Today we start picking our forwards, beginning with a veteran Sun who made it back from oblivion last year.
In fact, Nathan Bock is a perfect option and he will be turning 31 a few days after Gold Coast’s round one game.
Fantasy lock-ins: defenders
- Jeremy Laidler (Sydney Swans)- Matthew Fuller (Western Bulldogs)
- Kade Kolodjashnij (Gold Coast)
- Matt Suckling (Hawthorn)
- David Swallow (Gold Coast)
- Kade Simpson (Carlton)
- Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
With a premium on the starting price of this year's draftees, established players coming in at basement prices must seriously be considered. Bock will be a popular forward bench option heading into 2014.
The last couple of seasons haven’t been great for the former Crow. After playing 21 games in his first year at the Suns for a Fantasy average of 80.2, Bock has only played six games since.
In 2012 he suffered a broken leg early in the season and didn’t return to the senior side until round 19 last year.
As a late inclusion against the Eagles that day, he kicked two goals before being subbed off in the third quarter with 63 Fantasy points. The next match saw him subbed off at half-time with a leg injury that ended his 2013 campaign.
However, Bock has generally been a solid Fantasy scorer through his career. Season averages of 84, 87.8 and 78.5 for the Crows and 80.2 in his first year at the Suns were positive but it’ll be a stretch to think he’ll be back to that form this year.
An average of approximately 60 is about right and at $135,900, he’ll be a cash cow for our teams.
This pre-season, Bock joined his Gold Coast teammates in Arizona and took part in the high altitude training. He said he was running pain-free and it’s the best running he’s done in a while.
LOCKABILITY: 2/5
All signs point toward Bock being right for round one, but there’s still a pre-season to get through before we lock him in our squad. Watch him closely over the NAB Challenge to see how his body is holding up.
For Fantasy purposes, we only need him to get through the first few rounds to make some cash.
Bock may have battled a bit over his career with injury but as long as he strings those first few games together, maybe until his bye in round eight, then he will have done his job.
Tomorrow, Roy fills the other bench spot with a Swan who is putting injury behind him and is ready for a breakout year. Check out #AFL Fantasy on Twitter or follow @WarnieDT 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 will be on sale at newsagents nationally from February 7 for $9.95.
