It’s Thursday!!
Another week, another high-scoring round full of over-performing rookies! The likes of Charlie Constable (+$107k), Xavier Duursma (+$79k), and Willem Drew (+$102k) may make this one of the best Fantasy rookie classes ever! Thankfully some of the mid-pricers busted to give me hope for this season, Nic Newman (66) and Jamie Elliot (48) have hopefully set an example that others can follow.
Round three kicks off tonight, so make sure you have all your players from Adelaide and Geelong locked in before 19:50 AEDT! The Traders will be reacting LIVE from 18:15 AEDT on the Official AFL Fantasy Facebook page to the team announcements, 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.
Selection News & Rumours
Adelaide vs Geelong
Ruckman Sam Jacobs is officially out this week with a knee injury. Reilly O’Brien ($232k RUC) will play his third AFL game, and his first since 2016.
Geelong have made one change as well, Jack Henry has a hamstring strain and is replaced by Lachie Henderson.
No late changes to either team!
Melbourne vs Essendon
Josh Wagner and Corey Wagner ($196k MID) in for the Demons. Corey is listed last spot on the bench but Josh is listed on the halfback line. Steven May will likely miss three games with a groin injury, he’s joined by Tom Sparrow who it omitted after being a late inclusion last week. Jay Lockhart survives but Marty Hore isn’t even an emergency.
Zac Clarke ($270k RUC) will make his Essendon debut! Kobe Mutch ($344k MID) is also in at the expense of Mitch Brown and Kyle Langford.
Carlton vs Sydney
Caleb Marchbank is back alongside Lochie O’Brien and Levi Casboult, but ruckman Matthew Kreuzer will spend yet another week on the sidelines. Charlie Curnow is injured, and Jarrod Garlett and Alex Fasolo are omitted.
Tom McCartin, Jackson Thurlow, and Jordan Dawson in for Sydney. Lewis Melican, Ryan Clarke,and Colin O’Riordan all omitted. Another week in the NEAFL for Kieren Jack.
GWS vs Richmond
Superstar midfielder Josh Kelly plays his first game of the season, but Toby Greene is set to miss another week with a calf complaint. Shane Mumford is back from retirement and suspension, and Tommy Sheridan is the final inclusion. Lachlan Keeffe and Dawson Simpson are omitted, while Brett Deledio is injured.
Ryan Garthwaite, Sydney Stack ($170k MID), and Noah Balta are in. Mav Weller is omitted, Dylan Grimes suspended, and Jack Riewoldt injured.
Brisbane vs Port Adelaide
No changes at Brisbane as Lincoln McCarthy successfully overcomes a rib injury.
Three changes for Port this week as advertised by coach Ken Hinkley. Todd Marshall is omitted, he joins the two injured players Karl Amon and Jack Watts on the sidelines. In comes Ollie Wines, Sam Gray, and Dougal Howard.
Collingwood vs West Coast
Taylor Adams is back! Travis Varcoe makes way for him.
For West Coast, Liam Duggan, Josh Smith, and Daniel Venables out, Josh Rotham ($170k DEF), Jamie Cripps, and Andrew Gaff in.
Western Bulldogs vs Gold Coast
No changes to either team! Jordan Sweet has to wait for another week.
Hawthorn vs North Melbourne
Liam Shiels and Shaun Burgoyne are out injured, so Chad Wingard comes in with David Mirra.
Marley Williams misses with an ankle injury as expected, he’s replaced by Trent Dumont.
Fremantle vs St. Kilda
Two changes for Fremantle, Lachie Schultz has been omitted and Sean Dar y has been rested, this leaves Rory Lobb as the sole ruck. The two inclusions are Brandon Matera, and Taylin Duman.
St. Kilda stick with the one change, Jack Steven is being managed after a limited preseason. Hunter Clark comes in for this first game of the season.
Mike
April 4, 2019 at 12:48 pm
May out for 5
Hamish
April 4, 2019 at 3:02 pm
Is Rockliff a must have? Have half missed the boat but only way of getting him in would be through Patrick Cripps getting the boot. Unsure what to do.. any help?
Dave Bajamo
April 4, 2019 at 3:11 pm
I got him last week (for Angus Brayshaw ?) however, if I didn’t have him currently I would wait to see how Wines affects his scoring. If he is the real deal he’ll go big and then just tear him as a normal must-have premo
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 3:25 pm
I don’t know about must have, but his BE is 50 so you haven’t missed the boat. Cripps going to be tagged by Hewitt this week so could be a smart play.
Hamish
April 5, 2019 at 8:38 am
Yeah might take the punt on it. Will have the cash to get Cripps or a similar player back in the next following weeks. Cheers lads
Sir Fartypants
April 4, 2019 at 4:45 pm
Hey Ollie I’m loving your write ups mate… great way to set it out. Just a minor suggestion… any way you could add the position of the players you’re talking about… particularly the unknown rookies. But keep this up all season mate, it is waaaaay more useful than last years version.
