THE BEGINNING of the JLT Community Series means that footy is back. Clubs are keen to blow the cobwebs out, test out their new faces and get some game time into players ahead of round one.
For AFL Fantasy coaches, it is when the pre-season goes up a notch with notepad and pen out, looking for which players will be ripe for the picking for their squads.
Listen to The Traders' LIVE call of Hawthorn v Geelong from 7.15pm AEDT via match centre and the AFL Live app.
Who looks like moving into the midfield so they can earn some extra points this season? Which clubs are likely to play draftees early in the season that could prove to be profitable cash cows? Will the discounted players returning from injury be ready for round one?
The Traders have been busy this pre-season helping coaches shape their sides. Following the success of last year’s call, we're back to commentate the Hawthorn v Geelong game from University of Tasmania Stadium from a Fantasy perspective.
Streaming on AFL.com.au through match centre and via the AFL Live app, Roy, Calvin and Warnie will call the game not in kicks, tackle and goals, but in plus threes, plus fours and plus sixes.
Our broadcast will feature interviews with Hawthorn and Geelong players. The boys will also catch up with Glenn Luff from Champion Data for the inside word on how Fantasy stats are taken and at half time, AFL.com.au draft guru Callum Twomey will reveal his top 10 draftees that should be on your watch list.
The Hawks have named newly appointed captain Jarryd Roughead (FWD, $373,000) to take part in the first official hit-out of the season. 38 per cent of coaches have slotted him into their forward line and will be keen to see how he shapes up after 12 months out of the game.
Jaeger O’Meara (MID, $364,000) will play his first game in the brown and gold. Making the move in the off-season, the former Sun hasn’t played a senior game since 2014 when he averaged 92.6 points from 22 games. With a huge discount, if fit, O’Meara could be one of the bargains of the season.
Another returning young gun is Cat Jackson Thurlow (DEF, $282,000). The 22-year-old injured his knee in last year’s NAB Challenge and is a highly selected player so far this pre-season.
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Keep your eye on some cheap players who will be vying for a round one berth such as Hawthorn’s Kieren Lovell (MID/FWD, $195,000) plus new Cats Aaron Black (FWD, $150,000), Tom Stewart (DEF, $172,000) and Zac Tuohy (DEF, $442,000).
Send your tweets for The Traders through to @AFLFantasy and use the hash tag #AFLFantasy or hit up the Facebook page to have your input into the show. Pre-game coverage will begin at 7:15pm AEDT and can be streamed via the official AFL Live app and on AFL.com.au's match centre.
