Tag: Hayden Young

#7 Most Relevant | Hayden Young

The breakout for Hayden Young was tipped to come in 2023. But were we 12 months early? Based on his ownership percentage and a change in team role, he looms as one of the most relevant players in the coming SuperCoach & AFLFantasy season.

WHY IS HE RELEVANT?

Hayden Young, known for his precision and composure with the ball, is quickly becoming one of Fremantle Dockers’ most crucial players. As a defender, his elite ball use by foot and ability to read the game has always stood out.

However, his move into the midfield in 2023 truly showcased the breadth of his talent. This positional change allowed Young to demonstrate his versatility and effectiveness in contesting and distributing the ball, with a career-highlight performance of 33 disposals against the Brisbane Lions.

His exceptional season culminated in his first top-five finish in the prestigious Doig Medal, marking 2023 as the year Hayden Young solidified his place as a key component of Fremantle’s future.

In AFLFantasy, he delivered a solid average of 89.2, including seven scores that reached the century mark, with his peak performance being a 119-point game. However, it’s noteworthy that he also registered seven scores below the 80-point threshold, reflecting some inconsistency in his output. Despite these fluctuations, Young finished the year ranked as the 15th-best defender in terms of total points and average, marking him as a valuable asset in fantasy lineups.

SuperCoach saw Young further enhance his credentials, boasting a higher average 93.9. His ability to break into the triple digits was even more pronounced in this format, with ten tons throughout the season, including three standout performances exceeding 120 points. The lower frequency of sub-80 scores, just five across the year, showcased a greater consistency in SuperCoach than AFLFantasy. This consistency propelled him to rank 13th among defenders for average and total points, solidifying his status as a dependable choice for fantasy coaches seeking a robust defender with the capacity to score heavily and regularly.

Late in the season, Young was moved into the midfield. Here, he averaged 74% time at centre bounces and scored 83, 119, 102, 91 & 94 in AFLFantasy, totalling a five-game average of 97.8. He had a bump of almost 10 points per game from his seasonal average. While in SuperCoach, he posted scores of 69, 123, 118, 113, and 111 and averaged 106.8.

The move was a success because of his fantasy scoring uptick and because it quickly became evident that Hayden was the missing piece for this Fremantle midfield. His height, tackle pressure, and physicality enabled a newfound defensive layer. This was evident when he played a tagging role on Patrick Dangerfield. Additionally, his long and skilful left foot added a dynamic delivery inside forward 50 and became an impact for inside 50s and score involvements. He compliments the midfield perfectly alongside Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw.

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MY TAKE

Navigating the Fremantle Dockers’ midfield dynamics, Hayden Young’s transition from halfback to midfield seems like it could be better for his scoring potential and that of his teammates, Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong. This trio complements each other effectively, promising a balanced midfield unit without apparent statistical drawbacks to Young’s fantasy output. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Rory Laird and Jordan Dawson, who successfully transitioned from premium defenders to uber-premium midfielders, Young has the potential to mirror this trajectory, offering fantasy coaches a best-case scenario reminiscent of Dawson’s stellar 2023 season.

The anticipation surrounding Young is not without its considerations. While his current high ownership in fantasy leagues underscores the community’s confidence, it also elevates the risk for those contemplating betting against his success. This scenario echoes the 2023 sentiment surrounding Nick Daicos, where his breakout performance quickly became a pain point for non-owners that, if not resolved, quickly derailed their season.

The initial fixtures against Brisbane and North Melbourne further spotlight Young’s role versatility, as evidenced by his effective tagging against Lachie Neale last year, yielding impressive scores of 119 in AFLFantasy and 123 in SuperCoach as a midfielder.

Moreover, the prospect of Young gaining dual-position status only amplifies his value, offering strategic flexibility to fantasy squads. The critical Round 13 bye aligns perfectly with strategic planning for the multi-bye rounds, making Young a potential high scorer and a tactical asset for navigating the fantasy season. Considering all factors, the high stakes of excluding Young from your starting side underscore the significance of making informed, strategic decisions in the early phases of the fantasy football season.

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DRAFT DECISION

Hayden’s burgeoning reputation and preseason hype significantly influence his value. Despite his performance metrics positioning him as a D2 option based on average scores, the demand and expectations surrounding him suggest that fantasy coaches must invest a D1 price tag to secure him.

This discrepancy between statistical output and market value is a testament to Young’s perceived potential and the anticipation of further development. Coaches eager to have Young on their roster must be prepared to act early, as the competition to acquire his services will likely push his draft position higher than traditional metrics suggest. If you’re unwilling to pay a premium, be prepared for someone else in your league to capitalize on his upside.

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Upgrade Targets After The Bye | Round 13

One week of the multi-bye rounds is over. We now have four teams with 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.

Since landing at Brisbane, one of the reliable scoring premium midfielders in the game is Lachie Neale. In SuperCoach, he’s consistently averaging over 110+ and above 100+ in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam. He’s been a little patchy over the season, but before the week off, he had started to turn the corner with his scoring consistency. In his previous three weeks, he’s scored 103, 117 & 100 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 109, 128 & 122 in SuperCoach.

He’s dropped about $100k on his starting price in SuperCoach and is always a play in that format. However, I’m a big fan of the play in AFLFantasy. Priced at $829,000, he’s got plenty of upside. With a fixture of Hawthorn & Sydney straight off the bye, he may cop a pair of tags, but it opens up massively afterwards. From rounds 15-17, the Lions play St Kilda, Richmond and West Coast, three of the best matchups for midfielders. Every chance, within five weeks, he’s gone up $100k and averaged north of 110.

Based on that fixture, some might be tempted to look at Hugh McCluggage, especially in AFLFantasy, where a multiple-week stretch might be a consideration. Priced at under $750k and with a history of being able to average 100, it’s one to consider. I’d be cautious. The midfield mix of the Lions has changed with the arrival of Will Ashcroft and Josh Dunkley, and his role has seen him fade into a more regular wing role with minimal centre-bounce attendance. It’s got serious risk associated, given he’s only really popped one decent score for the year, but I can understand the consideration for coaches looking for a possible value play.

The vast majority of the fantasy community already owns Josh Dunkley. I dubbed him the most relevant player for the coming year in the preseason. While he hasn’t been as prolific as many had hoped, he’s still been one of the best forwards across the formats and has been a more than solid starting squad plays of the year. For the rare few that don’t own him, you’ve probably missed the boat trading into him, as it was a month into the year that was the right time to ‘buy low.’

