WELCOME BACK!
Season 2019 is finally upon us! Sit back and relax as the anticipation you’ve felt for months slowly turns to dread as your sure-fire winning team is totally dismantled at the selection table. OK, so maybe it won’t be that bad, but I can always dream…
My name is Ollie and I’ll be running the team sheets this year! As you may have noticed, I. Love. Carnage. I live for Thursday night chaos, there is no greater thrill than a long list of stars out, and nothing more boring than all the rookies playing week after week. Through the greatest adversity only the strongest climb to the top, I hope everyone’s team, mine included, is derailed constantly.
But back to the Team Sheets! This will be a rolling post, updated with selection rumours until the actual teams drop, and from there it will be your traditional team sheets with a complete summary of the devastation chaos destruction despair team news. The Traders will of course be reacting LIVE on the Official AFL Fantasy Facebook page when the teams are released, so think of this as your text-based companion guide.
Finally, if you’ve seen some news that I’ve missed, feel free to tweet at me and I’ll follow it up.
Listen to the AFL Fantasy Podcast with The Traders at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.
Selection News & Rumours
Carlton vs Richmond
The Thursday night teams are out and there are six new Blues confirmed for round 1! Sam Walsh, Michael Gibbons, Mitch McGovern, Alex Fasolo, Will Setterfield, and Nic Newman are all locked in, but Matthew Kreuzer is still one or two weeks away.
On the Richmond side of things, Tom Lynch is playing! He’ll line up alongside fellow new recruit Mav Weller, and rookie Noah Balta. Brandon Ellis is the surprise omission, although his JLT form wasn’t great. Finally, while the team sheets don’t necessarily lock in where people play ALL game, it should be noted that Dustin Martin is listed at Full Forward, possibly contradicting the idea that Lynch would be replacing him in the forward line.
Collingwood vs Geelong
No surprises for Collingwood, no Isaac Quaynor, and opposition midfielders can breathe a sigh of relief with the exclusion of Levi Greenwood.
Rookie bananza for Geelong! Charlie Constable, Tom Atkins, Jordan Clark, and Gryan Miers are all playing. Other new players Luke Dahlhaus and Gary Rohan are also in, but Darcy Fort has not made the cut, not even as an emergency.
Melbourne vs Port Adelaide
More rookie goodness from this game, it makes me sick. Marty Hore has made the cut, and Braydon Preuss has been listed as an emergency.
All of Port Adelaide’s previously named rookies are here, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma are on the bench, Connor Rozee is in the forward pocket, and Willem Drew is named on the ball with Sam Powell-Pepper and Tom Rockliff. Scott Lycett and Paddy Ryder will be dual-rucking.
Adelaide vs Hawthorn
No surprises from Adelaide, Paul Seedsman is out as advertised, replaced with rookie Chayce Jones. Matt Crouch, Rory Sloane, and Bryce Gibbs named in the guts, Brad Crouch on the bench.
James Worpel is named on the ball with James Cousins on the bench. Jack Scrimshaw has also slotted in on the bench next to Jonathon Ceglar.
Western Bulldogs vs Sydney
First round draft pick Bailey Smith will debut, first named on the bench. Tom Liberatore is in the middle, and Caleb Daniel is playing across half back as rumoured.
Lance Franklin makes it! He’s joined up forward by the debutant Nick Blakey, with Ben Ronke missing out. Ryan Clarke owners will be relieved to see him named on the wing as well.
Brisbane vs West Coast
Allen Christensen and Archie Smith miss out for Brisbane, but both are named as emergencies. New Lion Lincoln McCarthy has made the cut.
Tom Hickey will play his first game for West Coast in a ruck tandem with Nathan Vardy. Josh Kennedy, Willie Rioli, and Jamie Cripps are all injured, but youngsters Jack Petruccelle, Oscar Allen, and Jarrod Brander are all playing. New Eagle Josh Smith will have to wait.
St. Kilda vs Gold Coast
Into the Sunday teams, Matthew Parker and Callum Wilkie will be debuting, while Jack Steven has made it onto the bench. Dan Hannebery, Jonathon Marsh and Sam Rowe are not ready selection for yet, while Rowan Marshall and Nick Hind watch on as emergencies.
New year, new Gold Coast Suns. Sam Collins, Jordan Murdoch, Jack Hombsch, George Horlin-Smith, Jack Lukosius, Chris Burgess, and Anthony Miles are all playing their first game at their new club, Ben King however will have to wait named as first emergency. Despite the rumours, Jack Martin has made the cut.
GWS vs Essendon
Jackson Hatey has missed the cut in the end, he’s an emergency alongside Isaac Cumming and Matthew Flynn. As expected Josh Kelly isn’t playing, but Jacob Hopper and Toby Greene are named.
One surprise from Essendon, Darcy Parish has missed the cut, he joins Zac Clarke as an emergency. It should also be noted that Devon Smith is playing off the bench, while Zach Merrett lines up in the forward pocket…
Fremantle vs North Melbourne
Final game of the round and we have one surprise inclusion for Fremantle, rookie Lachie Schultz. Jesse Hogan, Stephen Hill, Harley Bennell, Griffen Logue and Aaron Sandilands are all missing from their best 22, but new players Reece Conca, Travis Colyer, and Rory Lobb have all been named. Mature age rookie Brett Bewley has missed out completely.
Bailey Scott will debut for North Melbourne on Sunday, while other new faces Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard, Aaron Hall and Dom Tyson have also all made the cut.
