THAT sound? Just the collective sigh of relief from hundreds of thousands of AFL Fantasy coaches as the bye rounds ended and we start competing with a full complement of players.
It’s been a gruelling three weeks but hopefully you’ve been able to cover the gaps, and even cull some of the dead wood ahead of the crucial eight-week stretch to end the season.
Time to bring in the big guns – in the next week or two you should be placing nothing but premiums on the field, and downgrading your cash cows to back-up bench fodder.
Exhibit A – a cash cow like Daniel Currie (RUC, $260,000), can be traded down, now he's out for the next month with a broken finger. Ideally the Saints will play ball this Thursday and recall Lewis Pierce (RUC, $127,000) as has been mooted.
Remember to boost your weakest position first – there are plenty of easy options in the midfield, but if you don’t have premium forwards like Nick Riewoldt (FWD, $550,000) or Zac Merrett (FWD/MID, $567,000), you’re already behind the eight-ball.
In terms of decent defenders with a low break-even, Grant Birchall (DEF, $418,000) and Jarrad McVeigh (DEF/MID, $434,000) stand out as proven performers. Veterans whose positions are secure and tend to raise their Fantasy numbers the deeper into the season we go.
Nick Malceski (DEF, $389,000) might also be worth a look after turning back the clock last week against the Saints with a 117-point effort. It was his highest score as a Sun and only his second 100+ game since joining Gold Coast. With a very winnable game against the Lions this week, he looks the pick of the sub-$400,000 players.
Up forward it is seriously time to consider Steve Johnson (FWD, $398,000) as a Fantasy candidate. We’re a few seasons on from Stevie’s Golden Age when he averaged 118.4 in 2013, but he’s spending plenty of time around the ball at the Giants, slotting goals for fun and playing in a team that may not taste defeat until round 23 if it continues its current form. You know it’ll be an entertaining ride, either way.
Remember, there’s more Thursday night football this week so make sure you have your Port and Hawthorn trades locked in by 7.50pm AEST that evening.
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Top five price rises
- Luke Parker (MID, Sydney Swans) +$32,000: $520,000
- Tom Phillips (FWD/MID, Collingwood), +$29,000: $208,000
- Dean Towers (FWD, Sydney Swans), +$28,000: $315,000
- James Rose (FWD, Sydney Swans), +$28,000: $311,000
- Tom Lynch (FWD, Gold Coast), +$24,000: $395,000
Top five price falls
- Ivan Maric (RUC, Richmond), -$33,000: $383,000
- Matt Rosa (DEF/MID, Gold Coast), -$32,000: $351,000
- Steele Sidebottom (MID, Collingwood), -$30,000: $484,000
- Jack Redpath (FWD, Western Bulldogs), -$28,000: $340,000
- Josh Kennedy (FWD, West Coast), -$25,000: $420,000
Get 'em in
Jack Silvagni (FWD, $146,000): Top-notch downgrade target. It’s all about the future for the Blues now and surely they need the rest of the year to find out if this son of a gun can play.
Marcus Bontempelli (MID, $520,000): The Bont averages 133 against the Tigers and you can see him pushing north of that back at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Callan Ward (MID, $501,000): The GWS captain has under-performed a touch in Fantasy this year but averages 123 against the Pies and should have a field day at home.
Bye for now
Matthew Leuenberger (RUC, $370,000): Unlikely to get up for the game against the Saints and right now Callum Sinclair will give you better value.
Paddy McCartin (FWD, $230,000): Another concussion and it’s possible we won’t see him again this season.
Trent Cotchin (MID, $527,000): Struggling mightily with the tag, the Tigers skipper looks like he’d rather be sitting on the sidelines playing Fantasy Match Day.
