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.
12 Comments
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Swanabees
December 2, 2018 at 9:47 pm
Alot of homework done for alot of folk here Roy. Just have to pick the eyes out of who is value and who can wait to get your starting 22 selected. Guns and rooks or Guns and Roses? The planning begins…
Spud
December 2, 2018 at 10:28 pm
Reality is that by the end of the year, most of what you predict now will fail to manifest. That’s not to take away from your list as they are all reasonable candidates. It’s just most likely that only a quarter of these players chosen will part of the best 22 come the end of the season. Btw really like the dunkley pick
You're the Spud
December 3, 2018 at 8:26 am
I’ll take the overs on the quarter prediction.
Spud
December 3, 2018 at 10:34 am
Fair call. A quarter is probably a bit harsh. Somewhere between a third and half is probably more accurate. My point is that by the end of the year, half of the players seen in the best 22 won’t be who you would expect to be there.
Euman
December 3, 2018 at 11:29 am
Ok so question with the ssp “Previously listed AFL footballers no longer have to nominate for the draft and can sign with their club of choice as a Category A rookie between December 1 and March 15.” when do lists get finalised, surely no 15 March
Warnie
December 3, 2018 at 12:10 pm
They’ll be added once all processed by Champion Data. There aren’t too many that would happen after the game launches in late-January, so really, lists will be ‘mostly’ finalised.
Euman
December 3, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Thanks Warnie
Euman
December 3, 2018 at 11:43 am
Just checking my Avatar, note i also picked Dunkley in my team 1 version, his run home was awesome
The Chosen Won
December 4, 2018 at 7:42 am
Good Luck in 2019
Euman
December 4, 2018 at 8:31 am
You too
Euman
December 4, 2018 at 8:40 am
Speaking of best 22 only a quarter of your starting team being in them. I post below my draft team from DT Live Drawing Board from 2014 (cant remember if this is exact starting team in the end) but is interesting
TEAM NAME: Eumans Tigers Fantasy. (AFL Fantasy 2014)
Used: $9,693,000 (96.9%), Remaining: $307,000 (3.1%) On Ground: $8,524,100 (85.2%), On Bench: $1,168,900 (11.7%)
Expected Total: 2142, Site Expected Total: 2101
Def: S.Mitchell (98), J.Bartel (95), H.Shaw (90), D.Swallow (90), M.Suckling (85), L.McDonald (75) (M.Fuller (65), C.Howard (65))
Mid: S.Johnson (118), G.Ablett (115), D.Beams (115), M.Murphy (105), B.Ellis (96), D.Thomas (92), J.Martin (77), L.Anthony (82) (M.Honeychurch (65), J.Polec (65))
Ruc: M.Leuenberger (85.15), A.Sandilands (95) (B.Longer (75), F.Thurlow (45))
Fwd: C.Wingard (100), L.Franklin (100), C.Dixon (85), T.Walker (85), M.Clark (75), N.Bock (65) (D.Garlett (65), G.Rohan (65))
Ho blessed were we with dpp, Sam Mitchell and Jimmy Bartell as Defenders
The Chosen Won
December 5, 2018 at 8:30 am
TEAM NAME: the chosen won. (AFL Fantasy 2014)
Used: $9,861,300 (98.6%), Remaining: $138,700 (1.4%) On Ground: $8,681,400 (86.8%), On Bench: $1,179,900 (11.8%)
Expected Total: 1719, Site Expected Total: 2125
Def: S.Mitchell (95.52), M.Hibberd (87.14), P.Seedsman (79.24), B.Waters (79.04), M.Suckling (58.01), K.Kolodjashnij (46.49) (M.Fuller (28.01), B.Martin (27.73))
Mid: D.Swan (117.45), G.Ablett (114.61), M.Barlow (104.61), D.Beams (92.03), M.Murphy (85.52), D.Thomas (63.91), L.Anthony (40.79), C.Beams (34.58) (J.Polec (25.00), X.Ellis (25.00))
Ruc: H.McIntosh (63.60), A.Sandilands (45.11) (B.Longer (35.87), D.Currie (21.25))
Fwd: P.Dangerfield (98.65), J.Roughead (86.73), L.Franklin (78.69), T.Walker (52.20), M.Clark (39.35), A.Fasolo (38.45) (K.Harper (29.76), N.Bock (25.07))