Team Sheets – Rd. 2

It’s Thursday!!

We’re off and racing in season 2019!  Round one was depressingly high-scoring, the rookies were spectacular and most of them will have sadly done enough to keep their spots.  Even more sickening was the performance of the mid-pricers; Sheed, Newman, Worpel, Liberatore, Crouch, Salem, and Macmillan all dominated.  Disgusting.  Where’s the carnage?  Fingers crossed a bunch of rookies are rested this week!

Round two kicks off tonight, so make sure you have all your players from Richmond and Collingwood locked in before 19:20 AEDT!  The Traders will be reacting LIVE on the Official AFL Fantasy Facebook page to the team announcements from 18:00 AEDT, so think of this article as your text-based companion guide.

As always, this post will be updated as more information comes in, so if you’ve seen some news that I’ve missed feel free to tweet it at me and I’ll follow it up.

Listen to the AFL Fantasy Podcast with The Traders at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

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Selection News and Rumours

Richmond vs Collingwood

Richmond have made three changes.  Alex Rance is likely missing the season with an ACL injury, Bachar Houli is out with a hamstring strain, and Relton Roberts Noah Balta has been omitted.  In comes Brandon Ellis (Check your free agents in draft), Oleg Markov, and Jason Castagna.

Levi Greenwood is back!  If you hadn’t traded Dustin Martin out already I’d get on it now, Greenwood held Martin to a miserable 54 points in last year’s Preliminary Final.  He comes in at the expense of youngster Callum Brown.

Sydney vs Adelaide

Ben Ronke and Colin O’Riordan have been brought in for Sydney, with Jordan Dawson being omitted and Heath Grundy out injured.

Paul Seedsman makes his return from a finger injury, he’s joined by Kyle Hartigan.  They replace injured duo Tom Doedee and Richard Douglas.

Essendon vs St. Kilda

No bloodbath at Essendon for now, and no Zac Clarke.  Darcy Parish is in after his epic VFL performance, Jordan Ridley however has been axed after a disappointing first week.

Three changes for St. Kilda.  Nathan Brown, Rowan Marshall (Check your free agency), and Blake Acres (ditto) are all in, Darragh Joyce, Lewis Pierce, and Ben Long have all been omitted. Callum Wilkie fights on.

Port Adelaide vs Carlton

Port will go in unchanged as promised by Ken Hinkley, the rookie bonanza continues.

One change for Carlton, Cam Polson has been given another chance with David Cunningham missing with an injury.

Geelong vs Melbourne

No changes for Geelong, Tom Atkins lives to fight another day (and named on the ball?!).

Steven May and Kade Kolodjashnij make their Melbourne debuts, and Jay Lockhart makes his AFL debut.  Marty Hore, Corey Wagner, and Charlie Spargo are the victims of this backline influx, all omitted.

West Coast vs GWS

Josh Kennedy and Josh Smith are in, but Jamie Cripps hasn’t made the return from injury.  Jake Waterman and Jarrod Brander have been omitted, but Jake Petruccelle survives.

As expected, Harry Perryman and Toby Greene are out injured, they’re replaced by Matt Buntine and Nick Haynes (check Free Agency!).

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North Melbourne vs Brisbane

Ed Vickers-Willis is out for the season with an ACL, but North Melbourne have a straight swap in Scott Thompson.  Todd Goldstein owners look away, Tom Campbell has been named for Mason Wood. 

No changes for Brisbane, Archie Smith continues to lurk from the emergencies.

Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs

I don’t believe it, but Tom Scully is making his Hawthorn debut. The Hawk’s whipping boy David Mirra is omitted.

Bulldogs go unchanged as promised.

Gold Coast vs Fremantle

Ben Ainsworth is out as advertised, but Sam Collins has clearly passed his concussion test. Tackling machine Nick Holman is the sole inclusion.

Hayden Ballantyne is out injured for Fremantle, he makes way for Jesse Hogan! Lachie Schultz earns a second game, although now Ballantyne and Brandon Matera are on the outside looking in.