AFL Women’s Moneyball preview: Carlton versus Brisbane

Of the four games this weekend, the clash between Carlton and Brisbane provides the best cash making opportunities with Moneyball and here are the players you should be choosing to give you the best possible chance of making some money.

FORWARDS

Darcy Vescio ($7,500)

Vescio has had a quiet start to the season, being well held in round one and struggling in the heavy rain against GWS. However, she should be back to her best this week against the Lions. She may be a low-possession type player, but she takes marks, kicks goals and lays tackles so she’s usually good for 50 points per game. I’d pick her over Tayla Harris this week with concerns over Harris’ shoulder.

Jess Wuetschner ($5,900)

Wuetschner has started the season in red-hot form, carrying the Brisbane forward line and looking incredibly dangerous whenever the ball is in her vicinity. If she can get her hands on the ball a little more than she did last week, expect a decent score. You don’t have a great deal of options up forward, and Wuetschner is about as good as they get.

Kate McCarthy ($5,200)

McCarthy’s speed and outside run could really hurt the Blues and this puts her in a great position to get a little more of the ball than normal to go with her ability to kick goals. She only scored 37 last week, but that was a pretty low scoring Fantasy game in general. I’d back her in this week.

RUCKS

Alison Downie ($7,400) or Sharni Webb ($5,700)

Downie is the best option here. Downie will match Webb for disposals at the very least and should win at least 15 more hit-outs given Tahlia Randall has taken over as Brisbane’s predominant ruck. Webb is a decent option if you want to go against the grain or save some money, but I wouldn’t be picking Breann Moody over these two.

 

MIDFIELD

Emily Bates ($9,600)

Bates is as safe an option as you’re going to get in this game and with Bri Davey out injured she’s also now the most expensive. She the best midfielder in this game on either team and her numbers should back that up. She’s averaging 67.5 points this season and she could hit 80+ this week against Carlton.

Shae Audley ($7,600)

Audley doesn’t get as much of the ball as some players, but she makes up for it by being a ferocious tackling machine. She’s ranked sixth in the competition for tackles laid this season and usually finds herself picking up between 10 and 15 disposals to go with the tackling. Audley is probably an option many punters will skip over, so I’d recommend giving her a go.

Alexandra Anderson ($4,700)

Anderson has been a revelation for the Lions this season, ranking third in the competition for tackles laid while also averaging 16 disposals per game. She cracked the 100-point barrier in round one against Adelaide and has quickly become one of the best Fantasy options in all of women’s footy. That price tag is very handy too.

DEFENDERS

Nicola Stevens ($7,300)

Stevens continues to be used as a midfielder pushing forward for Carlton and will see greater responsibility now that Davey is out for the season. She only managed 42 points last week, but in the far better conditions she should get at Ikon Park this week, expect 60+ from the former Collingwood best and fairest winner.

Kate Lutkins ($5,200)

Lutkins is a decent mid-priced option for your backline and has started the season with scores of 55 and 64. She’s had a bigger role with the Lions this season and there’s no reason not to expect that to continue this week against the Blues.

Tahlia Randall ($4,100)

As mentioned, Randall is now Brisbane’s number one ruck after playing a key defensive role for most of last season. Randall did quite well last week, winning 23 hit-outs and scoring 57 points on the Western Bulldogs. She faces a tougher test this week, but her price tag along with the fact she’ll be taking most of Brisbane’s stoppages make her a solid Fantasy option.