AFTER a disappointing season with just eight wins on the board, many Adelaide players stepped up to the plate and offered Fantasy coaches plenty of success.
After coming across from Sydney, Jordan Dawson (DEF, $893,000) was one of the main success stories of the year as he enjoyed his best season to date improving his Fantasy average to 101. He spent time on the wing but also drifted back to take the most kick-ins for the Crows, playing on 81 per cent of the time for an important bonus +3 points.
Sam Berry (MID, $746,000) also took his game to a whole new level and lead the league in tackles averaging 9.5 a game. He averaged 91 after his bye and has now cemented himself as one of Adelaide's key midfielders for years to come.
Rucks always create headaches in Fantasy and next season it could happen all over again.
However, maybe Reilly O'Brien (RUC, $826,000) is a savour. He has now averaged 93, 86, 88 and 96 across his last four seasons and in other teams with multiple rucks, maybe O'Brien is the man we all need.
>> Scroll down for all the Adelaide prices and positions
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Lock them in
This year in AFL Fantasy we have one "Million Dollar Man" and it's the great Rory Laird (MID, $1,066,000).
OK, I'll state the obvious … Laird is the ultimate Fantasy jet and has his eyes on "Pig Status" if he can continue his 2022 form where he averaged 120 and only dropped under 100 on four occasions.
Just like in 2021, Laird finished the year off in style averaging 129 in his final 10 games which could support the case that even at his price, he still offers value and is always a walk-up captain option.
Track their pre-season
Here we go again … this pre-season keep an eye on Wayne Milera (FWD, $441,000). Talk about déjà vu!
Milera had many Fantasy coaches excited last season when he was named to play in round one. However, he only scored 50 and then missed the next nine games. When he returned, his scores and role were less than impressive … but this means he is cheap again in 2023. But could you actually do it?
The thing is, if the role is there for Milera he can score. He did average 77 back in 2019 but I'll take you back to my last question: Could you actually do it?
FANTASY New positions for 2023 revealed, who's a must-have
Dual-position tempter
Ben Keays (MID, $862,000) started 2022 on fire averaging 116 in his first seven games and was shaping up as one of the best Fantasy midfielders in the game after averaging 108 the previous year. However, with four rounds to go in the season, the Adelaide coaching staff decided to move Keays out of the middle and up forward where he averaged 64.
Keays is clearly 10 points under priced … if, and it's a big IF, he is back playing on the ball.
Bargain basement
This early in the pre-season it's worth jotting down a few names in your Fantasy black book and Luke Pedlar (FWD, $213,000) is one to add to the list. He was drafted with pick No.11 in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft but has spent the majority of his time playing in the SANFL, where he averaged 69 last year. Adelaide fans are excited about this young man and his name has popped up on quite a few pre-season watchlists.
The Crows selected Max Michalanney (DEF, $268,000) with pick No.14 in this year's NAB AFL Draft and some believe he could be named round one. He averaged 65 playing in the SANFL Reserves last year and even though he has an inflated rookie price, he could feature in early games.
REVEALED Fantasy salary cap, top prices, bargain buys
Draft sleeper
With only 11 games next to his name this year, Matt Crouch (MID, $778,000) struggled to even make the Crows best 22. When he wasn't playing at the top level, he was doing his time in the SANFL where he dominated averaging 116 across his eight games.
He finished the season averaging 88 and could be a sneaky late pick-up in Draft when you consider that he did average 106 only three seasons ago.
Buyer beware
Rory Sloane (MID, $622,000) played four games in 2022 before rupturing his ACL. Because of this, the Adelaide champion now receives a 18 per cent discount which now prices him at an average of 70. Although this presents as an eye-catching bargain, monitor his pre-season to see how he the 32-year-old has bounced back.
Player |
Position |
2022 Average |
2022 Games |
2023 Price |
Rory Laird |
MID |
120.4 |
20 |
$1,066,000 |
Jordan Dawson |
DEF |
100.8 |
22 |
$893,000 |
Ben Keays |
MID |
97.3 |
22 |
$862,000 |
Reilly O'Brien |
RUC |
93.3 |
20 |
$826,000 |
Matt Crouch |
MID |
87.9 |
11 |
$778,000 |
Sam Berry |
MID |
84.3 |
18 |
$746,000 |
Brodie Smith |
DEF |
77.7 |
21 |
$688,000 |
Taylor Walker |
FWD |
77.1 |
18 |
$683,000 |
Jackson Hately |
MID |
75.2 |
11 |
$666,000 |
Rory Sloane |
MID |
69.8 |
4 |
$622,000 |
Paul Seedsman |
MID |
- |
- |
$593,000 |
Lachlan Sholl |
MID |
62.5 |
10 |
$553,000 |
Harry Schoenberg |
MID |
62.2 |
16 |
$551,000 |
Mitchell Hinge |
DEF/MID |
60.8 |
17 |
$538,000 |
Shane McAdam |
FWD |
60.3 |
15 |
$534,000 |
Tom Doedee |
DEF |
59.1 |
20 |
$523,000 |
Izak Rankine |
FWD |
59.1 |
18 |
$523,000 |
Jake Soligo |
MID |
58 |
16 |
$514,000 |
Riley Thilthorpe |
FWD |
57.3 |
11 |
$507,000 |
Darcy Fogarty |
FWD |
56.5 |
17 |
$500,000 |
Kieran Strachan |
RUC |
66.5 |
2 |
$495,000 |
Lachlan Murphy |
FWD |
53.8 |
17 |
$476,000 |
Josh Rachele |
FWD |
52.1 |
13 |
$461,000 |
Ned McHenry |
FWD |
51.5 |
20 |
$456,000 |
Elliott Himmelberg |
FWD |
50.3 |
11 |
$445,000 |
Wayne Milera |
FWD |
49.8 |
12 |
$441,000 |
Chayce Jones |
DEF |
48.3 |
20 |
$428,000 |
Patrick Parnell |
DEF |
47.8 |
11 |
$423,000 |
Lachlan Gollant |
FWD |
39 |
7 |
$403,000 |
Brayden Cook |
MID |
41.6 |
8 |
$369,000 |
Andrew McPherson |
DEF |
40 |
1 |
$367,000 |
Josh Worrell |
DEF |
50 |
4 |
$363,000 |
Will Hamill |
DEF |
38.6 |
12 |
$342,000 |
Jordon Butts |
DEF |
36.1 |
19 |
$320,000 |
Nick Murray |
DEF |
33.6 |
16 |
$298,000 |
Max Michalanney |
DEF |
- |
- |
$268,000 |
Billy Dowling |
MID |
- |
- |
$216,000 |
Luke Pedlar |
FWD |
27 |
1 |
$213,000 |
Hugh Bond |
MID |
- |
- |
$202,000 |
Fischer McAsey |
DEF/FWD |
- |
- |
$200,000 |
James Borlase |
DEF |
- |
- |
$200,000 |
Luke Nankervis |
MID/FWD |
- |
- |
$200,000 |
Tariek Newchurch |
FWD |
- |
- |
$200,000 |
Zac Taylor |
MID |
- |
- |
$200,000 |
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