From cheap backline cash cows to premium midfield maestros, The Traders are ready to show you the quick path to AFL Fantasy glory.
Over the next 30 days, they'll hand pick 30 fit-for-purpose players for your starting NAB AFL Fantasy squad.
We begin with the best backline options and finish with the cream of the midfield crop. Today, it's a resurrected Swan, set to take flight under John Longmire.
NAME: Jeremy Laidler [DEF]
PRICE: $135,500
CLUB: Sydney Swans
BYE ROUND: 10
2011 AVERAGE: 66
2012 AVERAGE: 47
2013 AVERAGE: 34
PREDICTED 2014 AVERAGE: 68
Kicking off our NAB AFL Fantasy Classic team, I'm starting with one of the hardest positions to fill in the pre-season - the backline bench spot.
The main criteria when finding a player to fill this spot is that we don’t spend too much money, and someone we think will get a game each week in order to serve as a cash cow and/or bench cover in case of injuries and withdrawals.
Fantasy begins: recap The Traders' live chat
Finding a defender who is cheap, yet likely to play is hard, especially before we have seen any NAB Challenge games, where you can gauge an idea of what role players are set to occupy, and where they sit in the club's pecking order.
Although it's usually rookies who are the cheapest options, I love the prospect of a proven defender like Jeremy Laidler being available for such a low price after injury ruined his 2012 campaign, and 2013 was a complete write-off. Laidler was obviously out of favour with Mick Malthouse, registering just one senior game last year, and scoring a sub-affected 34.
With his confidence depleted and no foreseeable opportunities to break into the senior side, Laidler left the Blues and made what has proven to be a successful move for “out of favour” players in the past - he joined the Swans.
John Longmire spoke of Laidler improving the team’s depth in the backline, and hopefully the coach sees him sneaking into the best 22, as opposed to providing depth as injury cover.
However even if he plays early games as injury cover, his price will rise quickly enough for coaches to benefit.
Brett Ratten was a big fan of Laidler, and he flourished in 2011 for his career best average of 66, averaging 16 possessions per game and ranking second at the Blues for intercept marks. From his 17 games that season, he had seven games where he scored over 75.
The Swans’ recruitment staff are impressed with Laidler’s ability to play forward and back and they are also excited that he is only 24, with “his best football ahead of him”.
If he can have a successful pre-season, he shapes as a good replacement for Andrejs Everitt who played 17 games for the Swans last year, but moved to the Blues in the trade period.
LOCKABILITY: 2.5/5
If Laidler plays a significant role in the NAB Challenge and looks like consolidating a spot in the team for the early rounds, he is an easy selection. Presenting as a ready-made player who has spent five years in the AFL system provides Fantasy coaches with undeniable value when priced below a number of the rookies vying for his spot on our bench. If he is named for round one, Laider’s lockability hits a 4.5.
Tomorrow, Calvin fills the other defender's bench spot with a mature-aged player from the SANFL. Check out #AFL Fantasy on Twitter or follow @RoyDT and the official account @AFLFantasy.
The pre-season AFL Record is the complete guide to the new-look NAB AFL Fantasy football competition. AFL Fantasy experts Warnie, Roy and Calvin (aka The Traders) detail everything you need to know about Fantasy football. There are Fantasy prices and profiles of every player. The 124-page pre-season Record will be on sale at newsagents nationally from February 7 for $9.95.
