Tag: Darcy Parish

Ten premiums in AFLFantasy with low ownership

Every preseason it happens in AFLFantasy. Certain premiums get all the love from the community, while others fade into the distance. Here are ten premiums with low ownership that have the potential to be among the best in their eligible lines.

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Isaac Cumming | Defender | 1.2% Ownership

I’ve long been a fan of Isaac Cumming. To me, he’s the perfect modern-day defender. He’s got the perfect combination of skills, speed, aerial ability and defensive smarts. Over the past two seasons, he’s averaged north of 90.

However, a few considerations have potentially led to his ownership being where it is. First, Isaac has the monopoly of kick-in responsibilities. Last year he had 129 kick in’s and played 90% of the time. The next best was Harry Himmelberg with 56. If he has to split this or loses this role, his scoring will nose-dive drastically. Lachie Whitfield also appears to be returning to his preferred role as a halfback.

At $802,000, he needs to be someone that doesn’t just average 90. He needs to push this average towards 100 to make him a worthwhile selection, given what you’ll be opting out of instead of him. So many are choosing to go to Nick Daicos and Hayden Young or find the extra $ to get up towards the ‘safer’ Jordan Dawson or Sam Docherty. I’m unsure Isaac can get towards triple digits, so I understand the low ownership.

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Mitch Duncan | Defender | 2% Ownership

In 2022 Mitch Duncan averaged 92.5 across the season. That featured six tons which included 124 & 138. He also had three additional scores between 90-99 and had his scoring dip below 70 on just two occasions.

The primary concern behind the lack of selection is likely due to the Geelong ‘resting rotation.’ But in AFLFantasy, this is the format to take a gamble on such a player. We have approximately 50 trades over the season. That’s an unbelievable amount! Duncan could give you scoring separation and a ceiling that’s as good as any other premium defender.

He doesn’t need to be in your side for a long time, just a good time! He’s currently $157,000 cheaper than Sam Docherty. If Mitch can go 100+ over the first five weeks and play every week, it could take a minimal cash injection to jump up to who many think is the clear top defender this season.

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Callum Mills | Midfield | 4% Ownership

Last year Callum Mills was exceptional. His average of 111 was the fourth highest in the format. Higher than Touk Miller, Jack Steele and Zach Merrett. While he ranked second overall for total points. He was a mere 30 points off dethroning Andrew Brayshaw. He scored fourteen tons over the season, seven over 120, five over 130 and his two top scores of the season were 156 & 162. Alongside this elite, scoring was a phenomenal basement with just three scores under 80 all season and just one under 75.

This was done coming off the back of 2021, where he also averaged over 110. But the scoring upside isn’t the reason for the comparatively low ownership. It’s all about the role. As the 2022 season went on, we did see a diversity in the Swans midfield, specifically an increase in CBA’s for Tom Papley. These started to appear from round 15 until the end of the season. From here, Mills CBAs did start to slide, and from a fantasy perspective, his numbers align with a dip. Over the first 13 games, he averaged 113, but from round 15 onwards, he had a nine-week stretch that Mills averaged 107.

Barring John Longmire saying that Mills won’t be moved from the primary CBA role, I can’t see coaches in AFLFantasy having the confidence to start him. With an average of 111 behind him, you don’t want to get it wrong to start with it. So I understand the low ownership. However, with that said, if you like to live on the wild side, then Mills could be the perfect starter. He can be the #1 player in the game if he stays in the guts all season.

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Zach Merrett | Midfield | 6.4% Ownership

If you’ve played AFLFantasy for more than a minute, then you know about the scoring history of Zach Merrett. The new Essendon skipper last year averaged 107.1. That placed him seventh by midfielders by average and ninth across the whole format by average. He scored twelve times over 100, ten of which were over 110, six over 120 and two over 130, including his career-high 172. To go alongside this strong scoring ceiling is a high-scoring floor. He had an additional three scores between 90-99, and in two tagged games, he had just two under 80 all year.

Since 2016 Merrett has averaged over 100 and had four seasons averaging over 110. Over the past six years, Zach’s been one of if not the most reliable players to deliver a season average of 100+. However, as much as the tag historically has been and potentially will be again a challenge at times for him, I believe there’s a larger, more pertinent question at hand. Is that how the Essendon midfield manifests in 2023 under new coach Brad Scott?

In 2022 not only did we see the best scoring of Merrett, but we also saw the challenges of owning him when he got tagged out of games and barely scored like a cash cow. As much as nobody wants to receive premiums scoring poorly, Merrett’s ‘tag’ games only really hurt when you trade into these lower scores and have missed the big scoring games beforehand.

What’s the structure? They might not be the strongest options, but they have plenty of options. Alongside Merrett, Darcy Parish, Dylan Shiel & Jye Caldwell have been on regular rotations. Throw in the next generation of options like Ben Hobbs, Archie Perkins and the yet-to-debut Elijah Tsatas, who should all see increased opportunities. And lastly, guys like Andrew McGrath, Nick Martin, Jake Stringer, and Andrew McGrath have historically had moments and matches in the midfield. Thankfully as the preseason continues, clarity will eventuate.

If your wanting a premium that, over the totality of the season, will be someone in and around the mark of the top ten midfielders, then you could do worse than Merrett. If he pops a ton in the preseason, watch his ownership leap!

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Bailey Smith | Midfield | 6.3% Ownership

What makes Bailey Smith such a good footballer is his incredible endurance and workrate. These two elements create the base for his reliable field kicking, the exciting burst of speed, and the ability to win the footy, making him the complete modern-day midfielder.

He flew out of the blocks last season with a 154 against the reigning premiers, Melbourne. By the time the 2022 season was done, he’d scored eleven tons from sixteen matches, including 131, 147 & the already mentioned 154. He also had two additional scores of 90+ and only fell under the 90 mark in just three games. In 81% of games last year, he scored 92 or above. But the hot start between rounds 1-10, when he averaged 118.4, has coaches excited.

In 2023 there has yet to be a consensus over the topline midfielders. Most would agree that Rory Laird will be around that top five, but beyond that is fairly open. You could ask ten different ‘experts’ who’d be the top midfielders for the year, and you’ll probably be left with a compiled list of 30 names. It’s why Bailey might be the perfect under-the-radar premium. We have proven performances over a sustained period and an easily explained narrative that unpacks the late-season fade. He’s a low-risk pick and is someone that too many are sleeping on.

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Brad Crouch | Midfield | 0.4% Ownership

What if I told you you could own someone from the top twelve for averages and total points last year? In addition, this player scored thirteen tons and averaged 126.5 in the last four weeks of the season. Interested? Well, you probably do not once you know it’s Brad Crouch. Why? Because name value matters to many within the community.

The element that turns me away from considering Brad is the need for 120 scores. When you’re forking out 942k, he’s got to be a VC/C option, and historically Crouch isn’t that. Last year he went 120 or higher in just five games. And since becoming a Saint, he’s achieved it nine times in his forty-one matches. I love Brad as a person, draft option, and footballer. But in AFLFantasy classic as a starter, there’s a reason why he’s so lowly owned.

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Darcy Parish | Midfield | 3.2% Ownership

Darcy Parish broke out for us in 2021. From the final 17 games of the season, he scored eleven tons, seven of them over 120 and two over the monster mark of 150. In 2022 before his calf injury midway through the season, he scored at a similar rate to what we saw over 2/3 of the year prior. Between rounds 1-11, he averaged 108.4, including eight tons and two over 130.

Parish could be the perfect M2 or M3, depending on your midfield structure. On the upside, he’s got the clear, proven ability to run at an average of 110. Last year we had only five midfielders hit that range, while in 2021, it was ten. So full disclosure, he’s right in the mix for me. At best, he is a top-eight midfielder; at worst, he allows you to quickly pivot to the midfielder in the 90-100 range, starting the season on fire. After all, it could well be him.

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Reilly O’Brien | Ruck | 3.1% Ownership

What to do at R2? That is a common stumbling block for coaches as they look to build a starting squad of 30 that they’re happy with. With an ownership of 40%, most have settled on Rowan Marshall. What do they do around him? Do we ‘pay up’ for Tim English? Do we take a safe ‘premium’ approach and get Jarrod Witts? Can we trust Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy not to eat too much of each other’s scoring? Will Darcy Cameron be the perfect halfway house option? Or should we go all the way down to a Scott Lycett?

As I’m sure you’ve tried, the ruck division does create some headaches. One possible solution is to look at Reilly O’Brien. Last year he averaged 93 and scored eight tons, including a 159. But it’s not just the scoring appeal about ‘ROB.’ It’s the lack of concerns over role and ruck share. O’Brien is streets ahead of Kieran Strauhan, and with Riley Thilthorpe playing as a key position forward, he’s the perfect foil to provide a small ruck relief role.

He might never return to his 2020 scoring, where he averaged an adjusted 108. But I can’t forecast a world where he doesn’t at the least hold his scoring average. Given all the uncertainty around the rucks, a 93 might be close enough to one of the top rucks to save you from ever having to make a trade.

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Dylan Moore | Forward | 4.9% Ownership

Last year Dylan Moore was one of the most underrated stepping stones that popped into premium territory. He averaged 93 over the season, which featured nine tons, including 129 & 138. Interestingly, over the first seven weeks, he averaged 98, and in the final ten games where he started to pick up centre bounces, he averaged 100. So what happened in the middle? Well, he went at 76 over six weeks.

The challenge of starting with him in classic means that by selecting him, you’re favouring him over the vastly more popular Connor Rozee, Josh Dunkley, Tim Taranto and Stephen Conilgio. Why are they more popular? The popular consensus would be that they possess an arguably higher ceiling and are likely to have a more defined role within their side.

In my eyes, having Moore become a top-ten forward as a starting option isn’t sufficient. He needs to be in the top handful and push his average to a minimum of 100. Because if he doesn’t, the names listed above (and another about to be discussed) might leave you stuck in a fantasy no man’s land. He’ll be great for draft, but you’ll have to be bullish on the ton average to lock him away for round one. He doesn’t have to be a CBA midfielder to deliver it. The splits from earlier highlight that he can score well regardless of role.