Injury is never a good thing, but what it can do is create opportunity. And with Sean Darcy suffering a hamstring injury, it likely forces Fremantle to play Luke Jackson as the #1 ruck. So how does Luke go when the clear #1 ruck? It’s a very limited sample size and an entirely different team. However, last year he played one game without Max Gawn and scored 125 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 122 for SuperCoach. Getting three games like that over the byes without Darcy could be a game-changer.

Over the previous few weeks on our weekly strategy roundtable podcasts, you’ve heard MiniMonk often speak about the importance of versatility and value of an RUC/FWD DPP like Darcy Cameron. Another option (all be in more of a limited run through the byes) is Luke. At the very least, he’s a play to ponder.

After a quiet start to the season, Andrew Brayshaw is averaged 110 for the year but going at 122 in his last five for AFLFantasy/DreamTeam. Over in SuperCoach, he’s averaging 104 for the year but 119.2 since round seven. The early season injury niggles well past him, and he’s now back to his 2022 scoring best. He’s no longer that bargain he was a month ago, but he should still be an option to look at. Over the next month, the Dockers play Richmond, GWS, Essendon & Bulldogs. None of these teams run tags and has shown tendencies to let in/out players like Andy score well. Don’t be shocked if he’s not in the top 2-3 points scorers over the season’s final few months.

Six rounds into the year, people that had started with Hayden Young were targeting him as a trade-out option at the byes. In AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he averaged 81; in SuperCoach, he averaged 85 and had only one ton in the first six weeks across all formats. However, over the previous five weeks, he’s started to deliver the premium scores that have meant he’s now genuinely on the radar for all coaches off the bye. Since round seven, he’s averaged 102 in SuperCoach, scored three tons and nothing under 86. Over in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s averaging 100 in his last five, scored three tons and dropped his score under 98 just once.

Hayden’s price point is now back to where it was at the start of the season, which means he still presents a level of value. What’s the cause of scoring? The Dockers have started funnelling their defensive rebound through him more than Luke Ryan. What should provide a level of comfort for this is that the Dockers have won four of the last five games and have started returning to the winning form of 2022. Only the club would truly know whether it’s causation or correlation, but the two elements look linked from the outside. Beyond Nick Daicos, Jordan Dawson and James Sicily, no premium defenders are regularly banging the door down with big scores across formats—a genuine play.

If Young isn’t interested, maybe you’re more of a Luke Ryan fan. He’s having a career season averaging 99 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 110 in SuperCoach. He’s not been as prolific over the past three weeks, but he’s still a play. His scoring is almost doing the reverse of what Hayden Young is doing. Their prices are relatively comparable across formats, so I’d probably lean more towards Hayden unless you want both.

One of the breakout picks of the year has been Caleb Serong. Congratulations to every coach that jumped on early. The good news is, he’s shown it wasn’t just a hot stretch to start the year; he’s now done it for three months. Equally important is he’s scored well with Brayshaw performing well, too, meaning he’s not just getting the ‘upside’ of when Andy was struggling to be at his peak. If you want to get the most out of the Dockers fixture but can’t spend the $ to get up to Brayshaw, then Serong is certainly a ‘haircut’ to strong view.

It’s not an upgrade, but two Dockers could help generate cash. Sam Sturt is a chance to get a few games should Sean Darcy miss multiple matches with his hamstring injury. They’re far from ‘like for like replacements, but structurally, Sturt at 189cm adds another dimension to the forward line.

The big one, especially for SuperCoach, is Nat Fyfe. Priced at under $250k, he’s just over the price tag of a cash cow. There is no risk in trading into him at this price point. He’s priced as a glorified cash cow. Every week Nat’s looked better, and to get a player with his historical pedigree at this price point is a steal. At best, he becomes an on-field premium. At worst, he’s a trade going down with an injury. He is likely somewhere in the middle. Meaning he provides depth and flexibility across your benches once the byes end. Nobody is a must-have trade, but Fyfe is mighty close to it. 

The man of steal, Jack Steele, has yet to be at his prolific scoring best in 2023. A combination of some niggling injuries and occasional mid-game role changes has seen the St Kilda skipper only show glimpses of his fantasy pedigree. For Jack, the week off couldn’t have come at a better time as it allowed some much-needed recovery time.

Anyone with a history of monster scoring like Jack must be considered. Next week is the optimal moving time to get him. That way, you get a week of visibility to watch him play & see if he resembles his old self while also managing his breakeven dip. Now is the right time to do it; as important as getting value for money is, points are the name of the game. This week St Kilda takes on the Swans. In his last three, Steele has scored 139, 124 & 137 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 125, 115 & 140 in SuperCoach. If he scores like that, you’ll care little about another $20k differential in price dip.

I do not love the defenders this year. Beyond Jordan Dawson, Nick Daicos, James Sicily and probably Sam Docherty, you could argue that no premium defender is worth paying up big dollars for. However, despite not living up to the dizzying heights of last year, Jack Sinclair is still a viable acquisition. He’s shown multiple games of 110+ and has matches against Sydney, Richmond, Brisbane & West Coast. Three of those matchups are quite favourable for defenders and midfielders. Jack could well fly off the back of the bye.

Brad Crouch in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam has shown a scoring pedigree. In 2022, he averaged 106.4 and was among the best midfielder premiums in the game. Even this year, he was averaging 113 over the first five matches. He’s cheap, given his historical performance, but it’s his ownership percentage that’d be more appealing as a team differentiator than anything else.

Only a few coaches should need to trade into ruckmen this week. Last round, we had multiple options present, so if you were an owner of an injured Sean Darcy, you could’ve got into Tim English, Darcy Cameron or Kieren Briggs. For those who held, you are probably not playing rankings focus but making leagues your priority. As such, there is a little world where people need a ruck; if you do this week, then Rowan Marshall is a viable play.

One of the keys to fantasy success, especially when trading into players, is to ensure your maximising the ‘upgrade’ with the first week of the trade. It’s why Jake Lloyd, who has arguably one of the best matchups this week, should be a trade consideration for coaches looking to beef out their backlines. All year the Saints have been fantastic matchups for defenders. Jake historically has been one of the best premiums, and while not as prolific as in previous years, he’s still been good this year.

He’s currently ranked seventh for defenders in SuperCoach and tenth in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam by averages. Additionally, he’s coming off the back of his season-high score, a 123 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and a 139 in SuperCoach. If you want to beef up the backline this week, then Lloyd needs to be a consideration.

