REVEALED: Fantasy salary cap, top prices, bargain buys

CONGRATULATIONS. You will soon be a multi-millionaire. The question is, what will you do with your $17,800,000?

That's right, this year in AFL Fantasy Classic we have more money than ever to select 30 players in our initial squad. This figure has increased by two million dollars in 2025 to match the real salary cap that list managers and the 18 clubs must work with.

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However, with an increased salary cap, don't be fooled by thinking that this game will be easier than ever before.

We start with having 33 players priced over the million dollar mark (up from eight in 2024) headlined by the two ruckmen Rowan Marshall (RUC, $1,201,000) and Tristan Xerri (RUC, $1,175,000). They were the best players of 2024 averaging 117 and 115 respectively and come with two of the highest starting price tags we have ever seen.

How it works

Players are priced according to their 2024 output. The highest averaging players from last season will cost the most while players who under-performed or missed games through injury will be much cheaper or even potentially discounted if they played less than 10 games.

Most players will be priced based on their average from the previous season and this is determined by the 'magic number' which sits at approximately 10,260 for the season ahead. When this number is multiplied to a player's average, their price is generated.

Patrick Cripps (MID, $1,026,000) averaged 100 which helps us understand the 'magic number' in the most simplest way. 100 x 10,260 = $1,026,000.

Players have received a discount on their price if they played fewer than 10 games last season, with a discount of three per cent per game they played under 10. If they missed a whole season, they have received a 30 per cent discount on their price, which is applied to the higher average score of the past two seasons. Players missing two full seasons are discounted by 35 per cent on last available average, three seasons out attracts a 40 per cent discount, and so on.

Another way of using the magic number is by working out what value players are 'priced at'. This term is regularly used when discussing AFL Fantasy as it allows us to find players who are 'priced at' under what we think they can achieve.

To do this, we inverse the equation and divide the player's price by the magic number to get the average they are priced at.

Bailey Smith (MID/FWD, $598,000) will be one of the most selected players this season based on this alone. $598,000 ÷ 10,260 = 58.3. Smith received a discount this year after missing 2024 and is now priced at an average of 58.3 which means he is massive value and will be at the top of everyone's shopping list.

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Top-priced players

From the 33 players worth over a million dollars this season we have nine defenders, five rucks, no forwards and not surprisingly, 19 midfielders.

At the top of the list for midfielders we have Adam Treloar (MID, $1,129,000) after he averaged 110 last season along with Zach Merrett (MID, $1,116,000) and Errol Gulden (MID, $1,113,000).

Heading into 2024, we had three defenders averaging triple figures and in 2025 we have eight with Harry Sheezel (DEF, $1,151,000) the most expensive after averaging an impressive 112 last season.

The highest averaging forward available is Dylan Moore (FWD, $944,000) who is coming off a season averaging 92. Selecting forwards last season proved a challenging task and it appears we may have the same issues again, unless we can find some value.

Top 25 priced players in AFL Fantasy

Value picks

Finding players under-priced is the key to AFL Fantasy. Finding these players who are 'priced at' under what they will achieve like Bailey Smith is critical and in 2025 we have a few more on the radar, especially in the forward line.

Former Bulldogs Jack Macrae (FWD, $732,000) and Caleb Daniel (MID/FWD, $514,000) could be exactly what we need. Both players had frustrating seasons in 2024 and found themselves playing out of position and even out of the team.

Subsequently, Macrae only averaged 71 whereas Daniel managed just 16 games for the season and wore the substitute vest on eight occasions. This dramatically effected his output which now has him priced at an average of 50.

Players can be value for a variety of different reasons and some can be value just through the unfortunate result of an injury.

Keidean Coleman (DEF, $521,000) had a season-ending knee injury in Opening Round last year which means he’ll receive at 27 per cent discount, which is applied to the highest average of his past two seasons (69.6). This prices the Lions' defender at an average of 50.8.

Rookies and bargain-basement players

Rookies get priced at where they were selected in the Telstra AFL Draft.

No.1 pick Sam Lalor (MID, $340,000) is the top-priced rookie this year and just like last season, the second selected player Finn O'Sullivan (MID, $337,000) is $3,000 cheaper.

This trend continues for every subsequent pick until we reach pick No.37 Kayle Gerreyn (RUC, $232,000). All draftees after pick No.37, or players who are yet to debut, are priced at $230,000.