Lachie Whitfield to be a MID/FWD and other 2020 AFL Fantasy player positions

Plenty of Fantasy coaches who can’t get enough of the game have started speculating what positions players will have in 2020. In AFL Fantasy, the in-season DPP additions can help with our thinking as quite a few will carry on in the new year. Champion Data make the calls on these players and their AFL Player Ratings attaches positions in most of their communication which generally reflect the Fantasy positions.

They tweet their stats weekly and we often see changes.

There are, however, some inconsistancies. Some tables may have different positions for the same player. For example in the age group leaders, Josh Dunkley is a listed as a MID/FWD, while he is a MID only on the club leader chart (posted on the same day).

Here we will take a look at a few players who are in line for position changes. There will be a lot more when they get released in early-mid December – especially when we take a deep dive into the very Draft relevant ones that could end up being steals in the latter rounds – but this can get the conversation started. Be sure to add your suggestions in the comments below… or even some nuggets of gold you may have found digging through those AFL Player Ratings stats.

WHITFIELD TO GAIN FWD STATUS

The biggest name to change position, for the good anyway, has to be Lachie Whitfield from GWS. He went into 2019 as DEF only and gained MID status at round six. He was in line to gain FWD status as his role showed him as a MID/FWD, spending significant time in a half-forward position. Whitfield has been called a MID/FWD for the majority of the year on the AFL Player Ratings and should be set to be DPP for another year… up the other end of the ground. Should be the top scoring forward and set and forget for Classic. He’s going to be a popular first round selection in Draft considering what we might be left with on the premium end of the forwards.

Jack Steven looks to be changing clubs in this trade period and with it, he’ll gain MID/FWD status. This is based off his role in the games he played following his time out as he battled his mental health issues. With a slight discount (9% off 2018’s 96.6 average), there could be a bit of value with Steven priced at 87.9 considering he’s only once averaged below that figure since 2013. Excluding that 86.4 in 203, his lowest average was 93.8. A fair bit of water needs to go under the bridge, however, before we are making any form of a call on Steven.

Jack Steven will be a very popular fantasy pick in 2020.? #SuperCoach #AFLFantasy #2020AFLProspectus

— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) October 2, 2019

TOP FORWARDS DECIMATED

Every year we lose some of our top forwards. Generally this is because the reason the FWDs (or MID/FWDs) score so well is by playing in the midfield. Using the AFL Player Ratings and other gut feel, here’s the top 10 averaging forwards from 2019 and their likely positions for next season.

1. Josh Dunkley – MID – majority of season as a midfielder but there is a chance he retains MID/FWD status due to the Player Ratings calling him DPP in end season tweets
2. Patrick Dangerfield – MID/FWD – still a chance to retain MID/FWD status according to the Player Ratings, but it could be line-ball
3. Travis Boak – MID – was FWD only, then gained MID status in round six and that’s all he played
4. Rowan Marshall – RUC – was No.1 ruck but with Ryder potentially joining, he may gain FWD again during the season
5. Jack Billings – MID – played as a wingman
6. Toby Greene – MID/FWD – holds MID status, but should gain MID for his back half of the season
7. Dustin Martin – MID/FWD – had DPP right until the end with the Player Ratings
8. Tim Kelly – MID – no chance to be a forward
9. James Worpel – MID – played all year through the midfield
10. Caleb Daniel – DEF – primary position was as a defender

Players ranked from 11th to 20th are all likely to hold FWD status with the possible exceptions of wingman Mitch Robinson, midfielder Darcy MacPherson and round six DPP addition Ed Curnow. The Blue was back in the guts when Teague took over as coach of the Blues, however, the Player Ratings called him a MID/FWD in round 23 tweets as was MacPherson.

OTHER PLAYERS OF NOTE

There will be plenty of players who change positions, whether that is being stripped of DPP or picking up another position.

Going through some of the AFL Player Ratings tweets, David Mundy as a MID only will lose his Draft relevance after being a FWD this year. Connor Rozee will be FWD only as will fellow draftee Tarryn Thomas. Plenty of other first year players have new positions in their sophomore season such as Chayce Jones named as a FWD (was MID this year). Jordan Clark will drop the DEF.

The 6-6-6 rule may impact positions slightly with clubs forced to play six players forward or back for centre bounces. This is what has probably helped Whitfield if he is to gain the MID/FWD status. It has also probably defined wingmen more. Mitch Robinson will lose that FWD status as he’s up on the wing with his team mate Hugh McCluggage.

2019 DUAL POSITION PLAYER ADDITIONS

In round 6, 12 and 18 the team at Champion Data adjust the Fantasy classifications for players in a single position to reflect what roles they have been playing. From what we understand, their cut off is approximately 35% in the ‘new’ position (which is what we see give them DPP when they are initially set up in early December).

A total of 63 players were awarded dual position status during the 2019 season.

