LET'S start from scratch … or if you are a first-time player, use this as a guide to start your AFL Fantasy journey.
Although those who have started are restricted to the three trades heading into round two, what team structure could you possibly have if you were starting from scratch today?
Pay up? Or find value?
This has been the biggest burning Fantasy question throughout the pre-season and as we approach round two.
With so much uncertainty around which rookies will play, Fantasy coaches are scrambling for cash to turn these rookies into higher scoring players with more job security. However, this comes at a cost.
With such great value options around the most expensive player in the game, it’s hard to justify starting with Brodie Grundy (RUC, $915,000).
Yes, he is the best player in the game and a walk-up captain scoring you double points each week, but he is worth more than two players combined. Sam Jacobs (RUC, $529,000) and Sam Naismith (RUC, $314,000) scored 80 and 78 respectively back in March, and present as easy options when you are looking to save some much needed cash.
Value can also be found in the forward line in a player like Lachie Whitfield (MID/FWD, $829,000) who managed just 68 in his first game. By trading him down to Dustin Martin (MID/FWD, $728,000), this will leave you with $101,000 in the bank and a player who has two handy Thursday night games in the next four weeks.
Right your wrongs
Over the pre-season, you might have had a player on your radar who missed your final cut.
Jack Viney (MID, $652,000) might have been one of those, after he scored 110 and 114 in the pre-season and opened his 2020 season with 132, the highest score for round one. Although he has already gone up $41,000, he is still value and a highly sought-after trade target.
Another player who fits this bracket is Jeremy Howe (DEF, $549,000). He has now taken 40 marks in his last four games and his role for Collingwood when they are fully fit appears to be a Fantasy coach’s dream. He averaged 116 in his last three games leading into round one and then backed it up with 110.
Looking prime
One week can be a long time in football, but with 11 weeks behind us since round one, things have certainly changed. Patrick Cripps (MID, $759,000) scored 92 in round one and after his time away from the game he has returned looking "lighter, faster and better".
Patrick Dangerfield (MID, $768,000) will now benefit early from the rescheduling of the rounds as he plays three of his next four games at GMHBA Stadium, a ground he averages 114 on over the past three years.
Adding to this, he meets the Hawthorn team who he scored 97 and 104 against last year, then St Kilda (123 in 2019), Melbourne (134 in 2019) followed by Gold Coast (150 in 2019) in round five. Another big green tick for Dangerfield is that after meeting GWS tagger Matt de Boer in round one, he is now the only superstar in the game who will not cross paths with him again.
The extended break has allowed Callan Ward (MID, $539,000) the extra time he needed to recover from his knee injury as he eyes off a return next week. Izak Rankine (FWD, $170,000) has also appreciated the extra time off as he aims for a round two return. Although he still remains in some doubt, he could be one of the rookies we need.
Team from scratch
So what are you waiting for? It’s not too late to sign up, create your team and start playing today.
