Aiden Bonar will look to make an immediate impact at the Kangaroos

NORTH Melbourne only had two players in 2019 average more than 90 AFL Fantasy points a game – the least of all the 18 clubs.

Fantasy coaches are anticipating a change in 2020 and are desperately hoping that some of the Kangaroos' younger brigade can step up and take their Fantasy game to higher levels.

Shaun Higgins (MID, $707,000) was the highest averaging player at the club with 95, followed by Jack Ziebell (MID/FWD, $666,000). This clearly paints the picture that it was the veterans who really flew the Fantasy flag in 2019.

However, a new season brings new hope. So what can we expect?

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Lock them in

In Draft, Todd Goldstein (RUC, $656,000) can be locked into your line-up with confidence.

After averaging 88 last season, Goldstein is a serviceable big man who gets the job done week in, week out. He has only missed 10 games in the past decade and finished 2019 strongly, averaging 96 in his last four games.

Tarryn Thomas and Todd Goldstein share a laugh at North Melbourne training. Picture: AFL Photos

Track their pre-season

Opposition midfielders beware: Ben Jacobs (MID, $403,000) is back!

He's back all right, and at a discounted price after missing the entire season. Jacobs is priced at an average of 54 which is very cheap, considering he averaged 78 the year before.

This tagger has been in training since early December and will have his sights firmly set on destroying Fantasy scores of our premium midfielders.

Dual-position tempter

After finishing in the top five in the Roo's time trial, Luke Davies-Uniacke (MID/FWD, $395,000) could be ready to take the next step. After being drafted at No.4 in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft, Davies-Uniacke hasn't really found his feet, averaging 40 and 53 in his first two seasons.

He's much fitter and ready to take his Fantasy numbers to a new level.

Draft slider

It was a season to forget for Luke McDonald (DEF, $431,000) after a season of suspension and injury.

McDonald burst onto the scene in 2017, averaging 86, and despite a slight drop off in 2018 (avg. 70), he is a name that needs to be monitored this pre-season. It was a broken leg that ended his season in round 17 and because of such an interrupted year, he can now be found right down the rankings with an average of just 58.

Luke McDonald endured an inconsistent 2019 and will look to improve next year. Picture: AFL Photos

Bargain basement

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and that's exactly what Aiden Bonar (MID/FWD, $333,000) is hoping for in 2020.

Selected in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft at pick No.11, the former Giant is eyeing off more midfield time at his new club.

Bonar averaged 84 and 78 over the last two seasons in the NEAFL and has impressed the Kangaroos' coaching staff early this pre-season.

02:12

Forgotten warrior

Ben Cunnington (MID, $608,000) hasn't missed a game in two years and is actually at a price worth considering. In 2018, Cunnington had a career-high average of 94, before sliding slightly last year to 82.

He is durable, under-priced and a name to write down in your Fantasy black book.

Buyer beware

At this time last year, I was very excited about Aaron Hall (MID, $527,000) and his move to the Kangaroos. After averaging 105 during his time with the Suns, Hall managed just six games with his new team. This means he is discounted and priced at 71 and a bargain for the brave.

North Melbourne Fantasy prices for 2020

PLAYER

POSITION

2019

AVG

2019

GMS

2020

PRICE

Shaun Higgins

MID

95.3

17

$707,000

Jack Ziebell

MID/FWD

89.7

22

$666,000

Todd Goldstein

RUC

88.4

22

$656,000

Jared Polec

MID

88.2

22

$654,000

Trent Dumont

MID

88.1

21

$654,000

Ben Cunnington

MID

82

22

$608,000

Jed Anderson

MID

78.7

17

$584,000

Jamie Macmillan

DEF

75.1

18

$557,000

Ben Brown

FWD

71.9

22

$534,000

Jasper Pittard

DEF

71.5

22

$531,000

Aaron Hall

MID

80.7

6

$527,000

Jy Simpkin

MID/FWD

66.8

21

$496,000

Shaun Atley

DEF

66.8

21

$496,000

Robbie Tarrant

DEF

65

22

$482,000

Cameron Zurhaar

FWD

64

19

$475,000

Paul Ahern

DEF/MID

60.6

7

$463,000

Mason Wood

FWD

61.1

18

$453,000

Dom Tyson

MID

76.7

3

$450,000

Luke McDonald

DEF

58.1

13

$431,000

Taylor Garner

FWD

58.9

9

$424,000

Josh Walker

DEF

55.9

11

$415,000

Kayne Turner

FWD

55.8

21

$414,000

Marley Williams

DEF

55.4

17

$411,000

Tarryn Thomas

FWD

55.3

20

$410,000

Ben Jacobs

MID

0

0

$403,000

Nick Larkey

FWD

53.8

17

$399,000

Luke Davies-Uniacke

MID/FWD

53.2

14

$395,000

Aiden Bonar

MID/FWD

42

2

$333,000

Majak Daw

DEF

0

0

$333,000

Bailey Scott

MID/FWD

54

4

$329,000

Ed Vickers-Willis

DEF

-1

1

$287,000

Sam Durdin

DEF

36.9

10

$274,000

Will Walker

FWD

0

0

$258,000

Tom Campbell

RUC/FWD

39

2

$220,000

Tom Murphy

DEF

0

0

$217,000

Charlie Comben

RUC/FWD

0

0

$210,000

Jack Mahony

MID/FWD

0

0

$204,000

Flynn Perez

DEF

0

0

$202,000

Ben McKay

DEF

32.7

3

$192,000

Kyron Hayden

MID

27

1

$170,000

Curtis Taylor

FWD

24

2

$170,000

Joel Crocker

DEF

0

0

$170,000

Tristan Xerri

RUC/FWD

0

0

$170,000

Lachlan Hosie

FWD

0

0

$170,000

Matthew McGuinness

DEF

0

0

$170,000

 

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