THE final round before the AFL Fantasy finals is upon us and team selection has generally been kind. That is unless you’re a Jordan De Goey owner.
The Pie will miss at least the next two rounds with bruising on his leg.
Some bench options are missing round 19. Tom Doedee has been one of the best rookies of 2018 and he will miss due to concussion. Brayden Sier (leg soreness) hasn’t got up from his game against the Roos and Swan Darcy Cameron (omitted) won’t be playing a second game.
Marcus Bontempelli returns for the Bulldogs as does Blake Acres for the Saints who has played multiple VFL games following his groin injury. A late withdrawal last week, Hawk Jaeger O’Meara will make the trip west and Sean Darcy will be back to ruck for the Dockers while Aaron Sandilands sits out another week.
ALL THE TEAMS Check 'em out
The Swans have selected Jordan Dawson (MID/FWD, $254,000) to play his first game of the year. His recall comes off the back of a whopping score of 216 last weekend in the NEAFL thanks to 29 disposals, 23 tackles and three goals.
North Melbourne will blood Will Walker (MID, $226,0000) who is averaging 71 in the VFL. Western Bulldogs will have Fergus Greene (FWD, $170,000) make his debut and Liam Baker (FWD, $170,000) takes to the MCG on Saturday afternoon in the massive Richmond vs Collingwood blockbuster. Baker is averaging 76 at VFL level and looks to be the better Fantasy option over Greene as a forward who is averaging 59 in the reserves. The Bulldog is likely to have better job security at this stage.
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Get them in
Jarrod Lienert (DEF, $199,000) had a great debut for the Power. The mature ager had 20 possessions at 90 per cent efficiency while also taking five marks and laying two tackles. He did his job security no harm with that performance and he would be a handy downgrade/emergency. He is currently the most traded-in player this week, and rightly so.
Alex Witherden (DEF, $631,000) The young Lion is in red hot form with a three-round average of 117. He is coming off a season high 138 and has a break even of just 60. Not only is he in great form, be is owned by just 3% of the competition and has the Grand Final at the GABBA where he has scores of 127, 116 and 138 within his last four games there. On the weekend he had an equal season-high 31 possessions, 12 marks and four tackles and he hasn’t dropped under 27 possessions in the last three weeks. He is the fourth most traded-in player this week and it is worth noting his scoring is significantly better when Luke Hodge is out.
Clayton Oliver (MID, $745,000) has forced his way into the rolling 22 with a five-round average of 115 and a ridiculous three-round average of 133. The huge bonus is his low ownership with less than 8% currently enjoying his dominant form. He has a break even of 88 and a very favourable run of matchups in the run home. In the last three weeks he has lows of 34 possessions, four marks and six tackles… which goes to show he is in beast mode. The concern here with the eighth most traded in player is that he left the training track early with a quad complaint which means he may not be 100 per cent.
Move them on
Tom Doedee (DEF, $488,000,) has been a great servant this year and is definitely in the running for the rookie of the year award. Unfortunately his game was cut short with concussion last week and it is time to go. He has averaged an impressive 71 for the season and gone up a whopping $318,000. He is the most traded-out player this week.
Jack Crisp (DEF, $569,000) is unrecognisable compared to the ball magnet he was a few weeks ago. Despite averaging triple figures for a number of weeks, it is a thing of the past with a three-round average of 63 forcing coaches to pull the trigger and trade him out. He has now dropped $53,000 since the start of the year and has a break even of 138.
Paul Ahern (FWD/MID, $405,000) is the second most traded-out player this week despite not being a fully fattened cow. With coaches scrambling for downgrade options, there is nothing wrong with trading out rookies early to generate enough money to complete upgrades. His seven long awaited games have been a success, averaging 70 points and increasing $235,000.
WATCH Roy’s Fantasy trades
Calvin’s Captains
1. Tom Mitchell - This is the easiest decision of the week after his 187 last week. The Pig scored 130 against the Dockers last year and although he might get some attention from Banfield, it didn’t stop Zach Merrett (112) and Ollie Wines (118) in recent weeks.
2. Brodie Grundy - The Tigers have given up the second most points to ruckmen this year, and in his last meetings against them, Grundy has scored 115 and 123.
3. Stephen Coniglio - At home this year Coniglio has averaged 116. This week he meets the struggling Saints who he has scored 112,115, 123 and 132 against in his last four games.
4. Jack Macrae - Macrae loves playing at MARS Stadium where he has scored 149 and 151 in his last two games. He meets the Power there this week, a team that gave the Giants’ midfielders four scores over 110 last week.
5. Andrew Gaff - Last time Gaff kicked the ice off the grass in Hobart he scored 125. Against the Kangaroos last year he scored 144 and with Ben Jacobs on the sidelines once again, he should have another day out.
WATCH Calvin's Fantasy captains
