Friday Fantasy Fill Up – Rd. 3

Welcome to a Friday arvo column that hopefully helps you get set for the weekend ahead. I’ll be looking at the key points/questions that have popped up during the week with some quick fire opinions, plus a look at how the mighty Warne Dawgs are looking ahead of the coming round.

Don’t miss:

• Calvin’s Captains
• Fry’s Cash Cows
• Dunny’s Thursday Scramble
• Matt’s Weekend Wash-Up
• Teams live stream
• Weekly podcast

Was trading Macrae a bad call?

The most traded out player this round has been Jack Macrae. An averaging looking ton in round one and then 77 last week had coaches keen to offload … but that was mostly for the role. He played 33% forward in round two with our mate Bevo swinging magnets and giving us worries week-to-week.

Last night he pumped out 111 which was a great return for the holders – especially when he had that massive second term with 47 points, doing all the things we like about owning him.

As a trader along side 9.2k others, I am not completely devastated (I am a little, but probably for other reasons … more on that later). The role was similar. There was the forward time, the wing time … and the bench time. 8 of 20 CBAs, 15 and 16 point quarters, one of the fallback things was that we could have these stresses week-to-week.

There’s no right or wrong answer as to trading Macrae as yet. Hopefully the move up to a big dog that some have done means you’ve got a reliable captain option. For those who pocketed coin going to Setterfield, the cash gen and hopefully points, will make up for any ton that Macrae puts on our heads.

Fingers crossed.

Western Bulldogs – CBAs (20 total)

Liberatore 19
English 18
Treloar 16
Bontempelli 15
—–
Macrae 8
Lobb 2
Daniel 1
Smith 1

Macrae scoring breakdown
Q1 – 15 (0/3 CBAs)
Q2 – 47 (3/5 CBAs)
Q3 – 16 (4/9 CBAs)
Q4 – 33 (1/3 CBAs)#AFLFantasy

— Adam 'Warnie' Child (@WarnieDT) March 30, 2023

Top trade targets

The story of the week is getting in the missed mid-pricers with Will Setterfield (126 average) and Jack Ziebell (109 average) the two most traded in players. Both great options for their price and there’s a few ways you can go about getting them.

Ideally it would be a rookie up, but that is unlikely to happen at this stage of the season. A failed premium can work – as some, including myself did with Macrae… but you can be playing with fire there. Jack Steele’s injury opens up opportunity, but personally I would be getting one of the big three (Laird, Oliver, Brayshaw) for him, unless of course it opened up a killer move on the otherside by going down to Setterfield.

Next, and likely most popular move, would be the move from a ‘failed’ mid-pricer to him. Dom Sheed would be the name in my team that I would be more than happy to move on for Setterfield. There are a few others in this boat – maybe you can say goodbye to Callaghan at the lower end, or dump your JHF, Bruhn or Flanders types if DPP allows.

Sixth most traded in is Will Day. I think we want him. He’s posted two scores in the 90s and role looks sweet.

As for the rookies, outside of the obvious ones, if you’re wanting to shore up your bench, you could look at Anthony Caminiti at under $250k who posted 79 and now has a breakeven of -11. If you want the basement guy, Jacob van Rooyen can work as well. Scored 102 in the VFL last week thanks to 19 disposals and 11 marks. Obviously a young key-forward won’t be smashing it, but might be worth a F6 look instead of a Greene/Long.

Is Constable walking on thin ice?

One of the stories out of last night’s team selection was Charlie Constable on the extended bench. While we don’t usually jump at shadows with where players are named, the inclusions make things interesting for the 55% of teams that have him on field.

Jy Farrar (named on a half-back flank) and Wil Powell (bench) have been added to the squad … coupled with Lachie Weller (back pocket) who returned last week, the squeeze is certainly on. If Farrar wasn’t named on the ground, you could argue that Constable holds his spot. If Powell is fit, then he’s in.

All eyes are on the 5pm teams.

Regardless of what happens, we will know before the next lockout and we can make plans to suit. Those plans, though, are getting tricky. At $422k, there’s not a lot we can do. Get up to Will Day? Maybe Liam Stocker? This is where I would loooovvveee Jack Ziebell to have his DEF status now, as that is where I would go to.

Please hold, Charlie.

But if it’s not this week, it could be next week. Thin ice indeed.

Loophole options

With 19% of the competition going with Josh Dunkley (116) as their VC, you would think the majority would take that via the captaincy loophole. I’ll be locking it in. I haven’t hit 116 with a captain yet, so it’s an easy choice.

5% have Tim English and 2.2% have Jack Macrae. Both scores 111 and I would be taking those scores if I was in the position.

As for the bench, around 24% have Darcy Wilmot (66) on their bench (34% have started him already). You’re taking this if you have the ability to get a non-playing defender on field … Uwland? The interesting one for these coaches will be whether Constable makes the cut or not. If not, you could still go through with your other move(s) and hold Constable for this week if you can’t get him up to the player you want. Getting to Will Day would be nice if you don’t have him … but ideally, getting up to a premium would be nice.

Warne Dawgs – Round 3

I made the move last night trading Jack Macrae to Will Setterfield. The other move, JHF to Ziebell, is ready to go … however, I am slightly worried about Constable. If he is out, I’ll most likely move him on for either Jack Bowes or Liam Stocker. Neither I like, but I don’t think I can play Cowan. I’ll probably save the cash by going Stocker (and the bigger price rise over the next couple of weeks) and look to make the move on from him a priority asap.

ROUND 3 TRADES

Jack Macrae (M2) > Will Setterfield (M3)
Jason Horne-Francis (F5) > Jack Ziebell (F5)
Cash left: $189,000

NOTE: If Constable is out, it will most likely be Stocker in with cash to try to upgrade that position in the near future.

ROUND 3 CAPTAINS

Josh Dunkley VC (116 – taking it)

Click here to watch the YouTube team update video.

Lockout times

All times AEDT

Friday 31 March

Collingwood v Richmond (MCG) – 7:50pm

Saturday 1 April

Hawthorn v North Melbourne (UTAS) – 1:45pm
GWS v Carlton (GS) – 4:35pm
St Kilda v Essendon (MRVL) – 7:25pm
Pot Adelaide v Adelaide (AO) – 7:30pm

Sunday 2 April

Gold Coast v Geelong (HBS) – 2:10pm
Melbourne v Sydney (MCG) – 3:20pm
Fremantle v West Coast (OS) – 5:20pm

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