It’s a question raised in the pre-season and until we really get a read on teams for round one, it can remain a bit of a mystery.

I’ve always been a 30 green dots guy.

That is, I like to have every player in my squad making cash. It’s the name of the game. Even if you’re paying a bit more than basement price, you take the cash generation.

If we remember back half-a-dozen years ago, Reilly O’Brien came in and made bulk coin for us on the bench despite being a bit more expensive than basement. It was 2019. He started at $230k (basement was $170k) and came into the team at round three when Sam Jacobs went down with a knee injury. He averaged 95 across his 18 games and kept Jacobs in the SANFL when he returned from the knee in June. This was elite. The real play was to have him as R2, but the R3 cash generation was bloody awesome and set things up very well for coaches.

The bench ruck hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the true ‘rookie’ to make cash. But how do things look this year?

What are the options in 2026?

My thoughts have changed over the pre-season as we have more information. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve heard of an option or two who could work for us.

Lachlan McAndrew (RUCK, $286,000)

It looks like old mate 2019 cash gen guy is out. ROB could be second fiddle following media reports and after seeing the team for tonight’s Match Sim, he’s out of the side and McAndrew is the No.1 ruck. I’ve been unsure on whether this was going to be real – I saw it as a pre-season rocket to ROB, but it probably makes sense due to his attributes in the evolving ruck game with the new rules.

Put simply, if McAndrew is named up as the solo ruck, he is the obvious choice for R3. While it would be a great R2 play if all works out, I’m not sure if ROB is some chance to come back in. You would be up shit creek without a paddle if in round two ROB comes in and they share … or worse, if he’s dropped. The restructure due to price – while not impossible – could make things tricky for you. So R3 he would be for me.

A watch tonight will be a must, but know that he played 16 games for the Crows in the magoos last year for a healthy average of 96.8.

Cooper Duff-Tytler (RUCK/FWD, $338,000)

The Eagles’ first pick in last year’s draft, 4th overall, looks set to play. He booted 5 goals in the intra club last week (yes, we know some were assistant coaches wearing t-shirts…). The question is how much will he score. Obviously you’ve got McAndrew ahead of him head-to-head on role and price alone in the Mac is playing, but could he be a F7/F8 or Utility? There could be cash to be made.

He went at 99 in Coates league last year from five games (87 from 11 over the last couple of years) and scored 67 in his sole VFL match.

Role will not be conducive to scoring as he’ll mostly be positioned in the forward line, but should be Flynn’s chop out.

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Liam Reidy (RUCK/FWD, $394,000)

Right from the trade from Freo, there has been interest in Reidy if he can be the No.1 ruck. But it is a might big IF!

Following Wednesday night’s praccy game against the Lions, the new Blue is definitely behind Pittonet – for now – and at best, they’ll play together. Scoring may not warrant the extra dollars if that is the case.

If he does end up as the No.1 ruck for Carlton, there is potential. The DPP will help with decision making, but have a look at his scoring last year. He averaged 104 in his 17 games for Peel in the WAFL, off the back fo 96 the year before. At 25-years-old, Reidy is in the hitting zone of where rucks start making it happen in Fantasy terms.

A red dot rookie

This is where I have been for most of the pre-season (well, before McAndrew popped his head up).

Our new rule in Fantasy Classic where your emergency will kick in if you have an on-field player who plays less than 50% TOG (if the score if higher from the emergency) means we should be putting more time into our bench. This is a given as cash generation is key, but now that we have this – coupled with the loopholing risk – the only position I would feel comfortable having a red dot is at R3.

I want my other 29 players (7 bench guys) to be making coin and also be sound emergencies… I know that we end up with red dots regardless, but we should be concentrating on the health of the bench.

Enter Harry Barnett.

Alumni at the Warne Dawgs, he’s unlikely to be getting a gig and the Eagles have a sweet fixture when it comes to timing. Over the first half-a-dozen games, they have five Sunday matches and the other one is Saturday night. A perfect time to loop as you’ll get a significant range of players to have a look at as your VC.

Below is the table I’ve made up looking at timing of games for each club. This is available in our Patreon Playbook. You can get the PDF download as part of being a $5 or $10 member of our Patreon… or you can just buy it for $5 if you don’t want to subscribe (you should, because for that $5 you get a truckload of other content).

Barnett is the answer for me based on this. Having a RUCK/FWD dual-position player might be handy, but it won’t really change things too much.

So where am I at?

If we have McAndrew, it’s a no-brainer to have him as your R3 purely for the cash gen. If he’s solo, maybe you could consider the R2 play (see my words above as to why I wouldn’t), but as the R3 it is going to be a pretty decent cash injection – and quick. If he and ROB are playing together, you’re still doing it IMO.

If we don’t have Mac, but have those other players (CDT, Reidy) I still think I’d be going with the non-playing R3 for the loopholing. That’ll be Barnett thanks to the nine Sunday games in the first 15 rounds. The points you can gain from the two bites at the cherry are worth the minimal cash generation you’re missing out on if it is one of those other guys outside of the Mac.

As for R1 and R2 … who knows yet! I’ve got Xerri and Jackson, but I am far from convinced that this is the right play. Plenty to play out over the next couple of weeks when we learn more about the rules and the better dress rehearsal of the AAMI Community Series games give us the extra info. Three positions that require just as much thinking as others. Love Fantasy footy!

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Warnie

Co-captain of DT Talk since we started this thing in 2007. Best finish was 13th in 2009... that was a long time ago. Follow on Twitter: @WarnieDT and follow on Instagram: @warnedawgs.