Over the past five weeks, Chad Warner has been firing and delivering premium midfield numbers. He’s averaging 107.2 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 114.8 in SuperCoach since round seven. Interestingly this scoring boost happened with Mills still in the team, so it’s not just the departure of Callum that’s created a scoring boost. He doesn’t have the greatest scoring history against recent opponents. But given he’s played less than 50 games of AFL, I’m not too concerned. On current trends, the Swans have a favourable fixture matchup for midfielders. Chad’s an ‘impact’ over ‘volume’ footballer, so while he’s a consideration in AFLFantasy and DreamTeam, historically, it’s SuperCoach that his scoring has been at his peak.

It’s not flashy, but some will be looking at Nick Blakey off the back of scoring 114 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 125 before the bye week. I don’t hate the move, but it feels like your jumping on for a short time at a cheaper price point and wanting to get an overperformance that historically has only sometimes been there. Sometimes taking a haircut on a premium is a good play. I’m not sold it; it’s the right play for everyone. But it’s something to consider and ponder.

Sydney skipper Callum Mills is still anywhere from one to three weeks away from returning from his calf injury, according to the latest injury update. As a result, he’s not a trade this week but someone we should be keeping some space for. When he’s back, the Swans key position stocks will be replenished. This should result in a more permanent move back to the midfield. In doing so, he could be one of the year’s bargains.

Normally Luke Parker would feature here, but with him being suspended this week, he’s not someone to look at for this round.

Five weeks ago, I knew plenty of coaches were looking at Errol Gulden as a trade-out option. To that point in the year, he’d been fine but hadn’t delivered anything that resembled what we saw in the preseason. However, since round seven, he’s been amazing. Over the past five weeks in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam, he’s averaging 127.4, with only Tim Taranto averaging more in the previous five-game cycle. While in SuperCoach during that stretch of time, he’s averaging 124 and is one of only ten players with a five-week cycle over 120.

Errol’s already incredibly highly owned, but he is highly desirable for non-owners, not just for his scoring or to minimise the potential burn against their team. But because he’s a premium forward that’s playing in round fifteen. Beyond Gulden and Josh Dunkley, few premium forwards in any format are available to play in round fifteen. So for these reasons, targeting Errol might be essential over the next few weeks.

#35 Most Relevant | Hayden Young

It’s only a matter of time before Hayden Young becomes one of the most damaging defenders in the AFL. Is 2023 the year we see Hayden as a top-tier fantasy defender? He’s incredibly relevant for the coming year and will be for many more seasons. 

PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Hayden Young
Age: 21
Club: Fremantle Dockers
Position: Defender

2022 Highest Score: 
132 Vs Richmond (AFLFantasy)
142 Vs Hawthorn (SuperCoach)

Career Highest Score: 
132 Vs Richmond | AFLFantasy (2022)
142 Vs Hawthorn | SuperCoach (2022)

2022 Average: 
87.6 (AFLFantasy)
92.3 (SuperCoach)

SuperCoach Price: $508,200
AFLFantasy Price: $776,000
AFLDreamTeam Price: $795,200

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WHY IS HE RELEVANT?

The 2019 AFL draft looks like becoming a fine draft for the Fremantle Football club. The club had three consecutive top-ten picks and secured Caleb Serong, Liam Henry and Hayden Young. The trio’s skills complement each other and should all be a key pillar in the current Dockers resurgence up the ladder. Young is elite as an interceptor and by delivering the ball by foot. Whether it be opening up the game with a kick on the 45 or delivering a 55+ metre rocket down the wings of Optus Stadium. Hayden is an elite footballer, and he’s only getting better!

2022 was a breakout season for Hayden and his Dockers. After battling numerous injuries in his first two seasons, he was able to play twenty matches this year. He would’ve played every game but missed multiple matches with covid. Last year he averaged 23 possessions, seven marks and two tackles per game.

From an AFLFantasy/DreamTeam perspective, he averaged 87.6 across the season. That places him as the sixteenth-best and most expensive defender. He scored three tons last year, including his career-high score of 132. To go with this ceiling is his low ratio of sub-80 scores. Last year he scored under 80 just four times and below 75 twice.

For SuperCoach, he scored five tons, three of which were over 120, including 139 & 142. Like in AFLFantasy, his ability to hold a high-scoring floor for a third-year player is exceptional, with only four scores below 80 all year.

Young’s scoring already has him on the verge of premium defensive status, but last year there was a run of games where he scored at the levels that would see him score comparable to the top ten defenders already. Between rounds 3-20 in AFLFantasy, his scoring dipped below 80 in just one match. He scored his two biggest tons of the season, 119 & 132, averaging 92.7. In SuperCoach, between rounds 8-15, he averaged 97 for seven weeks & his lowest score was 80.

It’s interesting to note that in both of the Fremantle finals last year, he scored 120 + 105 in SuperCoach and 122 + 98 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam. It doesn’t count, but what it does tell us when the footy is hot, and the stakes are high, Hayden Young has no problem stepping into the moment.

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MY TAKE

Whatever you’ve heard, don’t fall for the notion that Hayden Young is injury prone. Firstly, he played 20 of 22 games this year. And had it not been for covid and isolation protocols, he would’ve played the full season. The two seasons prior, he suffered a serious ankle injury that required season-ending surgery. He did nothing wrong but felt the full impact of a contest on top of him. The other he battled with a hamstring issue. Has he had some bad luck? Absolutely! But no, he’s not injury prone.

So, where can the scoring improvement come from for Young? Thankfully, in multiple areas. However, one of the most obvious is his taking a greater share of kick-in duties. Earlier in the article, we highlighted how clean and proficient his kicking is. However, when it came to bringing the ball back into play from behind, Young only got that opportunity 24 times. He was ranked third at the club in this stat. The second was Brennan Cox, with 48. And coming in first with the monopoly share is Luke Ryan with 136. Even by picking up a further kick-in per game and holding his 2022 average, he’d average enough to be considered a premium defender. Imagine what could happen if he got a more level share.

With Young, there are no tag concerns. If any Fremantle player is getting tagged, it’s Andrew Brayshaw. And then, beyond that, it’s likely Jordan Clark will stop the Dockers outside run.

There are a few key questions you need to ask yourself. And how you answer them will determine which pricier defenders you should select. Firstly, what role do you believe he’ll average? Second, what do you believe a defender will need to average to be considered a premium? Lastly, is this a player you’d be happy with in your ideal completed side at the end of the year? You’ll see if Young is in the mix for you based on how you’ve answered those questions.

