AFTER avoiding the wooden spoon with an upset round 23 win, the new-look Lions will be aiming to climb up the ladder in 2016 and provide AFL Fantasy coaches with some big numbers when the new season rolls around.
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Injuries to key players were a factor in the Lions ranking 15th for Fantasy points scored this year, yet they have some of the best Fantasy players in the league.
Stefan Martin (RUC, $631,000) is the most expensive player in Fantasy Classic, and while he might be too pricey to start with, he is likely to be a popular No.1 pick in Elite drafts.
Four new players were added to the Lions' list during the NAB AFL Trade Period along with a range of talent via the draft in what has been a busy off-season for the club.
Former Cats Josh Walker (FWD, $292,000) and Jarrad Jansen (MID, $125,000) will be hoping for extra opportunities at their new club. Ryan Bastinac (MID, $361,000) and Tom Bell (FWD, $492,000) have some impressive Fantasy numbers next to their names and may deliver these again in their fresh colours.
Fantasy stud Dayne Beams (MID, $570,000) will be welcomed back after ending his season early with a shoulder injury that required surgery. ‘Beama’ posted an average of 116.4 and as the Fantasy fan he is, he’ll be keen to get near that again!
Also with the capacity to score highly (he notched 148 in the Fantasy Grand Final), Pearce Hanley (MID, $494,000) looks to offer some value as a result of a couple of substitute vests in the Irishman’s return from his hip injury this year.
Click here for every Brisbane Lion's starting Fantasy price and position
The Fantasy World Record holder following his average of 134.7 in 2014, Tom Rockliff (MID, $579,000) is a must-have at this discounted price. Last season was a year the captain would like to forget as broken ribs and a concussion meant his season started slowly. The Fantasy Pig stepped up when needed, posting an average of 147.75 over the finals.
With quite a few players losing their Fantasy forward eligibility (hint, hint), Dayne Zorko (FWD/MID, $500,000) could be one of the premium options worth considering from the get-go. Averaging 94.4 in his debut season, Zorko has regularly produced high scores in his four years in the system.
Did you know that, Mitch Robinson (FWD/MID, $504,000) was the second highest scoring forward over the last 10 rounds of 2015? Just two points behind Dane Swan, the former Blue averaged 112.1 in that time thanks to his tackling prowess. If he continues to add those 'plus fours', Robinson is well worth a second glance up forward.
Of all of the new recruits for the Lions, Ryan Bastinac (MID, $361,000) excites me the most. I’m a sucker for history and I believe that he has the ability to make over $100,000 in Fantasy Classic as he’s averaged 85 in the past. The former Roo can find the ball and due to his durability, he could be a slider worth monitoring for your Elite draft.
There are two draft gems worth pencilling in for your bench. Queensland captain and back-to-back All Australian Ben Keays (MID, $176,000) is an outstanding ball-winner. Rhys Mathieson (MID, $158,000) is regarded as one of the steals of the draft. Selected at pick No.39, the Lions are rapt to have the All Australian and potential first-round prospect at the club. The two midfielders were among the top Fantasy scorers in their respective divisions at the NAB Under 18 Championships this year.
On the Lions list for the last two seasons after spending the first six years of his career at Geelong, Trent West (RUC/FWD, $160,000) is nicely priced to be a potential bench option for your ruck line-up. In Elite, you could handcuff him if you take Stefan Martin and he misses any matches.
Although his music taste is spot on, unfortunately it doesn’t give Daniel Merrett (DEF, $242,000) any bonus Fantasy points, so you can forget about him for your squad. The defender enjoyed a career-high average of 68 back in 2012, and even at this low price, he doesn’t make our pre-season watch-list.
