds.
Here in lies the reasoning for considering Billy Longer at R2. It seems like a large portion of the fantasy footy community is likely to start with last seasons best ruckmen Brodie Grundy, and understandably so. However, with so many question marks over the job sharing possibilities of last years other best ruck option in Max Gawn due to the inclusion of Braydon Pruess during the trade period, a midprice ruck option at R2 makes sense. By selecting Longer as opposed to being ‘locked into’ a Set & Forget combination it gives you the chance to see the impact (if any) Pruess makes on Gawn’s scoring potential. Added to that, it gives you 5-8 weeks to see if another ruck is bubbling away as a genuine top 2 option.
Todd Goldstein, Sam Jacobs, Stefan Martin, Matthew Kreuzer and even Toby Nankervis all have a history of being high scoring rucks and none of them would be out of the question of delivering a high-quality season. I can see massive upside in 2019 for coaches not going for a set and forget strategy. And the worst-case scenario if Longer fails to score well, which I’d classify as a sub 65 average, then he just becomes the first priority upgrade target.
At this stage of the preseason, I have Longer locked away in my DreamTeam and SuperCoach sides while I’ll likely go elsewhere given his AFLFantasy price. It’ll take something to seriously change this as my possible starting squad strategy as I think a set & forget ruck strategy at this stage in the preseason is a mistake.
Rucks are always interesting to rank in a draft, mainly because if a ruck rush happens earlier than expected even the most experienced of coaches can be tempted to get on the train and overvalue them with that round based selection. That said, In both keeper leagues or seasonal drafts you’ll be able to get Billy super late, in fact in many drafts (depending on league size) he may not even be drafted at all. I’d be nervous if you’re drafting a ruck so late that Billy is the one that ends up on your field, but as emergency cover, he’s more than adequate.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Do you believe he is fantasy relevant? Will you be starting with him? Have your say at our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
WANT EARLY ACCESS?
Want access 24 hours early to the 50 Most Relevant podcasts? Join our Patreon and get ahead of the Crowd!
And so it begins! Another fantasy football preseason filled with optimism, hope and the possibilities that in 2019 maybe this year will be your year for fantasy success. For us at The Coaches Panel after our 12-month hiatus, a new website location it’s time to once again take part in helping you in your journey of Fantasy Footy glory.
Between now and March 21st 2019 when the season opens and lockouts commence you’ll look at hundreds of players, trial thousands of combinations and probably tinker with your fantasy football side multiple times per day. Here at the Coaches Panel, our desire is never to tell you what to do, rather it’s to give you good information for you to make informed decisions about your side.
It’s a number of factors, including but not limited to: starting price, scoring ceiling, scoring consistency, what position they’ve been allocated by Champion Data and the opportunities that may have become available during the offseason. These are just some of the reasons a player is relevant in salary cap formats.
The list isn’t about predicting the top 50 averaging players for 2019, far from it. Rather it’s about looking at all players, across all salary cap formats and using the premiums, mid-price, stepping stones and cash cows available to us to see who could be helpful in helping us achieve our goal of fantasy footy success.
The goal of the 50 most relevant and fantasy footy in general this early in the preseason is about doing the research, having open minded conversations and seeing the potential possibilities at our fingertips.
Starting January 1st, and then for the following 49 days, I’d like to invite you to join with me as I share with you who I believe are the 50 most relevant players in the salary cap formats of SuperCoach, DreamTeam & AFLFantasy in one combined universal list.
The countdown will include a daily article, podcast as well as a drafting range projection for both single season and keeper leagues. And if you wish to get early access to 50 Most Relevant podcasts then you can do that by joining our Patreon.
I look forward to spending the next few months discussing fantasy footy and can’t wait to hear about your thoughts on who I believe are the 50 Most Relevant players for 2019.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Throughout the countdown some players you’ll agree with, others you won’t and that’s OK. This is a subjective list, but one that I hope encourages you as a fantasy coach. I and other members of the panel would love to chat about all forms of fantasy with you.
