It’s Round 7 – ANZAC Round. A special week on the calendar as we pay respect leading into the traditional ANZAC Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG. Early News: A number of new debuts have been announced, headlined by much touted Sam Cumming (MID $326k) for the Tigers. Lachie Smith (RUC $230k) will cover Tim English for the Dogs, while the Swans unveil two debutants in Will Edwards (DEF $230k) and mature-age draftee Billy Cootee (MID $230k). There is still no timeline on Jordan Dawson as he deals with a family tragedy. Elijah Hollands (personal) will not play. Liam Reidy is likely to replace Marc Pittonet, with some coaches already carrying him at R3. Jordan Ridley has suffered a setback and will miss more time for the Bombers. Sean Darcy is in HIA protocols and also managing a calf injury, which could be a small green flag for Luke Jackson owners (although Mason Cox is still likely to share ruck duties, with a roughly 70:30 split last game). Gryan Miers is confirmed out longer, though it is still unclear if he will require knee surgery. Noah Anderson is a test following appendix surgery. Stephen Coniglio is set to return for GWS, which may shake up midfield roles. Darcy Moore and James Sicily have both received one-week suspensions. A big in for North with Tristan Xerri returning from suspension. Tim Taranto is in HIA protocols and expected to miss one week. Possibly the biggest DT news, Tom De Koning is listed as a test and could even play, which puts a dampener on grabbing Rowan Marshall as a value option. Tim English is now listed as 1-3 weeks. Marcus Bontempelli has owners sweating on a test this week, while Tom Liberatore is out with HIA protocols, opening up midfield opportunities for others such as Ryley Sanders.
Weather notes updated at Wed 22 Apr, 5:00pm AEST. Please check weather closer to game day.
Important times to remember
Thursday game teamsheets ~6:20pm AEDT Wednesday
Friday/Sat/Sun game teamsheets ~6:20pm AEDT Thursday
Notes: Clear conditions, ideal for football. Massive news with Isaac Heeney out (injured). We’ll need to monitor updates as more information comes out. Good news for Bontempelli owners, hes named and coaching staff are confident he will play. Three debuts this game with Lachlan Smith, William Edwards and Billy Cootee named, all worth keeping an eye on. Adam Treloar returns for the Dogs and, if he hits form, could emerge as a forward premium option.
Western Bulldogs
Sydney Swans
INS
Ryan Gardner, Jedd Busslinger, Adam Treloar, Lachlan Smith, Josh Dolan
William Edwards, Dane Rampe, Billy Cootee
OUTS
Rory Lobb (Injured), James O’Donnell (Injured), Sam Darcy (Injured), Jordan Croft (Omitted), Tom Liberatore (Injured)
Joel Hamling (Omitted), Isaac Heeney (Injured), Corey Warner (Omitted)
Notes: Mostly sunny conditions expected. We knew Sam Cumming was on debut, and he replaces Tim Taranto who is out injured. Jacob Hopper is also back in. Sam Banks is out injured, which could be a boost for rookie Grlj.
Richmond
Melbourne
INS
Sam Cumming, Tom Lynch, Jacob Hopper, Toby Burton, Tom Brown
Caleb Jiath
OUTS
Sam Banks (Injured), Maurice Rioli (Injured), Tim Taranto (Injured), Tyler Sonsie (Omitted), Luke Fawcett (Omitted)
Notes: Partly cloudy conditions. Updated ~6:20pm Thursday. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is in for the Suns. Quite cheap, but it would be a brave coach to grab him immediately. Noah Anderson is back to bolster their midfield. For the Hawks, both Darcy Moore and James Sicily are out with suspensions. Cashcow Jack Dalton gets another look, but his job security looks shaky. Finn Maginness is in and could be sent to tag a Suns midfielder.