Could Young’s scoring regress rather than increase? Of course. However, retention of his current average would be more likely than a regression. While we always want the best possible scorers in our line, sometimes close enough is good enough. For example, the gap between the sixth-best defender to the tenth-best in SuperCoach is five points per game and less than two points in AFLFantasy. The average gap between the tenth and the fifteenth is 3.5 points per game in SuperCoach and two in AFLFantasy. So even if Hayden doesn’t become a ‘top 10,’ he could still be enough, given the money you could save by selecting him and reinvesting that cash on top of another player.

DRAFT DECISION

On draft day, some coaches use their own curated draft rankings. Others draft using other content creators rankings, like from the Draft Doctors or us. And some use the previous year’s averages as the rankings guide. Whichever method you use, when it comes to Hayden Young, all roads will lead to him being selected as a D2.

Personally, I’d be happy to take him it D1 if it means I can go heavy on the MID or FWD line selections.

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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.

UltimateFooty | 2022 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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Bailey Smith | AVG 118.4 | ADP 82.6

Normally I wouldn’t feature a player drafted inside the first ten rounds, but the season of Bailey Smith is so good it had to be acknowledged. Smith has the highest average of all players in the game and has only one game that he hasn’t scored over 100; in that game, he posted a 92. The only small downside is he’s missed two games, but given he was drafted as someone’s M3 or M4, it’s been a superb return. 

George Hewett | AVG 103 | 129.7

The free agency move of George Hewett has gone better than anyone could have anticipated. Before this season, his season-high average was 75 back in 2019. At Carlton, he’s been a dominant force after being allowed to thrive back in his preferred role as an inside midfielder. He’s posted five tons; it’s included a season-high of 119. To go with his top-end scoring is a high end is a strong scoring basement with a season-low of just 83. For owners, he’ll likely be sitting as their D1 but was drafted considerably later. A massive draft day wins for owners. 

Jack Sinclair | AVG 102.2 | ADP 132.4

In the back half of the 2021 season, we started to see the scoring power of Jack Sinclair emerge. After being deployed in a new role across half-back, he posted multiple tons and a bunch of extra scores 80+. Coaches knew about the possible upside to 2022 on the draft day, considering he averaged 83 from his final eleven matches. However, averaging triple digits, delivering five tons, and a season-low score of 80 is a great return for someone selected in the middle-later portion of the draft. 

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Mark Blicavs | AVG 95.3 | ADP 172

There is nothing more certain in football each year than two things at Geelong. Firstly, in most games, they have a ‘late out’ and second that they play a selection merry-go-round in the ruck division. The greater beneficiary of the ride in 2022 is Mark Blicavs. After a patchy few scores in the opening rounds where he played as a key position defender, his scoring got a bump with a move into the ruck.

Since round four, he’s averaged 106, had just one score below 93 and delivered four tons, including three over 125. Based on his ADP, he was drafted as most teams final on-field defender or as a speculative late-round ruck pick up. Even if the role doesn’t hold, he’s already delivered above his owner’s expectations.

Tom Green | AVG 92.8| ADP 172.2

Sometimes in football, you need something to go your way. That can happen in many ways, but in the case of Tom Green, the injury to Jacob Hopper in round one has only been positive for him. The absence of Hopper has allowed him full freedom to be the most constant inside midfield presence for GWS. The Giants inside bull started the season on fire with scores of 133, 102 & 114. It has been quiet over the past six weeks, with a top score of 98. But it’s nothing to complain about when you’re drafting a guy to be either your last on-field option or even on the bench. It’s been an amazing run in 2022 so far.

Dylan Moore | AVG 89.5 | ADP 186.2

If you’d told me at the start of the season that by the midpoint of the year that Adam Treloar, Josh Dunkley, or Tim Taranto would be inside the top seven ranked forwards by averages, everyone would have expected that. One player inside that group that nobody could’ve predicted is Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore. The young Hawk has elevated his game by almost 20 points per game on last year’s average. There is the odd scattering of sub 70 scores. However, some monster ceiling games have offset these, including a 138 that could’ve won you a matchup.

In the drafting rounds of 18-20, let alone beyond, you’re just taking speculative flyers hoping that one may stick. In the case of Dylan, he hasn’t just stuck; he’s been brilliant. Getting your F1 by averages at this position from the draft day is elite!

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Hayden Young | AVG 83.1 | ADP 189.8

By name, Hayden Young might surprise some readers to make a list, but the reality is his owners are very familiar with how reliable a performer he’s been in 2022. From his nine games this year, he’s posted a ton and six additional scores of 80+. On averages, he’s the 27th best back in the game. To land your probable on field D2/D3 from the position when he was likely just a depth bench pick is a massive dub. The exciting thing for coaches is that while he may lack the ceiling of others on the list, he brings minimal scoring deviation. In the past five weeks, his scores have ranged between 80-90. He may never win you a matchup with a monster, but he certainly won’t cost you a game. 

Braydon Preuss | AVG 98.7 | ADP 203.7

When you get to the stage of picking 200+ on draft day, many coaches are either picking a player whose name they know. Or have consumed too many frothy’s to remember who they even picked. Regardless of how owners have come into the possession of Braydon Preuss, he’s been a revelation for his owners despite playing only six games. In these six matches, he’s scored three tons and hasn’t dropped below 85. He’s currently third amongst rucks for averages and inside the top 20 for total points. That scoring is phenomenal even with only 50% games played.

Rucks have proven to be a headache for coaches. Don’t worry about the serious injuries to Brodie Grundy or the multiple games missed by guys like Sean Darcy, Reilly O’Brien, Tim English or Rowan Marshall. Even Max Gawn has had his challenges for owners. In just the past four weeks, he’s had just one triple-digit score and an average of 85. To get anyone averaging near 100 after the picks beyond 200 on average is amazing, let alone in a line that’s been volatile at best for coaches.

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Chad Warner | AVG 87.2 | ADP 228

When people talk about the renaissance of the Sydney midfield revival, they often focus on Callum Mills, and understandably so. But an important piece in the Swans midfield unit is Chad Warner. His high effort two-way footy has helped breathe new life into the harbour city. A highlight of his season was a stretch of four consecutive tons between rounds 6-9. An excellent draft picks up who looks only to b getting more comfortable at the AFL level.

Nick Martin | AVG 86.6 | ADP 264.5

Nobody should be surprised to see Nic Martin’s name feature on this list. Unfortunately, just 6% of leagues drafted him because he was added into UltimateFooty in late February as a pre-season supplemental period signing. He burst onto the scene with a score of 130 against the Cats in round one. Since then, he’s scored two additional tons and two more scores over 85.

