IT'S the new Fantasy cheat sheet.

While AFL Fantasy begins in round one, Opening Round gives coaches a free look at some of the players they've been considering in the pre-season.

FANTASY LATEST Tips, strategy, draft, podcasts, more

Now, all of these players have an early bye, so they had to impress to secure a spot in Classic sides.

While their scores don't count in our Fantasy teams, they do factor into potential price increases and decreases.

Listen to the AFL Fantasy Podcast with The Traders at Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Sydney v Carlton at the SCG, Thursday 7.30pm AEDT

Lock and load
Jagga Smith (MID, $230,000) delivered one final reminder to coaches about his ability with a strong debut for the Blues, finishing 27 disposals and 82 points. He should be locked onto your field in the midfield. Jai Serong (DEF, $274,000) played well for Sydney on the wing and is another player who locked himself into Fantasy teams after his 72. If you're prepared to ignore the early bye, Errol Gulden (MID, $1,073,000) starred on Thursday night with a 126-point performance as he popped up all over the ground – he had 19 centre bounce attendances and also took a kick in – while Sam Walsh (MID, $977,000) finished with 99.

Rookie radar
Jagga Smith (MID, $230,000) – 82 points
Jai Serong (DEF, $274,000) – 72 points
Harry Dean (DEF, $342,000) – 48 points
Malcolm Rosas jnr (FWD, $350,000) – 40 points

The tempter
Has Oliver Florent (MID, $629,000) flown under the radar this pre-season? The new Blue scored 85 playing across half-back on Thursday night, well above the 60 he is priced at. That backed up the 80 he scored in the AAMI Community Series. Cooper Lord (MID, $630,000) had a huge first half, when he scored 53 of his 76 points, but his role on the wing may not have been what coaches were hoping for, before he got some CBAs in the second half.

Gold Coast v Geelong at People First Stadium, Friday 7.05pm AEST

Lock and load
Christian Petracca (MID/FWD, $948,000) made quite the impression on his Gold Coast debut. The superstar looked at his brilliant best with 34 disposals and three goals on his way to 121 points. Leo Lombard (FWD, $230,000) showed why he is a popular rookie, scoring 75 thanks to 15 disposals and two goals. Mid-priced option Tanner Bruhn (MID, $517,000) played mostly behind the ball and was one of the Cats’ better performers, scoring 98 after 31 disposals.

Rookie radar
Leo Lombard (FWD, $230,000) – 75 points
Oscar Adams (DEF, $260,000) – 44 points
Zeke Uwland (DEF/MID, $346,000) – 42 points

The tempter
Zeke Uwland (DEF/MID, $346,000) has given Fantasy coaches headaches this pre-season, and Friday night did little to ease those. Playing on a wing, the No.2 draft pick showed what he is capable of with 41 points in the first half. Just as he looked like a lock, he scored one point in the second. He played 62 per cent of the game. The Suns play West Coast and Richmond in rounds one and two, adding to a tricky decision for coaches.

Greater Western Sydney v Hawthorn at Engie Stadium, Saturday 4.15pm AEDT

Brisbane v Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, Saturday 6.35pm AEST

Lock and load
Bulldogs recruit Connor Budarick (FWD, $506,000) should find himself in plenty of teams after his Opening Round performance. Budarick found plenty of the ball in defence, scoring 94 thanks to 27 disposals and a goal. Teammate Lachie Jaques (DEF, $230,000) was also good and posted a 76. Another Bulldogs defender, Michael Sellwood (DEF, $230,000) emerged as an option after scoring 61 on debut, while another debutant in Zane Zakostelsky (DEF/RUC, $230,000) also played well to score 55, but his job security is uncertain. Any coaches interested in Dayne Zorko (DEF, $1,065,000) would have liked what they saw with his game-high 142, while Ed Richards (MID, $1,014,000) scored 133.

Rookie radar
Lachie Jaques (DEF, $230,000) – 76 points
Ty Gallop (FWD, $263,000) – 64 points
Michael Sellwood (DEF, $230,000) – 61 points
Zane Zakostelsky (DEF/RUC, $230,000) – 55 points
Cooper Hynes (FWD, $267,000) – 38 points
Arthur Jones (MID/FWD, $327,000) – 31 points

The tempter
Coaches have been waiting to see something from Keidean Coleman (DEF, $559,000) and the Lions defender delivered on Saturday night. The left-footer had 18 disposals and five marks to score 73. That score could have been even bigger, but he spent a large part of the final quarter on the bench.

St Kilda v Collingwood at the MCG, Sunday 7.20pm AEDT

Lock and load
After a slow start, Sam Flanders (FWD, $716,000) showed why he is a popular Classic option, playing mostly through the middle for the Saints to score 100 on the back of 28 disposals and seven marks. Jack Carroll (MID, $332,000) continued in his nice role at half-back and posted a 78 thanks to 16 disposals and eight marks. Coaches with interest in Nick Daicos (MID, $1,134,000) or Josh Daicos (DEF, $988,000) would've been pleased as they scored 136 and 141 respectively, while Jack Sinclair (DEF, $1,057,000) scored 122.

Rookie radar
Jack Carroll (MID, $332,000) – 78 points
Wil Parker (DEF, $302,000) – 31 points

The tempter
The talk at the Pies in pre-season has been that they want to get the ball in the hands of Dan Houston (DEF, $701,000), and boy did they live up to that. Priced at around 67, Houston was prolific, with 28 disposals and 11 marks and a score of 120. Jeremy Howe and Darcy Moore were missing and the Saints may be a nice match-up, but Houston sure has the attention of coaches. The Pies took 147 marks, which is 23 more than in any other game since Craig McRae took charge in 2022. It was also McRae's 100th game at the helm and just the 17th time they have taken at least 100 marks. 

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.