Today we name our final forward, a true premium Fantasy performer whose points you can take to the bank each week.
Fantasy lock-ins: forwards
- Nathan Bock (Gold Coast)- Alex Fasolo (Collingwood)
- Patrick Karnezis (Collingwood)
- Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans)
- Mitch Clark (Melbourne)
- Dustin Martin (Richmond)
Dangerfield is pure class and looks on the verge of taking over the competition, so to be able to select him as a forward is a gift from the Fantasy gods.
In 2012, 'Danger' had a breakout season improving his average by over 30 to a premium level 102 Fantasy points.
Obviously after an improvement like that, combined with the fact he is a proven match-winner, he attracted a lot more attention from taggers last year and his average dropped slightly to 99.
There has been some talk about Dangerfield playing forward this year, especially until the return of Taylor Walker, but as he is their most damaging midfielder, he will be required on the ball to provide drive into the forward-50.
No doubt he will rest forward and sneak a few goals, continuing to grow as one of the league’s most damaging goal-kicking mids after booting 31 last season. including three bags of four.
When questioned recently about where he would play Dangerfield said, “with the introduction of the interchange cap, I’ll maybe spend a little bit more time down forward, but hopefully with ‘Tex’ (Walker) and Podsiadly and Betts in the side I’ll play more of a midfield role”.
Last season, Dangerfield scored eight Fantasy tons for the season, of which six were over 110, including impressive scores of 121, 126, 141 and 145.
The concern with Dangerfield that keeps him from being in the same Fantasy bracket as the likes of Dane Swan is that he scores in the 70s too regularly (four times in 2013) and even had a 51 when he was tagged to just 17 possessions and one mark.
To reach the Fantasy royalty levels, those 70s need to become a thing of the past.
A blessing with Dangerfield is his elite durability. Over the last three years he has missed only two games despite the fact he plays such a hard brand of footy.
LOCKABILITY: 5/5
If Dangerfield was only available as a midfielder, his lockabilityrating would not be this high.
However of the players available as Fantasy forwards this year, Nick Riewoldt is the only player to finish 2013 with a higheraverage than Dangerfield, and I see the young Crow being number one by the endof 2014.
Dangerfield will be one of the most selected players this year and ifyou choose to be unique by leaving him out of your team, it won't bepretty.
Tomorrow Calvin helps you save some cash by filling the first ruck bench spot in your Fantasy line-up. Check out #AFL Fantasy on Twitter or follow @RoyDT and the official account @AFLFantasy
The pre-season AFL Record is the complete guide to the new-look NAB AFL Fantasy football competition. AFL Fantasy experts Warnie, Roy and Calvin (aka The Traders) detail everything you need to know about Fantasy football. There are Fantasy prices and profiles of every player. The 124-page pre-season Record is on sale now at newsagents nationally for $9.95.