From cheap backline cash cows to premium midfield maestros, The Traders are ready to show you the quick path to NAB AFL Fantasy glory. Over the next 30 days, they'll hand pick 30 fit-for-purpose players for your starting AFL Fantasy squad.

Today we name our first ruck option for the bench. a true premium Fantasy performer whose points you can take to the bank each week.

AFTER dominating the 2013 pre-season, Daniel Currie was one of the most selected players last year in AFL Fantasy.

Strong NAB Challenge showing could secure Currie debut

As the season kicked off and games went by, Currie was nowhere to be seen and for many Fantasy coaches he was left riding the pine for the entire season.
- Gary Rohan (Sydney Swans)
- Alex Fasolo (Collingwood)
- Patrick Karnezis (Collingwood)
- Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans)
- Mitch Clark (Melbourne)
- Dustin Martin (Richmond)
- Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)

Currie is currently the only listed player from the 2006 NAB AFL National Draft who is yet to play a game. He was originally with the Sydney Swans after being drafted there in 2006.

After five years without getting a game, he ventured to the SANFL before ending up at Arden Street. All ruckman take time to develop but at the age of 25, surely it's now or never for Daniel Currie.

Domination to despair?
“I don’t know about dominating,” a modest Currie said of his 2013 pre-season when I caught up with him recently.

But dominate he certainly did! He played and scored well in all his pre-season games which included one match where he had 38 hit outs for 78 points and quickly became one of the most hyped players in the Fantasy world.

Surely he was shocked not debut last year after such a promising start?

“No, I understood the fact that I was the back-up ruckman to ‘Goldy’ (Todd Goldstein) and he was in great form,” Currie said.

“I just have to work hard and try and force my way into the side.”

To do that, Currie is once again setting himself for another solid pre-season.

“It is going pretty well for me and I’ve been able to do every session since being back in Melbourne following our Utah training camp. I’ve been running really well and am happy with fitness.”

Will he play?
“I really hope so.” Currie said.

If I can be consistent with my footy and push hard for selection, I’m hoping to make my debut. I think I would be the genuine second ruck to Goldy, with Majak Daw being another option as more of a forward/ruck.”

This all sounds promising, but will Brad Scott agree and will he be using two rucks with Currie as a ‘back-up’ over the course of the year?

Teammate Nathan Grima speaks highly of the 201cm big man.

"He was very unlucky not to play last year after a great pre-season campaign and if the club does play two rucks this year, he will score well,” said Grima.