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, we pick out a Tiger whose predicted Fantasy average this year is likely to move him into the elite.
AS A coach, it is always a difficult task selecting a mid-priced player that has the potential to break-out and improve their average by 20+ Fantasy points per game.
When we manage to make a good selection, that player often earns “my boy” status as it gives you a point of difference and bragging rights over your mates. This year, that man is Brandon Ellis.
Fantasy lock-ins: midfielders
- Jared Polec (Port Adelaide)
- Claye Beams (Brisbane Lions)
- Dale Thomas (Carlton)
Ellis is heavily under-priced due to the fact he wore the subs vest five times over the course of the season and in those games averaged just 22 which dragged his season average and price down substantially heading into 2014.
In the 15 games he played where he didn’t wear the vest, he averaged an impressive 98 which included premium scores of 128, 143 and 155.
So basically, we are being handed a free ‘break-out’ card because we know he is capable of averaging over 20 points more than his season average and price suggest. He has become such an important player for the Tigers that the vest is a fashion accessory of the past for Ellis.
Over the first two years of his career, Ellis made an impressive improvement with a rookie average of 58 improving to 79 in his second year.
From all report Ellis is having a great pre-season this year and looks primed to improve again coming into his third (and traditional break-out) season.
Ellis has a large tank and uses it to his advantage, seemingly finding space at will which allows him to take uncontested marks and rack up the kicks.
Because of this, and the fact he uses the ball so well, the Blues tagged him on two occasions late in 2013, keeping him to 55 and 69 points respectively which were his two lowest scoring games of the season (not including those where he was involved in a substitution).
Fortunately, the Tigers have plenty of players that are more commonly tagged, but Ellis will certainly attract attention at times this year.
He was a touch disappointing in his first game of 2014, scoring just 60 from 73% game time against the Demons in the NAB Challenge. 81 points against Collingwood in the second game in Wangaratta was a better effort and shows that Ellis is certainly one to be closely monitored.
LOCKABILITY: 3/5
There is no doubt that Ellis is great value and heavily under-priced. Watch him closely over the coming pre-season games and if he looks the goods, don’t hesitate to lock him in.
I have him in my team and looking back to round 23 last year, it is hard to leave him out after he collected 35 touches and 16 marks to be the best player in my losing Grand Final side.
I have him in my team and looking back to round 23 last year, it is hard to leave him out after he collected 35 touches and 16 marks to be the best player in my losing Grand Final side.
To discuss #AFLFantasy on Twitter, follow @RoyDT 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.
