THEY’VE scotched the sub and trashed the round 23 tank, but there’s still a thorn in the side of AFL Fantasy coaches – and that’s the bye rounds.
There’s three of them coming up, and in most Fantasy Classic leagues, that means you need to find a way to get 18 players on the field each week who will score.
For many, that means hitting the panic button on your two trades to bring in a player or two you’ve never considered, merely to avoid the dreaded donut.
If you can do a straight trade of one gun to another (eg. Kade Simpson to James Kelly), then it’s a fairly straight-forward exercise.
However, if you’re downgrading in one position, so you’ve got some cash for a different position or a future bye round, there are plenty of solid citizens under $200,000 worthy of your consideration.
These are players who can slot in this week with a solid score, before you trade them out next week or the week after for a premium option whose bye is behind them.
While it would be a stretch to call many of these players ‘cash-cows’ given they’re unlikely to be on the field for more than a month, the key thing is to ensure you’re picking players who won’t lose any value, but who have a level of job security for the coming few rounds.
Plan your six bye-round trades carefully, and make sure that if you’re trading in some cover, you’re not stuck with them for another eight rounds in the home stretch of the season.
Sub-$200,000 Fantasy options for each team in round 13 (BE = break-even)
Hawthorn (bye in round 15)
Kade Stewart (MID, $186,000, BE: -18): Worth a look – has found favour with the umpires.
Marc Pittonet (RUC, $136,000, BE: 7): Avoid unless you have no ruckmen.
North Melbourne (bye in round 15)
Corey Wagner (MID, $136,000, BE: 27): Pushing for a debut. Knows how to win the ball.
Brisbane Lions (bye in round 15)
Eric Hipwood (DEF/FWD, $184,000, BE:36): Locked in for a debut. His Fantasy numbers in U18 form last year were ultra-impressive. Plug and play for a couple of weeks.
Jarrad Jansen (MID, $172,000, BE: -6): Consider. Has shown plenty in two games.
Rhys Mathieson (MID, $187,000, BE: 8): Loves a scrap, and God knows the Lions need players like that right now.
Daniel Merrett (DEF, $193,000, BE: 35): Er, no.
West Coast (bye in round 14)
Tom Cole (DEF/MID, $181,000, BE: 22): Set for a recall and can cover two positions.
Fremantle (bye in round 15)
Jack Hannath (FWD/RUC, $198,000, BE: 30): Again, only to cover a ruck hole.
Zac Dawson (DEF, $154,000, BE: 33): Won’t even make his tiny break-even.
Port Adelaide (bye in round 14)
Logan Austin (DEF, $157,000, BE: -12): Strong performance against the Dogs, well worth trading in.
Dougal Howard (FWD, $199,000, BE: 24): Merely taking points off Jackson Trengove.
Western Bulldogs (bye in round 14)
Bailey Williams (DEF/MID, $192,000, BE: 21): Dependable ball-winner in a strong team. Consider for your backline.
Fletcher Roberts (DEF, $175,000, BE: 52): Avoid.
Geelong (bye in round 15)
Sam Menegola (MID, $127,000, BE: 25): Been waiting a while for his chance. Worth your coin if selected.
Sydney Swans (bye in round 14)
Harry Marsh (DEF, $146,000, BE: 20): Hamstring injury and confirmed to miss against Melbourne.
Sam Naismith (RUC, FWD $125,000, BE: 25): With Tippett out, too cheap to ignore if selected.
Melbourne
Nothing on offer from the Demons.
Essendon (bye in round 14)
Nick Kommer (FWD, $136,000, BE: 12): Can deliver a tackle or two so consider if selected.
Jason Ashby (MID, $163,000, BE: 32): Impressive VFL numbers but he’s never been a Fantasy gun.
Greater Western Sydney
Sam Reid (MID/FWD, $137,000, BE: 5): Surely he gets another game. Lovely low price for two positions.
Jake Barrett (MID, $125,000, BE: 25): Pushing for a debut and has a great game for Fantasy.
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Top five price rises
- James Rose (FWD, Sydney Swans) +$37,000: $242,000
- Connor Blakely (MID, Fremantle) +$36,000: $337,000
- Tom Rockliff (MID, Brisbane Lions), +$35,000: $524,000
- Darcy Tucker (DEF, Fremantle), +$35,000: $242,000
- Tom Cutler (DEF, Brisbane Lions), +$33,000: $333,000
Top five price falls
- Luke Dahlhaus (FWD/MID, Western Bulldogs), -$35,000: $482,000
- Steven Motlop (FWD/MID, Geelong), -$34,000: $370,000
- Bryce Gibbs (MID, Carlton), -$31,000: $541,000
- Marley Williams (DEF, Collingwood), -$31,000: $339,000
- Andrew Swallow (MID, North Melbourne), -$28,000: $425,000