Martin is currently ranked 10th by averages and 12th for total points for all forwards. A masterstroke of a selection for coaches!

Jai Newcombe | AVG 86.9 | ADP 268.9

With the mid-season draft just completing, the AFL media has spent plenty of time pumping up Jai Newcombe and his recent AFL performances. It’s entirely understandable. The former Box Hill Hawk has stamped himself as the new leader of the Hawthorn midfield pack. His offensive attack on the ball and defensive pressure on the opposition has quickly made him an UltimateFooty draft coach’s favourite.

Between rounds 3-10, he was at his scoring best as he posted three tons and went at an average of 94.5 during eight weeks. Even better is that with an ADP as low as 269, he was drafted by just 30% of leagues. It means he’s an even better buy for those who took the punt, drafted him, and held him. Well done if that’s you!

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UltimateFooty | Free Agency Pick Ups | Round 23

It’s Grand Final week! Hopefully you are in the big dance, on the verge of the ultimate glory. To celebrate, this week’s article is a bumper Grand Final special edition! I’ve picked one player from each game this round that could potentially give you the boost you need to snag the flag. As usual, the player needs to be in less than 70% of teams but something different for this week is the addition of the 3 game average. Good luck, and thanks for a great 2021!

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Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide
Marvel Stadium

Miles Bergman – Port Adelaide – Def/Fwd
% owned – 66%
2021 average – 64.5
3 game average – 83.3

It has been an excellent debut season for Bergman, playing in all but 3 games for a top 4 contending side, and receiving a Rising Star nomination for his efforts in the Showdown a fortnight ago.
He has scored over 80 four times for the year with two of them coming in the last two games.
He has a tough opponent in the Bulldogs, but similar players such as Blake Hardwick and Daniel Howe had field days against them last week scoring 110 and 139 respectively.

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Richmond vs Hawthorn
MCG

Tim O’Brien – Hawthorn – Fwd
% owned – 14%
2021 average – 57.2
3 game average – 82

One of the biggest things we look for in the fantasy world is a clear role change, and that’s what O’Brien has seen the last couple of weeks. Not worth a fantasy look in his usual role as a key forward, O’Brien has spent the last two games down back and has enjoyed a solid scoring spike as a result. He has taken 20 marks in the last two weeks and should continue that against the Tigers this week.

Sydney vs Gold Coast
Marvel Stadium

Darcy MacPherson – Gold Coast – Fwd
% owned – 63%
2021 average – 66
3 game average – 72

MacPherson hasn’t set the world on fire since returning to the senior side a few weeks ago but he is someone who is capable of scoring well, particularly if the Suns can make a game of it.
The Swans can be quite restrictive but similar players in Jaidyn Stephenson and Tarryn Thomas both scored 78 last week for North Melbourne.
It’d be a speculative pick (aren’t they all though?), but MacPherson is due for a good one, and could possibly be playing to keep his spot on the Gold Coast list.

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Brisbane vs West Coast
Gabba

Daniel McStay – Brisbane – Fwd
% owned – 57%
2021 average – 64.2
3 game average – 97

Since Eric Hipwood went down with an awful knee injury, McStay has had to step up for the Lions and he has done just that. In the five games since, McStay has kicked 12 goals and averaged a touch under 85 fantasy points including 3 games above 90.
The West Coast defenders can be miserly at times but with the way Brisbane have been playing, expect another solid score for McStay to finish the year.

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Geelong vs Melbourne
GMHBA Stadium

Zach Guthrie – Geelong – Mid/Def
% owned – 58%
2021 average – 60.6
3 game average – 88.3

Guthrie appears to have found his spot at the Cats after years of being in and out of the side. A few weeks ago, he scored a career best 128 fantasy points and was looking good on the weekend sitting on 42 at half time before slowing in the second half as Geelong hit their straps. Melbourne should challenge Geelong this week which will allow for Guthrie to get plenty of looks.

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Carlton vs GWS
Marvel Stadium

Zac Fisher – Carlton – Fwd
% owned – 32%
2021 average – 57.8
3 game average – 60.7

Fisher has looked a chance to break out a few times in recent years, but it just hasn’t happened for him. His score of 80 on the weekend was his best score since round 14 last year (a 65 in shortened quarters) and it came on the back of more midfield time. Fisher attended 14 centre bounce attendances on the weekend which was up from just 2 the week before.
Patrick Cripps was missing last week and is expected to return which could see Fisher removed from the inside which is a concern. However, a similarly flighty player in Liam Baker scored a nice ton against the Giants last week and that was with zero centre bounce attendances.
Carlton have a fair bit of pride to play for this week and I’d expect Fisher to play a big role.

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St.Kilda vs Fremantle
Blundstone Arena

Hayden Young – Fremantle – Def
% owned – 70%
2021 average – 65.7
3 game average – 83.7

Young has been back in the senior side for 4 weeks now after missing several months through injury and has looked very comfortable in the Dockers back six, winning a Rising Star nomination along the way. The former number 7 draft pick looks a real player of the future with his fantasy output already looking good. He has scored over 70 in 5 of his 11 career games (excluding one game when he was injured early).
Young has taken 21 marks over the last two weeks and will be good again this week.

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Essendon vs Collingwood
MCG

Mason Redman – Essendon – Def
% owned – 61%
2021 average – 65.9
3 game average – 55.7

Redman has been hot and cold this year, hitting 90+ on 4 occasions but also scoring under 50 5 times. At his best, he is a points machine off half back taking kick ins and racking up marks. But at his worst, he simply doesn’t get near the footy.
It’s very hard to predict what he will score from week to week but after a career high 30 touches last week and a favourable match up this week against Collingwood, I’m backing him in for a big finish.

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North Melbourne vs Adelaide
Marvel Stadium

Cameron Zurhaar – North Melbourne – Fwd
% owned – 66%
2021 average – 63.3
3 game average – 60

A couple of game ending injuries have impacted Zurhaar’s average this season not telling the full story of what has been a breakout season. He is averaging 83 in his last 6 non injured games kicking 16 goals in those games. Last week a player who plays a similar role, Bayley Fritsch, had a field day against the inexperienced Adelaide defence, kicking a bag of 7 goals with relative ease and I suspect this week will be a similar story in the battle of the cellar dwellers.


AAMI Community Series Review | Eagles Vs Dockers

After a big day of footy, MJ & Rids shared the duty to review the mini WA derby. Here’s the lads review of the AAMI Community series review.