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Zak Butters | MID/FWD | 6.5% Ownership

Zak Butters was one of the most hyped and highly-owned forwards in starting squads in 2022. Now in 2023, he’s certainly unique. He didn’t have a bad season in terms of scoring, but he did miss multiple weeks with injury and had a bunch of sub-80 scores. As a result, there’s an unconscious bias towards not picking him.

The reality is his 2022 season was solid. He posted six tons; two were above 120, while his scoring dipped below 80 in seven matches. He averaged in the mid 80’s last year; however, in the final seven games of the year, he averaged 101.1.

The forward line fascinates me. So many are trying to squeeze upwards of four premiums into their starting squad. And yet Butters is not in consideration despite having as much potential upside as others. The community is obviously hotter than others than him.

Another reason that might explain the low ownership is a recent injury setback. Over a week ago, he sustained a light sprain to his AC joint at training. While it doesn’t sound serious, it’s just another ‘flag’ to coaches that Zak keeps finding ways to get himself hurt.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Butters is a top-five forward by seasons end. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he had four different injury issues and played a dozen games.

10 Players Unlucky to Miss the 50 Most Relevant in 2023

Every season after I conclude the 50 Most Relevant, we love to look back at some of the unlucky players to miss the countdown. Here are 10 Players Who Missed The 50 Most Relevant

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Scott Lycett

A dislocated shoulder ruined the season of Scott Lycett, but the one positive of it now is he’s received a discount on his starting price. What happens in the ruck division and how people structure up in 2023 is one of the most interesting for coaches structurally.

Tim English and Darcy Cameron have had multiple little niggles in the preseason. At the same time, there is understandable concern about how previous premiums Brodie Grundy, Max Gawn and Sean Darcy will all function with new ruck teammates. For many in the fantasy community, it’s why Lycett has skyrocketed into consideration. He has multiple seasons averaging over 80 in AFLFantasty/DreamTeam and has been a safe 90+ average in SuperCoach in his previous three seasons at the pear.

There does appear to be some competition for spots, alongside some interruptions to his preseason. Still, a fully fit and fully engaged Scott should be beating out all other ruck avenues at Port Adelaide. If we can get those two things, then getting some value at R2 with him could be a viable play.

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Jack Bowes

Geelong was adamant in the offseason that Jack Bowes wasn’t the steak knives in the deal to secure pick seven. Multiple recruiting and coaching staff members have gone out of their way to ensure that. But does Jack have a home inside the Cats best 22? And if he does, where does he get opportunities on the field? As a junior, his class was seen through the midfield, but more recently, his former side used him across halfback. Nevertheless, the versatility of Bowes should see him right in the mix for round one. Geelong has often preached that mantra; after all, it’s worked with them winning the most recent premiership.

Just because he moved clubs isn’t enough reason to be in or miss the fifty most relevant. One of the most important factors in our starting squad structures is where and how many strong cash cows we have. After some early days concerns, we’ll have a bounty of cheaper options in the backline. However, as a suitable defensive option at his price point, he could still pop up higher into relevance should some of them fail to take their chances during the practice game and AAMI community series.

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Josh Kelly

You knew it was coming, didn’t you? I couldn’t get through the preseason without speaking about one of my favourite players of all time. Josh Kelly has all the skills, smarts, and pedigree to be a premium across the formats.

In 2021 from round seven until the season ended in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he averaged 111 and scored twelve tons with just three over 120, but they included a 152 and a 141. From these final 15 games, he just had one score below 96. Similarly, in SuperCoach, from round seven onwards, he scored 12 tons, six of them over 120 and averaged 113. It included a run of ten consecutive hundreds from rounds 7-17. Those scores are reflective of his scoring shown back in 2017 & 2019.

However, there’s only so long you can refer to seasons of four or six seasons ago before you need to reconsider that someone is unable to get back to this scoring territory again. Throw in the uncertainty of the GWS midfield mix and style under new coach Adam Kingsley, and it becomes a fascinating preseason watch.

If he gets back into a primary role as a centre-bounce midfielder, then the days of 110+ won’t just be a memory, but they’ll be a reality even in a more ‘Richmond’ game style. Kelly can and does score fantasy points in every column imaginable except hitouts.

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Darcy Wilmot

When Darcy Wilmot made his debut during the 2022 AFL finals series, fantasy coaches across the country opened up their little black book and put his name in. The Brisbane speedster looked right at home at the elite level with scores of 51, 62 & 52 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 52, 61 & 73 for SuperCoach. It’s not monster scoring, but it’s more than enough for a basement-level defender cash cow.

The arrival of Conor McKenna has added some more complexity and has thrown his spot inside the best 22 into some uncertainty. But if Darcy is named round one, many coaches will happily select him.

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Isaac Cumming

I’ve long been a fan of Isaac Cumming. To me, he’s the perfect modern-day defender. He’s got the perfect combination of skills, speed, aerial ability and defensive smarts. Over the past two seasons, he’s averaged north of 90 across the formats and has shown a strong scoring ceiling.

The only consideration worth flagging is that Isaac has the majority of the kick-in responsibilities. Last year he had 129 kick in’s and played 90% of the time. The next best was Harry Himmelberg with 56. If he has to split this or loses this role, his scoring will nose-dive drastically.

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Darcy Parish

Darcy Parish broke out for us in 2021. From the final 17 games of the season, he scored eleven tons, seven of them over 120 and two over the monster mark of 150. While for SuperCoach, it’s thirteen tons, eight over 120, four over 150, including a personal best 190.

In 2022 before his calf injury midway through the season, he scored at a similar rate to what we saw over 2/3 of the year prior. Between rounds 1-11, he averaged 108.4 in AFLFantasty/DreamTeam, including eight tons and two over 130. While in SuperCoach, he was going at 118.3, which consisted of nine tons, five over 120 and nothing below 97.

The scoring power isn’t the question; I believe there’s a larger, more pertinent question. Is that how the Essendon midfield manifests in 2023 under new coach Brad Scott? What’s the structure? They might not be the strongest options, but they have plenty of options. Alongside Parish, Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel & Jye Caldwell have been on regular rotations. Throw in the next generation of options like Ben Hobbs, Archie Perkins and the yet-to-debut Elijah Tsatas, who should all see increased opportunities. And lastly, guys like Andrew McGrath, Nick Martin, Jake Stringer, and Andrew McGrath have all historically had moments and matches in the midfield.

Alongside the structure is the style questions. Thankfully as the pre-season continues, clarity will eventuate. For me, he’s right in the mix in some formats if the role and style of the game align at Essendon.

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Matt Rowell

Only a few players have been as hyped up in fantasy footy circles as the level that we’ve seen around Matt Rowell. Sadly injuries have played a significant part in stunting his ability to play up to this expectation. Thankfully this offseason two, things have happened for Matt. Firstly, and probably most importantly, he’s been able to have his first full uninterrupted preseason at the AFL level. Second, the club have focussed on building his outside game.

If the Gold Coast Suns are going to break the finals drought finally, it will need to come off the back of these talented youngsters delivering on their high-end talent. This could be very exciting if Matt combines his inside game with a developed outside game. Only a few midprice picks come off, but with Matt, we know he can do it at the elite level. If I start to see some of that outside game translating into some serious fantasy numbers, then he’s genuinely got to be a consideration for those looking for a player in this price range.

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Ryan Clarke

Ryan Clarke isn’t on this list because of his fantasy output. He’s here because of what he does to others. In the back third of the season, the Swans started using Ryan as a tagger, specifically on the opposition team’s best-rebounding defender. He was devastating by the impact he had on our premiums.

For example, in round fifteen, he held Jack Sinclair to a 72 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 79 in SuperCoach. That’s approximately 30 points shy of his average. Two weeks later, he shut down Bailey Dale. He only managed a 57 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam & 76 for SuperCoach. He stalled the rebound of Brodie Smith in round 19 to under 70 across the formats, and in round 20, he spent half the game tagging Isaac Cumming and then flipped to Harry Himmelberg. Again, both fell well behind their regular averages. While in round 22, he keeps Nick Daicos to scores of 65 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam & 62 in SuperCoach.

In summary, he’s a premium killer. If the Swans look to deploy a similar tactic in 2023, keep an eye on the matchups of your premium defenders. The Swans first six rounds are against Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond & Geelong.

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Will Day

Will Day broke onto the fantasy scene in 2020 with multiple scores over 80 across the formats. He followed it up in round one of 2021, scoring a 103 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam & 122 in SuperCoach. However, since then, the only thing that has been a constant is his body letting him down with injuries.

Touch wood; he’s turned a corner this preseason and seems to be getting some continuity with his body. Further upside could be that he’s been training through the midfield and has been one of the clubs standouts.

One of the bigger pain points for teams structurally is what they do between D3-D5. Day could be the perfect stepping stone option that ensures you the right balance of premiums and cash cows on the field. If we don’t get the volume of cows we need, especially in the backline, he might pop as not just a possibility to a probability.

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Charlie Constable

This is a late preseason mover, but Charlie Constable needs to be on your preseason radar for several reasons. Firstly, he’s got himself as strong and fit as he’s been across his limited AFL career. He was getting deployed as a half-back late last season in the VFL. That role has continued this preseason. Defensive coach Tate Kaesler said recently, “his composure with the ball and the way he can slice opposition teams apart is something I value, but what he’s been working on big time is his defensive craft. We’ve exposed him to being that third tall so that he can play in different layers in that defensive part of the game.”

With primary ball movers Will Powell and Lachie Weller coming back from some injuries, there’s an opportunity in the Suns defensive group for Charlie. In DreamTeam & SuperCoach, he’s priced as a cash cow, while he’s marginally above that range in AFLFantasy. However, if he has the role of a distributor in the practice matches and the AAMI community series, he must be seriously considered.

