WHILE round six will forever be remembered as the weekend that North Melbourne, the most dominant AFLW dynasty, had its unbeaten streak broken, it also had a whole host of Fantasy relevant performances as coaches navigated forced trades and injured premiums.
Top six defender Ella Heads (suspended), forward trade target Charlie Mullins (concussion), popular rookie Mischa Barwin (torn ACL) was the news that greeted AFLW Fantasy coaches before the first minute of football for round six, meaning a lot of the best laid trade plans needed to be thrown out the window.
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Hopefully coaches were able to turn the bad news into an opportunity to jump on the premium midfielder, Charlie Rowbottom (131 v Essendon), as the Sun looks to be rising into the ranks of the top five AFLW Fantasy midfielders. If coaches had been looking in the sub $1 million dollar range, it turns out that the best option to pick for a return to form was not Laura Gardiner (more on her shortly), but Brisbane star Ally Anderson (138 s Adelaide), who wound back the clock in an effort to drag her Lions to victory by laying 14 tackles and displaying a ceiling that we have not seen in nearly two years.
Unfortunately, the far more popular trade target last week was Gardiner, who for nearly a price $90k higher netted coaches 75 points less Anderson. Gardiner had been seemingly in line for a boost with the injury to Sofia Hurley, but that improvement never arrived, and in its stead was a 64, her lowest score since 2022 (and before her move to Sydney from Geelong). At this stage, even if she was a trade in target last week, Gardiner needs to be out of our sides in the next two weeks before a round eight game against the Kangaroos.
Round six also saw a pair relevant defenders lower their colours, with Charlie Thomas and Serene Watson both failing to show any of their (probably) ex-premium pedigree. You can discount the low scoring somewhat given the blustery RSEA conditions, but Thomas' inability to score any points outside of kick-ins, and Watson's failure to find easy points from marks OR tackles in spite of a full-time shift into the midfield, likely spell the end to their tenure in our Fantasy sides.
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Top five price rises
1. Gabby Seymour (DEF, $671,000): +$130,000
2. Abbey Dowrick (MID, $885,000): +$125,000
3. Aishling Moloney (FWD, $744,000): +$113,000
4. Kaylee Kimber (DEF, $503,000): +$110,000
5. Caitlin Greiser (FWD, $604,000): +$107,000
Top five price falls
1. Mimi Hill (MID, $669,000): -$114,000
2. Charlie Thomas (DEF, $621,000): -$108,000
3. Ryleigh Wotherspoon (FWD, $527,000): -$105,000
4. Matilda Scholz (RUC, $909,000): -$97,000
5. Mim Strom (RUC, $772,000): -$96,000
Top targets
Erone Fitzpatrick (Carlton, MID/FWD, $870,000) – 86.3 avg
Now that Carlton is clear of its brutal two-week stretch of North Melbourne and Melbourne, Fitzpatrick should be a priority target for all coaches as we look to have a complete team free of all rookies. The match-up against Richmond this week is particularly tantalising as it concedes points to outside runners very easily. 'Ronny' is a bit cheaper this week after an underwhelming score against the Demons, but for the rest of the year, will be a top two or three averaging forward.
Tarni White (Collingwood, DEF, $837,000) – 82.5 avg
It is becoming pretty clear now that White will be a consistent 80-plus scorer this season, and that the two 60s scored in rounds three and four were the outliers and not the norm. White is currently looking solid for 20 disposals, and eight to 10 combined tackles and marks, and will be the perfect finishing touch in defence for the 30 per cent of coaches in the top five percent of the competition who haven't owned this premium defender.
Ally Anderson (Brisbane, MID, $963,000) – 101.5 avg
I must admit, I thought that Anderson's days as an uber premium AFLW Fantasy midfielder were past her: an 87.5 average in 2025 felt like it would be the new normal. That belief may have shifted after Anderson was the highest scoring player for round six (139) based largely off a career-high 14 tackles. With Sydney and Gold Coast as her next two opponents, this Lion is an intriguing trade-in option this week.
Cleo Buttifant (Western Bulldogs, DEF, $339,000) – 38.7 avg
Buyer beware, this option is only for the truly cash strapped! Buttifant was drafted at No.11 in 2023 as a medium-tall defender with an elite athletic profile. Unfortunately, until recently, she has failed to show consistent impact or hold a consistent spot in the 21 of the Bulldogs. Something has shifted in the last month however, with Jess Fitzgerald spending a little more time at half-back to allow for Buttifant to become an increasing part of the Bulldogs' inside midfield brigade. In round six, that became a full-time role, and with it came a career-high score of 70. Now that the rookies appear to be severely drying up, a dart throw at Buttifant at D6 might be one of the few left-field plays worthy of consideration.
