• After the siren: It's time to anoint a new Bomber superstar
• Five things we learned from the first weekend of round 18
• Forecast the final eight with the 2014 ladder predictor
• Around the state leagues: Ups and downs for Dogs in VFL

FIVE games into round 18 and the majority of NAB AFL Fantasy coaches will be pleased with how their teams have started the split round.

It isn't uncommon for coaches to be averaging 100 points per player.

Geelong midfielder Steve Johnson was in the leadership mix for a lot of teams and those who are taking the double points from him will go into the next weekend extremely happy. There are another group of coaches, 26,464 in fact, that already have an edge over their opponent with Nick Riewoldt's huge game on Saturday evening.

This so-called boring weekend of football was anything but for Fantasy coaches. Here's a look at what has been a high scoring first five matches of round 18.

Carlton v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium

In the first upset of the round, the Blues ran out 23-point winners thanks, in part, to 10 goals between Jarrad Waite (135) and Lachie Henderson (114).

Waite was a late inclusion for an ill Brock McLean. The forward kicked four goals in his first game for a month. Henderson kicked six majors, including four in the last quarter that added 59 Fantasy points to his total.



Hats off to defender Kade Simpson (120) who notched up his highest score since round 10 after collecting 28 disposals and 10 marks. Bryce Gibbs (115) kicked two goals to go with his 27 touches.

Playing his first game for the Blues, Cameron Wood (94) shouldered the ruck load. He held his own gathering 10 disposals and seven marks around the ground but Todd Goldstein (97) won the hit-out count 43 to 26.

Goldstein was the top scorer for the Roos with Andrew Swallow (96), Sam Wright (93), Nick Dal Santo (92) and Levi Greenwood (92) other solid contributors.

Majak Daw (55) replaced popular RUC/FWD emergency Ben Brown due to a finger injury before the match.

St Kilda v Fremantle, Etihad Stadium

The Saints' unlikely win over the Dockers is being touted as the upset of the year. Not surprisingly, their 58-point win translated on the Fantasy scoreboard with 10 St Kilda players scoring 110 or more points and their team total reaching 1954 to Fremantle's 1331.

Champion forward Nick Riewoldt (164) put together a dominant four-quarter performance taking 16 marks to go with his 30 disposals and four goals. This was the highest Fantasy score of his 14-year career. Riewoldt will increase in value off the back of this monster score, but will still be well priced at around $400K if you are looking for a forward leading into round 19.

WATCH: Showreel - Riewoldt and Rhys inspire the Saints
Rhys Stanley (125) took 14 marks and kicked three goals while David Armitage (121) had 25 disposals, eight tackles and a goal to be the next best for the Saints. With just 20 points at half time, Leigh Montagna (91) was struggling with the Ryan Crowley tag but lifted in the second half, breaking the shackles to end the game with 27 possessions.

At under $350K, Sam Fisher (96) should be considered as bench cover in your backline. He scored 80 last week in his first game for the season and backed it up with an impressive 21 disposals and 11 marks.

Defender Paul Duffield (104) was the sole Docker to crack triple-figures. Midfielders Nat Fyfe (99) and Michael Barlow (97) scored below their season average with Fremantle losing the disposal count 282 to 403.

Greater Western Sydney v Geelong, Spotless Stadium

We didn't see a trifecta of upsets, but the Giants took it right up to the Cats, going down by seven points on Saturday night.

Midfielder Steve Johnson (145) is the most popular vice-captain of round with coaches trying to take advantage of the loophole over the split-round. His 30 disposals, 12 marks and three goals will see him as one of the top scorers of the round and a worthy captain choice for the 9.4 per cent of coaches who whacked the 'C' on him straight up.

Joel Selwood (140) racked up 39 touches to take his five-game average to 113.2. Roy suggested in his trade article last week to bring in Steven Motlop (99). The Cat continues to be the top averaging forward of the last five weeks.

