From cheap backline cash cows to premium midfield maestros, The Traders are ready to show you the quick path to NAB AFL Fantasy glory. Over the next 30 days, they'll hand pick 30 fit-for-purpose players for your starting AFL Fantasy squad.
Today, it's the Essendon captain and Brownlow medallist - a smart pick for the strategically minded.
FOLLOWING the trend of picking under-priced premium midfielders in our Fantasy team, the Essendon captain is available much cheaper than he was 12 months ago.
Jobe Watson had a stunning 2012 season. Not only did he win a Brownlow Medal, it was his breakout Fantasy year.
He’s been a solid performer across his career gradually building his Fantasy average towards triple figures and peaked in 2012 with an average of 112.4 over 22 games.
- Mitch Honeychurch (Western Bulldogs)
- Jared Polec (Port Adelaide)
- Claye Beams (Brisbane Lions)
- Dale Thomas (Carlton)
- Brandon Ellis (Richmond)
- Dayne Beams (Collingwood)
- Marc Murphy (Carlton)
Watson scored over 100 on 17 occasions with nine of these 120 plus. He finished the year as the third highest scoring Fantasy player overall.
2013 proved to be a different story. Missing three matches last season with a collarbone injury, Watson averaged 98.5 points.
It was a tough year for the Bombers and for the captain of the club personally due to the ongoing supplements scandal.
Whilst it wasn’t Watson’s best Fantasy year, his average was brought down by his injury-affected game against Port Adelaide (16 points before being substituted) and a couple of other low scores due to hard tags.
On a positive note, he returned from the injury to score 113, 120, 121 and 104 over the next month.
The 29-year-old is a ball magnet. He has racked up 20 or more disposals in every game he’s played over the last two seasons (barring the injury-affected match).
There is a worry that Watson’s Brownlow year was an anomaly on the Fantasy radar, being the only season that he has averaged over 100 points.
One of the big reasons for the increase that year was that his kick to handball ratio went up; gaining the extra point by electing to kick over handballing.
Watson picked up a more than useful 84 points in his first hit-out for 2014 in Tuesday night's NAB Challenge game against Port Adelaide. A strong start and something we can expect to see more of once the real deal kicks off in mid-March.
LOCKABILITY: 4/5Jobe Watson had a stunning 2012 season. Not only did he win a Brownlow Medal, it was his breakout Fantasy year.
He’s been a solid performer across his career gradually building his Fantasy average towards triple figures and peaked in 2012 with an average of 112.4 over 22 games.
Fantasy lock-ins: midfielders
- Jared Polec (Port Adelaide)
- Claye Beams (Brisbane Lions)
- Dale Thomas (Carlton)
- Brandon Ellis (Richmond)
- Dayne Beams (Collingwood)
- Marc Murphy (Carlton)
Watson scored over 100 on 17 occasions with nine of these 120 plus. He finished the year as the third highest scoring Fantasy player overall.
2013 proved to be a different story. Missing three matches last season with a collarbone injury, Watson averaged 98.5 points.
It was a tough year for the Bombers and for the captain of the club personally due to the ongoing supplements scandal.
Whilst it wasn’t Watson’s best Fantasy year, his average was brought down by his injury-affected game against Port Adelaide (16 points before being substituted) and a couple of other low scores due to hard tags.
On a positive note, he returned from the injury to score 113, 120, 121 and 104 over the next month.
The 29-year-old is a ball magnet. He has racked up 20 or more disposals in every game he’s played over the last two seasons (barring the injury-affected match).
There is a worry that Watson’s Brownlow year was an anomaly on the Fantasy radar, being the only season that he has averaged over 100 points.
One of the big reasons for the increase that year was that his kick to handball ratio went up; gaining the extra point by electing to kick over handballing.
Watson picked up a more than useful 84 points in his first hit-out for 2014 in Tuesday night's NAB Challenge game against Port Adelaide. A strong start and something we can expect to see more of once the real deal kicks off in mid-March.
We may not see Watson hit the highs of 2012 this year, however he offers plenty of Fantasy value and he should prove to be a wise selection in your squad.
Taking out his injury-affected score, Watson averaged over 103 points last season. Even a five point increase from his starting price will make him a value pick this season.
I am a big fan of starting with Watson due to his round 10 bye. With a lot of the other premium options having their bye in round eight, Essendon players can help with structure when it comes to these frustrating rounds.
There’s little risk in picking Jobe Watson. He should once again be one of the top midfield performers and as we’re getting him slightly cheaper than his capabilities, we can save a few dollars to use elsewhere in our squad.
Taking out his injury-affected score, Watson averaged over 103 points last season. Even a five point increase from his starting price will make him a value pick this season.
I am a big fan of starting with Watson due to his round 10 bye. With a lot of the other premium options having their bye in round eight, Essendon players can help with structure when it comes to these frustrating rounds.
There’s little risk in picking Jobe Watson. He should once again be one of the top midfield performers and as we’re getting him slightly cheaper than his capabilities, we can save a few dollars to use elsewhere in our squad.
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.
