The Weekend Wash-Up | Ash Sunday | Round 22

It’s Round 22, we’ve been ruining our sides for 2 months with luxury trades and I’m finished for the season in all formats. I guess I had better give a little recap then. It’s time for the weekend wash-up!

LEGENDS

Meek (112) – The big freak was dominant on Thursday night, I just don’t understand why he doesn’t play like that every week. He could be a top tier Fantasy ruck, but still remains way off the big 4. 

Merrett (132) – I’m going to rant about the state of the game later, but Merrett’s coaches almost had to trade him if they had the luxury. He got the Mullin tag as expected, only this time he decided to fight his way through it with 10 tackles and a 91 point second half. Go figure. 

Smith (120) – Yeah, I think you need Bailey Smith in your forward line. One of the very few must haves leading into the final couple of weeks. 

Sinclair (146) – Jack Sinclair against Richmond, now that’s something you can set your watch to. The biggest downhill skier in the game was at it again, making up for last week’s disappointment. Bang. 

Marshall (135) – Nobody beats up on easy matchups like Rowan does. Did I mention he faces a 70 year old next week? Here’s your Grundy replacement. 

Windhager (133) – A Marcus Windhager 100 point half. That’s when you know the game is gone.  

NWM (118) – Not good enough (gun). 

Dunkley (132) – This is the same Josh Dunkley that went into his bye without a ton in 5 games averaging 80. He now has a L5 of 125.4. 125.4!!!!! Does this mean I should hold Tom Green and expect the same? Make it make sense. 

Ashcroft (118) – Lachie Neale out should set up Will Ashcroft to come home like a steam train. He had 87% CBAs, for reference it’s only the second week all season he has had over 57% CBAs. He’s going to put himself firmly back on the 2026 radar. 

Heeney (114) – 23 and 5 if you don’t mind. This is the third time in 7 weeks Isaac Heeney, a centre bounce midfielder, has kicked a bag of 5 goals. Ridiculous player. 

Butters (122) – On the back of a ****ing 34, Zak Butters went 120. Good on you champion. I look forward to seeing him roll over against Cooper Lord next weekend. 

Callaghan (124) – 31 and 8 tackles, Finn is a legitimate real life and fantasy beast. He’s a chance to start for me next season, my only concern would be hard tags. If he’s even taggable. Unreal player. 

Libba (125) – A mid-round draft gem, Libba just gets it done every year. Legend!

Gawn (121) – You never had to fear Max Gawn returning to his dominant self as soon as the fixtures eased up. Averaging 112.3 for the year, LEGEND!

Bont (120) – The lesson should be well and truly learnt, when Bont is priced in the mid $900k’s you ignore the form line and pick him. He is averaging 128 in his last 6 games. Not half bad. 

Dawson (147) – Tackles and marks are what separates the best fantasy midfielders from the plodders. Just take one look at Jordan Dawson (and Tom Green). 25 disposals is more than enough for this legend to average over 110. Stat stuffer. 

Kelly (93) – Gun.

LOSERS

N.Daicos (88) – Back on fraud watch. 

J.Daicos (64) – A pure midfielder in Q1, Josh Daicos was thrown out so Ned Long could be placed into the mix. That worked well. Back to the VFL Ned. 

Taranto (76) – I joke around with the never again list, but NEVER AGAIN will I pick Tim Taranto in draft or classic. Washed. 

Grundy (83) – Oh dear… At least we can all trade him in Fantasy. If you own him in draft, unlucky. It was a hell of a run.

Mills (73) – Sean Millis back at it again. I don’t even know how he’s averaging 86. Yuck. 

Brayshaw (76) – Why do I keep betting on this bloke? Is it because he runs free every week and is supposed to be a gun midfielder of the competition? It’s not quite never again list areas, but he won’t be an uber premium coaches look towards with confidence ever again. 

Daniel (70) – Justice. 

Petracca (71) – Stick to tik toks Trac, not even the Goodwin bounce could help his score. Finished. 

Curtin (55) – Now THAT is how I imagined he would look playing for the Eagles. (Just stay nice and cheap for next year Dan)

Peatling (39) – Thankfully for my mental health our draft final was already decided when Peatling went down, but I imagine this decided plenty of matchups around the Country. Thoughts and prayers. 

Ash (29) – Seriously. No, seriously?! TWENTY-NINE points. From a bloke averaging 104 priced over $1 million. I don’t recall seeing a performance that pathetic during fantasy finals in my lifetime. Efforts like that make playing this game impossible, and it leads perfectly into my this game sh*ts me and luxury trading. How would anyone want to follow their team next week after trading in Lachie Ash for 29 points? This will be remembered for years to come. Ash Sunday. What a disgrace. For the draft owners that lost a final thanks to this score? Just be thankful you drafted LACHIE ASH and he gave you 21 weeks of premium scoring. It’s bloody Lachie Ash, never forget that.

THIS GAME SH*TS ME

Let’s face it this game is sh*t, but I’ve been sitting down and trying to figure out why the season feels so long and drawn out these days. A weekend like what we just suffered settles it for me. 

We’re going to have almost 10 weeks of ‘luxury trading’, and it’s WAY too many. It has been exaggerated by one key issue, three trades per week during byes. It was understandable when we were missing 6 teams every round and struggling to field a team. This year was a complete pisser, we all had 20+ players every bye week and now we have had an extra 5 trades to complete our teams. That’s fast forwarding the game by 3 weeks! 

Consider that 10 years ago we had a 22 round season and just the 42 trades. You were doing well to ‘complete’ your team with 4 or 5 weeks to go, then just had a month of posting monster scores and chasing a best 22. Now we have 24 rounds and 51 trades, including a fast forward button starting Round 12.

The fun in the game isn’t once you’ve filled out your squad, the fun in the game is chasing that squad! Everything that follows is pure stress, just ask a day trader. So to all the coaches out there that traded Butters and/or Merrett this week and perhaps chased Lachie Ash, I’d feel drained too. I’m not saying limited trades is the answer, but I think the 3 per week can go… Now, time to jump off my soapbox. This game sh*ts me.

THE OTHER BITS AND PIECES

2402. A bloody massive score in classic, but what does that matter when you’re ranked 6k. My draft team? Out in straight sets. F***ing sensational. I’m over it, get me through these two weeks and get me to 2026 refreshed and ready to suffer again!

Good luck to any legends good enough to be fighting for a cap, a league title for even a car! Let’s make next week a high scoring one.

During a Sunday like Round 22, there’s no better place to vent than our Weekend Wash-Up discord! Join fellow level headed coaches like Tom here. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. We go live every Wednesday @815pm AEST! Get around it. 

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