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 4:50 pm
Thanks for the kind words and the suggestion, I’ll add them now :)
David C
April 4, 2019 at 4:54 pm
Hi Ollie, you have the Sydney Stack rumour in the Carlton Sydney game.
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 5:26 pm
Thanks!
MagicDoor
April 4, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Hi Ollie
Who is the best ruck for some cash generation on the bench? Riley O’Brien, Zac Clarke or Jordan Sweet?
Ben
April 4, 2019 at 6:46 pm
I really don’t know if we can rank them. O’Brien is the best bet if Sauce is out for more than a few weeks. Clarke is named with Bellchambers so a poor game could lead to being dropped and Sweet isn’t even confirmed.
MagicDoor
April 4, 2019 at 6:53 pm
You make a good point Ben!
Shags
April 4, 2019 at 7:02 pm
If Jordan Sweet is actually named, has best potential. It’s a waste spending too much for a ruck rookie imo.
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:25 pm
As others have said, Sweet the best if named (because he’d likely be sole ruck) but even then you’d want to wait a week first to see what he can do. O’Brien and Clarke no guarantees to play more than a couple of games so if you’re happy using two trades on them (One to get them, one to get them out for the profit) then consider. Could be handy if they play over byes but we’re so far out…
Ben
April 4, 2019 at 6:42 pm
Is it wiser to go Setterfield to Worpel before his boat sails or go both Fort and Flynn to O’Brien and Clarke for some cash generation on the bench and have a full 30 playing?
Just feel the rookie rucks could be a dangerous trap. But if they even play 3 games at a 60 average that’s 100k profit each
Grundy undies
April 4, 2019 at 6:55 pm
Last year the top 5 rucks barely missed any games… is that normal or an outlier? Personally I like the idea of a playing R3 emergency. Not to mention bye rounds…
Shags
April 4, 2019 at 7:03 pm
You can wait 1 round on the ruck rookies imo.
Grunderpants
April 4, 2019 at 7:14 pm
Therewere no late outs last year in the rucks…. these guys get bashed every week…. while it is 100k to get a Zac Clark, at least he will be making you money while insuring you against injuries and late withdrawals which could be devastating imo.
Harry
April 4, 2019 at 6:44 pm
What would you do.
Dahlhaus and extra 100k or Boak …. Will Wines effect Boak’s scoring enough for me to go Dahl instead?
Sir Fartypants
April 4, 2019 at 6:52 pm
Lockhart vs Rotham… any ideas??!?
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:04 pm
For trading in? Neither particularly good but I would suggest at this point that Lockhart has slightly better JS. Schofield and Duggan are both back possibly next week.
Steve
April 4, 2019 at 7:06 pm
v Wilkie?
Shags
April 4, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Rotham screams KPP, so I’d wait 1 week.
Saying that, Lockhart hardly set the world on fire.
Who are you trading? Hore?
If you have other problem areas, I’d almost consider holding for another week.
Squid
April 4, 2019 at 7:14 pm
Im taking a punt on Rotham, no idea about the guy but went hore to him and fort to O’Brien for max cash generation 29 of 30 playing so can still loophole if danger goes big and bank balance is $0. This 2 trades a week allows this sort of thing which you’d never do in limited trades. Long story short don’t stress you can’t really lose either way and barring carnage you can just fix any mistake next week.
Sir Fartypants
April 4, 2019 at 7:18 pm
Yeah trading Hore and really have nothing else to do. You’re right Squid it feels like a stupid trade but I’ve got a team I’m not ready to change at this point.
Andy
April 4, 2019 at 7:01 pm
Bring in: Phillips and Z.Clark, or Mumford and Z.Clark? (Scott is selected and Balta is back so I have no other commitments.)
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:10 pm
Trading down from Jacobs I assume? Mumford for me, Kreuzer back any day now. On Balta though, even though he’s playing I can’t imagine he’ll drastically improve his scoring or anything so the cash generation will still be minimal. Don’t rule out moving him on just because he’s named.
Shags
April 4, 2019 at 7:15 pm
Move him to who though Ollie?
If there was a must have fwd rookie sure. What if you have them all?
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:18 pm
If you have Setterfield, Parker, Schultz, and Drew then yeah don’t worry about it.
Andy
April 4, 2019 at 7:22 pm
Balta can wait- as long as he is playing he is not an immediate concern. I’ve heard that Kreuzer may not play ruck when he is back, and I would like to see how Mumford goes before I select him- there have been failed comebacks in the past.