Andrew Gaff

Did Andrew Gaff things. He ran a lot. Hw found the ball a lot. He got booed a lot. If you like him then he did everything he needed

Liam Duggan

Played through the midfield and looked right at home. if you were bullish on him as a breakout defender then tonight’s clash should have only furthered that resolve.

Shannon Hurn

He’s not done with yet. Had 24 disposals, 8 marks, and was one of only 3 players with over 450 metres gained in the game. He’s not a ‘classic’ format selection, but still very worthwhile in a draft.

Alex Witherden

Played a fantasy footy friendly role off half back. ‘Witho’ had 15 kicks from his 16 disposals and linked up nicely with the other Eagles defenders with plenty of marks. Like Hurn above, he’s more draft relevant than classic relevant. But I (MJ) wouldn’t talk anyone out of him if they were bullish on him. He has that role across the backline now that Duggan is a midfielder.

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Andrew Brayshaw

The 2020 break out star appears to be ready to break into the top elite mids of the comp. He is very fantasy and nothing in this game says he won’t take another jump this year.

Minairo Frederick

Ok this is a surprise. Never thought I would be writing about this guy. Truth is though he sat out on a wing and ran and ran and ran. He has a crazy good leap on him and his hands are clean. Not sure salary cap option (stranger things have happened) but might be worth looking at him as a last pick in the draft formats. Very speculative but he impressed me

Nathan Fyfe

Gun. Played a lot of mid then a lot of fwd. Biggest thing though was he moved very well after copping a knock early. SC All day option.

Hayden Young

Loves to get ball then run quickly then kick. Nicely priced across all formats. Always love my fantasy guys to use hands to mark the ball and tackle opposition. It is called football after all 😉 Young likes kicking.

Lloyd Meek

Really surprised by his leap. Kid can play. Lobb injury will mean Meek should play whether Darcy is available or not. He is the perfect r3 option as Darcy is likely to be injured again in the next month judging by history

Ethan Hughes

Cracking game by Hughes. Was a part of every Freo drive from the backline. He really has popped into rd 1 contention for teams with his game. Luke Ryan wasn’t playing, so unsure whether Ryan’s exclusion drove Hughes to be so prolific.

Every AFL clubs best UltimateFooty sliders

Success in your draft league isn’t normally found in the opening handful of rounds. Rather it’s where coaches discover diamonds in the rough towards the end of the draft. As draft day approaches for coaches, I decided to share who I think are every AFL clubs best UltimateFooty sliders

FYI: The average draft position (ADP)’s are taken from our friends, The Draft Doctors, and their current UltimateFooty mock draft simulator.

Lachlan Sholl | ADP 224

One of the biggest positive things that came from the 2020 season for Adelaide was Lachie Sholl’s emergence. He offers two key quality traits that the Adelaide midfield has been crying out for. That being outside speed and classy ball use by foot.

His round 17 performance against Carlton last season was a nice sampler of his potential. He had 24 possessions, 2 goals and scored an 89 ( 111 adjusted) in UltimateFooty.

In the preseason, he has won the Crows time trial and the coaching staff has been desperate to get him playing across the wing. As a defensive eligible option, hoping for an average of 75+ isn’t out of the equation.

Joe Daniher | ADP 204

It’s a theme that you’ll see across these sliders. Forwards suck, so I’m seeing if can we get some late potential value rather than burning an early pick. Joe Daniher has had a faultless preseason and is seemingly finally getting the best out of his body. His 2017 season averaging 84.7 is a long time ago now, but it does highlight his scoring potential.

Normally picks beyond 200 are just purely speculative picks with an upside that often end up back in the player pool. So given his proven performance, it’s well worth a late pick.

I wrote about Joe Daniher earlier in the preseason. Read his article from the 50 Most Relevant here.

Will Setterfield | ADP 182

How a player ends a season can be a great indicator of how the coming season will track. And for those who draft Will Setterfield this season, they’ll be hoping that this is true. Last year his season average of 67 (83 adjusted) was fine, but it’s his final 7 games that would have coaches interested.

Between round 11 til seasons end he scored 77 (96), 70 (87), 92 (115), 91(113), 54 (67), 86 (107) and 93 (116). That’s a seven game average of 80 (100 adjusted.) You’ll take scoring like that in the middle of the draft, let alone this late.

Isaac Quaynor | ADP 179

Despite only playing 11 games of AFL footy, Isaac Quaynor has started to show promising signs. Both as a rebounding defender and as a fantasy footballer.

In round 14 against Carlton, he had 20 possessions, 5 marks, 5 tackles, and 84 (105 adjusted) in UltimateFooty. A fortnight later, against the Suns, delivered a 76 (95 adjusted).

It’s a small sample size, but the upside is there. Plus, Collingwood have always been a highly relevant and high scoring fantasy side.

Dyson Heppell | ADP 195

Don’t expect a return to the 100+ averages from Dyson Heppell. 2018 was the last time he delivered numbers that high, and while it’s not that long ago, alot has happened in those 2 seasons. Both on the injury front, and the players added to the Bombers midfield unit

Rather, the big potential value in Dyson is around an impending DPP allocation. In the offseason, Heppell has been training with the defenders, and the club wants the ball in his hands rebounding out of the defensive 50. If he picks up this allocation, he moves from being just ‘bench cover’ as a 75-85 midfielder to being an on-field D3/D4.

I wrote about Dyson Heppell earlier in the preseason. Read his article from the 50 Most Relevant here.

Hayden Young | ADP 242

5 games of AFL is a super small sample size, but in round 4 & 5 last year, Hayden Young owners would’ve spotted something special. His booming left boot returned scored 77 (96 adjusted) and 58 (72).

The dockers loved getting the ball in his hands and allowing him to set up the play with pinpoint precision. I think he’ll take another step towards fulfilling his fantasy potential, which will ultimately culminate in him being a long term premium for us in time.

Shaun Higgins | ADP 145

If your draft league has positional changes on, then Shaun Higgins is a must consider. His move to Geelong has him earmarked for the forward role previously held down by Gary Ablett.

At best, he gains a MID/FWD DPP and averages in the ’80s, making him a strong F2. At worst, he maintains a heavy midfield role, and he averages 90+. You really can’t lose.

Noah Anderson | ADP 197

It’s a rare talent that can bust out of the second year Blues. But it wouldn’t shock me at all to see Noah Anderson join the club and do it. In his final 4 games of the year, he averaged 71.5 (89 adjusted). Noah possesses both a damaging inside and outside game which makes him a perfect fantasy performer. He might not pop in 2021, but he’s as good a chance as anyone at a second year breakout.

