AAMI First Take: Saints v Dons, Freo v Crows

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Three quick takes from each club. Listen to the podcast for more! This was originally published shortly after the game finished on Patreon.

Click here for St Kilda v Essendon match report featuring Fantasy Watch.

Click here for Fremantle v Adelaide match report featuring Fantasy Watch.

1. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (DEF, $1,163,000) isn’t someone I have even considered starting, but I probably wouldn’t talk anyone out of doing it. My God, that man is epic. When he wasn’t racking up in the middle (28 disposals), he sat forward and booted snags (4 goals). With DEF-only status, could his role see him do 35% FWD and gain TPP in the first go with the MID that he’s a lock to get? He had 62% of CBAs, the most of the Saints midfielders, and I saw him down back even taking a kick-in. I don’t think he’s going to spend enough time forward, but hey, it would be a cool story!

2. Jack Sinclair (DEF, $1,057,000) has been on my radar the last couple of weeks as my confidence in defenders is dropping. Yes the Saints have an early bye, but his 101 priced-at could be value if he can do what he did today. 10 marks to go with 39 disposals – which included 5 kick ins. The Saints racked up marks last week and did again today. Is this going to stick? 149 points in Opening Round like he did today would make him a must-start!

3. Mattaes Phillipou (FWD, $610,000) had the midfield role, falling just behind NWM as the second most used midfielder. There were a few who ran through there – including Flanders, Macrae … Garcia and Windhager (he had 41 disposals and 140 points, nuts!). The issue was that he was super-quiet early. He had 9 points in the first, 12 in the second… but the role was there. He turned it on, as the Saints ran away with the game in the second half, scoring 76. Solid enough priced at 58.

1. Lachlan Blakiston (DEF, $399,000) has been talked up enough as a lock for the backline at either D4 or D5 (the latter looking fore likely due to options). Today saw plenty throw away the key. 41 points in the first quarter was elite. He finished with 86 and he’ll be the main man. Can he hold out Bryan when he returns? I probably means the Dons will allow him to get himself totally right in the VFL based on what we saw today. Loved it! Tackles, touches and leaps for hitouts. Tick!

2. Archie Roberts (DEF, $901,000) may get on the radar for a few as the sub-premium options in defence aren’t looking pretty. With question marks on plenty, Roberts is running through the guts as the third banana, having 55% of CBAs (for the record, Merrett had 35% with a fair bit of forward time). He’s a genuine option as he found the ball 29 times and looked Nic Martin-like with 9 marks and 106 points.

3. Dyson Sharp (MID, $302,000) probably did enough to be right in the mix for round one, but the 50-point game will have us questioning what we’re looking at for structure in the midfield. With Cumming down and Sharp’s scoring possibly not what we want, does he need to be on the pine if selected? The same can be said for Farrow who only scored 29.

1. Luke Jackson (RUC, $995,000) was on everyone’s watchlist today. There was no Darcy, but Cox played. The positive thing is that we saw a midfield role while Cox was rucking. This didn’t happen last week. LJ scored 91 from 18 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles and a goal (he kiced three behinds too). I’m keen, but definitely not locked … yet.

2. Murphy Reid (FWD, $581,000) played through the midfield, hitting 28% of their CBAs. He played out of his skin, racking up 30 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles and 100 Fantasy points. There’s an argument for Classic at that price, but you definitely need to get him late in your Draft like I did last night. You beauty!

3. Hayden Young (MID, $916,000) is one of those players that would be an absolute bargain – too cheap even – if he played two more games. He had an injury affected year and averaged just 63 (vests a factor in that). Anyway, he’s too much in Classic priced at 87, but he goes better than that. Another Draft one. He’ll play between the midfield and forward. Young his 64% of Freo’s CBAs with Serong and Brayshaw at 60%… Bolton, Reid and Johnson made up the rest of the numbers.

1. Lachlan McAndrew (RUC, $286,000) at R2 is gaining momentum. ROB played in the SANFL (they were glowing of his performance), but it’s looking like it is McAndrew’s ruck department for the short term at the least. Toby Murray was his helper in there after Thilthorpe was a late out. McAndrew scored 81 from a modest 69% TOG. He had 33ho, 10 touches and 6 tackles.

2. Josh Rachele (FWD, $655,000) hit the most CBAs for the Crows with 72%. He had Charlie Edwards (68%) in there next with Dawson (64%) followed by some Kays, Dowling and Jones action. Soligo, Rankine, Berry and Peatling the midfielders missing. Does this mean we can’t read too much into it? They have talked up this midfield role and he did his job with 18 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles and a goal for 95 points.

3. Brayden Cook (MID/FWD, $344,000) is on the radar due to hearing about his role off half-back. He scored 48 from 80% TOG. This included a goal. Not sure what to read into this and how things will come out in the wash as the Crows were missing a few.

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.