CHASING after players like Joel Selwood can be tough work and certainly isn't the recipe for strong AFL Fantasy production.
Andrew Carrazzo [MID, $387,500] was a popular pick at the start of the season, but under Mick Malthouse he has been given the task of limiting the opposition's best on-baller.
Malthouse said on Wednesday that he believes Carrazzo is slowly building up to peak fitness. This could mean more freedom, and more points.
Trade
He was considered the boom young recruit after impressing everyone with 85 points in a tough debut.
But Jack Viney [MID, $182,800] has quickly learnt how difficult senior football can be, scoring just 18 points against the Giants before getting the red vest and putting himself in line for a week off.
Teammate Michael Evans [MID, $108,500] scored 111 on the weekend and is one worth considering, but I'd lean towards Sam Mayes [MID/FWD, $152,200] who scored 75 against the Roos, following his 95 points the week previous.
Invest
Malthouse dubbed Travis Cloke [FWD, $447,600] the "best key forward" in the game on Wednesday.
And it's hard to argue against that point.
Cloke's been a fantasy beast this season, highlighted by 147 points against the Tigers.
One gets the feeling that with the form he's in, the burly Collingwood forward could make Anzac Day his own.
New kid on the block
His teammates call him "quadzilla" and Oliver Wines [MID/FWD, $315,500] is certainly living up to high expectations and that nickname.
Wines has proven to be fantasy gold this season, seeing the biggest price rise of any player in the competition so far ($158,800).
Despite his relatively high price for a first-year player, the 18-year-old hasn't showed any signs of slowing down and seems likely to continue his big scoring ways.
That hurts
Luckily for fantasy coaches, Ryan Griffen [MID, $482,800] escaped a serious shoulder injury.
But the one-two weeks he will spend on the sidelines puts fantasy players in a difficult position.
Griffen's performed solidly this season, but you just wonder whether the Dogs may be cautious about the injury.
With a number of players around the same price mark, it might be wise to trade him out and bring in someone like Patrick Dangerfield [MID, $491,900].
The last word
After four rounds, you should now have a fair idea of how your rookie picks are travelling.
Some players are going to lose value or remain stale on your bench, so if you can afford to, and you're brave enough, now's the time to start burning a few trades.
Ben Guthrie is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter - @AFL_BenGuthrie
