14 down, 10 to go!

We’re reaching the point of the fantasy season where our teams are starting to feel more “complete” with only a few tweaks left to make. Of course, there will be some underperforming players who emerge and demand our trade attention, but the majority of our starting rookies have been cashed in. Some who have served us well for the bulk of the 2026 campaign, such as Jacob Farrow, Willem Duursma and Jai Serong, have their feet up this week, and as we move them on to underpriced premiums, there are fewer holes left to plug in our sides. If you’re cashing these gun rookies in, then make sure you’re not left fielding a dud in the post-bye period and maximise the final 8 trades we have left before fantasy normalcy returns.

Rookies/cash cows are typically defined as players priced at $400,000 or lower to commence the season

Cash Cow King – Round 14

Rookies keep getting it done throughout the byes, with multiple 80+ efforts counting for coaches in their best-18 each week. The consistent Adelaide duo of Brayden Cook and Lachie McAndrew kickstarted it on Thursday night, with Dons defender Jacob Farrow the only rook to better them in Round 14. Mid-season stud Joel Fitzgerald didn’t look out of place during his AFL debut and I’m sure this isn’t the only nomination he’ll earn in 2026. My vote is siding with the Crows’ ruckman – who is currently one of three cash cows tied for first in this award race!

Entering this week, we currently have a three-way tie for 1st in the CCK award race! Rookies keep dropping epic scores in the best-18 rounds and we only need them to produce for a few more weeks.

Who gets your vote as the most important cash cow in Round 14? 🤔 #AFLFantasy

— SportsbyFry (@sportsbyfry) June 16, 2026

Back ‘Em In

Stick With ‘Em

When news came out last week that Willem Duursma ($777K, DNP, BE 71) was going to miss the match against North Melbourne with a calf complaint, 8918 coaches decided that it was a good opportunity to move him on him the flick. Myself included. It wasn’t an easy call, as it’s highly likely that Duurs will maintain his 80+ point clip after the Eagles’ bye. However he is at a nice price point where launching to a top-line player is a logical decision. Of course, it depends a bit on how your team is structured, with  Jagga Smith ($738K, BYE, BE 88) in a similar boat. After 57 against Essendon, Jagga has seen his ownership drop by over 20% and it will only cost $4k to move him to a gun in the FWD line like Brent.

We all expect Duursma and Smith to feature prominently in Rising Star discussions, so understandably, you can afford to hold the duo in your fantasy side if you have bigger issues to address. I don’t have as much confidence in holding the rest of our mainstream cash cows. Some coaches may also be clinging to forward duo Phoenix Gothard ($613K, 59, BE 47) and/or Brayden Cook ($681K, 87, BE 74) or even a Tom Blamires ($590K, 80, BE 58) type. You might be able to squeeze a few extra dollars out of this group, but I think their best work is already behind them.

There is still a chance Sam Cumming ($472K, 60, BE 38) has another price rise or two left in him, and right now I’d rather hold him over his Tigers teammate. Still residing in over 17% of teams as we approach the end of the bye rounds, Cumming may not provide the best-18 scores we’re after, but he’s still generating some handy cash. Mitch Edwards ($474K, 67, BE 26) and Jack Ison ($376K, BYE, BE 37) also fit into this category, with Edwards establishing himself as the correct answer at R3 for the coaches who backed him in from the start. Ison may find himself on the outside looking in when the teams drop on Thursday night, although he has already shown he can pop for a 65+ score. I wouldn’t be chopping him just yet.

Cash ‘Em Out

Some would argue that Milan Murdock ($687K, 42, BE 91) belongs in the above category and we can keep riding with him in our forward lines. I’d point those coaches to the 42 points he dropped on the weekend and suggest that his bye round presents the perfect opportunity to upgrade the mature-aged Eagle. With plenty of value FWD options available, now feels like the right time to cash Murdock in if he’s still residing in your team. Murdock’s teammate Josh Lindsay ($679K, 67, BE 81) and Tigers winger Patrick Retschko ($585K, 55, BE 63) are another pair of rookies that coaches are looking to move on from at the trade table. Both have served their purpose as cash cows and ideally, you’d be looking to upgrade them this week.

If you’ve dealt with those rooks already, then Sullivan Robey ($614K, 36, BE 83) becomes your next trade priority. We’ve seen the first-year Bomber produce some stellar scores since moving into the midfield six weeks ago, but his 36-point dud last round is a clear warning sign that it’s time for him to go. An inflated breakeven of 83 has already seen over 6,000 coaches give him the chop, and it’s smart to act now before he starts bleeding cash. Also sitting in a few forward lines, Leo Lombard ($524K, 51, BE 60) and Toby Murray ($446K, 54, BE 60) can be given the flick, while Port youngster Tom Cochrane ($302K, 21, BE 25) wasn’t able to force our hand with his Round 14 output. Non-owners will need to see more before he can be considered a trustworthy cash cow.