Sell
Charlie Thomas (West Coast, DEF, $621,000) – 67.4 avg
Back-to-back scores in the 40s for Thomas should have us questioning if something has shifted at West Coast. Whereas in the opening month, Thomas had been averaging 20 disposals and five marks per game, the last two weeks has seen a big dip down to only 11.5 touches and two marks as she spends a lot less time close to the back of any stoppages, and the Eagles have cut off their already very limited supply to marks on lateral kicks in the defensive half. It costs exactly $100k to upgrade to Maeve Chaplin who feels like she'll be putting 20 points per week on Thomas. Those holding will be hoping that the pre-season midfield time finally rematerialises, but until then, prepare to be underwhelmed.
Jordyn Allen (Melbourne, MID, $692,000) – 72.8 avg
Allen has been the pick of the midfield rookies, but she has reached the end of the line in our sides. Having now dipped below $700k, the writing would be on the wall even if Allen wasn't playing North Melbourne this week. Coaches who also own Emma Juneja, Chloe Bown, Ava Usher, Sunny Lappin, and Yasmeen Janschek should be looking to cash out these maxxed-out rookies.
Serene Watson (St Kilda, DEF, $580,000) – 59 avg
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Watson had spent two years cementing her spot among the AFLW's (and AFLW Fantasy's) best defenders, only for that reputation to slip so rapidly in the first half of 2026. The Saints tried to use Watson in the midfield against West Coast, but that did nothing to boost Watson's scoring, while also nixing any hope that their young defenders would be able to transition out of D50 without their most consistent ball user. Watson's extremely low price will make her a lower trade priority than Thomas, but until the Saints' gameplan improves, Watson will struggle to score anywhere close to her best.
Brittany Bonnici (Collingwood, MID, $767,000) – 74.8 avg
The Pies are experimenting like crazy at the moment. Sadly for Fantasy coaches, one of the hottest trade targets of a fortnight ago has been caught up in that frenzy. Bonnici has shifted from centre ball-up stalwart with a consistent role as the 'hit-to' at all ruck contests, into a defensively minded midfielder who will be pushed to half-forward post CBA. It has come as a shock, it felt like 'BB8' would be one of the few lynch pins at Collingwood, but even she couldn't escape the chaos, and now becomes a trade out priority.
Top rookie targets (under $350,000)
At this point of the season, unless coaches think that a rookie can last two weeks in their AFLW team's best 21, and make around $100k, the best option is probably going to be to trade in a red dot rookie, or have a throw of the darts at a consistent best 21 player with a surprisingly low scoring year, Justine Mules-Robinson and Kaylee Kimber being two such examples from the last fortnight. For the rookie definition purists, Lucy Boyd and Olivia Lewis are the two best options this week by quite a margin, but only because their breakevens are exceedingly low.
Defenders:
1. Lucy Boyd (PTA, $287,000)
2. Clara Fitzpatrick (GCS, $297,000)
3. Aoibhin Cleary (RIC, $335,000)
Midfielders:
1. Heidi Talbot (GCS, $202,000)
2. Asher Fearn-Wannan (BRI, $341,000)
3. Mia Russo (WCE, $383,000)
Rucks:
1. Olivia Lewis (COL, $256,000)
2. Keeley Hardingham (WBD, $269,000)
Forwards:
1. Niamh Martin (HAW, $268,000)
2. Lucy Waye (ADE, $288,000)
Captains
Little has changed in the top captaincy ranks this week, aside from the leap into the top two by Charlie Rowbottom, who will be playing a listless St Kilda on Sunday evening. Whether coaches will be able to go Marinoff VC into Rowbottom will be decided by the timing of any red dot options they may have. If that isn't available, using the VC on a Jasmine Garner or Ash Riddell will be more than acceptable. Ella Roberts is stiff to miss out on the top five, but with Essendon showing a desire to send Mia Busch or Alex Morcom to the League's superstars in the last 18 months, I won't be shocked if Roberts has a tough day at the office, while also not shocked if she dominates and scores 110+.
No.1: Ebony Marinoff (v FRE, Sunday 1.05pm AEST)
No.2: Charlie Rowbottom (v STK, Sunday 5.05pm AEST)
No.3: Jasmine Garner (v MEL, Friday 7.15pm AEST)
No.4: Ash Riddell (v MEL, Friday 7.15pm AEST)
No.5: Kiara Bowers (v ADE, Sunday 1.05pm AEST)
Other options to consider: Ella Roberts (v Essendon), Mikayla Bowen (v Hawthorn), Maddy Prespakis (v West Coast), Dayna Finn (v Richmond), Lucy Wales (v Geelong)
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