WE MAY have thought this moment wouldn't come, but full lockout is approaching after a cracking start to the AFL Fantasy year with the season opener.

The top-scoring player in Thursday night's Tigers-Blues game was Sam Docherty (95) who returned as he left off in 2017. With 80 points being the new 100, his 95 points matched the 116 he averaged two seasons ago.

The fifth-most selected player in Fantasy Classic Dustin Martin (90) and the most selected, Marlion Pickett (60) all performed better than their value suggests.

Fantasy coaches are going to have to have to adjust their thinking around scoring. Richmond scored 1179 points while Carlton scored 1167. In the same fixture last year, the Tigers racked up 1478 while the Blues scored 1642. Interestingly, despite the 16 minute quarters, both teams hit the scoreboard more than last year.

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Cheap and named to play

We build our teams around value and the players under $300,000 are best to have in the last few positions on field and to fill our benches. Make sure you are maximising cash generation with the best of this bunch.

DEFENDERS 

Fisher McAsey (DEF, $260,000) - Named in the backline for the Crows, McAsey won’t be troubling to scorers too much but his job security appears strong. He scored 55 (80 per cent) in his only game in the Marsh Community Series.

Jarrod Brander (DEF/FWD, $217,000) – Finds himself on the wing again after spending his entire pre-season there for scores of 45 and 57.

MIDFIELDERS 

Matt Rowell (MID, $270,000) - After an impressive Marsh Series where he averaged 66 from just over 50 per cent game time, Rowell proved his price tag is certainly worth it.

Noah Anderson (MID, $268,000) - He won't have the scores that we will see from Rowell, but he'll be needed in the Suns’ line-up each week which makes the No.2 pick from last year's draft a very viable option. 

Tom Green (MID, $252,000) - Stepped into the midfield for the Giants attending the second most centre-bounces over the Marsh Series with scores of 76 and 68.

Tyler Brown (MID, $170,000) - The Magpies love this kid. Over the Marsh, he scored 53 and 35 from just over 50 per cent game time.

Justin McInerney (MID, $170,000) – Finds himself on the Swans bench after his score of 60 from 86 per cent game time in the Marsh Series. With midfielders hard to find, he might just need to squeeze onto your bench. 

RUCKS 

Sam Naismith (RUC, $284,000) Sydney’s No.1 ruckman scored 67 and 68 at an average of 64 per cent game time in the pre-season games. With Sinclair not named to play, Naismith just became a little more enticing.

FORWARDS 

Jacob Townsend (FWD, $266,000) Named in the forward pocket, his midfield time appears limited. Townsend averaged just 48 in the Marsh Series and might stretch the bank account now with so many cheaper forward options named.

Mitch Georgiades (FWD, $236,000) His price tag and scoring ability is the biggest turn off, despite his job security seeming quite good. He played 61 per cent game time over the Marsh Series for an average of 35.

Connor Buderick (MID/FWD, $170,000) Buderick averaged 76 in the NEAFL last year and was impressive in Marsh Series scoring 65 (85 per cent time on ground) and 27 (45 per cent time on ground).

Sam Sturt (FWD, $170,000) - From 76 per cent game time in the Marsh Series, Sturt scored 36 and 27 respectively, which equates to 35 points per 100 minutes. Pass despite being named on the HFF. 

Max King (FWD, $170,000) He averaged 45 over the Marsh Series which is about what we can expect throughout the season. Bench option only.

Ben Cavarra (FWD, $170,000) We've been waiting for the mature-aged rookie to debut and he finally gets his chance. He didn’t play in the Marsh Series, but averaged 68 in the VFL last year.

Kysaiah Pickett (FWD, $170,000) Played basically a full game in the first pre-season game for a score of 40. Pass.

Toby Bedford (FWD, $170,000) Averaged 45 in the VFL last year and only scored 28 in very little time on ground in his only Marsh game. He could be the 'Relton Roberts' of 2020. Pass.

Ben Davis (FWD, $170,000) Slides onto the bench for Adelaide and likened to the 2019 cash cow Matthew Parker and scored 42 and 45 in his pre-season games.

Top 30 most selected players

Do you trust the consensus picks of all of coaches entered in Fantasy Classic this year? The most selected could help you build a solid backbone of your side. Just remember you will be unable to pick any Tigers or Blues. 

^ played last night, + named on extended bench, * not selected