Welcome back you bloody awesome legends to another year of AFL Fantasy and Calvin’s Captains.

This year, I have set-out my top 10 players, in the order that I would select them. I have also mentioned whether or not they would make a good VC option as well as they might be playing earlier in the round. The Loop Hole and the way you can use your VC is explained below. But be careful, because in the early rounds you want a FULL TEAM of players playing and therefore you might not have the option of putting a zero on your ground.

THE LOOP HOLE EXPLAINED

This is how it works….

• Select a gun player playing Thursday/Friday night (or an early game) and give them the VC.
• If that players scores well, put a non-playing player onto your ground and give them the “C”.
• Make a bench player emergency as well.
• The non-playing captain will score 0, meaning you VC score will be activated and doubled and the emergency player you selected, will also cover the zero as well. The emergency score will not double.
• If you don’t like your VC score, simply select a captain as you normal would.

CALVIN’S TOP-10

#1 – Zach Merrett v Port Adelaide

Plays: Saturday Arvo @ Adelaide Oval

Zach started on fire last week with a massive 50 odd in the first quarter, only to put the breaks on as the Hawks stormed home. He finished with 111.

Amazingly, Port are his favourite team to score Fantasy points against with scores of 116, 116, 113, 121, 151, 128, 118 and 98 over his career. That is nuts.

Add to that, he loves playing at Adelaide Oval where he has averaged 127 in his last three games there. With our faith dropping in the ruck department, locking in a gun MID like Zach is the safest play in town.

#2 – Tom Mitchell v Richmond 

Plays: Sunday @ the MCG

The pig is back and was instrumental for his 106 last week, with 69pts in the last half.

He scored 88 on the Tiger last year and prior to that, he had 119 and 148. I really liked what I saw from him against Essendon and if he can get 17 disposals in a quarter like on the weekend, he is very close to being back to his pig-like self.

#3 – Lachie Hunter v West Coast 

Plays: Sunday @ Marvel Stadium

A nice 115 last week and if he can get his hands on a few marks like the Suns did against the Eagles last Sunday, he could be huge. Five Gold Coast players took 10+ marks last week and although they were mainly defenders, if they are happy to stand-off and let the Dogs chip it around, then Hunter will be happy to step up and grab a few cheapies.

Hunter loves playing the Eagles, and had 108 against them last year.

#4 – Lachie Neale v Geelong 

VC OPTION: Plays Friday night @ GMHBA

Neale struggled last week but should bounce back to his best against a depleted Geelong midfielder who allowed the Crows to have three players over 100pts.

With previous scores of back to back 124’s on Geelong, Neale should go bang on Friday night and presents as a sneaky VC option if that’s your cup of tea.

#5 – Josh Dunkley v West Coast 

Plays: Sunday @ Marvel Stadium

128, 119 and 104 are Dunkley’s most recent games on the Eagles and last week when he scored 107, he looked at home in the midfield group and dominated early. A gun tackler who can score 50pts from this category alone.

#6 – Brodie Grundy v Carlton

VC OPTION: Plays Thursday night @ MCG

Grundy is never a good round one scorer and with that said he still managed 85. Rucks are confusing us all at the moment but we need to back him in to bounce back against a team he flogs with previous scores of 113, 149, 103 and 141.

#7 – Max Gawn v St Kilda 

Plays: Saturday night @ Marvel Stadium

73 from big Max last week, so… are we really going to turn our back on the great man after just one game. He did look slow but here, he is up against Paul Hunter. Mat Flynn last week was the highest scoring ruck against Hunter for the round and Max should be cashing in as well.

#8 – Stephen Coniglio v Fremantle

Plays: Last game Sunday @ Optus Stadium

In his last five games against the Dockers, Coniglio has given them a blood bath (not a term we use lightly) with scores of 119, 112, 161, 123 and 120. He was solid enough in his first hit out for the year and will pump out another 100+ against one of his favourite teams.

#9 – Jack Macrae v West Coast

Plays: Sunday @ Marvel Stadium

After scoring a huge 135, Macrae sits very low on my list this week and that’s because in the past he sucks against the Eagles with scores of 100, 69 and 76. They are his worst team to score Fantasy points against so this tip does come with a flag. With that said, the Suns scored well against the Eagles last week and he is coming off a great game where he saw plenty of midfield time.

#10 – Patrick Cripps v Collingwood

VC OPTION: Plays Thursday night @ MCG

The Bulldogs did as they pleased last week against the Pies and Cripps gets his turn on Thursday night. He has dominated them in the past with scores of 100, 115 and 146. Another VC option.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Caleb Daniel – As I previously said, five Gold Coast defenders took a total of 61 marks last week and Daniel went get around that if it’s on offer.

Dusty Martin – 131 last week and meets a team he has scored 135 on in 2019. Hawks can be easy on their day as well.