Popular DEF/MIDs Jimmy Bartel (84) and James Kelly (54) were down on their usual output. For the Giants, Will Hoskin-Elliott (113) topped the scorers and Callan Ward (111) posted his 12th Fantasy ton for the season. Adam Treloar (95) collected 14 disposals in the last quarter to add 39 points to his score.

WATCH: Match highlights - GWS v Geelong
Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval There was nearly another massive upset as Dom Tyson (130) almost led the Demons to a win on the road but fell short by three points.

As one of the recruits of the year, Tyson kicked two goals to go with his 32 disposals, five marks and seven tackles.

Midfielder Ollie Wines (110) starred for the Power collecting 26 touches and laying nine tackles. Kane Cornes (108) went to Bernie Vince (72) holding him to just 17 disposals and found plenty of the ball himself to be among the highest Fantasy scorers for the victors.

In his just his fifth game this season, defender Cameron O’Shea (108) took 12 marks while Justin Westhoff (102) took some important marks late in the game to help the Power hold on for the win. The forward kicked two goals in the opening term but spent time at both ends of the ground following his direct opponent, James Frawley (87).

The battle between Mark Jamar (89) and Matthew Lobbe (98) in the ruck was an interesting contest. With over 100 stoppages, Jamar won the hit-out count 47 to 35. Lobbe was able to boost his Fantasy numbers with 10 tackles.

WATCH: Cassisi gets a winning send-off (just)

Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Etihad Stadium

Kicking eight goals, Jake Carlisle (165) helped deny the Bulldogs the four points in a close game to mark the end of the first weekend of the split round (http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2014/18/wb-v-ess).

Backing up from an outstanding performance last week with 163 Fantasy points, Carlisle took 12 marks, impressing his 7144 owners. I can't confidently suggest picking him up in Fantasy Classic, but he has won quite a few Fantasy Elite matches for coaches heading into the finals.

RUC/FWD Patrick Ryder (127) kicked two goals as he won the most hit-outs for the match. Dyson Heppell (103) had a 46-point final quarter while Brent Stanton (100) racked up 67 of his Fantasy points in the second half.

It was a quiet evening for midfielder Brendon Goddard (62), who was returning from a week’s suspension. Of the other popular Bombers, defender Michael Hibberd (48) was far from his best and FWD/MID David Zaharakis (47) struggled to impact the game.

Young Bulldog Jackson Macrae (129) looks set to be a Fantasy star for a good part of the next decade. After topping the scoring last round with 168, the ball-magnet gathered 32 touches to take his last-10-quarters Fantasy tally to 366 points.

I was quite happy to pick up Jason Johannisen (98) as a free agent in my Elite league last week. He scored 92 last week and his 21 disposals, six marks and six tackles made him my highest scoring defender for the weekend.

Tom Liberatore (76) copped the tag from Ben Howlett (32) before the Bomber was subbed out and Libba was able to score more freely.

How are the Traders going so far in round 18?

I'm quite happy with my side having seven players play thus far for 728 points. I traded Aaron Sandilands to Luke Parker (Stefan Martin was moved into my ruck) before the partial lockout kicked in on Friday night. I haven’t spent my second trade as yet, but it is likely to be Dane Swan to Tom Rockliff prior to the next lockout.

Roy used both trades this week out of necessity. He traded Sandilands to Kieren Jack (again, Martin to the ruck) and Dane Swan to Aiden Riley to sit on his bench. Anthony Miles will play on his field for Swan next weekend. Roy is on an impressive 533 points with just five players taking part this weekend.

With nine players competing for Calvin, his team is under-performing and is sitting on 771 points for the week. Sandilands was traded for teammate Zac Clarke, but Calvin is tight-lipped as to what he will do with his second trade this week.

As you will be aware, we are in the middle of a partial lockout. This means that you can edit your Fantasy players who are yet to play. If you haven't spent your trades as yet, you have until 8.40pm AEST on Friday night when full lockout will come into effect.

Don't forget that there are at least two NAB AFL Fantasy Match Day games each weekend and the second week of the split round is no different. Pick your side of seven players for each of West Coast v Richmond and Hawthorn v Sydney Swans for your chance to win $250 and an AFL Live Pass.

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