Roy’s Best 22 for 2019 – December Edition

We’ve got the new positions in our hands and it’s time to start planning for 2019. The AFL Fantasy Classic prices and positions will be revealed for each club, in reverse ladder order, starting in a couple of weeks. For now, it’s time to have a look at what the top averaging players could look like for the new season ahead in the form of Roy’s Rolling Best 22. This is version 1.

DEFENDERS

			2018 Avg	Proj Avg
D1		Sam Docherty Carlton, DEF Won’t miss a beat upon return given he could have played at the end of last season.	DNP	114
D2		Rory Laird Adelaide, DEF Ball magnet coming off career high average of 108.	107.8 (20)	106
D3		Lachie Whitfield GWS Giants, DEF Averaged 100 last year with some thumping scores including 150.	100.1 (22)	105
D4		Jake Lloyd Sydney Swans, DEF Finished the season in great fashion with five scores over 110 in the last nine games.	101.6 (22)	101
D5		Connor Blakely Fremantle, DEF Back to back averages of 91, will break out with increased mid responsibility.	91.5 (13)	100
D6		James Sicily Hawthorn, DEF Didn’t drop under 90 in the last six rounds.	95.6 (14)	99

In the mix: Alex Witherden (Brisbane Lions, DEF), Kade Simpson (Carlton, DEF).

MIDFIELDERS

			2018 Avg	Proj Avg
M1		Tom Mitchell Hawthorn, MID Absolute freak, coming off a career high and world record average of 129.	129.2 (22)	127
M2		Jack Macrae Western Bulldogs, MID Massive year, averaging 123. Will be huge again.	122.6 (19)	120
M3		Zach Merrett Essendon, MID Recovered from a disastrous start to the year to average 101. Will be back to beast mode with the inclusion of Shiel.	101.5 (22)	118
M4		Patrick Cripps Carlton, MID Gets tagged, doesn’t care. Had a low score of 96 in the last 11 rounds.	109.3 (22)	115
M5		Lachie Neale Brisbane Lions, MID Will be in his element at the Lions and return to his elite scoring ways.	100.2 (22)	113
M6		Matt Crouch Adelaide, MID Averaged 105 despite injury effected games including 33.	104.9 (18)	112
M7		Josh Kelly GWS Giants, MID Averaged 108 despite an interrupted season and will be back to his dominant best.	108.4 (15)	111
M8		Dayne Beams Collingwood, MID Could be massive, even push his career high average of 116 if all goes to plan.	105.8 (21)	110

In the mix: Stephen Coniglio (GWS Giants, MID), Adam Treloar (Collingwood, MID), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne, MID).

RUCKS

			2018 Avg	Proj Avg
R1		Brodie Grundy Collingwood, RUC Will have a snout by season end… enough said.	120 (22)	122
R2		Max Gawm Melbourne, RUC Coming off an outstanding 113 average but there are certainly concerns about sharing ruck duties next season.	111.3 (22)	100

In the mix: Justin Weshoff (Port Adelaide, RUC/FWD), Stefan Martin (Brisbane Lions, RUC).

FORWARDS

			2018 Avg	Proj Avg
F1		Patrick Dangerfield Geelong, MID/FWD Dropped in average by 14 points last year but is a gift as a forward.	106.2 (21)	110
F2		Devon Smith Essendon, MID/FWD The way he finished the year, he is every chance to surpass Danger.	106.6 (22)	109
F3		Josh Dunkley Western Bulldogs, MID/FWD Dominated as a midfielder in the second half of the year.	95.8 (19)	108
F4		Sam Menegola Geelong, MID/FWD Finished the year really well with a low of 97 in the last six weeks.	98.6 (22)	101
F5		Tim Kelly Geelong, MID/FWD Seven scores over 98 in the last nine weeks.	86.8 (22)	99
F6		Isaac Heeney Sydney Swans, MID/FWD Needs to improve his ceiling.	90.7 (21)	95

In the mix: Justin Westhoff (Port Adelaide, RUC/FWD), Toby McLean (Western Bulldogs, MID/FWD).

What do you think, has Roy got this right? What order would you have the players in? Post your thoughts in the comments.

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