 

Way Too Early 2023 Fantasy Football Watchlist

The AFL trade period might still be in full swing, but it’s never too early to think about the upcoming fantasy football season, right? Gulp! I had some spare time to put together my way too early 2023 fantasy football watchlist.

Reilly O’Brien

The Adelaide ruckman starts us off in this list not because of his performance throughout the year, but the seeming dread of ruck options that might be startable for 2023. With the likelihood that Gawn and Grundy end up in the same team and Darcy sharing time with Jackson, ROB stands out as one of the few premiums rucks who will have uncontested time in the middle. Coming in priced at 93 and 102 in AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach respectively, the small value that ROB presents to coaches might see him selected as the starting premium ruck option.

Darcy Wilmot

Wilmot impressed when playing in Brisbane’s three finals, holding down a spot through the finals series and putting forward the case for him to be in the best 22 to start next year. He showed a decent role across half back for the Lions and coming in at a basement price for next year he will likely be one of the most picked players when the games launch.

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Adam Cerra

Cerra has been playing as a pure midfielder upon moving to Carlton, performing at just under a 90 average in AFL Fantasy and 92 in SuperCoach. However, he had a year which was interrupted significantly by injuries which saw him struggle for consistency, with his season including a subbed 5 point game and many games where he scored lowly due to returning with low time on ground. Of the 18 games he played which weren’t affected by injury and low TOG, only one of them had a score below 90, and removing these affected games raises his averages to 98.7 and 103.6 in AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach, respectively. As such, there is a minimum 10 points of upside for him, and with an uninterrupted season he could push close to a top 15 midfielder in both formats.

Nick Daicos

The rookie who defied even the highest expectations of coaches finished close to being a top 6 defender in all formats and yet he might still hold more value in 2023. His ability for a first-year player was highlighted by the fact he pumped out seven tons in AFL fantasy and six in SuperCoach, with high scores of 147 and 163 in the formats, respectively. It’s worth noting that in the second half of his season his averages were 95.5 and 93.2 in AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach, respectively, including games where he even drew tags. With a reduction of the number premium defenders likely, Daicos may be able to improve enough into 2023 to push into the top 6. 

Darcy Parish

Coming off a breakout year in 2021, Parish started 2022 where he left off, averaging 108.5 in AFL Fantasy and 118.5 in SuperCoach before the Bye. After the bye, Parish had an injured game where he was subbed out, followed by two different injury stints which saw him play just 4 full games for the rest of the year. Uncertainty around the Bombers remains with a new coach, but being priced at least 10 points under his proven ability, Parish is an under-priced premium to consider starting. 

Hayden Young

Fast becoming one of my favourite players, Young was finally able to string together a full season of AFL and had what many would consider a third-year breakout. He averaged just under 90 in AFL Fantasy and just over 90 in SuperCoach with phenomenal consistency, registering only two games under 75 in AFL Fantasy and three under 75 in SuperCoach. With another preseason under his belt and the potential for him to move further up the ground with the departure of Acres, Young could easily become a top 6 defender in 2023.

Max Holmes

The unlucky man to miss out on the premiership in 2022 for the Cats will surely have a point to prove, and with Joel Selwood retiring the opportunity for midfield time for the young cat presents us a potential breakout candidate. He will come in priced at 63.5 and 65.5 in AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach, respectively, and in 2022 he showed his fantasy chops with a 7-game stretch at the end of the season prior to finals where he went at 80 in both formats. If he were to retain forward status, I would consider him an almost must start player for 2023.

Harry Himmelberg

A tale of two halves of the season and two different coaches for Himmelberg, with his move to a defender at round 10 significantly changing his scoring output, with at one point him having one of the highest 3-round averages in fantasy. If you think that the new coach Adam Kingsley will keep Himmelberg in an intercept defender role for 2023, there is up to 20 points of upside for him, and he has the potential to be the highest averaging defender next year.

Ben King

The twin to Max didn’t play a game in 2023 due to suffering an ACL injury in February. Whilst picking players off a severe knee injury is risky, the fact that he will come in near or at basement price with an extended recovery period might mean he can sit on your forward bench through the early part of the season and be a slow burn cash cow. The fact that he will likely be a starter for the Suns in every game he is fit means that he will be a great option for the 2023 season, just don’t rely on him for a fieldable score.

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Josh Ward

Another candidate for a second-year breakout is Ward, who also showed his fantasy chops in the second half of 2022. After breaking back into the team in round 17, Ward went on to average 89 in AFL Fantasy and 78 in SuperCoach, presenting over 15 points worth of upside compared to his season average. If Tom Mitchell is on the outs as it appears, the additional responsibilities that could go to Ward could see him be a Mid-Price option worth starting.

Christian Salem

Salem has shown in the past that he can achieve an average in and around the 90’s which in a typical year is verging on the top 10 defenders. However, he will come in priced at 80 across all formats due to suffering an injury barely 10 minutes into round 1. Salem them returned with an 82 average across his last 9 games in both formats. Whether there is enough for Salem to be an underpriced premium worth picking for 2023 remains to be seen, but he remains firmly on the watch list.

Will Phillips

One of the forgotten players at the Kangaroos due to missing the entire year with glandular fever, Phillips will receive a significant discount coming into the 2023 season due to not playing game. Opportunities exist for the young Roo to stake a claim for a midfield role in the rebuilding Kangaroos, and it is likely that Phillips will line up in round 1 for the side should he have an injury free preseason. Priced near basement and with Mid/Fwd DPP, Phillips is one who will probably end up in the majority of teams come the start of the fantasy season next year.

Connor Rozee

Rozee has shown throughout the 2022 season that he can match it with the best players for scoring potential, especially forwards. The issue is he has also shown a floor which is completely unacceptable for salary cap formats, with his scoring output entirely dependent on his midfield time. If listed as a forward for next season, he should be heavily considered as a starting option if given midfield time through the preseason and will probably be one to mull over even if only a midfielder.

Tim Taranto

Richmond a tricky team to pick a player from who could present value for 2023 due to their gamestyle being relatively unappealing for fantasy, highlighted by the fact that no player averaged over 100 in either format in 2022. However, the trade in of Tim Taranto finally has me excited about owning a Tiger in fantasy again. Taranto has shown phenomenal fantasy prowess when given a full-time midfield position and with Richmond likely to give him plenty of CBA’s, he could easily push a 105 average across formats. Time will tell whether he retains forward status into 2023, but he is still worthy of a spot in your early drafts for next season.

Rowan Marshall

Ryder retiring has opened the door for Marshall to be the solo ruckman for the Saints in 2023. He has shown his ceiling when Ryder has been injured, notching high scores of 163 in AFL Fantasy and 173 in SuperCoach. The main concern is if the Saints will want to play Tom Campbell alongside him, but with limited Ruck options that will present value for 2023 he might be the easy option for a reason. Let’s just hope he stays a solo ruck!

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Callum Mills

Mills joined the 200 club in SuperCoach in 2022 with a monster 214 against Hawthorn, posting 162 in AFL Fantasy in the same game. The ability for him to pump ceiling games during the season puts him in the upper echelon of premium midfielders behind only Oliver, Laird, and Neale. The biggest issue for Mills is his floor, with the Swan posting 7 sub-100 games in AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach, however two of these came early in the season when he had low TOG due to recovering from an Achilles injury. If he can have an uninterrupted preseason and another year in the midfield, Mills could stake a claim to being the number one midfielder across all formats.

Campbell Chesser

Chesser was hyped up as a potential rookie to start in 2022 even with his inflated price due to being pick 14 and was even on track to debut in round 1 before suffering multiple injuries through the year. A complete preseason for him should allow for him to stake a claim in the Eagles best 22 for the 2023 season, and with the team headed towards a rebuild, getting games into the classy young defender is sure to be a high priority. He will come in at basement price and should easily be a starting defender rookie for your team.

Bailey Smith

Smith started the 2022 season in phenomenal form, posting 8 tons in 9 games at an average of 118 in AFL Fantasy and an average of 101 in SuperCoach. However, he had an extended break through the middle of the season due to suspensions and slowed down in the back half of the year. The likely departure of Dunkley will open more midfield time at the Dogs and if Smith were to retain Forward status there is an argument that he is almost certain to be in the top 6. As usual, the Dogs midfield rotation will be a watch, but if Smith is entrenched in it then he has one foot firmly in my 2023 team.

Upgrade Targets After Their Bye | Round 12

One week of the multi bye rounds is over. We now have six teams that have no more scheduled rests for the remainder of the season. Here’s a club by club breakdown of potential upgrade targets who have had their bye round.

Arguably the season’s feel-good story has been Sam Docherty’s comeback. Throw in that he’s having a career-best season in possession stats, and it’s clear to see why he’s many coaches #1 defensive premium target this week. So far, he’s had eight SuperCoach tons and just the one score under 87. While in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s had seven tons and just one score beneath 89. His scoring is so rounded and pure, so while he won’t be a value buy, he will be one of the best backs until the end of the season. 

 Currently, Sam Walsh is in under 10% of teams and on form of the past three games is ranked third among all SuperCoach and eighth in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam. Whenever you can get a high-end scoring premium with low ownership, you need to consider them seriously. Many coaches will chase the value of a Merrett or Wines or go for the flavour of the month, Kelly. None are wrong picks, but Sam could be the best premium over the final ten weeks of the year. 

It’s been tough to have been successful so far this year without owning George Hewett. The stepping stone has outdone our wildest expectations and has probably been the best starting squad selection for 2022. By average, he’s ranked as the clear number one defender and tenth in SuperCoach. It’s this format that if you don’t own, he’s seriously hurting you. For AFLFantasy, he’s still been excellent as one of the top few defenders, but what he’s currently not done is hurt you with his ceiling. As yet, he’s still yet to score over 120. All this to be said if you don’t own in SuperCoach, I don’t believe you can be successful without him. In AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, if you want to own him, then absolutely get him, but I think he’d be someone I’d encourage non-owners to try and take on. It may hurt to miss, but we haven’t seen the Blues ‘fab five midfielders’. Perhaps we see him slide a little, and non-owners get a slight advantage. 

