Hopefully, you’re reading this article with your team still in the hunt for a flag. Week one of finals is in the books and some players came to the party with MONSTER scores. Not only did popular guys like Josh Kelly (28.08% ownership) and Brodie Grundy (34.16%) ball out, but forgotten heroes Seb Ross (1.71%) and Callan Ward (1.56%) came to the party too. Fingers crossed one (or more?) of these 11 POD’s can be our savour in Round 21.
DEFENCE
Tom Cutler, Lions ($606K, 90 BE, 0.38% ownership)
While all eyes are on his popular teammate Alex Witherden as a trade target, don’t sleep on Tommy Cutler. Back from suspension this week, Cutler nearly averaged a ton in the last five before his ban and games against Collingwood and the Gold Coast in the next fortnight should lead to healthy scores.
Jack Crisp, Pies ($522K, 85 BE, 6.13% ownership)
Talk about a roller coaster season. We’ve dealt with ‘Headache Heath’ before but we might need to come up with a new label for the unreliable Pie. He has showcased the huge ceiling a few times this season, but he hasn’t given us a lot of faith lately. It’s risky, but nabbing him could pay off.
Draft Sleeper â Ryan Clarke, Roos ($499K, 65 BE, 0.78% ownership)
Speaking of roller coasters, Ryan Clarke isn’t a fantasy option for his consistency, but rather his ability to go bang on any given day. With North owning a favourable run, the young Roo could throw in a nice 100 for your draft side to help you get a leg up.
MIDFIELD
Lachie Hunter, Bulldogs ($670K, 102 BE, 3.18% ownership)
The Bulldogs have garnered plenty of fantasy attention this season with most coaches owning at least a few Footscray guys. Lachie Hunter hasn’t generated a ton of buzz, with Macrae, McLean and Dunkley (more from him soon) the more popular targets. Hunter’s five straight tons might change his popularity/ownership soon though.
Mitch Duncan, Cats ($672K, 99 BE, 2.68% ownership)
Once again, Duncan isn’t the most popular fantasy player on his team, but he still deserves a mention. With two easy games to end the season don’t rule out elder statesman like Ablett and Selwood being rested, opening up the door for Duncan to finish the season with a bang.
Draft Sleeper â Rory Atkins, Crows ($496K, 24 BE, 1.58% ownership)
Atkins had been posting solid numbers since his return to the Crows side in Round 17. However, his massive 133 in the Showdown will certainly force more coaches to take notice though.
RUCK
Scott Lycett, Eagles ($486K, 43 BE, 4.85% ownership)
Call me crazy, but Scott Lycett is a genuine smokey this week. His draw might scare some people away, but sometimes you have to risk it to get the biscuit. If you want to deviate from the mainstream choices then Lycett could work.
Draft Sleeper â Jonathon Ceglar, Hawks ($424K, 33 BE, 1.05% ownership)
Another late-season waiver wire target, Ceglar has been putting up solid numbers for the Hawks. He may only net you 75 points, but that might be an upgrade for those coaches who invested in Nic Nat, Kreuzer or Sandilands.
FORWARD
Josh Dunkley, Bulldogs ($664K, 74 BE, 3.83% ownership)
I need to issue a public apology to Dunkley. On my SportsbyFry site I have talked him up for weeks, but he hasn’t made an appearance on the FFF. His well overdue appearance on the list comes at the perfect time with Dunkley set to finish the season as one of the best forwards in the entire comp!
Jamie Cripps, Eagles ($554K, 64 BE, 0.66% ownership)
Huh? Why is Jamie Cripps here you ask? Surely, he can’t be a genuine option. With the exception of an egg against Collingwood, Cripps has scored over 90 in each of his last six games. Hmmm.
Draft Sleeper â Wayne Milera, Crows ($529K, 58 BE, 1.82% ownership)
Another Crow who played his way into contention with a big game against the Power is Wayne Milera. I’d probably trust him over Atkins and with handy DPP, Milera is worth a punt.
The Three Big Questions of Round 20
Does Isaac Heeney HAVE To Go?
This is a situation I find myself in this weekend as well. Heeney has been stinking it up lately and his run to finish the season is quite daunting. With the Demons, Giants and Hawks on the horizon, it might be time to preemptively axe the chiselled Swan. If you have nothing pressing to do, get your hands on Menegola or Dunkley this week and say goodbye to Heeney’s subpar scores.
Who Is The Best Replacement For Andrew Gaff?
