Essendon averaged 369.3 Disposals in the 2019 H&A season (Rank 10), this was a negative regression compared to the 2018 H&A season in which the Bombers averaged 381.6 Disposals (Rank 7).
Injuries did impact several key Essendon players in 2019, most notably Devon Smith playing just 7 games due to a knee injury, Joe Daniher continual groin issues, Tom Bellchambers calf strain and not to forget the constant foot issues for Dyson Heppell.
Only 3 players at the Bombers completed a full 23 games in 2019 (Zach Merrett, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti & Andrew McGrath), only 10 players completed 20 games or more.
Essendon at this stage are still playing catch-up over this pre-season with injury recovery, this again could impact the 2020 season.
The Bombers will also go through a senior coach transition from John Worsfold to Ben Rutten in 2020, there are several red flags here which may impact fantasy output.
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2020 Potential Targets:
Devon Smith MID/FWD $720K
Smith was unable to complete a full season in 2019, he has played in 62.8% of games since the beginning of the 2016 H&A season which is a pause for concern.
A solid average of 106.6pts in his first year at Essendon back in 2018 does provide optimism for his scoring ability, he is slightly discounted to begin 2020 due to his incomplete 2019 season.
The role for Smith over the pre-season needs to be at a high level of midfield usage, anything else may result in inconsistent scoring.
Devon Smith (MID/FWD, $720k) has DPP again and @WarnieDT predicts the Don to be one of the top forwards this year.
But do you start him in Classic?https://t.co/xsSZU9fQCe#AFLFantasy pic.twitter.com/697Db8wPp1
— AFL Fantasy (@AFLFantasy) January 7, 2020
Mitch Hibberd MID $197K
Hibberd gets his second chance at AFL level, he averaged 24.3 Disposals & 6.9 Tackles in the VFL in 2019.
If the Bombers are unable to overcome a lengthy injury list by Round 1 then Hibberd may make his Bombers debut, he will likely be too good to refuse at his starting salary.
Mitchell Hibberd (MID. $197k) and Jacob Townsend (FWD, $266k) are a couple of @essendonfc cash cows to watch over the pre-season.
If they play, they could make some bulk coin based on their VFL form.https://t.co/xsSZU9xs0O#AFLFantasy pic.twitter.com/fhZ00Igby9
— AFL Fantasy (@AFLFantasy) January 8, 2020
Zach Merrett MID $803K
After a poor start of just 50pts in Round 1 Merrett averaged 111.0pts for the remainder of the 2019 H&A season, he scored 100pts or more in 65.2% of games & 120pts or more in 30.4% of games in 2019 (Incl. Finals).
Coaches have been able to acquire Merrett at a discount price early in 2018 due to concussion & an interrupted pre-season in 2019, a clean start to the 2020 season will not attract high ownership for one of the premium scoring players.
Zach Merrett (MID, $803k) averaged 108.2 last season. Let's not forget that he has missed just one game in the last four years with a couple of 117+ averages in there.
Where do you take him in Draft?https://t.co/xsSZU9xs0O#AFLFantasy pic.twitter.com/Cyu3uasSeU
— AFL Fantasy (@AFLFantasy) January 8, 2020
Article by @aflratingsPete
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