The year couldn’t have started any better for Patrick Cripps. Beyond a one-week hammy, he was unstoppable over the season’s first two months. However, in the past three weeks, he’s struggled to reach these heights for a combination of reasons. Cripps has gone at just 79 in AFLFantasy and 92 in SuperCoach. The combination of a week off to freshen up and the likely return of Harry McKay should enable him to be back towards averaging 100+ across the formats. He’s fine to hold if you still own him, but I think there are better options priced around him. 

There is only one Richmond player I have fantasy footy interest in, Jayden Short. On average, he’s ranked second in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and seventh in SuperCoach among all defenders. He’s been one of the best early-season options, and despite just one ton in his past three weeks, I believe he’ll be among the top of the backline picks. He’s not unique, nor is he cheap, but he is bloody good to own!

We don’t have a lot of ‘premium’ forward options available to trade into from this group of six teams. But if you are desperate to bring one in, then Dustin Martin is someone to consider. Since coming back into the Tigers lineup in round eight, he’s averaged 90 in SuperCoach & 81 in AFLFantasy. That’s well below his capabilities, and if you believe he (and his Tigers) can have another hot run of form, he might be worth a punt.

A month can be a long time in football. Just four weeks ago, Stephen Coniglio was someone that coaches were eagerly looking to trade after scoring a 49 in AFLFantasy and 37 in SuperCoach against the Blues in round nine. Since then, the club’s coaching has undergone a major overhaul, and as a result, he’s been thrown right back into the midfield and scored a 145 & 85 in SuperCoach and 120 & 108 in AFLFantasy. The club has confirmed that he’ll maintain this midfield role, and with Tim Taranto still potentially weeks away, he looks like finally being the premium forward we all hoped he could be. If you don’t own him, he’s legitimately one of the best value buys of the week. 

One of the most attractive options coaches consider is GWS skipper Josh Kelly, and understandably so. Multiple times over his career, he’s the ability to average 110+ for a full season across all fantasy formats. In AFLFantasy, he’s the form player in the game with the highest three-round average, with him rolling an average of 126. While in SuperCoach, he’s going at 137 in the previous three games, with only Clayton Oliver going better. He’s no longer a value pick, but if his current scoring trend holds, he’ll be among the top eight scoring midfielders for the final few months of the season. 

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Mark my words, Isaac Cumming is a star and will become one of the best premium defenders in the game. His elite combination of foot skills, intercepting and footy IQ make him phenomenally fun to own. The question is whether or not it happens, but rather will these next ten weeks see him average enough to compete with the best backs in the game. I’d look elsewhere, but he’s a premium gun for the future. 

It’d take a brave coach to reach blind and trade into Lachie Whitfield. He’s been played out of position and been sore for chunks of the 2022 season. As a result, his fantasy footy scores have seen more ‘lows’ than ‘highs.’ But historically, Lachie’s got the capabilities to be the top-scoring defensive option in the game. It’s a risk vs rewards decision for coaches. The encouraging sign is that we’ve seen the correction of both Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio under the new coaching regime back to their strongest roles, and the premium scoring has followed them. Will the same happen for Whitfield? Let’s hope so. 

Over the preseason, arguably the most hyped player was Zak Butters and his evolution into the midfield. While the midfield minutes are there, his inconsistency in scoring is still like a rollercoaster, with nearly 100 points the variation between his highest and lowest scores of the year. A three-round average of 108 in SuperCoach and 90 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam is good, but I’d be hesitant to want to bring him into my side. He’s got the capacity to be a top tier forward on the run home, but he’s just as likely to disappoint coaches on the run home. He’s fine to hold if you own, but it might be wise to continue on that path if you’ve avoided him to date. 

You’ve got to admire what Travis Boak has done over the past few seasons. He’s been one of the most reliable 100+ performers across all game formats. This year he’s still been good with some monster scores, including a 150+ performance back in round two. He’s dropped about $100k across the formats, so he does represent value. But this year, more than recently, Port is spreading the load away from the heavy dependency on himself and Ollie Wines. The Power fixture does look quite tricky over the next six weeks for midfielders. After tonight’s clash with the Tigers, they play Sydney, Gold Coast, Fremantle, GWS and Melbourne. He’s certainly an option, but I like others more, including his Brownlow winning teammate.

When Port Adelaide drafted RUC/FWD Brynn Teakle last week, it was a huge win for coaches. This is for two reasons! Firstly, he’s a RUC/FWD DPP, which enables coaches to move Tim English easily into either of these positions should coverage be needed. Second, he’s also at a team where he’s a genuine chance to pinch a game or two. Sam Hayes has been left out of the side this week, while Scott Lycett is still four weeks away. If you have Sam Hayes at R3, even if Teakle doesn’t play, it’s quite a good trade move. It opens up cash for upgrades and squad versatility. #Winning

Over the past 18 months, the top fantasy selection from Port Adelaide has been Ollie Wines. His seasonal average is down significantly compared to last year, but that’s due to an injury affected game against Melbourne in round four where he got subbed out. Excluding that game, he’s averaging 105 in AFLFantasy & 110 in SuperCoach. He presents value given his non-injury affected average & is someone to seriously consider if you believe he and the pear can get back to previous seasons performances. 

When the round 12 lockouts lifted, plenty of coaches went straight into their midfield and traded into Zach Merrett. And with good reason to, for the better part of his career, he’s been one of the safest 110+ averaging players in the game. A sub 60 score in round nine against the Swans is the primary driver behind his current price point. Outside of that game, his lowest score in AFLFantasy is 92 & SuperCoach it’s 99. The fixture ahead isn’t easy for the Dons, but of all their midfielders, he’s the most bulletproof for scoring and has the best scoring basement. A perfect example of ‘buy low’ on premiums and get an outperforming return on investment.

It feels odd to say this after his breakout year in 2021, but people are sleeping on Darcy Parish this year. He’s currently on a run of eight consecutive SuperCoach hundreds, with the lowest being a 109. The 10% of coaches currently owning have loved his season, given he also hasn’t dropped his scores under 97. In AFLFantasy, he’s had some more lowly basement games but still hasn’t fallen under 80 all season. Of his eight tons this year, six have been over 110, including a 131 & 146. It might be tough to pay up to him when his teammate listed above is of insane value. But he’s a prospect to consider for those with no salary cap worries. 

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Some potential value might tempt some with Mason Redman. He’s scored two tons and an extra over 90 across the formats in his past three. However, as good as his form has been, I wouldn’t be targeting him in classic. The potential volatility of Essendon gives me no confidence in trading into him.

You want premiums to be captaincy candidates when you pay the top price for a midfielder. Brad Crouch has had a strong season; in SuperCoach, he’s scored six tons and has had one score under 96 all season. In AFLFantasy, he’s also posted six tons and dropped his scoring below 87 just once. However, despite his good season to date, he’s still just averaging 104-105 across the formats. So as good as he’s been, he’s not a captain option, nor is he a value pickup. Therefore, it’s hard to get behind it. 

If there’s one St Kilda player you want to trade into, it’s Jack Sinclair. The running machine is ranked fourth in SuperCoach and fifth in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam for defenders. But it’s his more recent form that’s got coaches salivating at the possibility of trading into him. Over the past three matches, he’s got the highest average among all defenders across the formats. He’s been running at an average of 128 in SuperCoach and 118 in AFLFantasy. He’s not cheap, but he’s been an absolute beast this year. 

Ever since Paddy Ryder became a Saint, it’s been well documented that Rowan Marshall’s scores are heavily impacted when Ryder plays versus when he misses. This year he’s averaging 17.2 points per game less in AFLFantasy and 21.3 in SuperCoach when Ryder plays. So unless Paddy is missing major chunks of the run home, I cannot advocate for trading into Rowan Marshall. 

From the current reports, Jack Steele is still a few weeks off from returning. You should have completed your midfield by the time he’s ripe and ready. Perhaps a luxury trade target later on or if a premium cops an injury or suspension. 

AAMI Community Series Review | Essendon Vs St Kilda

Intro

Zach Merrett

He played just half of the match against the Saints and had the ball on a string. Floated between halfback and midfield and gave coaches that were already hot for owning him all the confidence in the world they needed.

Jye Caldwell

Jye’s one of the forgotten stepping stone midfielders this year. With coaches opting for guys like Matt Rowell or Jarrod Berry. Jye’s every chance of matching the scoring realms of both of these lads if this midfield function holds strong. For some, it might just be personal preference, but for me, as good as he could be, I’d still pick the others over him.

Andrew McGrath

The former #1 draft pick looks so much better coming off the halfback. His run and carry and high footy IQ were evident across the game. He might not get the volume of the ball to have the big ceiling fantasy scores, but in his role, he should be a viable performer. Keep an eye on a season DPP allocation if this role holds.

Darcy Parish

He cruised around in second gear. However, the midfield role is still there, and with McGrath and Merrett spending less time through the midfield, he looks like the leading man for the Dons in 2022.

Jordan Ridley

This game was a perfect reminder of why I think he’s a fantastic option in SuperCoach and just an OK version in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam pick. The quantity of ball isn’t there, especially with McGrath/Merrett Sharking some easy ball. Instead, it’s high-quality use of the ball and intercepting that makes all the difference in SuperCoach.

Rowan Marshall

The history of Rowan Marshall over the past few seasons is clear. He scores like a premium when he’s required to be the #1 ruck option for the Saints. With no Ryder or Campbell, he was given the freedom to roam the ground for the Saints. If he holds down the top mantle from Ryder for the year, he’ll be one of the best scoring ruckmen of the season.

Jack Steele

All we need from our premiums in the preseason is to get through the game unscathed. Don’t worry about the points. He played midfield, looked fit and will be a beast again in 2022.

