The reigning premiers kick off our AFL Fantasy club preview series.
THE Hawks have played two NAB Challenge matches and quite a few boys from Waverley are on the radar for selection in your Fantasy squad.
The biggest lock for the Hawks is: Sam Mitchell [DEF/MID, $517,700].
This year the former captain has been named as a dual position player, gaining defender status.
Mitchell’s Fantasy average from last season was 95.52 and he is the second most expensive player available in the backline.
In his NAB Challenge games so far the former captain played off half-back and through the midfield. This has yielded scores of 120 and 79 points respectively.
There is no doubt that Mitchell will be one of the top defenders this season and with a lack of premium defenders, we should start with him. As Roy said in his team builder article, we should accept this gift from the Fantasy gods.
Bargains on the rader include: Matt Suckling [DEF, $314,400]
The defender missed the last 12 months after injuring his knee in the pre-season and has received a discount on his Fantasy price this year.
The left-footer averaged 91 Fantasy points in 2011 to be one of the top scorers amongst defenders for that season. In 2012, he averaged 83.
Suckling played in both NAB Challenge games scoring 61 Fantasy points from 66 per cent game time against the Lions and 38 in 40 per cent game time starting in the green vest against the Kangaroos. Whilst obviously managed in these matches, he looks set for a round one berth.
Fellow defenders Grant Birchall [DEF, $436,300] and Luke Hodge [DEF/MID, $491,900] also offer value in 2014. With Mitchell basically a lock and Suckling too cheap to ignore, it’ll be hard to fit these two champions in.
A player of difference is: Ben McEvoy [RUC, $410,200]
We have the opportunity to go a little bit different with our Fantasy rucks this season. At 24, McEvoy is coming into his prime as a ruckman and he will relish the opportunity as the number one ruck at the Hawks.
He averaged 90.4 in 2011 and 88.9 in 2012 before a drop off last season to average 75.6.
It would be a risky call to go with McEvoy as your number one ruckman but he is playing for the best team in the land. That has to count for quite a bit.
The pres-eason has taught us: Liam Shiels is a ball magnet [MID, $383,400]
His scores of 122 (76 per cent time on ground) and 114 (just 67 per cent time on ground) saw him top the table for Fantasy scores in both matches.
In his third season of AFL, Shiels averaged 102.7 points from 22 games. The last two seasons he has returned an average of 79.5 and 63.4 due to playing defensive roles. Less pressure is applied in practice matches so we may see his role return to that of the previous seasons. However if it doesn’t, then he is a bargain, priced at the level of a player scoring under 65 points per game.
21-year-old Will Langford [DEF, $135,500] has played just the one AFL game but a couple of strong showings of 66 (16 disposals, one goal) and 101 (19 disposals, three goals) may see him get more opportunity this season.
Twitter talk
@sharmanda111 asks "@WarnieDT: Mate are Liam Shiels and Jack Gunston locks? They will probably be in my first week's team."
Their pre-season form has been great. As I said about Shiels, he is aball magnet but I am worried about what his role will be. If he gets afree run, then he is the bargain of the pre-season.
Jack Gunston [FWD, $415,400] kicked five goals in the firstNAB Challenge game for 119 points but equally impressive was his 77against North Melbourne on Friday night. This came from 13 disposals,seven marks and one goal in 75 per cent game time. As a key forward hisconsistency will be an issue, but I can see an improvement in hisscoring with Lance Franklin no longer at the club.
Both are definitely worth considering for the round one free hit asthey were great against the Lions, their round one opponent.
Coach Warnie currently has his eye on...
Like most coaches, Mitchell and Suckling will be in defence for my Warne Dawgs. I will keep an eye on the role of Shiels over the firstcouple of weeks. Derrick Wanganeen [MID, $115,200] is one for thewatch list. If he gets an opportunity, he will be a handy downgradeoption after posting impressive NAB Challenge scores of 79 and 101.
The next club Fantasy preview is North Melbourne. They are one of the hardest teams to score against in Fantasy, but which players are likely to be good scorers for your squad?
To discuss #AFLFantasy on Twitter, follow @WarnieDT and the official account @AFLFantasy