Isaac Cumming | ADP 207

You could probably put Lachie Ash in this spot too. If you get the chance to handcuff them together, it should increase the pick delivery chances.

The GWS Giants defensive unit has undergone an offseason overhaul, with Heath Shaw, Aiden Corr and Zac Williams departing the club. This opens up plenty of opportunities for the talented youngster. Isaac uses the ball well by hand and foot & has a high footy IQ. Certainly someone with upside late in a draft.

Liam Shiels | ADP 205

I’m all for looking for ‘upside’ late in drafts, but sometimes in the hunt for the one in a thousand breakouts (aka Luke McDonald), we ignore other solid options. Liam Shiels has been a consistent performer over numerous seasons and has also shown that he can punch out some tasty tons in the right match.

Last seasons 67.7 average (84 adjusted) isn’t horrid. While the three seasons prior, he averaged 91, 97 & 95. Getting potential numbers like that in the 20th round of a draft is a steal. He’s certainly worth the pick as some bench depth, if nothing else.

James Harmes | ADP 160

As each day passes, the earlier it seems James Harmes is going in drafts. Why? Because the experiment of him playing in the backline is over. And the club has confirmed that he’ll return to the midfield. Just 12 months ago, he was coming off a 2019 season wherein the midfield her averaged 94. If he delivers numbers like that, he’s a genuine D1 and getting picked up in drafts at a position of a D5.

Luke Davies-Uniacke | ADP 193

As a junior, Luke Davies-Uniacke drew comparisons to Carlton and West Coast champion Chris Judd. Sadly, injuries haven’t been kind over the past few seasons to the former first round pick.

Now fit, he’s finally firing and ready to establish himself in the North midfield. LDU is an explosive midfielder and has elite stoppage traits. If it all clicks for him, he can push an average of 85-95.

Xavier Duursma | ADP 253

All the preseason hype is head towards both Zak Butters and Connor Rozee. And understandably so. However, I think coaches forget about the scoring potential of Xavier Duursma. In his second AFL game, he scored 102, and across the remainder of his debut season, he scored another ton plus an additional four scores between 90-99.

The third year breakout rule is in effect for the archer, and given his ADP, the potential upside is insane. He goes from being possible last selected players, to being an on field midfielder.

Toby Nankervis | ADP 169

The knee injury to Ivan Soldo means the Tigers will likely leave Toby Nankervis as a sole ruck for the season, with various talls playing a supporting role. In 2017 & 2018, when the Tigers adopted this strategy, Toby averaged 86 & 89 in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam and 88 & 98 in SuperCoach.

If you choose or are unable to get one of Brodie Grundy, Reilly O’Brien or Max Gawn in your draft, then getting Nank as a late pickup is a handy target.

Sebastian Ross | ADP 221

All it takes is for a couple of injuries in the St Kilda side, and the relevance of Seb Ross will bolt. While you’d never wish injuries on anyone, the Saints have their fair share of ‘injury prone’ midfielders. Recruit Brad Crouch and Dan Hannebery have missed plenty of footy over the last 3 seasons. Should either miss big chunks of this season, then Seb could well get pushed back into a core midfield role.

Between 2016-2019 he averaged 98, 102, 107 & 94. At this point of the draft, where he’s basically last picked in your team, there is now risk. And he doesn’t just have ‘potential’; he’s a proven performer. When looking for upside, the ‘proven’ is a better pick than the ‘potential’ scorer.

Lance Franklin | ADP 214

Are you a forward? And do you have the potential to score over 80? If so, coaches will consider you on draft day! The scoring history of Lance Franklin even at 1,000 years old isn’t the concern. Rather it’s on his durability. But at this point of the draft, it’s all upside.

I wrote about Lance Franklin earlier in the preseason. Read his article from the 50 Most Relevant here.

Luke Shuey | ADP 122

It isn’t a ‘flashy’ pick, nor is ita drastically ‘late’ pick. But given what Luke Shuey can do, it’d be a great get to get him even at his ADP on draft day. Before 2020, Luke was an incredibly durable player, and his scoring consistency was incredibly reliable.

Between 2015-2019 he missed just 6 games and averaged 93, 94, 99, 98, 87 & 101. You can put down his poor scoring of last year due to a few injury niggles and nothing more. A fit Shuey will become one of the best picks on the draft day given his return at this point in a draft.

Mitch Wallis | ADP 221

Thin pickings here, most dogs you want OK, draft coaches, you know it, but the forward stocks in 2021 suck. So it’s players with job security and scoring potential that can pop that we’re looking at later in the draft. The Bulldogs new Vice-Captain Mitch Wallis won’t get any midfield time, but he’s safely inside the Dogs best. However, because so much of his scoring is based on tackles and goals, if the Doggies can dominate the inside 50 game, he should turn in several 70-90+ scoring games.

Breakevens | Round 5

Buy low, sell high! It’s the age-old motto to succeed in Fantasy football of all formats. Every week we share with you the players with the lowest breakevens across AFLFantasy, SuperCoach & DreamTeam. Here are the players that offer the best breakevens heading into a new round.

For SuperCoach and DreamTeam we only include players who are on the price bubble and have played more than one game.

