Team Sheets-Round Five

This week presents one like no other… We have both a Tuesday and a Wednesday game, throwing a potential curveball at coaches with players from Melbourne, Richmond, Collingwood, and Essendon. We won’t find out the squads for these teams until well after lockout, so proceed with caution if you’re looking to pick up any of their riskier players. With quite a few key players out this week, a bit of shuffling may be required for your fantasy team, let’s check out all the big INs and OUTs of round five!

Kicking off our list of big INs this week is Michael Barlow (Mid/Fwd $667,000) who has been named on the extended bench for the Suns’ clash with the Lions on Sunday. Second place daylight in terms of key fantasy returns, however, we do have a few rookies getting games this week. Taylin Duman (Def $170,000) has been handed a debut by Ross Lyon, Fremantles’ fifth debutant in as many games this season. His call-up follows an impressive outing for peel in the wafl where he picked up 28 disposals and received plenty of praise from his coach. Big changes for the Crows following their poor display at home last week, with Myles Poholke (Mid/Fwd $170,000) being handed a debut, whilst Jordan Gallucci (Mid/Fwd $285,000) also makes his way in for the 2017 Grand Finalists. Last years number seven draft pick Hunter Clark (Mid $265,000) returns for his third game of the season for the struggling Saints this week. Exciting young forward prospect Harry Mckay (Fwd $225,000) comes in this week for the Blues, following their abysmal performance against the Roos where they only managed to score 30 points. James Worpel (Mid $182,000) has been named on the extended interchange bench for the Hawks, alongside Mitch Lewis (Fwd $170,000).

Unfortunately, we have a much more significant list of OUTs this week than we do INs, led by none other than Blues big man Matthew Kreuzer (Ruck $685,000), who misses through injury. Tom Rockliff (Mid $530,000) and Rory Sloane (Mid $665,000) both miss this week for their respective South Australian clubs, also with injuries. After an extremely late out last week, Carlton skipper Marc Murphy (Mid $706,000) is set for another match on the sidelines. Popular rookie selection Daniel Venables (Fwd $245,000) is looking at 10-12 weeks out of the team for West Coast following a similar ankle injury to that of Liam Ryan (Fwd $323,000). One which will leave many fantasy coaches fuming is the suspension of Lachie Hunter (Mid $705,000). Hunter was averaging 125 after the first three rounds, making him a popular round four trade target before completely spudding it up and dishing out a putrid 48 against the Swans. Compounding his poor score is his one-week suspension for engaging in rough conduct.  Rounding out the list is young Geelong defender Zach Guthrie (Def $323,000), who has been omitted following a couple of poor performances.

With the ANZAC day matches between Melbourne/Richmond and Collingwood/Essendon being held on the Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, we have not got any of their team sheets. This leaves us fantasy coaches in the dark regarding some of the players we may have been looking at from these clubs, such as popular rookie forward option Matt Guelfi (Fwd $193,000). Guelfi appears to have done enough to hold his place after the Bombers impressive win over the Power last Saturday, however not knowing for sure may raise the blood pressure of some nervous coaches out there. Besides any late mail announcements regarding players from these matches, all I recommend you do is don’t over think these options, sit back and enjoy some of the cracking matches we’re been treated to this weekend! As always, hit me up at JelmsDT on twitter for any fantasy questions and feel free to create discussion in the forum provided below. Good luck this week coaches!