Andy
April 4, 2019 at 7:25 pm
BTW: I’m upgrading from Lobb- so there is no hurry tonight. Lobb was my first big mistake of the year when I downgraded Gawn to be able to bring in Rocky…
Nick
April 4, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Heeney to boak (scrimshaw on field)
Or
Heeney to Whitfield (Parker on field)
Shags
April 4, 2019 at 7:12 pm
I have the exact same issue.
I’m going Boak because his BE is so low (yes I know Wines is back, i still think he looks top 6 at this stage).
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:14 pm
Whitfield much safer for mine. He’s guaranteed top 6 in his position at the end of the season, and there are still some question marks with Boak as far as Wines coming back and his history with playing forward. Parker and Scrimshaw will probably average about the same but Parker better JS as well.
Michael Barker
April 4, 2019 at 7:29 pm
same issues here its a flip between
1. Dunks and B Smith to Libba and whit
2. Dunk Hore to Boak Lockhart
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:42 pm
I like option 1. Libba much more convincing than Smith, Whitfield a top 3 defender. Option 2 fixes a rookie which is important but Lockhart’s scoring and JS are massive question marks. If Lockhart goes well he’ll still be affordable from Hore next week.
Shaneo
April 4, 2019 at 7:11 pm
Is anyone rolling the dice on Mumford
Shags
April 4, 2019 at 7:13 pm
The odd Jacobs owner.
Shags
April 4, 2019 at 7:18 pm
I see where you are coming from. But my issue is if I go Whitfield, I’ll be running a 4 rookie fwd line …
Too risky I think.
Michael Barker
April 4, 2019 at 7:38 pm
I know my forward is D anger Kelly worps setter drew and parker …could be disaster
Brett Dr
April 4, 2019 at 7:20 pm
Could use some help guys
Trade 1.
Goldstein to Mumford (pocket cash to get Ridley to Whitfield next week)
Trade 2.
Who out of Dunkley/Billings to Worpel????
Cheers
Brett Dr
April 4, 2019 at 7:24 pm
Or just straight bat? Dunkley to Worpel/Hore to Lockhart
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:33 pm
Mumford is the great unknown and sadly I have no more or less insight than others…
I have also been considering Dunkley/Billings to Worpel this week and decided on Dunkley, just playing the BE game a bit and for the extra cash (which should help you get to Whitfield).
Rowan Jones
April 4, 2019 at 7:22 pm
Worth chasing Miers or Petrucelle? All of my rookies are named besides the rucks so with 75k in the bank I am hoping to maximise cash generation and considering getting in either O’Brien or Clarke.
I am holding Dunkley and can’t find the cash to upgrade Setterfield to the Worpedo
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Both of their JS is shaky. Petrucelle was on track for a 50 before some very late action as well. Maximising cash generation is good, but spending that 75k on a ruck rookie that might go up 10k and then not play again will actually get you further away from Setterfield to Worpel. My advice would be to find another trade and save the money for that upgrade next week as both those players will probably go up the same amount anyway.
Rowan Jones
April 4, 2019 at 7:41 pm
Thanks for the reply. I am happy enough with all of my rookies on the bench as they will hopefully generate some money. I don’t like feeling like I am in a luxury position at this stage of the season but I am backing my premiums in the whole way, will be a coin flip for O’Brien I think!
Ollie
April 4, 2019 at 7:44 pm
Excellent work! Wish I could back in my premiums (I usually do) but Dunkley just makes me so sad…
Rowan Jones
April 4, 2019 at 9:12 pm
I can’t say its been enjoyable this season but I watched the game on the weekend and it was a case of him always being a few metres away so I’m hoping he can round into form. Could also be a mistake but that’s what makes the game interesting!
JD
April 4, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Hey everyone,
Have a few options and I am not sure what to do, any advice is recommended. I am happy with my Rookies and Premos except for some of my underperforming guys. The top 2 trade targets A. McGrath (Essendon – Def) and J. Dunkley (Bulldogs – Fwd) & +48K
Trade in:
Option 1) L. Whitfield (Def – GWS) and W. Powell (Gold Coast – Fwd)
{AM WORRIED ABOUT W. POWELL}
Option 2) J. Sicily (Def – Hawks) and J. Worpel (Fwd – Hawks)
{AM WORRIED ABOUT J. SICILY}
Option 3) J. Crisp (Collingwood – Def) and J. Worpel (Fwd – Hawks)
{AM WORRIED ABOUT J. CRISP}
Ollie
April 5, 2019 at 11:29 am
Of the three options, I like #3. Crisp not without his risks but BE of 66 so he will make money, even if he underperforms later on you’ll be able to offload him easier. Sicily BE 122, can’t do it I think. Option #1 is intriguing, Whitfield is obviously better than Crisp…but Powell…I couldn’t do it.
