Just the three players again this week due to it being the second of three bye rounds.  Making the list are a couple of players fresh off the bye last week that have the potential to help your side in the second half of the year, particularly a North midfielder who could’ve been on his way to his first 100 average season if not for a bad injury in the pre-season. Speaking of injury, also on the list is a much-loved Collingwood forward who returned from a broken leg with a bang!

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BACKS

Riley Bonner – Port Adelaide
% owned – 37%
2021 average – 62.5

After 19 games in each of 2018 and 2019, Bonner was limited to 9 games last year as pressure for spots in the backline heated up. He was picked for round 1 but we then didn’t see him in the seniors again until round 9 when an opportunity arose in the shape of a Dan Houston injury. His game was unspectacular but crucially, it was enough for him to hold his spot when Houston returned the next week.
Before the bye, Bonner put together a solid game in the win against Fremantle recording 20 disposals and taking 9 marks and should grow in confidence with every game he plays.

MIDFIELD:

Trent Dumont – North Melbourne
% owned – 70%
2021 average – 58

Dumont’s average has increased every season of his career (if you account for shortened quarters in 2020) without ever having a true breakout. If this trend continued, 2021 was going to be the year Dumont averaged 100+ but a serious calf injury wrecked his pre-season and most of his season so far. North Melbourne were rightly cautious in how they brought Dumont back to AFL level, but it was a seemingly endless wait for those that drafted him.
He made his return in round 9 in his side’s first win of the year against Hawthorn and has now put 3 games together. None of these performances scream “pick me” to the fantasy world but this is the same guy that hit 5 scores over 90 (112 adjusted) last season. Coming back from a rest thanks to the bye, Dumont will be a real steal if he gets his fantasy career trajectory back on track.

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FORWARD:

Jamie Elliot – Collingwood
% owned – 55%
2021 average – 67.3%

Now THAT is how you return from a long term injury! The oft injured Elliot returned from 10 weeks on the sidelines with a resounding best on ground performance in Collingwood’s tight win over Adelaide. He kicked 6 goals straight playing predominantly forward but also had spurts in the midfield, attending 6 centre bounce attendances.
Elliot unfortunately has a long history of injuries having missed the entire 2016 and 2018 seasons but this time, he was returning from a broken leg sustained in round 2 and not anything hamstring or ankle related which are just some of the ailments that have plagued his career.
I wouldn’t expect 6 goal hauls every week, but a 70+ average from here on is very realistic as he has comfortably hit that in his last 5 or so seasons (when he gets on the park).