ONE DOWN, two to go. Like the byes aren't hard enough to navigate without injuries to popular players such as Rory Laird, Stephen Coniglio and Dustin Martin throwing a serious spanner in the works which quickly turned the 'easy bye' into survival mode with coaches scrambling to dodge a donut.
Fantasy Pig
Josh Kelly is the number one man to target following his bye after bouncing back to top form against the lowly Suns with a round-high 166. After missing six weeks with a groin injury, he returned with scores of 93 and 96 before going bang with 27 possessions, eight marks and seven tackles, not to mention a couple of goals as a cherry on top. He will be a top-eight midfielder between now and the end of the season.
Honourable mention: Vintage Gary Ablett was on display at the Cattery as the Little Master put on a show for the home fans with 34 touches, five marks, eight tackles and a goal for 137. Although the temptation is high to bring him in after watching performances like this, we need to remind our self that durability of premiums is vital.
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Rage trades
Just when it seems like it can't get any worse through a bye round, enter a score of 49 from a premium. Jack Steven became the victim of the George Hewett tag against the Swans and even resorted to sitting at full forward in an attempt to impact the game. Eventually he finished with 13 possessions and no marks, also ending his coaches chances of a weekly win.
Honourable mention: Dayne Beams has been in red hot form, scoring 119, 127 and 137 in his last three games leading into a home matchup against the Bombers. It what looked like a prime setting for the champ, he didn’t look himself and never got going, scoring just 50 from 14 touches and three marks. He has the bye this week, so many will consider going through with a trade to someone coming off the round 12 bye.
FROM THE TWOS: Billings goes large
Piglet
Mason Redman got his first opportunity to play at the top level for a long time and he took it with both hands, collecting 24 possessions, taking seven marks and laying four tackles for 92. He will be a borderline 'must have' cash cow following his bye.
Honourable mention: Joel Smith came into the side to replace Jake Lever and he will be going nowhere after an impressive game against the Pies. He collected 16 possessions, took five marks and laid six tackles for a score of 80. He will be high priority following this week's bye.
Trade targets
- Chad Wingard
- Toby McLean
- Darcy Byrne-Jones
- Elliot Yeo
- Ollie Wines
THINGS WE LEARNED: There's no quick fix for Saints
Fantasy mailbag
Here is a question for the podcast legends.@CalvinDT @WarnieDT @RoyDT
— Harry Strahan (@harry_strahan) June 11, 2018
Would you look to trade out players like Merrett this week as I'm looking to upgrade him on his bye to an Uber premium or do I have to hold after his great game on the weekend. Same goes for Parker #AFLFantasy
I would hold both mate and trade around them. End the byes with a better team than you started.
Fritsch may just be my favourite player not playing for Essendon, great last quarter from the big guy, bringing it home like a steam train, been so good since he was dropped, stoked I held onto him!! #AFLFantasy @RoyDT @WarnieDT @CalvinDT
— Ben de Bruyn (@bennydb92) June 11, 2018
He is an absolute machine! There is no way he is getting traded any time soon.
-3 to Brayshaw and Phillips
— SD Broner (@sdbro3) June 11, 2018
Those blokes were a huge disappointment this week but I think they will both bounce back hard. For more, follow myself @RoyDT
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