AFL Fantasy Match Day – Grand Final

AFL Fantasy Match Day comes to an end this weekend with he AFL Grand Final. There is $3000 up for grabs for the top scorer for the game.

If you would like to be part of our 3300+ strong league, sign up at fantasymatchday.afl.com.au with the league code of 612437. Even if you haven’t played all year, you can enter your teams for this game.

 

Hawthorn v Fremantle (MCG)

LOCKOUT: Saturday 2:30pm AEST

The Hawks and Dockers have met twice in the last two season and both games were early in the season and both at Aurora Stadium in Launceston. I’m not feeling that reading into the DT scores from those matches will tell us much. This year in round four, Grant Birchall (151) was a beast racking up 37 disposals – just before he copped a heap of tags frustrating many owners. Five other Hawks cracked the ton including Jarryd Roughead (112) and Lance Franklin (102) who kicked four goals each. David Mundy (103) and Nathan Fyfe (100) were the best for the Dockers. In round eight 11 months earlier, wingman Clinton Young (132) top scored with Liam Shiels (105) the only other Hawk cracking to ton in their win. The top scorers for Freo were Michael Barlow (109), Michael Johnson (100) and my favourite Greg Broughton (100).

Like I said, I’m not going to read too much into those games. I’m looking more at the teams’ two finals appearances (links take you to the FanFooty archived pages of the games):

• QF: Hawks v Swans
• QF: Cats v Dockers
• PF: Hawks v Cats
• PF: Dockers v Swans

Spend a bit of time having a look across these games. I’m liking the form of Hawk defenders Grant Birchall, Shaun Burgoyne and Brent Guerra to pick from down back. The midfield has quite a few options without anyone who will go huge. Michael Barlow seems pretty safe after scores of 116 and 111 over the finals. Although he is one of the few premium Hawk mids, I think Sam Mitchell will cop the Ryan Crowley tag so I would turn to his captain in Luke Hodge to step up in the Grand Final and possibly win his second Norm Smith Medal. Aaron Sandilands should be your ruckman… he’s returning to form (sort of) and he should smoke Max Bailey, David Hale or whoever gets thrown in there. Up forward, the key position players could have a good day judging by the last time they met, but it could be very hit or miss. Lance Franklin could be playing his last game for the Hawks and there is something that tells me he’ll go out with a bang. I’m considering him. Jack Gunston (101 and 106) is in the best form of all forwards in the finals and at this stage I’m going with him to join Jordan Lewis. Docker Chris Mayne had a big game last week with 109, but he had 13 tackles to get there.

AFL GRAND FINAL TEAMS

HAWKS
B: Ben Stratton, Brian Lake, Brent Guerra
HB: Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall
C: Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis
HF: Luke Breust, Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, David Hale
Foll: Max Bailey, Brad Sewell, Luke Hodge
I/C: Liam Shiels, Jack Gunston, Bradley Hill, Jonathan Simpkin
Emg: Shane Savage, Taylor Duryea, Matt Spangher

In: Jonathan Simpkin
Out: Brendan Whitecross (knee)

DOCKERS
B: Michael Johnson, Zac Dawson, Paul Duffield
HB: Lee Spurr, Luke McPharlin, Danyle Pearce
C: David Mundy, Ryan Crowley, Tenday Mzungu
HF: Cameron Sutcliffe, Chris Mayne, Nathan Fyfe
F: Zac Clarke, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Walters
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Matt de Boer, Stephen Hill
I/C: Hayden Ballantyne, Nick Suban, Lachie Neale, Michael Barlow
Emg: Alex Silvagni, Jack Hannath, Tom Sheridan

In: –
Out: –

Anyway… here’s my team at this stage. Things will probably change. Make sure you check on late changes as subs before the game as lockout will be just before the first bounce at 2:30pm AEST.

Good luck this weekend and feel free to discuss your team in the comments. Hopefully a DT Talk regular can take home one the $3000 up for grabs.