With each AFL Fantasy team price reveal, Peter from aflratings.com.au takes a look at five potential targets from each club. Click here to read Warnie’s look at the Bombers over on AFL.com.au.
Top 5 Potential Targets – Essendon
Brendon Goddard MID $552K
Goddard has been a fairly consistent accumulator in AFL Fantasy for several years now, but entering his 14th season may bring about some reservations for many coaches taking him over other premium options. Since the start of 2008 Goddard has averaged 90.0pts or more in each season whilst averaging 100.0pts or more in 3 of those years, in his 3 years at the Bombers he has not averaged under 96.6pts for the year. Goddard has been extremely durable missing only 9 games in his last 8 seasons, in his 3 years at the Bombers he has missed only 3 games all of which came in the 2014 AFL season. Goddard has hit 100pts or more in 49.3% of all games at Essendon, it will be interesting to see if there is a fluctuation under new Head Coach John Worsfold in 2016.
Dyson Heppell MID $564K
A wonderful start to the 2015 AFL season had Heppell averaging 108.5pts at the Bombers bye at Round 12, a slow finish to the year averaging 95.1pts resulted in a 101.8pt average for the season. Looking at the 2014 season provided further insight in to the fast start again for Heppell, he averaged 113.9pts up until the Bombers Round 10 bye and again a slower finish averaging 101.8pts from his final 12 games played in that season. Back in 2013 has confirmed the trend of fast starts for Heppell, only in his 3rd year and an emerging star for the Bombers he averaged 101.7pts up until the Bombers Round 13 Bye and finished off the season averaging just 85.6pts. Quite simply, Heppell is a must consider in amongst your premiums at Round 1 and almost a must fade after the Bombers bye at Round 14.
Brent Stanton MID $591K
Stanton averaged an AFL Fantasy career high 106.8pts in 2015 yet he could manage only a 1 year contract extension at the Bombers in the off-season, a much maligned player and AFL Fantasy points accumulator Stanton enjoyed hitting 100pts in a staggering 15 games 6 of which exceeded 120pts or more last season. The 1 year contract extension has to be a little scary for Fantasy coaches in 2016 as there are clauses in his contract to trigger a further 1 year in to 2017, should be quite easy right? But the terms have been described as ‘very achievable’; this could also result in limited opportunities at the back end of 2016 in order for him to fall short of his targets. Contract talk aside, coaches should think long and hard at taking Stanton as once again a low ownership rate could provide a great unique option.
Matthew Leuenberger RUCK/FWD $301K
Leuenberger is likely to be a very popular player at the start of the 2016 season, for this reason he has to be a potential option but be aware of the dangers that may hinder your team during the season. Leuenberger has played only 108 games in his 9 year career, playing only 54.0% of all games has to be a concern. In his final year at the Lions Leuenberger averaged just 52.6pts, 10 of his 14 games fell short of 80pts. In his last full year (2013) as No.1 Ruck option at Brisbane Leuenberger averaged 85.2pts per game, his career high 92.8pt average came back in 2011. Expectations need to be evaluated before selecting Leuenberger in 2016, if you are looking for a quick cash spike then given a good fitness status he will be a good option but treating him as a premium Ruck option could result in failed expectations.
Zach Merrett FWD/MID $501K
If Zach Merrett has not caught your attention as a potential AFL Fantasy prospect then it is time to invest some thinking in to selecting him in to your team at Round 1 in 2016, while some players seem to struggle in a 2nd year at AFL level Merrett thrived on his opportunities to average 90.5pts per game (Bontempelli 92.5pts Ave). Merrett has played 37 of a possible 45 games in his 2 years at the Bombers, he exceeded 100pts or more in 5 of 17 games in 2015 with a career high 137pts against West Coast in Round 11. A must watch in the pre-season, with plenty of midfield opportunities he could eclipse 90.5pt average in 2016.
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| First Name | Surname | Club | Position | Games | Average | Rounded Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brent | Stanton | Essendon | MID | 22 | 106.82 | $591000 |
| Dyson | Heppell | Essendon | MID | 22 | 101.82 | $564000 |
| Brendon | Goddard | Essendon | MID | 22 | 99.82 | $552000 |
| Zach | Merrett | Essendon | FWD/MID | 17 | 90.53 | $501000 |
| Jobe | Watson | Essendon | MID | 12 | 88.83 | $492000 |
| Michael | Hurley | Essendon | DEF | 19 | 83.11 | $460000 |
| Cale | Hooker | Essendon | DEF/FWD | 22 | 81.14 | $449000 |
| Shaun | McKernan | Essendon | RUC | 9 | 82.11 | $441000 |
| Michael | Hibberd | Essendon | DEF | 21 | 79.57 | $440000 |
| Mark | Baguley | Essendon | DEF | 22 | 75.27 | $417000 |
| Ben | Howlett | Essendon | FWD/MID | 20 | 75 | $415000 |
| David | Zaharakis | Essendon | MID | 16 | 74.94 | $415000 |
| Heath | Hocking | Essendon | MID | 5 | 74.4 | $398000 |
| Travis | Colyer | Essendon | FWD | 11 | 70.55 | $390000 |
| James | Gwilt | Essendon | DEF | 11 | 69.36 | $384000 |
| Adam | Cooney | Essendon | FWD | 11 | 66.73 | $369000 |
| Tom | Bellchambers | Essendon | RUC | 10 | 63.5 | $351000 |
| Patrick | Ambrose | Essendon | FWD | 16 | 60.44 | $334000 |
| Jackson | Merrett | Essendon | FWD | 15 | 59.267 | $328000 |
| Craig | Bird | Essendon | FWD/MID | 6 | 65.83 | $321000 |
| Jayden | Laverde | Essendon | FWD | 9 | 58.78 | $316000 |
| Joe | Daniher | Essendon | FWD | 22 | 56.81 | $314000 |
| Orazio | Fantasia | Essendon | DEF | 5 | 66.4 | $312000 |
| Martin | Gleeson | Essendon | DEF | 22 | 54.95 | $304000 |
| Courtenay | Dempsey | Essendon | DEF | 13 | 54.31 | $301000 |
| Matthew | Leuenberger | Essendon | RUC/FWD | 14 | 54.43 | $301000 |
| Tayte | Pears | Essendon | DEF | 2 | 55 | $288000 |
| David | Myers | Essendon | MID | 2 | 36.5 | $266000 |
| Darcy | Parish | Essendon | MID | $260000 | ||
| Shaun | Edwards | Essendon | FWD | 9 | 47.44 | $255000 |
| Aaron | Francis | Essendon | DEF/MID | $221000 | ||
| Conor | McKenna | Essendon | FWD | 2 | 51 | $210000 |
| Mitch | Brown | Essendon | FWD/DEF | $194000 | ||
| Kyle | Langford | Essendon | FWD | 8 | 36 | $187000 |
| Mason | Redman | Essendon | FWD/MID | $165000 | ||
| Jason | Ashby | Essendon | DEF | 5 | 34.6 | $163000 |
| Anthony | McDonald-Tipungwuti | Essendon | DEF/FWD | $162000 | ||
| Alex | Morgan | Essendon | DEF | $157000 | ||
| Will | Hams | Essendon | FWD | 3 | 23.67 | $155000 |
| Gach | Nyuon | Essendon | RUC | $125000 | ||
| Jake | Long | Essendon | FWD/MID | $125000 | ||
| Michael | Hartley | Essendon | DEF | $125000 | ||
| Nick | Kommer | Essendon | FWD | $125000 |
Discuss any of the Bombers’ prices, positions and prospects in the comments below.
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