Reserves Report

Here is a list of the most noteworthy fantasy scores we saw from potential cash cows in the reserves around the country over the weekend.

Dante Visentini, Power– 109 points, 17 disposals, 35 hitouts, 6 tackles
Billy Cootee, Swans – 107 points, 28 disposals, 1.2 in front of goal
Jack Ough, Giants – 99 points, 31 disposals, 7 tackles
Lachlan Carmichael, Bulldogs – 89 points, 21 disposals, 6 tackles
Oliver Francou, Eagles – 87 points, 19 disposals, 9 tackles
Max Kondogiannis, Bombers – 87 points, 20 disposals, 9 marks
Beau Addinsall, Suns – 85 points, 23 disposals, 7 tackles
Harrison Oliver, Giants – 79 points, 18 disposals, 5 tackles
Jack Watkins, Power – 77 points, 21 disposals,
Lachie Jaques, Bulldogs – 76 points, 18 disposals, 5 tackles
Jaxon Artemis, Bombers – 74 points, 17 disposals, 6 tackles
Zane Zakostelsky, Lions – 70 points, 17 disposals, 16 hitouts
Dylan Patterson, Suns – 60 points, 9 disposals, 8 tackles

Q & A

The weekly Q&A section aims to address the biggest rookie/cash cow issues that we are facing. 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 questions below.

Which 2 are we keeping out of Murdoch, Robey, Farrow, J Lindsay?

— Joel (@joel99851) June 16, 2026

You didn’t ask, but let me rank them. I’d hold Farrow first, then Murdock, then Lindsay and then Robey. I’ve talked about how you can trade Murdock, but you could also get away with hiding him at F6 in a dodgy FWD line – while Farrow should see a slight uptick while Roberts is out. Lindsay and Robey can both go.

murray/alger/pies fwd can only pick 1?

— Ben Hayes (@benhawkiesnkrs) June 16, 2026

For me, Pies forward Mitch Podhajski is the answer. He might not offer the greatest scoring upside of this trio, but it appears as though he has great job security. Drafted as an instant Jamie Elliott replacement, Pods should keep chipping away with scores in the 50’s for the rest of the season while Murray and Alger may see their output/place in the team yo-yo.

Relatively easy bye week compared to next week.
Can you help yourself next week and save a trade by going early on Herbert if you have already have the full 22 this week?

— Brendan (@aflbsmith) June 16, 2026

It’s a play, but I’m always against pulling the trigger on a rookie on the bye. All it takes is an ankle tweak at training and you’ve wasted a trade – plus, Tom McCarthy may force him out of the side for Round 16. It’s unlikely, but I’d much rather use a trade to ditch a non-playing rookie for one featuring in this round with upside.

Remember the Name

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

DEFENDERS

Dylan Patterson (Suns, $334K)
Oskar Taylor (Giants, $294K)
Jaxon Artemis (Bombers, $230K)
Lachlan Carmichael (Bulldogs, $270K)
Cooper Simpson (Dockers, $340K)
Matt Whitlock (Kangaroos, $230K)
Harrison Ramm (Power, $268K)

MIDFIELDERS

Harry DeMattia (Magpies, $230K)
Josh Smillie (Tigers, $230K)
Luke Urquart (Kangaroos, $230K)
Adam Sweid (Dockers, $254K)
Tyan Prindable (Magpies, $230K)
Luke Beecken (Lions, $230K)
Ollie Greeves (Hawks, $230K)
Ben Camporeale (Blues, $230K)
Oliver Francou (Eagles, $230K)
Sam Swadling (Magpies, $230K)

RUCKMEN

Aidan Schubert (Hawks, $262K)
Kayle Gerreyn (Bombers, $230K)
Harrison Coe (Magpies, $230K)
Caleb May (Bulldogs, $230K)

FORWARDS

Sid Draper (Crows, $307K)
Jesse Dattoli (Swans, $273K)
Finlay Macrae (Eagles, $293K)
Mitchell Marsh (Crows, $266K)
Jay Polkinghorne (Cats, $230K)

Fry

Australian coffee/burrito enthusiast and the frustrated owner of 16 fantasy teams. Writer for SportsbyFry and DT Talk 🤙