Veteran Kangaroo Todd Goldstein is almost always on the ground. Picture: AFL Photos

FANTASY coaches have had to re-train their brain this year in regards to scoring. The 16-minute quarters means there are fewer points being scored, and with a real mix of scores in the opening three rounds, the pass mark of your players has been adjusted.

The catch cry of '80 is the new ton' is important to remember. 

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Jack Viney posted the top score of the season thus far with 132 in round one against the Eagles. Todd Goldstein racked up 127 in round two, while Steele Sidebottom and Lachie Neale finished with 126 each to be round three’s top scorers.

'Time on ground' is a stat that is worth following. It may sound simple, but with more time on the ground, the more chance there is to score.

Goldstein is one of four players to average 100 or more this season. The key has been that in his three matches, he's enjoyed 98, 100 and 96 per cent of time on ground respectively.

The highest scorer in the competition, Neale, has had time-on-ground percentages of 90, 92 and 92 for his scores of 108, 109 and 126.

While it can be impressive when a player is scoring at a high point-per-minute rate - ie. Nic Naitanui's 94 on the weekend came from just 69 per cent time on ground - it could be a good deciding factor to bring in players who are spending more time on the park as likely trade options.

It has also been interesting to follow quarter-by-quarter scoring throughout games.

Neale, the competition's highest scorer, has the highest-scoring quarter of the season. Back in round one he started his 2020 in fine form by collecting 51 points in the opening term against the Hawks.

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The gun Lion also had the highest-scoring quarter of round three, equal with Brodie Grundy, when he pieced together 42 points in the final term last Saturday night.

Rookie sensation Matt Rowell scored 40 points in the second quarter of the Suns’ big win over the Crows last weekend. That helped him to his second Fantasy ton in a row and has now increased his price by $176,000 for the season. There’s more to come as he carries the lowest breakeven in the game (-48).

SCORES OF 45 OR MORE IN EACH QUARTER (RDS 1-3) 

Player

Opponent

Round

Quarter

Points

Lachie Neale

v Hawthorn

1

1

51

Jack Viney

v West Coast Eagles

1

2

49

Luke Parker

v Essendon

2

1

49

Darcy Parish

v Sydney Swans

2

4

49

Ben Cunnington

v St Kilda

1

4

48

Patrick Dangerfield

v Hawthorn

2

3

48

Jack Macrae

v Collingwood

1

2

47

Jack Martin

v Richmond

1

3

47

Darcy Tucker

v Essendon

1

4

47

Liam Duggan

v Melbourne

1

4

47

Shaun Higgins

v GWS Giants

2

2

47

Gryan Miers

v Hawthorn

2

4

46

Ben Cunnington

v St Kilda

1

3

45



TOP FIVE PRICE RISES 

  • Matthew Rowell, Gold Coast Suns (MID, $446,000): +$89,000
  • Connor Budarick, Gold Coast Suns (MID/FWD, $267,000): +$54,000
  • Brandon Starcevich, Brisbane Lions (DEF/MID, $294,000): +$53,000
  • Marc Pittonet, Carlton (RUC, $384,000): +$50,000
  • Christian Petracca, Melbourne (FWD, $671,000): +$49,000

TOP FIVE PRICE FALLS

  • Lachie Whitfield, GWS Giants (MID/FWD, $728,000): -$72,000
  • Rory Atkins, Adelaide Crows (MID, $523,000): -$55,000
  • Jack Redden, West Coast Eagles (MID, $592,000): -$41,000
  • Ricky Henderson, Hawthorn (MID, $619,000): -$41,000
  • Luke Dahlhaus, Geelong Cats (FWD, $528,000): -$41,000

LOWEST BREAKEVENS

  • Matthew Rowell, Gold Coast Suns (MID, $446,000): -48
  • Connor Budarick, Gold Coast Suns (MID/FWD, $267,000): -31
  • Brandon Starcevich, Brisbane Lions (DEF/MID, $294,000): -21
  • Jarrod Brander, West Coast Eagles (DEF/FWD, $317,000): -17
  • Max King, St Kilda (FWD, $240,000): -15

HIGHEST BREAKEVENS

  • Lachie Whitfield, GWS Giants (MID/FWD, $728,000): 129
  • Nic Newman, Carlton (DEF, $620,000): 113
  • Josh Kelly, GWS Giants (MID, $822,000): 102
  • Rory Atkins, Adelaide Crows (MID, $523,000): 97
  • Jack Steven, Geelong Cats (MID/FWD, $630,000): 97

Breakeven data can be accessed with the <a href="https://fantasy.afl.com.au/coach-subscription">Fantasy Coach subscription</a>.

05:39

BUY

Jy Simpkin (MID/FWD, $585,000) - Embracing the added responsibility through the middle of the ground, the young Roo put on an outstanding display against the Swans with 96. He is owned by just three per cent of the competition.

Lachie Neale (MID, $856,000) - Now a must-have. The Lion ball magnet has done it again, continuing his streak of hundred point games despite the shortened quarters. He had a season high 126 to take his average to an impressive 114.

Todd Goldstein (RUC, $736,000) - The big Roo veteran has turned back the clock and is currently in the conversation as the in-form ruck in the competition. The endurance machine is basically spending the whole game on the ground while averaging 100. 

Also consider: Connor Budarick, Lachie Weller, Steele Sidebottom.

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HOLD

Zac Williams (DEF, $664,000) - The Giants’ running machine looks to have returned to the half-back line after dominating the second half of last year as a midfielder. Although he won’t reach those heights down back, he is worth a hold.

Patrick Dangerfield (MID, $732,000) - The Geelong superstar hasn’t responded to the shortened quarters just yet, averaging 69. It’s only a matter of time before he turns it around and the Cats should come out hungry after a loss to the Blues. 

Elliot Yeo (MID, $721,000) - Eagles’ midfielders have been a far cry from what we expect from them and that includes Yeo, who is averaging just 71 on the back of just 59 against the Lions. His best is outstanding and the Eagles will bounce back. 

Also consider: Jeremy Howe, Seb Ross, Shaun Higgins.

A GIANT CALL Does Whitfield need to go?

SELL

Lachie Whitfield (MID/FWD, $728,000) - After a concussion ended his game on 10 points last week, Whitfield is unfortunately sitting in the number one trade-out spot for the second week in a row. He was already bleeding cash and now has a season average of 48.

Matt Crouch (MID, $716,000) - The ever-reliable ball-magnet is not himself at the moment, and nor are the Crows to be honest so it’s well worth selling up asap. He is averaging just 64 which isn’t enough for an elite midfielder. 

Josh Dunkley (MID, $787,000) – While his form doesn’t warrant chopping him, the six-weeks or so he’ll be on the sidelines with an ankle injury does. Find $69k and move him to Lachie Neale and whack the captaincy on him. You won’t regret it.

Also consider: Brodie Smith, Rory Sloane, Marcus Bontempelli.

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