Hawthorn
Gold Coast Suns
INS
Finn Maginness, Harry Morrison, Jack Gunston, Jack Dalton, Jack Scrimshaw
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Noah Anderson
OUTS
James Sicily (Suspension), Will McCabe (Omitted), Darcy Moore (Suspension), Finn Perez (Managed), Sam Butler (Managed)
Notes: The yearly traditional ANZAC day game with pies vs dons. Mostly sunny conditions. Updated ~6:20pm Thursday. Rookie Dyson Sharp is back in for the Dons if you still had him on your bench. Jordan Ridley is out injured. Jordan De Goey and Steele Sidebottom return for the Pies, which could push Angus Anderson slightly down the midfield rotation.
Notes: Clear night conditions. Cooper Lord is back after missing time with illness. Marc Pittonet is out injured, so the Blues have called up Liam Reidy, who will have a tough matchup against Luke Jackson and Mason Cox.
Fremantle
Carlton
INS
–
Liam Reidy, Cooper Lord, Ashton Moir
OUTS
–
Elijah Hollands (Mental Health), Harry McKay (Injured), Marc Pittonet (Injured)
Notes: Partly cloudy conditions. Make sure you check Sunday extended selections at ~5pm on Friday. Flynn is named back in, but B. Williams is still listed as the main ruck if you took a punt on him last week. A few relevant players are on the extended bench, so check updates on Friday. TDK is named, but I’d check closer to the game to be sure.
Notes: A shower or two expected. Make sure you check Sunday extended selections at ~5pm on Friday. It’s great to see Jordan Dawson named, and I’m sure the AFL world will get around him after his family tragedy. Darcy Fort is named with Zane Zakostelsky on the extended bench, which is likely bad news as he could be the emergency with both Fort and Draper named. Cashcow Tunstill is also named for those who have him, but he is on the extended bench.
Brisbane Lions
Adelaide Crows
INS
Darcy Fort, Conor McKenna, James Tunstill, Sam Brain, Darragh Joyce
Jordan Dawson, Ben Dowling, James Borlase, Tom Murray
Notes: Mostly sunny, but it could be a little cooler in Canberra. Make sure you check Sunday extended selections at ~5pm on Friday. Stephen Coniglio and Brent Daniels are both back in. Some had Fonti as a POD, unfortunately he is out reported. Possible downgrade option Leake is named on the extended bench, but his job security looks shaky. Tristan Xerri is back from suspension for North Melbourne. Finn O’Sullivan is named and could take on a tagging role against a GWS midfielder. There are also whispers that Tom Blamires, named on the extended bench, could be rested this week, so plan accordingly.
GWS Giants
North Melbourne
INS
Stephen Coniglio, Jacob Leake, Jesse Hogan, Aaron Cadman, Brent Daniels
Tristan Xerri, Finn O’Sullivan, Toby Pink, Jackson Konstanty
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Dylan Moore maybe? A bit harsh to suspend Darcy Moore when he hasn’t even played for a few weeks.
Youcandoit
20 hours ago
Seriously how are you supposed to play this game in a strategic fashion. While we are all in the same level playing field or boat …. I get this but this year has simply come down to whether you have been relatively kissed with injuries. Enjoyment factor is at an all time low and frustration all time high for many coaches. Whoever wins this year deserves a car, boat, jet ski and trailers.
Every single week multiple premos and relatively popular picks have been going down like flies in a room full of mortein. On top of this when you thought you might have put band-aids on your team from the Tuesday injury report more players seem to develop injuries and outs just before games.
I am on Bont watch (traded in for Dawson calf) and have decided I am damned if I trade( as this means I hold other injuries from previous weeks) and damned if I hold. I’m kinda hoping they might save his knee for next week as I dont think I can loop his semi injured tagged score and I am too scared to bench him in case he decides to make up for his last game. Anyway, I might be relatively blessed this week (not that I have many premiums too loose!). Hear Sheezal has a broken finger and is likely to play (Hope so as I cant. really cover)
Sympathy for Heeney, Dawson and Miers owners to name a few. and huge sympathy for those coaches that have multiple of these injured players at the one time.