JD
April 5, 2019 at 11:49 am
Thankyou Ollie, love your work ?
Nigel Todorovic
April 4, 2019 at 8:02 pm
Sic dog to Whitfeld?
Ollie
April 5, 2019 at 11:25 am
Do it! Whitfield going massive atm, Sic a risk to play forward or get suspended.
Mark Fawcett
April 4, 2019 at 8:11 pm
Took the plunge and have gone Heeney to Boak, million bucks says Heeney tons up big time against the Blues now! Swore I’d back Heeney in but don’t want to fall too far behind the pack.
Ollie
April 5, 2019 at 11:23 am
Same boat with dumping Heeney. Thought this was the year…
M8
April 4, 2019 at 10:44 pm
Hey guys here is my team after one trade went Heeney to Whitfield (via Burgess). Stuck on my last trade thoughts?
DEF: Lloyd, Whitfield, Smith, Williams, Duursma, Clark (Scrimshaw, Wilkie)
MID: Macrae, Coniglio, Cripps, Rockliff, B.Crouch, Libba, Walsh, Constable (Scott, Gibbons)
RUCK: Grundy, Witts (Flynn, Fort)
FWD: Dangerfield, Kelly, Worpel, Setterfield, Drew, Parker (Burgess, Bolta)
Cash: $19k.
Petracca
April 4, 2019 at 11:02 pm
Looks good to me! I would focus on cash gen by trading a rook down to a cheaper option or sideways to someone with a lower BE as I suspect you will want to upgrade Witts to Gawn soon.
Exactly the same team as me except I have Brayshaw for Macrae and just brought in Gawn for Witts.
jay
April 4, 2019 at 11:20 pm
Can’t believe i’m doing this, but only using one trade this week (after Geelong v Adelaide game, those players are locked). I literally have nothing else to do, and can’t trade out Hore as I prefer to loophole Danger’s score with him. Bringing in a basement priced rook for someone like Gibbons on my bench will probably weaken my team in a few weeks.
And the one trade I’m using is minor cash grab on the bench – swapping out non-playing Archie on RUC bench for another cheaper non-playing RUC rook.
Shags
April 5, 2019 at 1:02 am
There is always something you can do in AF.
If sweet is named, grab him for one of your DNP ruck rookies.
If you have absolutely every decent rookie, consider a premium sideways that generates a bit of cash for next week.
jayraptor@gmail.com
April 5, 2019 at 8:08 am
no, actually. I was already talking about Sweet. And I’m happy with my current premos, because I won’t have enough cash to sideways any of them to Boak, Macrae etc, and any slight downgrade will worsen my team – who am i going to drop out of Rocky, Brayshaw, Cogs? Can’t sideways a mid-pricer like Williams or Worpel either, because i feel options like other options such as Newman are probably worse. If anything, the only players I would have dumped are some of those already locked out.
Richard Head
April 4, 2019 at 11:45 pm
Ollie, do you think Treloar will keep getting high scores with such a great midfield at Collingwood? Would you recommend him or another premium midfielder?
Ollie
April 5, 2019 at 11:12 am
Yeah I do. His BE is 90 so still a good investment, price shouldn’t be this low for awhile so if you want him then jump on. Adams back now…maybe it affects him a little but Treloar is their best midfielder so its not like he’s going to be squeezed out of the rotation or played forward. What other premium midfielders were you thinking of? Treloar better than Cripps and Oliver for mine.
Alan J
April 5, 2019 at 8:35 am
Goldstein or Clarke + $391k?
Thinking of dumping Goldy (failed experiment thus far) and going for a 2-3 week cash grab with Clarke at R2, freeing up over $530k (with Dunks down to Worpel) to go up to Gawn/Westhoff in a couple weeks, alongside upgrading Smith/Williams down back..
Ollie
April 5, 2019 at 11:18 am
Is Clarke a 2-3 week cash grab? Essendon have brought him in to take on Gawn I would presume, even if he plays well could still find himself back in the VFL next week. And if he doesn’t play well…you would have burned two trades for like 20k profit. It’s a big risk that could pay off massively, just don’t overlook the worst case scenario here.
Caleb
April 5, 2019 at 11:46 am
Trading out Dunkley
Do I make it so on my field I have Boak and Scrimshaw OR Whitfield and Petrucelle? (or Parker, not sure who would be better out of those 2)
Ollie
April 5, 2019 at 5:56 pm
I like option 2, with Parker ahead of Petrucelle.
Caleb
April 5, 2019 at 7:41 pm
Thanks mate, that’s what I was leaning towards. Appreciate the work you do for this site too, keep it up!
Stevo
April 19, 2019 at 2:50 pm
Why Lachie Young not listed as an option AFL Fantasy when likely to debut?