2017/18 H&A Season Player Average Comparison: Essendon

The 2018 H&A season is complete which means the Fantasy research for next season has already begun, over the next few weeks we’ll take a look at a 2017/18 H&A season player average comparison for each team (Minimum 10 games played each season).

Warnie & Roy discussed some of the numbers on the final Traders podcast of the season, it is worth another listen again to hear their thoughts about some of the players that will be listed in each team (Starts at 41:25).

ESSENDON

It was a tough pill to swallow owning Zach Merrett (2018 Ave: 101.5) from Round 1 as he was knocked out early for just 23pts, subsequently he averaged 69.0pts from his next 2 games. Many coaches had jumped the Merrett ship with the thoughts he was still impacted by concussion or he in fact was not in the elite category anymore, he responded averaging 117.0pts from his next 3 games which then included 109.0pts from his remaining 19 games. Merrett scored 100pts or more in 10 of his last 12 H&A games averaging 114.1pts, he is value to begin the 2019 season.

The forward line found a new hero in 2018 named Devon Smith (2018 Ave: 106.6), it was a solid start to the year averaging a pleasant 92.0pts from his opening 5 games but then things started getting serious. Smith averaged 110.9pts from his remaining 17 games of the H&A season which included averaging 120.9pts from his final 8 games. Smith scored 100pts or more in 54.5% of games & 120pts or more in 27.3% of games, he will highly likely lose his FWD status at the start of the 2019 season and could even be a unique option with still a little bit of value left in him.

Not many coaches like rostering Key Forwards and especially at Round 1 for a potential long haul hold, the volatile scoring just doesn’t suit the criteria for those chasing dreams of grandeur. However the name of Joe Daniher (2018 Ave: 63.9) could be swirling throughout the pre-season specifically if he can be fully fit, it will be a wait & see on many aspects including an early season fixture for the Bombers in which he could exploit for a decent early average. Many will pass on Daniher, it is worth at least putting his name on a watch-list.

Article by @aflratingsPete

2018 AFL Fantasy Stats

PLAYER	POS	Own%	GMS	PTS	AVG
Smith, Devon	MID/FWD	39.9	22	2345	106.6
Heppell, Dyson	MID	7.2	22	2235	101.6
Merrett, Zach	MID	27.1	22	2233	101.5
Zaharakis, David	MID	0.8	17	1651	97.1
Hurley, Michael	DEF	9.3	20	1676	83.8
Redman, Mason	DEF	5.6	2	163	81.5
Langford, Kyle	MID/FWD	0.6	16	1283	80.2
Goddard, Brendon	MID,DEF	3.3	22	1760	80
Bellchambers, Tom	RUC	1.2	20	1592	79.6
Fantasia, Orazio	FWD	0.8	13	1034	79.5
Myers, David	MID	0.3	16	1250	78.1
Parish, Darcy	MID/FWD	1.1	15	1120	74.7
McKernan, Shaun	RUC/FWD	2.4	10	742	74.2
McGrath, Andrew	DEF/MID	5.2	20	1428	71.4
Hooker, Cale	FWD,DEF	1	22	1547	70.3
Stringer, Jake	FWD	2.5	20	1388	69.4
Brown, Mitch	DEF/FWD	0.3	14	942	67.3
McDonald-Tipungwuti, Anthony	FWD	2.4	22	1443	65.6
McKenna, Conor	DEF	0.4	18	1172	65.1
Francis, Aaron	DEF/FWD	2.3	5	325	65
Daniher, Joe	FWD	2	7	447	63.9
Guelfi, Matt	MID/FWD	4.3	15	946	63.1
Baguley, Mark	DEF	0.4	20	1258	62.9
Long, Jake	MID	0.4	2	124	62
Stewart, James	FWD	0.2	11	669	60.8
Mutch, Kobe	MID	3.2	3	180	60
Saad, Adam	DEF	2	22	1302	59.2
Laverde, Jayden	FWD	0.4	7	413	59
Leuenberger, Matthew	RUC	0.2	2	116	58
Colyer, Travis	MID/FWD	0.1	8	443	55.4
Dea, Matt	DEF	0.1	12	658	54.8
Ridley, Jordan	DEF	6.1	3	162	54
Hartley, Michael	DEF	0.2	4	214	53.5
McNiece, Ben	DEF	0.4	8	375	46.9
Green, Josh	FWD	0.2	7	325	46.4
Clarke, Dylan	MID/FWD	14.1	1	46	46
Merrett, Jackson	DEF/FWD	0.4	2	91	45.5
Ambrose, Patrick	DEF	0.2	7	311	44.4
Begley, Joshua	FWD	0.2	5	201	40.2
Draper, Sam	RUC	2.8	0	0	0
Gleeson, Martin	DEF	0	0	0	0
Houlahan, Jordan	FWD	1.1	0	0	0
Lavender, Luke	RUC	1.1	0	0	0
Mynott, Trent	MID	0.3	0	0	0
Zerk-Thatcher, Brandon	DEF/FWD	0.7	0	0	0