After rounds 3, 6, 9, 12 & 15, the drafting format of Ultimate Footy awards additional player positions to players that have had a role change in the season. On Wednesday, we’ll confirm with you exclusively which players WILL gain a new position, but before then, here are some players we believe would be in consideration for obtaining a new positional status.
Embed from Getty ImagesHarry Himmelberg | ADD BACK
I never thought I’d do a ‘DPP’ write-up for Harry Himmelberg; he seemed destined to always be a tall target inside the Giants forward line. However, in rounds 10 & 11, he was thrown into a key defensive position under a new coaching regime. To his credit, he’s looked very good there, and his scoring has taken a considerable bump. After having just one score over 70 between rounds 1-9, he’s scored a 74, 101, 161, 99 & 117 in this new role. Even the return of Nick Haynes and Phil Davis has done little to move him from the role. Lock him in for BACK/FWD status!
Elliot Yeo | ADD BACK
It’s been a tough few seasons if you’ve owned Elliot Yeo. Injuries have sadly got the best of him. However, in the limited games he has played, he’s been deployed into the backline as an interceptor. The role isn’t unfamiliar to him as it’s where he played when he first got traded to the Eagles. Unfortunately, he’s only played four games, and one of those was an injury-affected match. Regardless, he hits the criteria of the game to earn DPP and should be a name that the boffins at UltimateFooty consider allocating back status. If he does, it’ll be a huge boost for his owners.
Embed from Getty ImagesTom Atkins | ADD CENTRE
The role change of Tom Atkins has been sudden and obvious at Geelong over the past three weeks. Over this stretch of games, he’s attended 29%, 73% & 73% of centre bounces for the Cats. Tom’s hard at it contested nature has thrived as a centre bounce midfielder, and his scoring has increased directly. Between rounds 1-9, his top score was 81. However, in the previous three games, he’s posted an 87, 96 & 82. The likely addition of centre status might not help you on field centre line scoring, but if he holds this role, he will be selected on the field in your backline given the good scores.
Bailey Williams | ADD CENTRE
What a surprise, but Luke Beveridge has given a player a role change! All jokes aside, Bailey Williams has taken his opportunity on the wing. With the absence of Lachie Hunter, he has owned the wing for the past few months. His true value to his owners is he can be played as a backman. However, squad versatility is always helpful, and so should this DPP land; it’ll be another layer of potential versatility within your team.
Become a Patron! Embed from Getty ImagesJeremy Finlayson | ADD RUCK
Two things. First, the addition of ruck status for Jeremy Finlayson is an absolute lock to happen. Since round 11, he’s been the primary ruckman for the pear and had multiple games where he’s attended north of 70% centre bounces. Second, how the Power continues to use him over a Sam Hayes is beyond me. Hayes has his shortfalls, but so does Finlayson in the ruck. Port Adelaide has been lucky that the decision to play Jeremy over Hayes hasn’t cost them a game… yet!
Embed from Getty ImagesWayne Milera | ADD FORWARD
It’s been a tough run over the past few seasons for Wayne Milera, but he seems to have finally gotten confidence and strength back into his body. Since getting back into Crows side over the past month, he’s been deployed as a half-forward. I like this role and the use of his skill set. With Jordan Dawson and Brodie Smith playing the primary ball users across half-back and Jake Soligo and Jackson Hately holding down the wings, it’s as a forward the greatest opportunity for his skills can shine. So much has been made about Adelaide’s poor inside 50 entries over the past few years; by having Wayne as a half-forward, we should see this increase in better entries.
Lachie Jones | ADD FORWARD
Port Adelaide fans have been calling for Lachie Jones to get a strong run at the AFL level for a while. The pear has found the best place to give him this opportunity has been to use him as a forward. His trademark physicality has been on display, and while he’s not scoring massively, it is a DPP gain that’s warranted.
Nat Fyfe | ADD FORWARD
Plenty will be calling for it, but Nat Fyfe has played just two games, and the minimum qualifying amount is three. He won’t get it as much as Fyfe is certainly being used as a primary forward.
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