Western Bulldogs AFL Fantasy Classic Prices 2018

The Western Bulldogs regressed significantly in 2017, they averaged 392.5 Disposals which was -21.6 (League Worst) compared to their 2016 H&A season. Jack Macrae & Luke Dahlhaus were the only 2 players to record 25 or more Disposals last season, they had 5 players achieve that mark in 2016 (Incl. Finals).

The Bulldogs averaged 1513.0 fantasy team points from their final 5 games of the 2017 H&A season, between Rounds 1-18 they averaged 1639.4pts and finished the season Ranked 10^th with an average of 1610.6pts. Only 3 players averaged 90.0pts or more for the Bulldogs in 2017, Jack Macrae & Marcus Bontempelli both averaged more than 100.0pts.

If the Western Bulldogs can return to the Disposal heavy game plan of 2016 then there is quite a bit of value about, ownership levels will be on the low side to begin the season as many fantasy coaches won’t trust a bounce back in 2018.

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2018 Potential Targets:

Jack Macrae MID $732K

Whilst many of the Bulldog players fell away in the 2^nd half of the 2017 season Macrae didn’t averaging 109.0pts between Rounds 12-23, he scored 100pts or more in 50.0% of games & 120pts or more in 18.2% of games finishing with a season average of 104.0pts. Macrae should see similar numbers again in 2018, his ownership % will be low and could provide a decent point of difference if he were to continue on from his late 2017 form.

Jason Johannisen DEF $535K

JJ was a flop in 2017 once opposition teams put some time into him, he averaged 75.9pts which was well down from his 2016 H&A season average of 93.3pts. While most fantasy coaches will opt out of considering JJ in 2018 there might be decent value and a genuine point of difference in selecting him at Round 1, he averaged 99.5pts from winning games in 2016 (Incl. Finals) and should the Bulldogs bounce back in 2018 he figures to be a big part of the reason for the resurgence. Luke Beveridge will have had more than 6 months to figure out how to get one of his most damaging players back in form, high risk here but the potential reward could be worth it.

Marcus Bontempelli MID $706K

Bontempelli opened up the 2017 H&A season on fire scoring 100pts or more in 7 of 8 games averaging 107.1pts, but as the Bulldogs fell away so did the Bont averaging 90.9pts from his final 14 games. Bontempelli scored 100pts or more in 50.0% of games and 120pts or more in 13.6% of games, he scored a season high 134pts against Nth Melbourne in Round 14. Bontempelli has played in 61 straight games for the Bulldogs, at 22 years of age he is entering the prime of career and his numbers should reflect that in 2018.

Lachie Hunter MID $634K

Hunter like Johannisen will likely benefit if the Bulldogs bounce back in 2018, he averaged 100.8pts from winning games (Incl. Finals) in 2016. Priced at just 90.0pts there is likely genuine upside for Hunter and low a ownership % will be an added bonus, he scored 120pts or more in 4.5% of games in 2017 well down from 19.2% in 2016. Hunter has a career high of 163pts (vs West Coast 2016), if you are looking for a potential bargain then he is worth conserving at Round 1.

Luke Dahlhaus MID/FWD $624K

The struggle was real owning Dahlhaus in 2017 as he averaged 82.1pts from his final 15 games of the season, expectations were high for owners as he averaged 102.4pts between Rounds 1-7. Dahlhaus averaged 88.5pts in 2017 and retains his MID/FWD DPP status, there is value in selecting him at Round 1 again like many before him if the Bulldogs can bounce back to a heavy Disposal game plan.

Toby McLean MID/FWD $603K / Shane Biggs DEF $542K

McLean’s numbers can’t be ignored, he averaged 95.3pts from his final 10 games of the 2017 H&A season. McLean offers flexibility with his MID/FWD DPP status, his scoring will be volatile but there is likely still some value left in 2018.

If you are not taking Johannisen then Biggs could be an option as a DEF, he averaged 76.9pts in 2017 but finished the season off well averaging 84.3pts from his final 7 games which included 55pts in R23. Biggs is an off the board type pick than could have genuine upside, worth a look over his numbers during the JLT Series.

 

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Player	Pos	2017Avg	2017 Gms	2018 Price
Macrae, Jack	MID	103.95	22	$732000
Bontempelli, Marcus	MID	100.23	22	$706000
Hunter, Lachie	MID	90	22	$634000
Dahlhaus, Luke	MID/FWD	88.55	22	$624000
McLean, Toby	MID/FWD	85.58	19	$603000
Suckling, Matthew	DEF	78.32	22	$552000
Biggs, Shane	DEF	76.94	16	$542000
Picken, Liam	FWD	76.18	22	$536000
Johannisen, Jason	DEF	75.9	20	$535000
Daniel, Caleb	MID/FWD	75.3	20	$530000
Wallis, Mitch	MID/FWD	74.75	12	$526000
Dunkley, Josh	FWD	63	7	$517000
Adams, Marcus	DEF	72.9	10	$513000
Campbell, Tom	RUC	79.43	7	$509000
Liberatore, Tom	MID	72.06	18	$507000
Jong, Lin	MID/FWD	71.67	12	$505000
Roughead, Jordan	RUC	68.54	13	$483000
Dale, Bailey	MID	67.44	16	$475000
Crozier, Hayden	FWD	66.26	19	$467000
Honeychurch, Mitch	FWD	70.17	6	$462000
Redpath, Jack	FWD	66.22	9	$452000
Boyd, Tom	RUC	64	11	$451000
Dickson, Tory	FWD	54.33	9	$446000
Trengove, Jackson	FWD	63.37	19	$446000
Smith, Clay	FWD	62.25	8	$443000
Williams, Bailey	DEF	62.08	12	$437000
Wood, Easton	DEF	58.44	18	$412000
Cordy, Zaine	DEF	55.89	19	$394000
Young, Lewis	DEF	51.86	7	$332000
Schache, Josh	FWD	46.3	10	$326000
Lipinski, Patrick	MID/FWD	61	1	$322000
Webb, Lukas	MID/FWD	55	4	$318000
Morris, Dale	DEF	40.27	11	$284000
Roberts, Fletcher	DEF	37.8	10	$266000
Smith, Roarke	DEF	0	0	$256000
Naughton, Aaron	DEF	0	0	$254000
Richards, Ed	DEF	0	0	$240000
English, Tim	RUC/FWD	35	2	$187000
Greene, Fergus	FWD	0	0	$170000
Mullenger-McHugh, Nathan	FWD	0	0	$170000
Porter, Callum	MID	0	0	$170000
Lynch, Brad	DEF	0	0	$170000
Collins, Kieran	DEF	0	0	$170000
Gowers, Billy	FWD	0	0	$170000

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