Champion Data (the official statisticians for the AFL) have slowly been releasing some key changes to Dual Positions Players (DPPs) for the 2013 season. Some players are gaining the much loved status, whilst some are shedding it.

Background

For those who aren’t aware, Dual Positioning allows you to select a player in different positions in your team (Defence, Midfield, Ruck or Forward lines). The status is officially given by Champion Data, however a move by Virtual Sports (the designers of AFL Dream Team) in 2010 allowed these players to be swapped within your team during the year (from the midfield to the forward line for example) and then in 2012, allowed DPPs to be involved in three-way trades, fully utilising their multi-positioning status.

Confirmed 2013 Changes

Players who are set to lose their DPP status:

Ryan O’Keefe – Attended the third most centre clearances for the Swans and as such, is now a midfielder only.
Nat Fyfe – He only played nine games in 2012, but it was enough for Champion Data to declare him a pure midfielder.
Dayne Beams – This is not a surprise. Got most of his possessions in the midfield, and as such, that’s the only place you can pick him next year.
Steele Sidebottom – Possibly a little unlucky to lose his DPP status, but then again, he was havily in the midfield rotations. Mid only.
Alan Didak – Champion Data include ‘hot mapping’ in determining where a player spends his time. As the interchange gates are located in the middle of the field, and Didak was always hobbling off injured, he is now a midfielder only.

Players who are set to gain their DPP status:

Jude Bolton – Despite rumours of an early demise it looks as though Jude will be back next year, resting up forward, waiting for his grandchildren to come and visit him (Fwd/Mid).
Tom Rockliff – The whipping boy for Michael Voss, Rockliff will be truly represented as a DPP next season (Fwd/Mid).
Jimmy Bartel – Another midfielder who is getting older and slower, Jimmy “crack corn and I don’t care” Bartel will be available in your forward line as well as midfield in 2013 (Mid/Fwd).
Hamish Hartlett – In a true representation, one of Hartlett’s hamstrings will be able to be selected in defence, whilst his other one will be stretchered off via the midfield (Def/Mid).
Greg Broughton – Not only has Broughton snuck away from Ross ‘Hates Dream Team’ Lyon, he has gone to a team that is desperate to find another bulky midfielder to feed off Gary Ablett. If he is on your ‘Never Again’ list, and you simply can’t forgive, well, it sucks to be you. Load up! (Def/Fwd).

Major Updates:

Dean Cox – The big man from The West has been given the gold star for his last season, and will now be a Ruck/Fwd next year. Is he too old for you in 2013? That’s what was said last preseason.

Nic Naitanui – The partner in crime has done the time (in the forward line) and also gets Ruck/Fwd status. Is he ready to take the next step and take the #1 ruck mantle from Dean Cox? Well the All-Australian selectors seemed to think he already has. He must come into consideration now!

Bryce Gibbs – He burnt owners and left them hating him last season, but with new coach Mick Malthouse who has publically said he expects him to step up, Gibbs comes raging back into contention (and, well, lock-status) as a Def/Mid next season. Only five more defenders to find.

Patrick Dangerfield – The crows who excelled under new coach Brenton Sanderson lost his forward pocket lulls last season, and next season this will result in his loss of his forward eligibility. Midfielder only.

David Zaharakis – The injury plagued Bomber of last season will not be avaiable in your forward line next season, with Champion Data believe that he is now a pure midfielder. Mid only!

Patrick Ryder – As expected, after the Bomber started numerous games in the goal square last year, he gains Ruck/Fwd status this year.

Daisy Thomas – After having him as my sixth midfielder last season, I can personally vouch that he spent way too much time in the forward line in 2012. Luckily Champion Data have noticed and made me feel better about my horrid selection, with Daisy being a Fwd/Mid in 2013.

Steve Johnson – Stevie J is now locked in everyone’s team, as he officially gets Mid/Fwd Status. I won’t even analyse this move, except to say we are lucky he isn’t a pure mid after his second half of the season last year.

Dyson Heppell – He returns where he belongs, floating between the backline and the centre. You have to question how Goddard will affect his scoring, but if Heppell can learn to score in the fourth quarter, he could be a great option down back. Def/Mid.

Cyril Rioli – He can turn a game on its head in five minutes, but is it enough to get him into your team? Maybe his new DPP status of Mid/Fwd will help? Probably not.

Matthew Pavlich – Just like Ryan O’Keefe, after years of emergency switches between the forward line and the centre, next season we will be without this option. Pavlich is now a Forward only.

Adam Goodes – Well he will be a little cheaper after a horrid patch last year, not to mention his injuries, but if you want the veteran Swan, it will be up front only. Forward only.

Danny Stanley – As Guy McKenna plays with his squad, Stanley moves from a forward only player to Defender Only. How will Nathan Bock’s return and Greg Broughton‘s addition affect his output?

Brendan Goddard – Good news. He is still Def/Mid.

Andrew Carrazzo – Bad news. The Blue spent too much time through the centre square last year, and has subsequently shed his defender status.  He will be Mid only in 2013.

Brett Deledio – And the bad news gets worse. Deledio, defender stalwart for the past five years has been stripped of his defender status, and will be a Midfielder only next season. But after last year, he still has to come into contention, surely?

Jack Watts – Despite some late trouble with injuries, former #1 draft pick Watts had a solid season last year switching between the forward and backline. Next season, he can do the same in your teams, picking up Fwd/Def status. A partner in crime for Broughton anyone?

 

 

 

 

New Kids on the Block

Troy Menzel – Carlton’s first round draft pick, and brother to the Geelong’s Daniel Menzel, will be a slightly higher priced rookie player next season. If he can keep his shin bone connected to his knee bone, and his knee bone connected to his thigh bone, we may have a winner. (Clearly I am as much a doctor as Dr Dream Team). Troy gets Mid/Fwd status.

Nick Vlastuin – The Tigers pounced on Vlastuin at pick #9 in this years draft. A great stoppage player with an aggressive attack on the ball, Nicky V (oh, I make up nicknames now, just like BT) will be listed as a slightly inflated rookie price, and will be a Def/Mid.

Sam Mayes – Pick 8 by the Brisbane Lions, South Australian Mayes, who is a medium sized forward will be listed as a Fwd/Mid. But under Michael Voss, it’s a big risk to look his direction (see Polec, Beams, etc).

Ben Kennedy – He slipped through to Collingwood at pick #19, and he may be a great steal, if only the Pies had room to play him. The small forward who loves a stint on the wing will be a Fwd/Mid in 2013.

Kristian Jaksch – The GWS fourth pick of this draft (#12) can play either end of the field. He may be behind Haynes, Cameron, Hoskin-Elliot & Patton up front, but in defence he may just find a few games against Hampton & Frost. He’s Def/Fwd next year.

Joe Daniher – One of the few first round picks people were almost certain to see on the DPP list, Daniher misses out and will only be available as a forward next year. Fwd only!

 

To note:

• In 2012 there were 7 Ruck/Fwds. In 2013 there will be at least 14.
• This article will be updated throughout the Christmas period with further changes.
• Follow RLGriffin85 on Twitter for instant updates on changes and all things AFL.

 

What are your thoughts on the changes? And will they change who you will pick in 2013?