Today we name our first ruck option for the bench. a true premium Fantasy performer whose points you can take to the bank each week.
Strong NAB Challenge showing could secure Currie debut
As the season kicked off and games went by, Currie was nowhere to be seen and for many Fantasy coaches he was left riding the pine for the entire season.
Fantasy lock-ins: forwards
- Nathan Bock (Gold Coast)- Alex Fasolo (Collingwood)
- Patrick Karnezis (Collingwood)
- Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans)
- Mitch Clark (Melbourne)
- Dustin Martin (Richmond)
- Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
Currie is currently the only listed player from the 2006 NAB AFL National Draft who is yet to play a game. He was originally with the Sydney Swans after being drafted there in 2006.
After five years without getting a game, he ventured to the SANFL before ending up at Arden Street. All ruckman take time to develop but at the age of 25, surely it's now or never for Daniel Currie.
Domination to despair?
“I don’t know about dominating,” a modest Currie said of his 2013 pre-season when I caught up with him recently.
But dominate he certainly did! He played and scored well in all his pre-season games which included one match where he had 38 hit outs for 78 points and quickly became one of the most hyped players in the Fantasy world.
Surely he was shocked not debut last year after such a promising start?
“No, I understood the fact that I was the back-up ruckman to ‘Goldy’ (Todd Goldstein) and he was in great form,” Currie said.
“I just have to work hard and try and force my way into the side.”
To do that, Currie is once again setting himself for another solid pre-season.
“It is going pretty well for me and I’ve been able to do every session since being back in Melbourne following our Utah training camp. I’ve been running really well and am happy with fitness.”
Will he play?
“I really hope so.” Currie said.
If I can be consistent with my footy and push hard for selection, I’m hoping to make my debut. I think I would be the genuine second ruck to Goldy, with Majak Daw being another option as more of a forward/ruck.”
This all sounds promising, but will Brad Scott agree and will he be using two rucks with Currie as a ‘back-up’ over the course of the year?
Teammate Nathan Grima speaks highly of the 201cm big man.
"He was very unlucky not to play last year after a great pre-season campaign and if the club does play two rucks this year, he will score well,” said Grima.
LOCKABILITY: 1.5/5
At the price of just $115,200, Currie is a great option for the fourth ruck position in our Fantasy teams.
With 44 trades over the course of the season, you don’t want too much money sitting on your bench.
Over the NAB Challenge we need to keep a lookout for cheap options to fill these positions for us.
Currie is currently sitting there, but we certainly have a close eye on similar priced players such as Essendon's Fraser Thurlow (FWD/RUCK).
Join us tomorrow as Warnie announces the other ruckman to sit beside Currie on our Fantasy bench for 2014. Check out #AFL Fantasy on Twitter or follow @CalvinDT 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.
