13 down, 11 to go!

We’ve reached a critical point of the fantasy season. The cash cows that some of us have trusted since day one are all moving backwards now and the replacements on offer aren’t getting any of us excited. With three trades up our sleeve each week, it seems like it may be an easy task to simply swap a $550K-$600K rookie for someone under $300K and restart the cash generation process, but the waters are much murkier at the moment. I firmly believe that cash cows will emerge, and there are some options that I still feel confident buying into this week. However, just because we have access to a 3rd trade for a few more weeks, doesn’t mean we should use it to buy into a risky rook who may become a red (or worse, brown) dot in a few rounds.

Rookie/cash cows are typically defined as players who started the season priced at $400,000 or lower

You can find more fantasy advice from Fry by joining the Fantasy SportsbyFry Patreon community!

Cash Cow King – Round 13

Naturally, one of the most traded-out players ended up being the highest scoring rookie in Round 13. Riley Bice feasted in the Richmond matchup to post his third 90+ score of the season and in the same game, Luke Trainor wasn’t too far behind. Daniel Curtin earned his second straight nomination and Geelong’s mature ager, Ted Clohesy, benefited once again from Bailey Smith’s absence to post 83 points. I nearly flipped a coin for the final spot with both Elijah Hewett and Finn O’Sullivan scoring 81 on the weekend, but I gave the slightest of edges to FOS.

*If you’re having issues submitting your vote try clicking “view results” first and that should resolve the problem 🤞

Who's gets your vote as the most important cash cow in Round 13?

• Dan Curtin (82)
• Riley Bice (93)
• Luke Trainor (84)
• Ted Clohesy (83)
• Finn O'Sullivan (81)

View Results

 Loading ...

Round 13 Power Rankings

After 13 weeks of action, these are the top 10 cash cow performers in season 2025!

Power Ranking 2025 #AFLFantasy Cash Cows Round 13 💰🐮

1. Levi Ashcroft ↔️
2. Kane McAuliffe (NR)
3. Daniel Curtin ⬆️ 5
4. Elijah Hewett ⬆️ 3
5. Harvey Langford ⬇️ 1
6. Joe Fonti (NR)
7. Sam Davidson ⬇️ 5
8. Kai Lohmann (NR)
9. Riley Hardeman ⬇️ 4
10. Riley Bice ↔️ pic.twitter.com/0Rg3Q0FP5m

— SportsbyFry (@sportsbyfry) June 10, 2025

Making Moves

Let ’em grow

We’re being forced to shop in weird areas to try and find value picks through these best-18 rounds. Kai Lohmann ($429K, 51, BE 18) has been a fine investment over the last fortnight for those who needed some cash gen, but there is a lack of rookies under $300K we can trust right now. Coaches that pulled the trigger on Angus Clarke ($399K, 58, BE 5) a few rounds ago will be happy to see him trending upwards and Zak Johnson ($289K, 79, BE -11) will be a popular buy for those who missed out on his 79 points against Cartlon. Despite the upcoming Round 16 bye, Johnson is my favourite rookie to target this week and there’s optimism around his cash cow potential following a strong display on Sunday night. With Rowan Marshall putting his feet up last week, over 7,700 coaches targeted Nic Madden ($276K, 80, BE -12) as a player to slot into R2 and there is still appeal in grabbing the Giants’ ruck prospect if you’re a Max Gawn owner so he can hopefully play the same role in Round 15.

A few of the fantasy faithful may have targeted Hugh Jackson ($264K, 62, BE 1) off his bye and he will shape up as another solid downgrade option after avoiding both the green and red vests against GWS. Outside of that group, there isn’t a ton of optimism in the rookies filtering through. No offence to the likes of Luamon Lual ($259K, 59, BE 2) and Will Hayes ($280K, 38, BE 9) but it’s tough to find discounted players that we believe can string 4-5 games together. That has led some coaches to zero in on more expensive types – including Hawthorn pair, Sam Butler ($386K, 64, BE 22) and Seamus Mitchell ($379K, 64, BE 20). Butler intrigues me as a FWD option, although there are justifiable job security concerns for both of them. Fresh off a rest, Isaac Keeler ($326K, DNP, BE 1) is generating buzz as well, although it’s hard to trust him with a 40-point AVG from half a dozen games this season.

Watch this space

There is a world where you can trade into any of the players listed above, even with some of the rooks checking in at an inflated rate. Kaleb Smith ($375K, 64, BE 1) was somewhat unlucky not to crack that list however, I’m worried about his long-term prospects in Richmond’s team. Jayden Short’s impending return may force him back into the sub vest – a role that Ted Clohesy ($278K, 83, BE 6) has become all too familiar with in 2025. The risk of a starting substitute role makes it hard for me to suggest buying either of these rookies and Tobie Travaglia ($428K, DNP, BE 23) could be grouped in with Smith and Clohesy. Speaking of the sub vest, we saw Ty Gallop ($242K, 38, BE 16) taken out of the game before full time in his AFL debut and the potential return of Sam Day may spell doom for his place in the side.

Hawthorn tall Max Ramsden ($296K, 50, BE 16) may be capable of holding his spot after a decent effort on Thursday, but it’s hardly a guarantee. He shapes up as a potential FWD option, even with his upcoming bye, although I’d want to steer clear from Carlton debutant Hudson O’Keefe ($257K, 56, BE 4). A late inclusion into the Blues’ team, O’Keefe performed OK as the R2 supporting Tom De Koning, but I’m not convinced he’ll be around for long. Outside of the cheaper options, a pair of mainstream cash cows went head-to-head on Sunday with Elijah Hewett ($582K, 81, BE 34) and Finn O’Sullivan ($449K, 81, BE 18) both managing to top 80 points down in Bunbury.