Jack Hayes

We are crying out for cash cows on almost every line in 2022, especially those at the basement price that looks to have some level of job security. I was pretty impressed with his work around the ground and his ability to impact the scoreboard when given his opportunities. If he’s named round one, he’ll be a popular pick.

Injuries

For the Saints, it’s not uncommon to sadly see Jack Billings and Hunter Clark with the hospital emoji next to their name. For Clark, a shoulder injury, while for Billings, it’s his hammy. Both will miss the start of the season.

Brad Hill

At the start of the preseason, I noticed the positional change to DEF for Brad. With Coffield out for the year and Clark out for the first few rounds, there’s an excellent role opening up for Hill. His run and carry for the Saints is super important. And his seven-rebound 50s highlighted the fact that the club wanted the ball in his hands when exiting the backline. It might be a stretch in the salary cap formats, but in your draft, he’s certainly one to consider.

#30 Most Relevant | Darcy Parish

The breakout to the elite scoring of Darcy Parish was one of the more surprising developments in 2021. But with a fully fit and firing Essendon midfield, can he back it up and be the dominant premium fantasy footballer coaches are hoping for?

PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Darcy Parish
Age: 24
Club: Essendon
Position: Midfield

2021 Highest Score: 
160 Vs Richmond (AFLFantasy)
190 Vs Geelong (SuperCoach)

Career Highest Score: 
160 Vs Richmond | AFLFantasy (2021)
190 Vs Geelong | SuperCoach (2021)

2021 Average: 
105.4 (AFLFantasy)
114.1 (SuperCoach)

SuperCoach Price: $621,300
AFLFantasy Price: $885,000
AFLDreamTeam Price: $899,200

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WHY IS HE RELEVANT?

I don’t care what anyone else says. Nobody saw that season coming from Darcy Parish. His talents as a junior were highly touted, but for the past few seasons, Essendon fans and fantasy coaches were starting to fear the worst, that sadly it was another high-end talent selection gone wrong. Thankfully for all parties involved, this wasn’t the case. The actual reality was that Darcy just needed freedom and confidence from his coaching staff to play the midfield role as a junior. The breakout was stamped with an equal fifth-place finish in the Brownlow Medal.

Last year by game averages, he ranked second for centre clearances, fourth for inside ’50s, fifth for score involvements, eighth for disposals, ninth for effective disposals and tenth for contested possessions. In short, Parish statistically elevated himself to be one of the elite midfielders in the competition. From an AFLFantasy perspective, he finished the season with twelve tons, seven of them over 120 and two 150+. To go with this stunning scoring was that he only had four scores falling below 80 all season. By seasons end, he found himself ranked 16th for total points. While for SuperCoach, he averaged 114, scored fourteen centuries, seven over 130 and an insane four above 150, including that career-high 190. Just like in AFLFantasy, he had four scores below 80, but based on seasonal ranks, he’s the 13th best points scorer in the game

As strong as the season looks in totality. Coaches that played fantasy footy last year know that the true story started on April 25th. He was fully released from Anzac Day against the Magpies to play as a midfielder. So from round six onwards, here’s the stat line for Parish. In AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, From the final 17 games of the season, he scored 11 tons, 7 of them over 120 and 2 over the monster mark of 150. While for SuperCoach, it’s 13 tons, eight over 120, four over 150, including a personal best 190.

Last season Parish was spectacular for the better part of half of the year. But how good was he? I’ve contrasted his scoring against four of the other best fantasy premiums that played all ten matches in this time. Please note Touk Miller missed a game, so I’ve removed him. But just how good was Darcy’s scoring between rounds 6-16 when placed alongside Tom Mitchell, Jack Macrae, Clayton Oliver and Jack Steele. I’ll admit, when I put the numbers beside each other, I was shocked at the outcome.

Before last season, Parish had frankly shown minor signs to suggest that he would ever become a valuable fantasy prospect. The conversation happening for keeper league coaches this time last year centred around whether or not it was time to cut your losses and delist him back into the player pool. The reason being he’d never averaged anything above 80 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and the mid-’80s in SuperCoach.

However, all Darcy needed was an opportunity. The chance to play in the midfield whereas a junior, he dominated, and thankfully for Darcy, Essendon and fantasy coaches, he more than just delivered. He knocked it out of the ballpark with scoring better than anyone else in the game.
There are certainly some question marks surrounding his fantasy prospects this year, which we’ll address shortly. But on pure, proven scoring power, Parish must be a watchlist option for every coach in all formats this preseason.

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MY TAKE

Like anything, you’ve always got to look at the narrative behind the numbers. Firstly, what caused the role change? Simple! A long-term injury to Dylan Shiel was after an almost season-ending injury to Jye Caldwell. So if injury created the opportunity, what happened upon their return? Caldwell didn’t play again in the home and away season. But Shiel did in round 19.

So in the 15 games Parish played without Dylan, he averaged 117.7 in AFLFantasy and 128.1 in SuperCoach. However, when Shiel did play (7 games) in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he averaged 79.1 and 84.3 in SuperCoach. That’s a differential of 38.6 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 43.8 in SuperCoach. Those numbers might be slightly misleading as that doesn’t include games where Parish wasn’t playing our midfield. More specifically, over the final five games, when both Shiel and Parish did play, he averaged a mere 84.4 in DT/AF and 87.8 in SC.

It’s a small sample size, but the elimination final when Dylan Shiel, Jye Caldwell and Darcy Parish all played together, he did have a 35 touch game scoring 122 in Dt and 169 in SC. So the possibilities are there for him to score well. But, all be it, the data that creates confidence is minimal.

The more considerable uncertainty that might be going under the radar is how he handles a tag. Arguably Parish is now the most damaging Essendon and midfielder, and the concern is more about how seemingly easy teams could negate his influence. For example, in round 17, Adelaide sent Harry Schoenberg to play accountable on him. As a result, he limited his ball-winning to just 19 possessions—his lowest since round two of the year. No disrespect to Harry, but he’s not a notable stopper. A similar story happened two weeks later against the Giants.

The upside is he’s had a preseason to start to figure out how to work through it. However, a combination of this alongside the stacked Essendon midfield rotation could be the nail in his selection coffin for some coaches.

Speaking of which, how the Bombers midfield will be fascinating. Last year they ran a very tight CBA. Mostly it was Stringer, Parish & Merrett. However, does that open up more with health for Dylan Shiel, Andrew McGrath and Jye Caldwell? Plus the recent draft addition, an inside bull in Ben Hobbs. I don’t see the impact being that Parish is moved out of the midfield. He’s been good in that role. Instead, the uncertainty has some merit around how many’ mouths to feed.’

The statistical weight of numbers is far against him being a starting option. But, there is a world where he is good enough to be among the best fantasy players in the game. His range of scoring outcomes could be some of the widest scoring ranges for premium midfielders. Although I don’t currently have him in any fantasy side, I wouldn’t be talking any coach out of picking him if they did.

Depending on your risk-taking levels, Darcy would well be the season-defining pick. At best, he delivers top tier scores at a value proposition price. While the downside is after 1-2 failed scores, you use a trade to pivot towards a firing premium. Given the upside, he may be the risk you need to consider taking.

DRAFT DECISION

You cannot select Darcy Parish on draft day inside the open twenty/twenty-five selections. While the upside is incredible, the risk does exist. You cannot take such a risk at this portion of the draft. He’ll be someone’s M2, possibly even M3 if other coaches draft defender or forward heavy early. But anywhere from the late third round, I’d be happily selecting him.

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Keeper League Ranks | Tier Four | Patreon Exclusive

We start to enter into the top 20 players of the keeper rankings. Here’s MJ and Kane’s take on the players in tier four.

Marcus Bontempelli

KANEWe’ve classified tier four as dependable and Marcus Bontempelli demonstrates that in every part of his fantasy  game. 
Firstly, he’s always available. In the past six seasons he’s played every game in five of them and the one season he didn’t in 2018, he missed just three games.
His scoring is ultra-consistent. His lowest score for the season was 75 and he produced tons in 16 games, including eight 120+. 
There’s also some role security now. The Bulldogs have strengthened their key position stocks with Aaron Naughton, Tim English, Josh Bruce, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Josh Schache and soon to be father-son Sam Darcy. These additions should allow Bont to play bulk midfield minutes and rest forward, which is the perfect mix. 
This makes Bont near-bulletproof as a fantasy option. He’ll likely be a 105-110 midfielder for the next three to five years and will likely finish his career with forward status. A genuine superstar of the AFL and fantasy landscape. 
MJ
During the 2020 season in AFLFantasy, Marcus Bontempelli posted 3 tons, 2 of these were over 120 in a season high 145 against the Crows. Additionally, he posted eight more scores over 80. In fact, across the whole season, he had just two scores below 80 all year. Don’t forget that 80 was the 100 of 2020.  He finished the season on fire as one of the most prolific scorers. He averaged 99 (adjusted average 124) from round 10 to the season’s end.
I highlight his previous year as it reminds us that Bont didn’t just have a strong premium season in 2021. He’s now constantly doing it. This year he averaged 107, scored sixteen tons with half of these triple figure scores over 120. That’s a more than adequate return, given some of the fantasy community believe he boasts no scoring ceiling. 
At 26 years of age at the start of next season, you could build a case for Bont being deemed one of the all time great Bulldog players ever. 
In 4-5 years, he’ll likely regain MID/FWD status as he wraps up his career. But until then, he’ll be a pure midfielder and should dominate games consistently. 

