NEXT up in our 2026 Fantasy preview series is Port Adelaide.
What happened last season?
Average points ranking: 15th
Top three averaging players: Connor Rozee (104.1), Zak Butters (99.9), Ollie Wines (89.5)
Biggest price increase: Will Lorenz (+$182,000)
Biggest price drop: Logan Evans (-$172,000)
>> See the full list of players, positions and prices
List changes
IN
Will Brodie (trade, Fremantle), Corey Durdin (trade, Carlton), Jack Watkins (Rookie Draft), Jacob Wehr (free agent, Greater Western Sydney)
OUT
Rory Atkins (retired), Travis Boak (retired), Ryan Burton (delisted), Lachlan Charleson (delisted), Jeremy Finlayson (delisted), Hugh Jackson (delisted), Jed McEntee (delisted), Willie Rioli jnr (retired), Dylan Williams (delisted)
Fixture watch
Hold on to your hat - it doesn't get any better than this!
Without an early bye, the Power hit the ground running with a dream run to open the season. They meet the Kangaroos, Essendon, West Coast and St Kilda in their first four games and based on last year's data, this should result in plenty of points.
This is commonly known as a 'Green Mile' on Cal's Scale of Hardness, and it doesn't happen often and when it does, it's certainly something worth chasing.
So, who should coaches be considering in 2026?
Listen to the AFL Fantasy Podcast with The Traders at Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Lock them in
What is there not to like about Zak Butters (MID, $1,047,000) as a starting option in 2026? Not only does he have the dream draw to start and he's under-priced based on the 106 he averaged in 2024.
He averaged 102 after the bye and had a season-high 152 in the last game of the home and away season.
The only red flag is the fact that Butters did, and will again attract the attention of taggers, and when this happened last year ... he struggled.
Track their pre-season
Is Connor Rozee (DEF/MID, $1,092,000) a better Fantasy scorer as a midfielder or defender?
It was in round five when Rozee made the change to defence in a move that provided Fantasy coaches with an instant reward. He flourished in his new role, and it will be very interesting to see where the Power line him up in 2026.
But to answer the initial question ... Rozee averaged 100 when he attended 50 per cent or more of the centre-bounces last year, and 107 when he attended 50 per cent or less.
"More midfield time" is apparently on the cards for Miles Bergman (DEF, $822,000). As a midfielder last year, Bergman was Fantasy gold and if that's the case in 2026, he could be the bargain we all need in our backlines.
We know he can score ... but can Jacob Wehr (DEF/MID, $548,000) get a game at his new club? Wehr has been with the Giants for four seasons but struggled to crack their best 22. He managed 14 games last season and wore the vest on four occasions. His best game came in round five where he scored 97, and on that day, he filled the stat lines with 20 disposals, six marks and five tackles. 100 per cent he can score, but where will he fit into the Power's line-up?
Bargain basement
After five years at Gold Coast, Will Brodie (MID, $457,000) made his way to Fremantle. In his first year at the club, Brodie had a sensational season averaging 95 and played alongside Brayshaw and Serong as the key midfielders in the team. Then something changed.
He only managed five games the next year and spent all of 2025 in the WAFL where he averaged 82, but had some great scores along the way with 129 and 110.
He is now at his third club and back with Josh Carr. Due to not playing last year, Brodie is discounted and now priced at an average of 44, which makes him definitely a name to monitor this pre-season.
Draft sleeper
Even I'll admit this is a stretch, but Jack Lukosius (FWD, $585,000) only managed seven games last year as he battled multiple injuries throughout the season. It was a frustrating season with his new club and Lukosius finished the year with an average of 47, a long way down from the 61 and 72 he had previously at Gold Coast.
His best game came in round 19 against the Hawks where he scored 84 from 14 disposals and six tackles.
Lukosius is now fit and firing this pre-season and if he can stay healthy, we can move his name up our draft order and grab him with a late pick.
Custom stat star
Rucks score points before the ball hits the ground. Hitouts are a huge part of AFL Fantasy and Jordon Sweet (RUCK, $854,000) is one of the best – in fact he ranked fourth in the League last year with 37 a game. That's 37 points basically for free.
Sweet averaged 81 last year and at the age of 27 this big man still has plenty to offer.
Buyer beware
"There's soooo many" – stop it Roy, there isn't!
Look, there are a few that we want to avoid here but let's roll with the veteran and Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines (MID, $938,000). Wines played 20 games last year, hitting triple figures on four occasions. He's a picture of consistency but the champion is entering his 14th season and not hitting the heights he once did.
Catch up on every club preview
ADELAIDE Still value in breakout gun, will youngster get his chance?
BRISBANE Young guns shape as options, eyes on defender again
CARLTON Lock and load this young gun, beware of star veteran
COLLINGWOOD The Daicos to watch, star has plenty of upside
FREMANTLE Gun duo may offer value, keep an eye on rucks
GEELONG Consider impressive forward, beware of star veteran
GOLD COAST Star recruit one to watch, rookie an option
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY Must-have defender, keep an eye on former Demon
HAWTHORN All eyes on star mid again, can captain recapture best?
ST KILDA Lock in Nasiah, how will ruck tandem play out?
SYDNEY Lock in star ruck, is Gulden a bargain?
WESTERN BULLDOGS Don't sleep on ruck, can Bont continue hot streak?
With an all-new platform, AFL Fantasy Classic will launch in late January. Fantasy Draft is already available on web, but the app will also launch in the new year.
Get expert advice from The Traders during the pre-season in the Fantasy Hub. Follow AFL Fantasy on X and Instagram and 'like' the Facebook page to join in the conversation.