At this point of the season, most coaches will have pretty complete teams or at least a few stars in their midfield. If one of those guys is Andrew Gaff, then they need to find his replacement right away after he was slapped with an 8-game ban. There are plenty of choices out there and most of the ‘vanilla’ teams will have the popular midfielders already. Here are my top 5 Gaff trades based on their remaining fixture and form.
Patrick Cripps
Jack Macrae
Josh Kelly
Matt Crouch
Clayton Oliver
Can I Ditch My Last Playing Emergency To Generate Cash?
With only six trades until the end of the season, it’s time to go all in. If you have Joel Smith for example as your emergency, instead of trading him into someone like Alex Johnson ($204K) making that extra $34K and trading in a basement rookie is the way to go. That extra money could come in handy over the following fortnight as cash generation starts to dry up.
Back From The Dead
Slim pickings this week…
Tom Doedee, Crows (93)Â â Much like Tim Kelly, Doedee keep flying the cash cow flag.
Luke Shuey, Eagles (90)Â â Look for him to go 100+ without Gaff for the next three weeks.
Brayden Sier, Magpies (89)Â â This kid looks awesome. Too expensive now though
Good luck for Round 21!
Peace â
Got a question that needs answering? Feel free to leave a comment below or message me on Twitter @sportsbyfry and Iâll get back to you!
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David James
August 10, 2018 at 12:49 pm
Rockliff, McLean or Heeney?
Who goes?
David C
August 10, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Heeney.
Plugger
August 10, 2018 at 2:13 pm
Yes, Heeney. He hasnât been the same since copping the concussion. He should improve, but not fast enough.
Fry
August 10, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Heeney. Tough run home and bad form. No thanks
Daniel
August 10, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Nankervis out but i can not go up to grundy can only get one of these guys witch one would be your choice guys ? Goldy ” witts ” martin i no they are not the best to have in my team but no choice. Some feed back would be great thanks đ
Plugger
August 10, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Witts with a last 3 average of 112 would be my choice.
Martin has benn horrible over last 3 and Goldie is unreliable (59 last week) even with otherwise some acceptable recent form.
Martin cops Grundy this week and should get a hiding. Witts and Goldy have much easier match-ups.
Witts.
Daniel
August 10, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Thanks plugger đ
briby
August 10, 2018 at 4:40 pm
(Martin cops Grundy this week and should get a hiding.) I hope not, i’m sticking with him this week, to have bench cover on all lines.
Fry
August 10, 2018 at 4:49 pm
I’d go Witts then Goldy then Martin
J
August 10, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Who goes first Heeney or billings?
Chatta
August 10, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Not meaning sound rude but really?? Heeney last week 66 and Billings last week 122 and you cant make that decision yourself?
Fry
August 10, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Gotta be Heen
lemmewinks7
August 10, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Who to upgrade to Dunkley…Either Heeney or Franklin?
If Franklin, how will he go against Melbourne… 2 very different weeks preceding this game…a 40 odd (I lost that final) and a 138 last week (I won that final)… I just get nervous relying on Franklin as the POD against my opposition… Melbourne may contain him??
Thanks Legends.
Fry
August 10, 2018 at 5:18 pm
Gee that’s a tough one. Franklin’s scores range pretty all over the shop. I’d back in Buddy though
lemmewinks7
August 10, 2018 at 5:45 pm
Cheers fry! Appreciated…
J
August 10, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Chatta
Not really thats why i asked,
122 from billings means nothing
But thanks anyways champ.
The Cricket
August 10, 2018 at 6:08 pm
Yeah it’s a hard one, but I think Heeney may bounce back to his pre-concussion form, just as Zerrett did. It’s not uncommon for players to have a dip in form after a concussion. But the good players do seem to bounce back. And Hanners’ return may improve Heeney’s game too.
I wouldn’t trust Billings – he’s firmly on my never again list!
Good luck, whichever way you go
The Official McInerney
August 10, 2018 at 6:01 pm
Who goes first, wingard, rocky or McLean?
AF Rising Star
August 10, 2018 at 6:25 pm
McLean. Hasnt been the same since his shoulder injury and Dunkley began to get more mid time
AF Rising Star
August 10, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Heeney to Ablett or Stef Martin to Grundy?
I have being wrestling over this all week!
I got Dunkley in last week at M8 so the Ablett move is possible.
Alex
August 10, 2018 at 7:20 pm
Gaff-> Macrae
then:
Hurn-> Brayshaw or
Heeney/McLean/Rocky -> Dunkley or
Neale/Gibbs-> Zorko