Josh Kelly

KANEWe all know the scoring power of Josh Kelly in the past five seasons he’s averaged between 103 and 115 points. 
Clearly the knock on Kelly is his availability but there’s signs to suggest that might be turning around. The troubling years that saw fantasy coaches lose faith in his body were 2018 and 2019. Across those two years he could only muster 29 games but in the previous two seasons he’s played 35 of a possible 39 and two of them he missed were due to a Shane Mumford knee to the head.
Typically Josh Kelly’s role in the Giants side has remained consistent, as CBA midfielder or plays stints on the wing. However, to start the 2021 we saw him deployed as a half-forward and this severely impacted his scoring. In the first six games Kelly averaged 86 points in this role with a high of 91. Thankfully for coaches he was moved back into his CBA heavy role and averaged 111 points in his final 15 games of the season. 
At 26 years of age Kelly has plenty of quality seasons ahead of him. While his body still warrants some concern it’s not as much as two years ago. The Giants still don’t seem satisfied with their midfield mix which could see some inconsistent scoring for Kelly but overall he just gets the job done year in year out and has the ceiling of a top 5 player in the game. 
MJOne of the most bizarre moves of the season came when for the opening six rounds of the season GWS played Josh Kelly as a high half forward. 
While his scoring wasn’t poor, it lacked his historical consistent scoring. However, once the class of Lachie Whitfield returned the Giants from round seven onwards Kelly returned back into his customary role
From this point on he averaged 111, it featured 12 tons in this stretch of games.  This scoring mirrors the trend of his recent history. Since 2017 he;s averaged 112, 108, 115, 105 BCV) and this years 103.  26 at start of season
Scoring ability has never been a concern, injuries have. But is that now a thing of the past? He missed just the one game this season, and that was only due to the condensed AFL fixture and a 5 day turn around. The giants confirmed that had it been another 24 hours more and he would’ve played. 
Josh Kelly does have an element of risk, both in an extended injury history and a growing trend that is seeing Leon Cameron happy to move almost any player magnet position around. 
Amidst the risk, coaches can offset part of that with future draft picks and load up further on the midfield. Finally, there aren’t that many player who have multiple seasons of proven years averaging 110+, Josh Kelly has that. And at 26, he’s still got a few more in him yet. 

Lachie Neale

KANELachie Neale is the exact type of guy you want in a keeper league. Outside of 2021 which saw him suffer multiple in-game injuries and miss seven games, Neale had missed just two games in his previous seven home and away seasons. That’s the type of durability you can only dream of from your elite players and Neale’s scoring certainly is elite. 
In his three seasons at Brisbane he has played 54 home and away games and in that time has scored 32 tons. It’s particularly impressive when you note that he has demonstrated a ceiling of 140+ scores. 
While Neale is certainly in the back half of his career and will turn 29 in the 2022 season there doesn’t seem to be a dramatic fall coming. He’s still one of the most polished players in traffic and covers the ground beautifully. I don’t see why he can’t keep scoring into his mid 30s like Travis Boak, such is his professionalism and dedication to his craft. 
MJLachie Neale is certainly on the older scale of a keeper league, but he still has so much to offer his owner.
At 28, he’s not exactly falling off the cliff either. So much of this past season’s performance can be put down to multiple injury concerns both in season and during the preseason.In his first season as a Lion he averaged 104, while much has been made of his Brownlow season where he averaged an adjusted 122, or in reality a 98. 
Last year everything went wrong in his body and yet he still found a way to play 15 games and average a 95. What should be encouraging in his form towards the back end of the season as he started to regain full health and fitness. 
He scored a 120 & 110 in the final two home and away games of the year. While in finals he posted a 140 and a 99. 
He’s not on the young side of his career, but in reality what are you paying for? Neale is Mr 105 for the next few seasons. Unlike 12 months ago, you’re paying for what he is over the totality of his career, and not having to form out a first round pick after the 122.  

Darcy Parish

KANEWhat a season 2021 was for Darcy Parish. A string of injuries to the Bombers midfield unit opened up a regular spot for him and he exploded. 
From Round 6 to 16 he averaged 127 across those 10 games and reeled off scores of 160, 150, 144, 143 and 131. That’s a consistency of ceiling that only few players in the league can match. 
The downside came after that stretch as opponents began to send ‘taggers’ his way. I hesitate to say taggers as it was Harry Schoenberg, Lachie Ash and Jay Rantall who kept him to scores of 68, 69 and 61 respectively. Clearly taggers were able to reduce Parish’s output but it was also the first time he’s ever reached such attention so you’d think he’d be better equipped to deal with it going forward.
I think the piece of information that makes Parish a difficult player to evaluate is that we haven’t seen him perform with a full strength Essendon midfield (Dylan Shiel, Andy McGrath and Jye Caldwell all missed large chunks of the year). From the eye-test though I loved what Parish did and see him scoring triple figures for the next five years. For me it’s on the lower end of the 100 as opposed to nearing 110+ but the potential is there and I’m sure one coach in a draft will be keen to chase that upside and I can understand why. 
MJOver the opening five weeks of the season, he averaged 86, and his sole ton of the year to date was 117. However, from Anzac Day against the Magpies that he was fully released to play as a midfielder. So from round six onwards, here’s the stat line for Parish.
From the final 17 games of the season, he scored 11 tons, 7 of them over 120 and 2 over the monster mark of 150. He averaged 111.7 and put together a hot streak of 7 consecutive hundreds between round 6-12.
Like anything, you’ve always got to look at the narrative behind the numbers. Firstly, what caused the role change? Simple! A long-term injury to Dylan Shiel was after an almost season-ending injury to Jye Caldwell. So if injury created the opportunity, what happened upon their return?Caldwell didn’t play again in the home and away season. But Shiel did in round 19. So in the 15 games, Parish played without Dylan, he averaged 117.7. However, when Shiel did play (7 games), he averaged 79.1. That’s a differential of 38.6. More specifically, over the final five games, when both played, Dylan averaged a mere 84.4.To be clear, I don’t see a world with him moving out of the midfield role. Instead, my concern is scoring like that, which impacts his scoring ceiling

Andrew Brayshaw

KANEAfter breaking out in his third season in 2020 Andrew Brayshaw continued his rise in 2021 elevating his fantasy output to an elite level. 
Brayshaw averaged 104 points a game on the back of 28 disposals, five marks and five tackles. MJ and I have spoken at nauseam over the years about score builds and Brayshaw is as well-rounded as you can get for a midfielder. The advantage of scoring in different ways is it increases your floor. 
Brayshaw only dipped below 80 on three occasions in 2021 and they were games when he was tagged (63 vs Carlton/Ed Curnow, 54 vs Hawthorn/James Worpel and 64 vs Brisbane/Jarrod Berry). 
On the other of the spectrum his ceiling reached new heights. Brayshaw produced five scores 120+ including a monster 156 against Richmond and a 137 against Essendon. 
To secure a 22 year old who has already demonstrated an elite scoring season is about as good as it gets in a keeper league and that’s before you factor in his character and leadership skills that will see him stay in this midfield role for the next 10 years.
MJAndrew Brayshaw has fully emerged as a genuine long term midfield premium.
After flying out of the gate with back to back tons, Andrew quickly experienced a tag for the first time in his AFL career. He delivered a 63 & 54 against the Blues and then the Hawks. It wouldn’t be the only time he received tight attention, but when he was given freedom he delivered big time.
Over the totality of 2021 he scored 13 tons, including a career high 156. He also posted an additional three scores between 90-99. Over the final 12 games of the year he dropped his scoring below 92 in just one game. 
So does he have any scoring growth in him? Absolutely, both with the growth of his already evidenced ceiling, but also if he can lift those tagged score up 10-15 points.

If he can do this, as he begins his fifth AFL season he looms as one of the more safe premiums to elevate himself to averaging 110+. 

Jarryd Lyons

KANEIt won’t be as long a ride as other players in the 50 but it could be extremely rewarding. Jarryd Lyons has been one of the best midfielders in fantasy across the past two and half seasons since he secured a midfield spot at Brisbane. 
2021 was an insane season from Lyons. Not only did he average an absurd 117 points but he played every game and delivered 124 points in his 10 games post bye. It’s no surprise that Lyons’ floor is high and so is his ceiling. His lowest score of the year was 84 and only six times did he score below 100. His highest score for the year was 161 and on eight occasions he scored more than 130 points. That’s just outrageous. 
The knock with Lyons is his age. Halfway through next year he’ll turn the dreaded 30 but like Neale he’s showing no signs of falling off a cliff. While I don’t expect him to replicate his 2021 numbers I can see an average of 110 points across the next two seasons. Coupled this with the fact that he’s a solid forward, we could get him as a forward for the final years of his career with some midfield stints. 
If you grab Lyons you need to be playing for the now so let your draft strategy reflect that and take on those ready made players even if they only have a few years left. 
MJA great strategy in keeper leagues is to target younger talent. However, sometimes coaches can go ‘too far’ and as a result be uncompetitive for multiple seasons.  Kane and I have said this a few times throughout the podcasts, but a premiership in year one or two is still a premiership.
Over the past few seasons Jarryd Lyons has proven to be among one of the most consistent midfield premiums in the game. And by drafting him in your keeper, your mindset does need to be closer towards the premiership window for ‘now’ rather than in ‘2-3 seasons.’
I don’t buy into the narrative that Lyons falls off the cliff when Lachie Neale returns to form. Last year’s scoring of both players is a prime example of this. 
Lyons scoring splits from last year aree a thing of beauty. Just over 42% of his points came via kicks, 22% from tackles, 20% from handballs and 12% from tackles. With splits like this, he’s very difficult to slow his scoring rate and with players like Dayne Zorko and Lachie Neale still scoring well, he’ll continue to face zero tagging pressure from opposition midfielders. 
How do you rank Darcy Parish in a keeper?

Without a doubt, one of the breakout players in fantasy footy this season was Darcy Parish. The recently crowned All Australian midfielder moved from being on the fringe of squad selection to be an M1 potentially. The big question for new keeper leagues or those considering trading for him is how you should rank Darcy Parish in a keeper?

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In 2021, DP5 was one of the players of the season. He concluded the season with an average of 105.5, ranking him 21st and 16th for total points. That alone is a promising position, but coaches will know that it wasn’t a smooth trajectory for the totality of the season. 

Over the opening five weeks of the season, he averaged 86, and his sole ton of the year to date was 117. However, from Anzac Day against the Magpies that he was fully released to play as a midfielder. So from round six onwards, here’s the stat line for Parish. 