PlayerPositionPriceAverageBreakeven
Sam NaismithRUC$296,800100-27
Laitham VandeermeerMID/FWD$225,00063-27
Jake AartsFWD$123,90076-27
Tom GreenMID$238,50069-27
Mitchell Georgiades FWD$130,80078-26
Hayden YoungDEF$262,70065-24
Kyron HaydenMID$197,90050-24
Josh BruceFWD$288,80057-23
Jack MahoneyMID/FWD$141,20050-18
Darcy CameronRUC/FWD$147,70051-15
Jye CaldwellMID$219,90070-12
Tristan XerriRUC/FWD$144,80048-12
Harley Bennell MID$123,90059-10
Toby NankervisRUC$449,30099-9
Sam PhilpMID$140,90046-9
Tom WilliamsonDEF$215,10062-8
Caleb SerongMID$200,00062-8
Thomas BerryFWD$177,50056-8
Griffin LogueDEF$357,40070-7
Shane McAdamFWD$142,10045-7
Ned McHenryMID$143,50035-5
Harrison JonesMID$123,90054-5
Stephen Hill DEF/FWD$214,00064-4
Jamaine JonesFWD$161,60049-3
Louis ButlerDEF/MID$117,30049-3
Ben DavisFWD$123,90051-2
Deven RobertsonMID$117,30047-1
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PlayerPositionPriceAverageBreakeven
Laitham VandeermeerMID/FWD$297,00050-25
Sam NaismithRUC$368,00077-24
Curtis TaylorFWD$358,00055-17
Shane McAdamFWD$205,00039-12
Hayden YoungDEF$353,00051-12
Jake AartsFWD$197,00054-9
Jye CaldwellMID$364,00064-9
Jamaine JonesMID$273,00050-9
Marlion PickettMID$255,00045-8
Tom GreenMID$301,00045-8
Ben CrockerFWD$363,00051-8
Darcy CameronRUC/FWD$225,00045-8
Josh WalkerDEF$367,00040-7
Tom BerryFWD$219,00035-7
Will HamillDEF$213,00033-7
Aiden CorrDEF $408,00055-7
Jarrod BranderDEF/FWD$354,00055-6
Kyron HaydenMID$227,00032-6
Justin McInerneyMID$282,00044-5
Ned McHenryMID$231,00033-4
Tom WilliamsonDEF$318,00048-4
Harley Bennell MID$267,00047-4
Noah AndersonMID$389,00053-3
Mitchell Georgiades FWD$258,00060-3
Sam SturtFWD$237,00039-3
Louis ButlerDEF/MID$189,00043-2
Jonathan MarshDEF$319,00048-2
Caleb SerongMID$309,00052-1
Ben KeaysFWD$425,00057-1
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PlayerPositionPriceAverageBreakeven
Sam NaismithRUC$360,50077-30
Jamaine JonesFWD$228,40051-23
Mitchell Georgiades FWD$167,20060-22
Darcy CameronRUC/FWD$200,20045-21
Hayden YoungDEF$336,10052-20
Laitham VandermerMID/FWD$291,70051-18
Jake AartsFWD$160,90054-18
Jye CaldwellMID$326,90065-17
Caleb SerongMID$256,80052-16
Shane McAdamFWD$191,60040-13
Harley Bennell MID$160,90047-11
Louis ButlerDEF/MID$152,20043-9
Curtis TaylorFWD$360,50056-8
Tom WilliamsonDEF$299,30048-7
Ned McHenryMID$219,10033-7
Kyron HaydenMID$223,50033-5
Ryan GardnerFWD$190,10035-4
Rhylee WestFWD$261,30047-3
Josh WalkerDEF$372,20040-1
Stephen HillDEF/FWD$272,80047-1
Ben DavisFWD$160,90037-1

Breakevens | Round Four

Buy low, sell high! It’s the age-old motto to succeed in Fantasy football of all formats. Every week we share with you the players with the lowest breakevens across AFLFantasy, SuperCoach & DreamTeam. Here are the players that offer the best breakevens heading into a new round.

For SuperCoach and DreamTeam we only include players who are on the price bubble and have played more than one game.

PlayerPositionPriceAverageBreakeven
Sam NaismithRUC$296,800100-29
Mitchell Georgiades FWD$130,80078-27
Tom WilliamsonDEF$178,30065-26
Sam SturtFWD$152,20056-24
Hayden YoungDEF$223,30064-21
Tom GreenMID$197,90068-21
Charlie DixonFWD$406,600105-19
Darcy CameronRUC/FWD$147,70051-16
Aiden CorrDEF $330,20083-15
Kyron HaydenMID$162,90045-15
Trent RiversDEF/MID$139,20048-15
Jye CaldwellMID$219,90070-14
Harley Bennell MID$123,90059-11
Laitham VandeermeerMID/FWD$176,50051-10
Ben KingFWD$331,80080-7
Tristan XerriRUC/FWD$123,90054-6
Kysaiah Pickett FWD$178,40054-6
Jack MahoneyMID/FWD$117,30050-5
Ben DavisFWD$123,90051-3
Louis ButlerDEF/MID$117,30049-3
Dan ButlerFWD$415,300107-2
Caleb SerongMID$175,80071-2
Marc PittonetRUC$398,400122-1
Deven RobertsonMID$117,30047-1
Justin McInerneyMID$210,20068-1
PlayerPositionPriceAverageBreakeven
Matthew RowellMID$523,00088.5-28
Sam NaismithRUC$368,00077-22
Aiden CorrDEF $368,00057-22
Justin McInerneyMID$252,00046-15
Brandon StarcevichDEF/MID$337,00054.8-13
Curtis TaylorFWD$307,00051-12
Michael GibbonsFWD$510,00067.8-11
Hayden YoungDEF$313,00049.3-11
Connor BudarickMID/FWD$303,00048.5-9
Marc PittonetRUC$437,00071.7-9
Marlion PickettMID$255,00045-7
Laitham VandeermeerMID/FWD$246,00042-7
Jye CaldwellMID$364,00065-7
Jonathan MarshDEF$291,00052-7
Darcy CameronRUC/FWD$225,00045-7
Max KingFWD$269,00041.5-5
Dan ButlerFWD$523,00076-5
Kyron HaydenMID$203,00031-5
Trent RiversDEF/MID$270,00044.7-4
Ben KeaysFWD$391,00056.7-4
Tom WilliamsonDEF$289,00049-4
Jarrod BranderDEF/FWD$354,00055.3-4
Harley Bennell MID$267,00047-3
Ned McHenryMID$209,00032-2
Louis ButlerDEF/MID$189,00043-2
Mitchell Georgiades FWD$258,00060-1
Tyler BrownMID$257,00038.8-1
Noah AnmdersonMID$354,00050.3-1
Jarrod BerryMID$605,000750
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PlayerPositionPriceAverageBreakeven
Sam NaismithRUC$360,50077-31
Aiden CorrDEF $374,20057-27
Trent RiversDEF/MID$191,80045-23
Darcy CameronRUC/FWD$200,20045-22
Mitchell Georgiades FWD$167,20060-22
Ben KeaysFWD$350,60057-20
Jye CaldwellMID$326,90065-18
Hayden YoungDEF$286,10049-11
Caleb SerongMID$217,20060-11
Harley Bennell MID$160,90047-12
Sam SturtFWD$189,30038-11
Charlie DixonFWD$470,70071-9
Tom DoedeeDEF $324,10049-9
Tom WilliamsonDEF$259,30049-9
Louis ButlerDEF/MID$152,20043-9
Jonathan MarshDEF$287,40052-6
Justin McInerneyMID$249,10046-5
Ryan GardnerFWD$190,10035-5
Billy FramptonFWD$249,90044-3
Kyron HaydenMID$195,10031-2
Jamaine JonesFWD$185,90045-2
Ben DavisFWD$160,90037-1
Tyler BrownMID$251,50039-1
Marc PittonetRUC$411,200720
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