Please, please can the powers to be devise a strategy for a higher number of available trades so coaches have a mechanism that can deal with this carnage and have a less frustrated experience. Injuries will be similar in 2027!
Let’s see what other inconvenient surprises come up with the teams -we only have 1 game named so far. I am in prayer.
Look I get it. Its RNG mechanic for this game. We simply cant predict injuries (although some players are more injury prone than others, eg I got Zorko in knowing he was a larger risk). and yes its been pretty brutal this year. I think thats one reason they introduced the 50% TOG rule. But even then if you dont get the luck, you just dont get it. Honestly I cant really thing of a way to deal with it that doenst completely change the game. Luck is simply part of it.
Shags on AFL Teams 2026: Round 7 (ANZAC Round): “Look I get it. Its RNG mechanic for this game. We simply cant predict injuries (although some players are more…” Apr 23, 19:32
Griff on Fry’s Cash Cows – Rd. 7: “I would go no where near him, but that’s nothing to do with how good an option he is I…” Apr 23, 18:17
Griff on Fry’s Cash Cows – Rd. 7: “Hey Fry, Do you like Windsor to Anderson/retschko but Lombard has to go on fwd field Or budarick to zuurhar…” Apr 23, 18:13
Bang on Fry’s Cash Cows – Rd. 7: “Thanks – amazing article! Am I losing it? Parish in? Is it ridiculous that I’m considering the viability of bringing…” Apr 23, 17:54
on AFL Teams 2026: Round 7 (ANZAC Round): “Look I get it. Its RNG mechanic for this game. We simply cant predict injuries (although some players are more…” Apr 23, 19:32on Fry’s Cash Cows – Rd. 7: “I would go no where near him, but that’s nothing to do with how good an option he is I…” Apr 23, 18:17
on Fry’s Cash Cows – Rd. 7: “Thanks – amazing article! Am I losing it? Parish in? Is it ridiculous that I’m considering the viability of bringing…” Apr 23, 17:54
Dylan Moore maybe? A bit harsh to suspend Darcy Moore when he hasn’t even played for a few weeks.
Seriously how are you supposed to play this game in a strategic fashion. While we are all in the same level playing field or boat …. I get this but this year has simply come down to whether you have been relatively kissed with injuries. Enjoyment factor is at an all time low and frustration all time high for many coaches. Whoever wins this year deserves a car, boat, jet ski and trailers.
Every single week multiple premos and relatively popular picks have been going down like flies in a room full of mortein. On top of this when you thought you might have put band-aids on your team from the Tuesday injury report more players seem to develop injuries and outs just before games.
I am on Bont watch (traded in for Dawson calf) and have decided I am damned if I trade( as this means I hold other injuries from previous weeks) and damned if I hold. I’m kinda hoping they might save his knee for next week as I dont think I can loop his semi injured tagged score and I am too scared to bench him in case he decides to make up for his last game. Anyway, I might be relatively blessed this week (not that I have many premiums too loose!). Hear Sheezal has a broken finger and is likely to play (Hope so as I cant. really cover)
Sympathy for Heeney, Dawson and Miers owners to name a few. and huge sympathy for those coaches that have multiple of these injured players at the one time.
Please, please can the powers to be devise a strategy for a higher number of available trades so coaches have a mechanism that can deal with this carnage and have a less frustrated experience. Injuries will be similar in 2027!
Let’s see what other inconvenient surprises come up with the teams -we only have 1 game named so far. I am in prayer.
Look I get it. Its RNG mechanic for this game. We simply cant predict injuries (although some players are more injury prone than others, eg I got Zorko in knowing he was a larger risk). and yes its been pretty brutal this year. I think thats one reason they introduced the 50% TOG rule. But even then if you dont get the luck, you just dont get it. Honestly I cant really thing of a way to deal with it that doenst completely change the game. Luck is simply part of it.
Dawson is playing BTW