• Keep track of the latest retirements, delistings and trades
• Indicative draft order: What picks will your club take to the draft?
• Ten things we learned from the Trade Period
• Sliding Doors: Trade Period wash-up
WHILE IT may only be three weeks since the 2016 epic Grand Final, dedicated AFL Fantasy coaches have been glued to the happenings of the NAB AFL Trade Period.
Proving that there is no such thing as an off-season for some, with every move made came thoughts of what it could mean for Fantasy squads in 2017.
A whopping 38 players found new homes, but more importantly, there is new hope in Fantasy not only for these players, but for those around them and even those they’ve left behind.
Will 2017 give us a Patrick Dangerfield, who enjoyed his best Fantasy season to top all scorers in their first year? Time will tell.
Here's 10 of the best Fantasy options who will be in new colours next year.
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No.1 – JAEGER O’MEARA (TRADED TO HAWTHORN)
2016 AVERAGE: DNP
POSITION: MID
As long as his body is right, we have an absolute lock for our midfield. O’Meara has spent the majority of the last two seasons on the sidelines with a troublesome knee. In his first two seasons at senior level, the midfielder played all 44 games to average 89.1 and 92.7. O’Meara should receive a discount on his previous average, as he did this season, and be a popular round one starter.
The Jaeger-bomb is ready to make a huge splash with the Hawks. Picture: AFL Photos
No.2 – TOM MITCHELL (TRADED TO HAWTHORN)
2016 AVERAGE: 105.7 (22 games)
POSITION: MID
Do you smell bacon? Dane Swan and Tom Rockliff are Fantasy football royalty and are lovingly referred to as Fantasy Pigs. Tom Mitchell has pig tendencies and we may see him in full flight at his new club. He has scored 130 or more on 13 occasions and can average 110 plus at his new club. Mitchell won’t be tagging, he won’t be playing in the NEAFL … he’ll just be pigging out on the smorgasbord of Fantasy points in his new sty.
No.3 – DION PRESTIA (TRADED TO RICHMOND)
2016 AVERAGE: 92.9 (14 games)
POSITION: MID
In his third season, Dion Prestia placed himself on the Fantasy map with an average of 96.6 and followed up with 100.3, 95.1 and 92.9. The 24-year-old is primed to average more than 100 in the yellow and black with Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin likely to be first in line to cop attention from the opposition. Injury has held him back in the last two seasons, so look out for Prestia to be a good buy in 2017.
Dion Prestia has landed at Punt Road and Fantasy points beckon. Picture: AFL Photos
No.4 – JACK STEELE (TRADED TO ST KILDA)
2016 AVERAGE: 71.6 (10 games)
POSITION: FWD/MID
The former Giant has been a Fantasy tease over his career. Steele was a beast in the NEAFL, averaging 156 points and is set to break out given the opportunity to play 22 games for the Saints. It seems likely that we may lose a few premium midfielders, and provided Steele maintains his dual-position status, he could be in the mix to be a top scoring forward in the upcoming season.
No.5 – JORDAN LEWIS (TRADED TO MELBOURNE)
2016 AVERAGE: 103.2 (22 games)
POSITION: MID
Coaches who picked up Jordan Lewis when his price dipped to as low as $474,000 prior to the bye this year will know just how much of a Fantasy stud the runner-up in Hawthorn’s best-and-fairest is. From round 10, Lewis only scored less than 100 once and that was 98, to average 110.9. This matched his season-long average from the two previous years. Turning 31 might be a turn-off for some, but Lewis isn’t done just yet.
No.6 – JARRYD LYONS (TRADED TO GOLD COAST)
2016 AVERAGE: 89.3 (18 games)
POSITION: FWD/MID
This year Jarryd Lyons moved into the Adelaide midfield and increased $213,000 in value across his 18 games by increasing his average from 44.6 to 89.3. He proved to be a consistent performer with a season-low of 71. If he holds onto his dual-position status, Lyons has a chance to be one of the best forwards next season with boundless opportunity at the Suns.
No.7 – MICHAEL HIBBERD (TRADED TO MELBOURNE)
2016 AVERAGE: DNP
POSITION: DEF
As the only banned Bomber traded, Michael Hibberd will be an excellent acquisition for the Demons and a handy defender for Fantasy teams. Hibberd loves a plus six (mark and kick) and enjoyed averaging 87 and 89.3 in 2013-14 to place him among the best defenders. Hibberd will be priced based on his 2015 season average of 79.5, meaning there will be plenty of upside in the 26-year-old.
No.8 – ZACH TUOHY (TRADED TO GEELONG)
2016 AVERAGE: 73.2 (22 games)
POSITION: DEF
Picking durable players is a must and Zach Tuohy fits that bill. In his 95 games on the trot, Tuohy’s Fantasy game has improved and in the last month of season 2016 he made a few coaches stand up and take notice. The former Blue will be slotting into a Fantasy-friendly backline to fill a Corey Enright sized hole. If he can deliver the same numbers as he did in the final five rounds (average of 89), then he could have a few extra fans wearing the blue and white hoops.
No.9 – SAM MITCHELL (TRADED TO WEST COAST)
2016 AVERAGE: 99.6 (20 games)
POSITION: MID
Probably the biggest surprise of the trade period was Sam Mitchell’s move west. Although his scores are declining, the 34-year-old still has a Fantasy game about him and is every chance to average more than 100 points in 2017. Playing at Domain Stadium should be good for his numbers, as the midfielder averaged 104.7 over his career, delivering 147, 141, 106, 82 and 125 in his last five games on the big ground.
No.10 – NATHAN HROVAT (TRADED TO NORTH MELBOURNE)
2016 AVERAGE: 76.4 (4 games)
POSITION: FWD
In 2014, Nathan Hrovat avoided second-year Fantasy blues to average 71.5 from 12 games. Not a bad effort considering he wore the dreaded substitute's vest on a couple of occasions. Ankle and shoulder injuries restricted him to four senior and five VFL matches this year, but in the games he did play, he was a solid contributor – including 94 against Essendon in round 22. Hrovat may receive a slight discount on his starting price next season but look to snag him as a bargain late in your Elite draft.
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