From the final 17 games of the season, he scored 11 tons, 7 of them over 120 and 2 over the monster mark of 150. He averaged 111.7 and put together a hot streak of 7 consecutive hundreds between round 6-12. 

With numbers like that over the final three-quarters of the season, keeper league coaches would think they’ve landed themselves a new franchise player. And it’s not a horrible call.

Like anything, you’ve always got to look at the narrative behind the numbers. Firstly, what caused the role change? Simple! A long-term injury to Dylan Shiel was after an almost season-ending injury to Jye Caldwell. So if injury created the opportunity, what happened upon their return?

Caldwell didn’t play again in the home and away season. But Shiel did in round 19. So in the 15 games, Parish played without Dylan, he averaged 117.7. However, when Shiel did play (7 games), he averaged 79.1. That’s a differential of 38.6. More specifically, over the final five games, when both played, Dylan averaged a mere 84.4. 

To be clear, I don’t see a world with him moving out of the midfield role. Instead, my concern is scoring like that, which impact his scoring ceiling. 

When allowed to be the midfield leader along with Zach Merrett, he’s a 110 averaging midfielder. However, when the Bombers have a few more mouths to feed, the small sample size says he’s not a Topline performer. 

So, how do you rank Darcy Parish? I don’t have him ranked inside the top 15 players in a keeper league. But he has the potential to become one quickly. If you want to own him, you’ll probably have to use a late first – second round selection on him.

Where do you have DP5 ranked?

2021 Season Defining Moves | Patreon Only

Whether it’s an overall ranking or league focus, achieving success in fantasy footy requires so many elements to work. One of the keys is trading in the right player at the right time. So here’s a look back at the moves that using hindsight was the season defining moves of 2021.

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Aaron Hall

If you’ve played fantasy footy for a few seasons, then you’d know that Aaron Hall has a fantasy pedigree. He spent the better part of two seasons delivering tons.

Some would say the perfect time to get Hall was at round 3, where he busted out a 99 & 123 in AFLFantasy and 81 and 131 in SuperCoach. And whole that might be a valid perspective. However, I think 2 weeks later was better. So there you got him after his concussion, and since round 7, he hasn’t had a misstep.

Since round 7, he’s scored 12 AFLFantasy/DreamTeam tons; 9 of these were over 120 and 5 over 120. In this run, his lowest score has been 88, and he’s averaged 118.9 in this 15 game run. For SuperCoach, over the same stretch of games, he posted 14 tons and 5 over 120. His only score under 100 has been 73, and he’s averaged 121. Safe to say, Hall might have been the most influential early trade in fantasy coaches seasons.

Josh Kelly

Josh Kelly is an absolute gun! You don’t have multiple seasons averaging 110+ across the formats and not have some fantasy footy pedigree behind you. But over the first 6 weeks of the year, the recently signed Giant for life was struggling to score. As a result, Kelly was being used predominantly across the half-forward flank and averaged 85.5 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 90.8 in SuperCoach.

However, in round 7, his midfield role returned. For reference, it coincided when fellow elite user Lachie Whitfield returned to the side. From round 7 to now, he’s scored 11 tons from his 14 games, including 10 consecutive from round 7-17. During this stretch of games, he’s averaging 112.

For AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s had just one game in the past 14 where his scores have dipped beneath 96. An average of 111 is exactly the sort of returns we’ve come to expect from him.

Kelly’s (like all on this list) is a testament to timing and buying low on players. But, history told us, when fit, he scores very well!

Darcy Parish

Injuries create opportunity, and that’s exactly what happened for Darcy after Dylan Shiel went down with a long term injury. In round 5, Shiel went down injured, and at that point, Parish was averaging 88.2 in SuperCoach and 86 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam.

From this point onwards, he’s averaged 114 in AFLFantasy, which included 11 tons, with 4 of them over 140. In SuperCoach during this same 16 game stretch in SuperCoach 110.8 including scores of 190, 166, 162 & 152.

To put it simply, in 2021, when Dylan Shiel plays, he averages 81.7 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, but without him, he averages 117.7. That’s a differential of 36.1. In SuperCoach with Shiel, he averages 86, and without it’s 128.1. A differential of 42.1.

Sean Darcy

Do you remember when Brodie Grundy got injured and was ruled out just before the bye rounds? I do. I ended up writing a piece on my trade suggestions for him. In it, I said that ultimately ‘hindsight’ well tell us what’s the right move. Clearly, trading into Sean Darcy was the correct choice.

Even before this injury, Darcy was showing some scoring potential. In round 11, when the injury happened, Sean was coming off a 4 game average of 104 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 113 in SuperCoach.

However, from round 12, when the trade via Grundy could’ve been made, he’s scored 8 tons from his 10 games in SuperCoach. He hasn’t scored below 90 and has given scores of 190, 183, 156, 150 & 140. Since this point, he’s averaged 135.4.

For AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, the scoring ceiling isn’t as high, but it’s just as valuable a trade. Over the past 10 weeks, he’s scored 5 tons, plus two additional scores over 90 and averaged just on the ton.

Taylor Walker

One of the decisions that defined 2021 was for those who traded into Taylor Walker ahead of round 3 commencing. Whether you traded him in from an underperforming premium (like Jordan DeGoey) or an injury forced to move ‘Tex’ was a huge win for owners. The following four weeks, he did his job with scores of 136, 99, 74 & 76 in DreamTeam/AFLFantasy and 130, 106, 85 & 103 in SuperCoach.

Heading into round seven, his price had increased by $320,000 in AFLFantasy, $197,000 in SuperCoach and $245,000 in DreamTeam from his starting price. Not a bad quick money maker and points on-field performance.

Jack Ziebell

Do you remember the pain entering into round two? Patrick Dangerfield had just been handed a three game suspension, and the debate amongst coaches was about whether to hold or trade. Hindsight would say that trading Danger was clearly the right call, especially after suffering an injury on his return game.

Jack was the form forward of the competition over the first three months of the season. In SuperCoach, he averaged 115 up till the bye rounds, just three scores under 100 and only one score to this point under 89. For AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, over the first 11 games 109, posted some monster scores of 139, 140 & 170 and didn’t drop below a score of 82. So chances are if you started with or traded into Ziebell early, you had strong rankings rise to start the year.

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Jordan De Goey

Trading him out of your team in the front half of the season could’ve been equally as defining as trading him back in. But certainly jumping on after suspension and bye round was a perfect time. By then, he’d already had three solid games against the Crows, Cats and Demons, so it wasn’t a ‘blind jump.’ So even though you could’ve got him at a steal price at the end of round 10, nobody was trading into him then.

Since round 16 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam he’s scored: 124, 117, 120, 93, 125, 94 & 98. While in SuperCoach over this same timeframe he’s gone 114, 124, 114, 80, 138, 85 & 119. In this seven week stretch, he’s been going at an average of 110 across all formats. HUGE!

Brayden Fiorini

If you were a Patreon in 2020, you might recall Kane & I spoke about him in our 50 keeper targets series. In it, we highlight his fantasy potential and that he’s a fringe option at the Suns. However, with injuries to key midfielders like Hugh Greenwood, ‘Fio’ found himself seven weeks ago with a chance to prove himself as someone who belongs at the top level.

And prove himself he has. Over the previous 7 weeks in AFLFantasy, his lowest score is 101. He’s had 4 scores over 110 and is averaging 115. He’s now priced at $803,000. But at round 16, you could’ve picked him up for just $639,000.

The scoring consistency might not have been as high in SuperCoach, but the value has been ever better. At round 16, Brayden was priced at $301,700. Now he’d set you back $523,500. Over the past 7 weeks, he’s scored 5 tons and is averaging 110. If you brought him in as an M8-M9 swingman or a ‘buy low’ and hope option at M7-M8, he’s been an absolute find for you!

Touk Miller

I couldn’t get through this article and not mention him. In reality, getting Touk in anytime this season has been huge. But really, post-bye is his super run. At his bye round, he averaged 117 across the formats, and many would’ve assumed that’s a phenomenal start, but this is as good as he gets.

For his first 10 games of the season in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he was averaging 117 and posted 7 tons. In his past 10 games, he’s averaged 125 with just one score under 100.

Over in SuperCoach, his first 10 games of the season, he averaged 117.9 and posted 7 tons. In his past 10 games, he’s averaged ? with hasn’t dropped his scores under 100.

Jy Simpkin

‘After his bye’ is a phrase I’ve already used on multiple players (and still more to come.) But Simpkin is a testament to backing in a player’s scoring history even when he’s given you minimal faith in his delivery in that current season.

Over the first 11 games of this season, Jy has only 4 SuperCoach scores over 90 and only one above 110 and was averaging 89.9. While for AFLFantasy, he’d posted 3 tons and averaging 86.2.

Since the bye, he’s posted 7 AFLFantasy/DreamTeam tons and had just one score under 90. In this 10 game stretch, he’s currently averaging 105. In SuperCoach, he’s also posted 7 tons, twice scored 99 and is averaging 106 in his past 10. It’s not as big as others on this list, but still a win for owners.

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Christian Petracca

Christian started the year super strong. Over the first 8 weeks, he rarely had a poor game. An average of 111 in AFLFantasy & 103 in SuperCoach over the first 8 weeks is more than handy. As good as it was, the back portion of the season has been even better.

If you traded him in from round 9 onwards, he would have returned 9 SuperCoach tons, 7 of them over 110 and 2 148 or higher. In addition to the ceiling, he’s still yet to go under 90 since round 9. In these past 12 games, he’s averaged 128. Meanwhile, in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s scored 9 tons, 8 of them over 110 and 3 over 135. An average of 122. Well done if you picked him up then.

Jack Steele

OK, much like Touk Miller above, this feels like a stretch given how good he’s been across the totality of the season. But in truth, the perfect time to get him (if not for the whole season) was really after the bye. Before it, he still had a sold average of 112 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 118 in SuperCoach.

