BACKLINE carnage faces Fantasy coaches for the first bye round as Lachie Whitfield (collarbone), Shannon Hurn (hamstring) and Brandon Ellis (groin) will miss this weekend through injury.
Whitfield is the highest-averaging defender and was a popular inclusion last week for his hamstrung teammate Zac Williams who, as luck has it, returns this week.
Dayne Beams (hip) is in doubt to play again this season following surgery this week. He has an average draft pick of 15 meaning most Fantasy Draft leagues would have seen him taken in the second round.
The Crows have swung the axe with Bryce Gibbs and Hugh Greenwood (both omitted) sent to the SANFL. Matt Crouch comes back into the team following a three-week stint on the sidelines.
Patrick Naish (DEF, $170,000) is the most notable debutant this week. The 20-year-old Tiger kicked two goals and scored 115 last week in the VFL where he is averaging 93 from his eight games.
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Get them in
Josh Kelly (MID, $806,000)
The Giants' running machine continued his unbeaten streak of triple figures games against the Suns with 140. He has a low score of 113 in the past five weeks.
Stephen Coniglio (MID, $713,000)
If you don’t have the cash to reach Kelly, Cogs bounced back from an injury-interrupted scoring slump with a complete demolition of the Suns. He scored 192 and has a BE of 78.
Jack Ziebell (FWD/MID, $613,000)
All eyes were on Jack to see whether new coach Rhyce Shaw would sit him forward or play him in a more fruitful midfield role. He played mid for a score of 104 and is a viable trade option.
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Get them out
Patrick Cripps (MID, $654,000)
It’s official! It is impossible to carry a whole team on your back until the mid-season break. He hasn’t been himself the past three weeks and it’s not like there is any help on the way.
Isaac Heeney (FWD/MID, $568,000)
The exciting Swan isn’t living up to expectation at the moment. He hasn’t scored 100 since round five and has three scores below 70 in that time. Unfortunately, he has to go.
Jack Macrae (MID, $675,000)
It’s time to go for last year's hero, and his round 12 bye provides the perfect excuse. He has one triple-figure score in six weeks and is coming off just 69.
Calvin’s Captains
No.1 – Josh Kelly v Adelaide
Off the back of his hot form where Kelly has scored 140, 135, 120 and 115 in his last four, it’s hard to look past him here. He plays the Crows, who rank as the second easiest for midfielders to score against since round six.
No.2 – Dayne Zorko v Carlton
Zorko loves playing the Blues and loves playing at Marvel. He has scored 114, 119 and 125 in his past three against them and has posted 10x100+ scores in his past 13 under the roof.
No.3 – Adam Treloar v Melbourne
Scored 110 last year against Melbourne and in recent weeks they have been giving up a truckload. Brad Crouch (127), Josh Kelly (135) and Taranto (130) have all scored well against them in the past two rounds.
No.4 – Lachie Neale v Carlton
Essendon scored 8x100+ scores against Carlton last week and even if Neale’s form has been down, surely he bounces back here against a team he has scored well against in the past.
No.5 – Stephen Coniglio v Adelaide
After his massive 192 last week, has Coniglio finally got himself back going again? The Crows are his ‘bad luck team’ though, as when he played them last year he got injured on both occasions for scores of 74 and 106. I’m not superstitious, he’ll be great.
WATCH Calvin’s Fantasy captains
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