They could be held onto as they keep rising in value with Kane McAuliffe ($607K, 80, BE 37), Joe Fonti ($491K, 74, BE 52) and Dan Curtin ($531K, 82, BE 14) also finding form recently to ensure they keep rising in price for their owners. McAuliffe could be cashed in on his bye this week however, I think those who have held onto Curtin for this long should continue to trust him following a clear role change that has helped him average 77 points in his last three. The optimism and excitement around Riley Hardeman ($519K, 33, BE 41) came to a crashing halt last round and the 10,817 coaches who bought the rebounding Roo will be hoping he can find his way to 60+ again vs. Fremantle this weekend.

Let ’em go

Our favourite cash cows from the first month of the season can all be found amongst the list of popular trade-outs this round. At the time of typing, Levi Ashcroft ($762K, 63, BE 101), Riley Bice ($591K, 93, BE 64) and Xavier Lindsay ($579K, 31, BE 74) are the three most traded out players int he competition asn even though I’ve talked them all up at various stages through 13 rounds of the fantasy season, now is the time to move them on. The ideal move would be to upgrade two of them and turn the third rookie into a downgrade choice – with plenty of premium and value options to target across multiple lines.  Sam Davidson ($636K, 31, BE 77) also sits in the top 10 for trade outs prior to Round 14 and cashing him in is the optimal strategy. The same could be said for Luke Trainor ($522K, 84, BE 59) now that the Tigers have the week off and an upcoming bye round makes it fine to also move on from Jaxon Prior ($641K, 43, BE 94) and Harvey Langford ($639K, 55, BE 92).

In short – they’ve done their job, so now is the time to cash in the popular, long-term rooks.

Sub status

Subbed On – Josh Dolan, Deven Robertson, Christian Moraes, Robert Hansen Jr, Bo Allan, Will White, Archer Day-Wicks

Subbed Off – Ty Gallop, Tom Hanily, Leo Lombard, Archer Reid, Matt Carroll, Xavier Lindsay

Outside of Lindsay, most of the rookies who were affected by sub vests in Round 13 were probably sitting outside our teams looking in. Some coaches held onto Matt Carroll ($407K, 49, BE 43) with the hopes that he could be a best-18 contributor now that Carlton has served their bye, but clearly, that didn’t come to fruition. We have to continue to express caution over the cash cows we invest in over the next month, with a green or red vest all but killing their cash gen at a time where money is becoming harder and harder to find.

Q & A

I’m adding a Q&A section to the weekly articles to help address the biggest issues we have with our rookies/cash cows. If I don’t get to your answer in the article, I promise I’ll answer it on Twitter – and as always, you can drop your follow-up question below.

Best option out of Johnson, Jackson, madden and McCarthy (if plays) ?

— Rhett Weeks (@rweeks01) June 10, 2025

All will be popular options this week, but I’d rank them: Johnson, Madden, McCarthy, Jackson.

Need a forward rookie and have no idea who to go. Would Keeler be the best option?

— Johnny 🤙 (@llcooljohnny91) June 10, 2025

Most coaches are clamouring for a viable downgrade in the FWD line this week (myself included), but I’m sorry, they just aren’t out there. I don’t feel safe buying into talls such as Max Ramsden or Isaac Keeler and some are targeting Ted Clohesy thanks to his pop score. He’s just as likely to be the sub again if Bazlenka is healthy and it’s wise to avoid trading into players over the $400K mark – ruling out the likes of Kai Lohmann and Daniel Curtin. So what do we do, Fry?!

My advice is if you HAVE TO trade in a forward, look long and hard at Sam Butler. Yes, he has the upcoming bye round, but he’s the only guy right now that I believe can make another $100K-$150K from his current price tag. Keeler has a pair of solid scores, but he’s just as likely to get subbed out after dropping a 20.

Is madden the play? 75 next two weeks means he makes 150k in two weeks and can cover Gawn next week?

— StewThaDon (@EnvyAU_) June 10, 2025

It would be asking a lot to see Madden score consecutive 75’s, but he is still a fine option. A tougher on paper matchup against Big O (slated to return for Brisbane) this weekend could see him register a 40-50 and it doesn’t get much easier in Round 15 when he clashes with Jarrod Witts and the Suns. I honestly think he’ll be lucky to make $100K in the next two weeks, but if you can swing him into R3 and it doesn’t completely hamstring your utility position, Madden does have money to make.

Remember the Name

In no particular order, here are some of the other rookie-priced players to consider throughout the season.

DEFENDERS

Josh Gibucs (Tigers, $230K)
Luke Beecken (Lions, $230K)
Alix Tauru (Saints, $313K)
James Barrat (Saints, $247K)
Ben Jepson (Suns, $230K)
Tom McCarthy (Eagles, $230K)

MIDFIELDERS

Luke Urquart (Kangaroos, $230K)
Josh Smillie (Tigers, $322K)
Cody Anderson (Hawks, $230K)
Ben Camporeale (Blues, $230K)
Mani Liddy (Power, $230K)

RUCKMEN

Max Heath (Saints, $230K)
Taylor Goad (Kangaroos, $230K)
Tom Campbell (Demons, $316K)
Kayle Gerreyn (Bombers, $232K)
Lachlan McAndrew (Crows, $302K)
Nic Madden (Giants, $230K)

FORWARDS

Zac Banch (Kangaroos, $230K)
Ashton Moir (Blues, $230K)
Archer May (Bombers, $230K)
Liam McMahon (Bombers, $230K)

Fry

An Australian coffee/burrito enthusiast who is the frustrated owner of 16 fantasy teams. Writer for SportsbyFry and DT Talk ?