From round 15 onwards in SuperCoach, he’s hit the ton every week, has had four scores over 145 and has gone under 130 twice. During this 8 game stretch, he’s averaging 137. While in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s also had 8 consecutive tons, including 5 scores of 138 or above, including a 162. Since this hot stretch started, he’s got an 8 game average of 133.

Matt Kennedy

For years the Carlton footy club has been looking for additional support to Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh. The club thought Zac Williams was the fix, but it had the best option under their nose in Matt Kennedy. As a forward eligible option, Matt’s become one of the ‘hot hand’ forwards since he played as a midfielder. I mean, what a novelty. Playing midfielders as midfielders!

It would’ve taken a pair to get him in at the start of the bye round, given he hadn’t played for months and had an average that even at a rookie price, most coaches would’ve said no to. But he’s been exceptional over the last 9 weeks since getting back into the side and playing midfield.

Four tons, plus an additional three scores between 93-95 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, has seen him average 96. Over in SuperCoach, he’s gone just as strong. 5 tons, four of them 115+ and an average of 94. Yes, he’s had 1 or 2 stinkers in this stretch, but given the price point, trading into him at any time through this run has been a raging success!

Ultimate Footy | Draft Day Wins

You rarely will ‘win the draft’ in the opening handful of rounds. Rather, it’s the mid to late draft day selections that can really take your team from good to great. So here’s a look at some of the late draft day selections that have been winning selections for their owners.

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Ben Keays | AVG: 108.9 | ADP: 206

18 months ago, Ben Keays wasn’t even on an AFL list, let alone a genuine top tier performing fantasy midfielder. With the loss of Matt Crouch through injury and his brother Brad Crouch at the trade table, the Crows needed someone to stand up and support ‘the Rory’s.’

Keays has been a picture of consistency this year. With his scoring ranging between 91-156 across this season, he dropped beneath 100 in only six of his fifteen matches and nothing under 90. To put his season into contrast, he’s currently scored the same amount of points as Christian Petracca. CP5 had an ADP of 27; that’s almost 180 spots on draft day, the difference between the two.

Jack Ziebell | AVG: 106.6 | ADP: 121

Jack Ziebell is not in the unfamiliar territory of delivering premium scores for us. For a better part of a decade, he was a bankable 90’s centre and even had a season where he was a top tier forward. This year his move into the backline has seen him pop to become one of the best backs or forwards (his DPP allows both) of the season.

Across the season, he’s only dipped his scoring under 82 once, had four scores between 90-99 plus seven scores over 100, including a 139, 140 & 170. The question over Jack was never scoring potential (OK, nobody thought this big) but rather over durability. He’s seemingly put that doubt now to bed too.

We did write about Ziebell in our preseason 50 most relevant series here.

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Karl Amon | AVG: 94.7 | ADP: 199

When Port Adelaide get on top of their opponent, more often than not, Karl Amon is enjoying plenty of freedom and space outside the contest. As a result, the Power wingman has delivered a ton in nearly 50% of the games played this season. That might not sound like much, but to get a 90+ centre that’s capable of delivering multiple tons is huge at any point of the draft. Let alone at an ADP where you’re picking a bloke as a bench option at best.

Touk Miller | AVG: 120.2 | ADP: 81

It’s earlier than everyone else on the list. In fact, he’s the only player drafted inside the top 100 that finds a home. But Touk Miller deserves his spot on. While this is a draft selection on average in the 8th-9th round, he’s delivering at an M1 level, not the likely M3 or M4 that he was selected.

Miller is currently the highest ranked player in the game by averages and ranked 8th by total points. He’s scored 11 tons from his 14 games and has only one score under 88 for the season. Well done if you drafted Touk in 2021.

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Aaron Hall | AVG: 103.5 | ADP: 167

Much like his teammate above, Aaron Hall is no stranger to delivering top tier seasons. In 2016 & 2017, at his former club Gold Coast, he delivered seasonal averages of 105 & 98. But it’s been a long time since he’d scored like that. The 89% of coaches that drafted him were all hopeful of a scoring boost, but with him missing round one and a subbed in a score of 11 in round 1, things didn’t look good.

Since that point, Aaron has been superb, scoring eight tons, with all except one being over 120. Bravo if you drafted him, even better if you snagged him from the player pool. Pickups like that make your UltimateFooty season.

Paul Seedsman | AVG: 94.6 | ADP: 262

The last time Paul Seedsman was draft relevant was several seasons ago when he was eligible as a back. There he delivered his regular mid to high 70’s season. Before 2021, ‘The Seed’ had never averaged over 80. Enter this season; he’s become an unstoppable running force for the Crows. He’s ranked 5th in the AFL for inside ’50s ahead of big name players like Dayne Zorko, Clayton Oliver, Jackson Macrae and Dustin Martin.

With his 70 tons for the season and 5 additional 80+ scores, he’s been a huge win for the 52% of coaches who drafted him. He’s gone from being a bench option to a genuine M5, if not higher.

David Mundy | AVG: 94.3 | ADP: 222

David Mundy isn’t the only player on this list to use the keys to the time machine. You’ve got to go back to 2015 for the last time, averaged over 90. His five tons have certainly elevated his average to respectable levels, but given that he was potentially someones last pick on draft day, it’s a huge bonus!

Mundy is yet to hit his early season scoring form, but given the fact he hasn’t dipped below 72 all season, he’s certainly overachieved for the 73% of coaches who drafted him.

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Sean Darcy | AVG: 94.7 | ADP: 223

If you play in a keeper league, then you’ll be familiar with Sean Darcy. He’s long showed promise of his scoring. However, before this season, he couldn’t seemingly sting more than a handful of games together. Thankfully for 63% of coaches that drafted him, he’s been exceptional this season.

He’s scored six tons plus an additional five scores between 80-99. He’s ranked third amongst the rucks but points and averages. Not a bad return for his owners that likely selected him with either the final on field spot or as a bench option for someone they picked earlier.

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Isaac Cumming | AVG: 87.4 | ADP: 241

Have you ever jumped on a player 12 months too early? I know I have and did with Isaac Cumming. He’s taken the opportunity to cement himself inside the Giants with the departure of Zac Williams. Just a mere 42% of coaches picked him on draft day, but he’s delivered massive dividends to owners.

Of his 15 games, he’s only dipped his scoring beneath 70 in just three matches, had six scores between 80-99 and pumped out four tons. Bravo if you picked up Isaac this year either in the draft or off the player pool. He’s been immense this season.

Bailey Dale | AVG: 82.9 | ADP: 249

Where the heck did this come from? Yet again, ‘Bevo’ strikes again with redeploying the bits and pieces forward into a prime ball move across halfback. Bailey Dale is currently ranked 16th for total points among all backs. While he hasn’t had the frequency of big tons as others on this list, he’s become a perfect reliable option for his owners. From his 15 games, he’s had just 3 scores under 77. Not bad for a bloke drafted in only 8% of leagues.

Nick Hind | AVG: 85.1 | ADP: 209

Following on the ‘where the heck’ is Essendon recruit Nick Hind. His addition to the side has made everyone forget that Adam Saad was among the top 3 best players (according to their B&F) last season. Hind has been electric this year also for coaches who drafted him. Over the opening 10 rounds of the season, he scored three tons, three additional scores over 90 and didn’t drop his scoring below 70. In fact, he’s dipped below that marker just once across the entire season.

While his scoring may have slowed over the last five weeks with zero scores over 80, the benefits have far outway and decline in recent scoring. Well played to the 51% of coaches who drafted him.

Taylor Walker | AVG: 79.9 | ADP: 210

We’ve had some surprises on this list so far, but I don’t think anyone believed Taylor Walker could wind back the clock and deliver his strong 2021 season. Instead, his season opened up with 105, 120, 136 & 99 leaving him as the #2 forward behind Josh Dunkley at the time. Not a bad return for the 5% of coaches that picked him on draft day.

Over the previous 3 months, we’ve had some patchy low scores, a bunch of ’80s and ’90s, plus last weeks game where he was subbed out of the game. Regardless, it’s been a massive success for his owners if you look at his season as a totality.

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Tom McDonald | AVG: 77.9 | ADP: 273

The latest pick of all players picked on my list with an average draft selection of 273. In fact, on the draft day, only 43% of leagues drafted him. Yet now, by averages, he’s ranked 25th for the season. Of course, like all key forwards, his scoring fluctuates, but with 9 scores over 80, he’s been a more than help addition for his coaches.

Jarman Impey | AVG: 85.7| ADP: 240

A season ending injury a few weeks back has certainly soured the celebrations. But those who picked up Jarman Impey were given a flying start to the 2021 season. As a reference point, before this year, he’d never averaged over 72.

However, from his 13 matches, he delivered four tons, three more scores between 94-98, plus an additional three scores of 74+. Throw in the fact he’s been forward eligible, and just 35% of coaches drafted him. It’s a steal in a line that’s lacked genuine, reliable performances.

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Darcy Parish | AVG: 113 | ADP: 145

Four scores over 80, including a 117, is hardly a poor start to the season for someone you likely drafted in the vicinity of round 14. However, injuries create opportunities, and when Dylan Shiel went down, the Bombers were forced to permanently release Darcy Parish into the midfield. Since round six, he’s scored 9 tons from 10 games, including four over 140.

This sort of performance is the kind you dream about getting from a mid-range draft pick. For those lucky coaches who struck across this scoring goldmine, they’re laughing to the bank with his performances every single week.

Chris Mayne | AVG: 94.1 | ADP: 210

This is clearly Chris Mayne’s best season in UltimateFooty. Before this season, his best year was back in 2013, where at Fremantle, he averaged 86. Unfortunately, not many have improved their scoring at Collingwood this season, with Steele Sidebottom, Jordan DeGoey, Scott Pendlebury and Braydan Maynard all regressing. But, promisingly for his owners, Mayne has! Since round 8, Chris has scored five tons and has the lowest score of 97.

Ranked 13th for average amongst all backs, those held onto him after an indifferent start has reaped massive rewards over the last few months.