ROUND 6 ADDITIONS

There’s no surprise that the first run of DPP additions is the largest. This not only takes in the data from the first five rounds, but all of the pre-season talk about ‘new roles’ that was then put into practice. A lot of these new positions, not necessarily the DPP, should stay in 2020. Players like Gary Ablett could just be FWD only, but may still have the DPP while the aforementioned Lachie Whitfield will ditch the DEF, but pick up FWD. Bayley Fritch may even have FWD next to his name.

Player	Club	Initial	New
Oscar McInerney	BL	FWD	FWD/RUC
Michael Gibbons	Carl	MID	MID/FWD
Ed Curnow	Carl	MID	MID/FWD
Zac Clarke	Ess	RUC	RUC/FWD
Matt Guelfi	Ess	MID	DEF/MID
Adam Cerra	Frem	FWD	DEF/FWD
Gary Ablett	Geel	MID	MID/FWD
Tom Atkins	Geel	MID	MID/FWD
Wil Powell	GCS	FWD	MID/FWD
Jeremy Finlayson	GWS	DEF	DEF/FWD
Lachie Whitfield	GWS	DEF	DEF/MID
Bailey Fritsch	Melb	MID	DEF/MID
Corey Wagner	Melb	MID	MID/FWD
Jayden Hunt	Melb	DEF	DEF/FWD
Shaun Atley	NM	DEF	DEF/FWD
Travis Boak	Port	FWD	MID/FWD
Patrick Ryder	Port	RUC	RUC/FWD
Brad Ebert	Port	MID	MID/FWD
Zak Butters	Port	MID	MID/FWD
Sydney Stack	Rich	MID	DEF/MID
Dustin Martin	Rich	MID	MID/FWD
Josh Battle	St K	FWD	DEF/FWD
Jack Billings	St K	FWD	MID/FWD
Rowan Marshall	St K	FWD	RUC/FWD
Harry Cunningham	Syd	MID	DEF/MID
Oscar Allen	WCE	DEF	DEF/FWD
Aaron Naughton	WB	DEF	DEF/FWD
Caleb Daniel	WB	FWD	DEF/FWD

ROUND 12 ADDITIONS

Big one here will be the man at the top of the list if he ends up as a Sun. Hugh Greenwood with FWD status could be a winner up at Gold Coast as he should definitely increase on his 78 average. This group may have a few interesting ones that could look different to what’s in the table. Jordan Dawson may grab DEF status despite adding FWD at round 12. Cameron Guthrie added MID and that could be all he is in 2020. Coaches will be pumped if Andrew Brayshaw retains the DPP he added, but this is probably a line-ball decision.

Player	Club	Initial	New
Hugh Greenwood	Adel	MID	MID/FWD
Levi Casboult	Carl	FWD	DEF/FWD
Sam Petrevski-Seton	Carl	FWD	FWD/MID
Aaron Francis	Ess	DEF	DEF/FWD
Darcy Tucker	Frem	MID	MID/FWD
Andrew Brayshaw	Frem	MID	MID/FWD
Jordan Murdoch	GCS	MID	DEF/MID
Cameron Guthrie	Geel	DEF	DEF/MID
Jordan Clark	Geel	DEF	DEF/MID
Tim O'Brien	Haw	FWD	DEF/FWD
Shaun Burgoyne	Haw	MID	DEF/MID
Tarryn Thomas	NM	MID	MID/FWD
Jack Ziebell	NM	FWD	FWD/MID
Sam Powell-Pepper	Port	MID	MID/FWD
Noah Balta	Rich	FWD	FWD/RUC
Jade Gresham	St K	FWD	FWD/MID
Jack Sinclair	St K	MID	MID/FWD
Ryan Clarke	Syd	DEF	DEF/MID
Jackson Thurlow	Syd	MID	DEF/MID
Jordan Dawson	Syd	MID	MID/FWD
Jackson Trengove	WB	DEF	DEF/RUC
Bailey Smith	WB	MID	MID/FWD
Sam Lloyd	WB	MID	MID/FWD

ROUND 18 ADDITIONS

As most commentary said when this lot rolled out… there’s nothing to see here! I don’t think any name will really affect any decision making for Fantasy – especially when a couple have retired!

Player	Club	Initial	New
Liam Stocker	Carl	MID	DEF/MID
Brett Bewley	Frem	MID	MID/FWD
Brett Deledio	GWS	MID	MID/FWD
Oskar Baker	Melb	MID	MID/FWD
Jordan Lewis	Melb	DEF	DEF/MID
Braydon Preuss	Melb	RUC	RUC/FWD
Jy Simpkin	NM	FWD	FWD/MID
Dougal Howard	Port	DEF	DEF/FWD
Mabior Chol	Rich	FWD	FWD/RUC
Nick Hind	St K	MID	MID/FWD
James Rowbottom	Syd	MID	MID/FWD
Matt Suckling	WB	DEF	DEF/FWD