THERE have been plenty of surprises in AFL Fantasy this year, but few have been bigger than Ben McEvoy's emergence as a genuine ruck option.
The big Hawk seems to be thriving on the added responsibility thrust on his shoulders with Jon Ceglar being out for the season and Ty Vickery struggling to find his feet in brown and gold.
McEvoy (RUC, $559,000) is averaging 97.4 points per game this year, a number he's never got close to before, save for his 2011 season for the Saints when he tallied an average of 90.5 through 21 games.
Usually, McEvoy has shared the ruck load with either Ceglar or, prior to that, David Hale during the Hawks' era of glory.
However, in a patchy 2017 for Alastair Clarkson's team, McEvoy would right now be in the conversation for second place in the best and fairest, behind teammate and freshly anointed Fantasy Pig Tom Mitchell (MID, $723,000).
Apart from Toby Nankervis (RUC/FWD, $502,000), McEvoy's name stands out among the nine ruckman in Fantasy this year to average more than 90. One of those, Tom Bellchambers (RUC, $354,000), has played just one game and is out of favour at Essendon, although he could return to face the Tigers on Saturday.
Otherwise, it's the usual suspects – Stef Martin, Brodie Grundy, Sam Jacobs, Todd Goldstein etc. who are the default options for your two on-field ruck slots. They're the dependable scorers who rarely miss a game.
But you could do worse, at least until Max Gawn returns next month, than to consider Big Ben for a spell in the engine room.
Note: With the Thursday night clash between Geelong and Port Adelaide, Cats and Power players will be locked into your side at 7.20pm AEST that evening. All other players will be available to trade in and out until 7.50pm AEST on Friday when the Swans and Hawks face off.
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Top five price rises
Nic Newman, Sydney (DEF, $413,000): +$53,000
Michael Walters, Fremantle (FWD, $426,000): +$44,000
Tom Boyd, Western Bulldogs (RUC/FWD, $366,000): +$40,000
Dan Hannebery, Sydney (MID, $591,000): +$37,000
Connor Blakely, Fremantle (MID, $491,000): +$37,000
Top five price falls
Jack Newnes, St Kilda (MID, $503,000): -$36,000
Kurt Tippett, Sydney (RUC, $378,000): -$35,000
Claye Beams, Brisbane Lions (DEF, $316,000): -$35,000
Anthony Miles, Richmond (MID, $477,000): -$34,000
Rory Sloane, Adelaide (MID, $627,000): -$33,000
Get 'em in
Hugh Greenwood, Adelaide (MID/FWD, $180,000): Nothing says money-maker like a three-goal, 93-point debut. His spot could well be safe until after the round 13 bye.
Scott Selwood, Geelong (MID, $402,000): A useful mid-priced option if you only have $400,000 to play with. His 119 against the Dogs last week was a real shot in the arm for long-time Selwood watchers.
Travis Boak, Port Adelaide ($521,000): His bye is done and dusted and the Port skipper averages 123 at Simonds Stadium where he'll play this Thursday. Consider.
Bye for now
Jack Newnes, St Kilda (MID, $503,000): A durable (if patchy scoring) Fantasy player, Newnes is in doubt this week after a hit from Callum Mills and his breakeven is a prohibitive 142.
Christian Salem, Melbourne (DEF, $451,000): Copped a one-match ban from the MRP this week and can thus be ruled out until after the Demons' round 11 bye.
Jack Watts, Melbourne (FWD, $434,000): Struggling to bring home the big scores as his team struggles for consistency. Hard to see him reaching his breakeven of 120 up in Alice Springs this week.
