Toby Greene – Deck of DT 2015

Name: Toby Greene
Club: GWS Giants
Position: Midfield
AFL Fantasy: $583,000
AFL Dream Team: $581,000
Bye Round: Round 13
2014 Average: 102.9
2014 Games Played: 15
Predicted Average: 109.0

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Why should I pick him?

Are you serious? Points! Lots and lots of points! Toby isn’t the best kick, he might be a bit cocky on the field, and he does have a knack for getting into trouble, but boy oh boy, wowee, can he find the football.

Following an… indiscretion, which resulted in a five game club imposed suspension, Toby reminded the footy world just how much of a fantasy pig he can be in the back half of last year. From round 17, Greene averaged a massive 124.2 points per game, went over 110 points in 6 of the 7 games, and scored an incredible 165 against a depleted Collingwood in round 22 where he amassed 42 disposals.

Greene just gets the ball; I don’t even know how sometimes. Be it a miskick that will fall at his feet, or a wayward handball that happens to land on his chest; it’s like he’s the chips and the ball is a flock of seagulls; it just finds him.

Toby has done it the hard way. He had a bit of work put into him in his second year, including defensive tagging duties to round out his game, which resulted in a drop of nearly 20 points per game from his 2012 average of 93.4. Last year he managed to bring his average back up to just shy of 103 points per game through shear hard running and leather poisoning. Heading in to 2015, Toby looks set to increase his output yet again and thanks to his poorer disposal, clubs won’t even try to stop him.

Why shouldn’t I pick him?

Well…. Toby is still finding his feet. As mentioned, in 2013 when he had more attention from other clubs he struggled, and at the start of 2014, he was averaging just 83.6 over his first six games and struggled to get into a rhythm. Then, after hurting his foot and then hitting the drink (and hitting a few other things) following his first solid outing of the year (109pts v West Coast) Greene found himself suspended by his leadership group for breaching clubs rules. And let’s face it; you don’t want a midfielder missing five games for your club, due to stupidity. That’s what Heath Shaw in the backline is for.

Toby is somewhat of a rollercoaster. A suspension in 2012 for a late hit on Adcock, possibly cost him the Rising Star Award, as well as game time, and poor form saw him miss a few games in 2013. 2014 was a year of two halves, one good and one not so, and rollercoasters in the midfield aren’t exactly desirable. He does have a late bye, however if he is missing because he lost his temper, that will mean nothing.

Deck of DT Rating.

KING – With a brand new three-year deal signed and filed away in Homebush, Toby Green is firmly in the Giants midfield plans for the long term, and he should be in yours.  With the addition of Griffen to the Giants squad, and the likes of Treloar, Shiel, Kelly, Smith,  Hoskin-Elliott and Whitfield running past on the outside, Greene’s average disposal means is so far down the list of tagging targets by opposition clubs that, well, it’s sexy; and it will only increase his output.

Yes he is a bit of a young Stanton in his ball use, and yes he is a bit of a Swan in his pigeon strut, but like both of them, Toby simply does what he does, and goes big. With a renewed outlook on his career and another preseason under his belt, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a few #oinks out of The Traders when discussing Toby later this year. If you want a young break-out contender, look no further.

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